Track Listing

1. Little Library Music/Going to a Show
2. Showtime
3. Jimmy S Breakdown
4. WDKK Theme
5. I've Got a Surprise for You Today
6. Stanley/Frank/Linda S Breakdown
7. Chance of Rain
8. So Now Then
9. Magnolia

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #164343 in Music
• Released on: 2000-03-13
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Soundtrack, Import
• Original language: English, French, German
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 49 minutes

Customer Reviews

Why didn't this win an oscar? Why wasn't it even nominated?
MAGNOLIA is one of those masterpieces which very rarely appear. Director P.T.Anderson inspired himself on the words and sounds of Aimee Mann for creating a very elaborate story that grabs a bunch of men and women from San Fernando Valley and leads them through a day of tremendous collective distress, finishing with some sort of redemption. Beginning with Aimee Mann, Anderson then turned himself to composer Jon Brion to create the appropriate mood for this very special story. This may have been his most inspired decision. Newcomer Brion proves himself as tremendously gifted and sensible film composer, creating a handfull of themes that live on their own, yet immediatly remind us of MAGNOLIA's characters. This is a very unique musical journey and you'll probably find this soundtrack unlike any other you have heard. Brion creates sort of a collective mood, a collective pulse for this story and each of the music cues (as we may see in the film) speaks about several stories at a time. All 9 tracks are very distinct from each other, A LITTLE LIBRARY MUSIC/GOING TO A SHOW and SHOWTIME express the ruthless movement ruling some of the characters' lives, JIMMY'S BREAKDOWN, I'VE GOT A SURPRISE and STANLEY/FRANK/LINDA'S BREAKDOWN talk about their pain and their helplessness, SO NOW THEN and the most moving of them all, CHANCE OF RAIN, talk about eventual redemption. This is a truly perfect work of art. I must say I'm almost afraid to see Jon Brion involved in another motion picture in the future, he may never have another work like this first one. Perfection.

Complex and genious
Jon Brion has created a fantastic score for P.T. Anderson's film Magnolia.Every track offers something different which gives you all of the scored music from the film in just under 50 minutes.

The first 2 tracks contain the massive musical cue which covers about the first quarter or so of the film. It begins with the beginning of the 'What Do Kids Know?' game show and continues through the film till Jimmy declares 'End of round one'. There is a steadiness but also pace to these two tracks as the style and density of the music continues to change. Brion mixes the subtlety in his music and quickly contrasts these moments with a heavy section of timpani and brass. His extensive use of the whole orchestra is also an achievement in itself.

The tension and emotion in the film are best brought out in 'Jimmy's Breakdown' and 'I've Got A Surprise For You Today'.Jon Brion uses slow strings and brass to give you a surge of emotions, which works wonderfully with the film.

My favourite two tracks on the album would have to be 'Stanley|Frank|Linda's Breakdown' and 'Chance of Rain'. The complexity in 'Stanley|Frank|Linda's Breakdown' is amazing and slowly builds to a climax where Tom Cruise is deciding whether or not to see his father. 'Chance of Rain' is another incredible track with slow strings.A beautiful track with Brion leaking all of the characters' struggles out of them through his music.

Overall a powerful score to listen to. I was curious after hearing Jon Brion's scored tracks to 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and started paying attention to his work on Magnolia. After a second and third watching of the film I realised how big a part Jon Brion's score plays in creating an amazing film experience. A great purchase.

Magnolia Magic
It was the movie that got me hooked. I switched on the t.v. and a piece of magic unfolded, interwoven with songs that get under your skin. They are so memorable and catchy that I have woken up in the middle of the night with "Driving Sideways", or "Wise Up" going through my head.
I bought the album purely because of "Wise Up" - the piece in the movie that features it is so unique - the song and the scene complement each other perfectly. It was only when I read the website notes that I understood why the movie and songs went so well together - the movie was constructed around the songs - brilliant.
Listen & buy it.