Nora Ephron's charming, good-natured remake of The Shop Around the Corner was the definitive upscale urban romantic comedy of the late '90s (or at least 1998), so it's only appropriate that the accompanying soundtrack fits the film like a glove. A canny mix of familiar oldies, forgotten treasures, new songs, and an excerpt from the score, the album is much like the movie -- entertaining, occasionally supremely engaging (whether it's
Stevie Wonder's classic "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," and
Randy Newman's "Lonely at the Top," and no less than three
Harry Nilsson songs, including a cover by
Sinéad O'Connor), but ultimately ephemeral. Not that that's a bad thing -- in fact,
You've Got Mail is a very enjoyable listen. For many fans, that may be enough, since it is fun and evokes fond memories of the film. It just doesn't really work as its own entity. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine