CD REVIEW - CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC


Confessions of a Shopaholic
Music by James Newton Howard & Various Artists
Hollywood Records 696 0115 (UK)
14 Tracks 46:51 mins

Released in UK cinemas on February 13th is the film adaptation of Sophie Kinsella's novels The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad, starring Isla Fisher in her first big starring role, having previously impressed in supporting roles, most notably Wedding Crashers. UK readers will perhaps remember her in Australian soap Home & Away. The film is directed by P.J. Hogan (Muriel's Wedding, My Best Friend's Wedding) and is scored by James Newton Howard, who disappointingly only gets one track on the soundtrack album, released in the UK on 23rd February, a 4-minute suite that commences with a sunny, guitar-lead mover, which quickly goes into dreamy, romantic mood, with guitar again taking lead, developing a happy beat, which is cut short by rather ominous flamenco-styled music. The threat builds, eventually breaking forth in percussive action mode, before ending quite sneakily. Certainly a varied piece, and interesting enough to warrant a score release, for which we can but hope - but I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.
The remainder of the album features numbers by Jordyn Taylor, Lady GaGa, Jessie James, Adrienne Bailon, Kat DeLuna, Shontelle (featuring Akon), Pussycat Dolls, Natasha Bedingfield, Trey Songz, Greg Laswell and Macy Gray, most of whom I have never even heard of.
More info at www.shopaholicmovie.com and www.hollywoodrecords.com.