Paycheck – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack cover

Paycheck – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

John Powell · 2004

48 min · 14 tracks · film score

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
58 /100
Foothills
Higher than 10% of albums we've rated

A tightly executed, rhythm-driven action score whose cue sequence has a clear chase centerpiece, but whose writing stays within familiar thriller-score territory.

What we noticed

  • The two-part Hog Chase sits midway through the sequence as its clearest extended action passage, rather than being saved for the closing stretch.
  • Shorter cues such as “Mirror Message” and “Imposter” break up the longer chase material; “Rachel’s Party” closes the album after the plot-driven cues.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
5/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Main Title 3:10
  • 2 20 Items 2:53
  • 3 Wolfe Pack 2:54
  • 4 Crystal Balls 2:09
  • 5 Mirror Message 3:37
  • 6 Imposter 3:52
  • 7 Hog Chase Part 1 3:12
  • 8 Hog Chase Part 2 4:04
  • 9 I Don't Remember 1:28
  • 10 Tomorrow's Headlines 4:02
  • 11 Future Tense 7:13
  • 12 Fait Accompli 6:09
  • 13 The Finger 0:33
  • 14 Rachel's Party 2:47

Reference: MusicBrainz · Wikidata