It would be easy to dismiss Elton John's soundtrack skills: among his early '70s score for Friends, a sprinkling of movie songs, and his contributions to The Lion King, he hasn't had much of a big-screen presence. But his score for Albert Brooks's The Muse is a nice surprise from the artist; here, he seems more indebted to Hans Zimmer than pop radio. Filled with peppy orchestrations and delicate string arrangements, his soundtrack sounds both romantic and playful. Piano occasionally pops up, and one track ("Meet Christine") even benefits from a very angelic chorus. The one disappointment here is the title track, which features John working with longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin. Ironically enough, the bland vocals are all about artistic creativity. But thankfully, a throbbing bass version of the same tune--courtesy of Jermaine Dupri's remix--lets the soundtrack end on a lively note. Weighing in at only about 35 minutes, John's soundtrack for The Muse is far from epic, but it offers a rare chance to hear yet another facet to the pop superstar's talents. --Jason Verlinde
