Thomas Newman does frustrate me at times, but at other times, his music is some of the most classy and beautifully composed you'll find in Hollywood today. Fortunately, Meet Joe Black falls into the latter category. Being something of a romance, the score was always going to be a little more traditional than some of his percussion and weird instrument efforts, but is no less skillfully written.
Newman's dominant orchestral voice here is strings; not thick 'Hollywood' strings, but almost ethereal beauty that sounds like at any minute the sound could be shattered. In fact, listening to it carefully, the texture almost suggests the Randy Newman of Awakenings, with high harmonics playing above the more usual instrumental registers. The main theme is introduced in the opening track, but it only appears subtlety through the score, never overwhelming the other ideas. To intersperse the strings, an occasional twinkling piano or plucked string counterpoint is added which gives the orchestral textures a little more definition. A couple of trademark witty Newman scherzos pop up, most notably in the jaunty Everywhere Freesia. Another, Fifth Ave., actually reminds me of Sting's Englishman in New York, but arranged as a jazzy clarinet solo - fun and appropriate all the same.
The final few cues pick up a little more, Someone Else featuring some more forthright, yet heartfelt phrases. However, That Next Place is a long, beautifully written finale which allows in some brass to broaden the orchestral colour and allow all the threads to reach a satisfying conclusion. A few short selections of source music are included and while some might feel they detract from the atmosphere, I rather like the fact that they break up Newman's drama a little, but are never so long or intrusive as to spoil the general ambiance.
I must admit that on first listening, Meet Joe Black did seem to be just a fraction long, but this is an album to persevere with. It also benefits from a good structure which allows it too build momentum, rather than sag towards the end with its glorious final 10 minutes. Highly recommended and an excellent place to start if you're looking to build a Thomas Newman collection.