O Brother, Where Art Thou?
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.56 You Save: $4.43 (40%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.09 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Free Music Review: Brilliant Soundtrack, and Strong CD musically
Hit: 5 Stars
The lyrical nature of the music lends a certain quality to "O Brother Whereart Thou" that is not very often seen in movies these days. This soundtrack captures so many moments during the film so brilliantly that its almost easy to overlook the strength of the songs on their own merit. This CD is very diverse not only stylistically but also historically. Some songs are Original recordings dating as far back as 70 years ago. While others are reconstructions of old time favorites. This CD is Country music as its essence. Not the poppy Garth Brooks that is synomonous with Country music today but rather the ROOTS of so many derivations of styles, including the Blues which gave way to Jazz and Rock n Roll. The Soundtrack moves brilliantly from an old song sung by REAL prison inmates breaking rocks on the chain-gang recorded in the 50s to a cleaner poppy version of an old time song "Man of Constant Sorrow."
There are so many great Gems in this CD thats its almost surprising. Listening to this in my car, I never realized that half these songs were even in the film, but sure enough when you hear it you know exactly where in the movie it lies. I think that speaks strongly both of the Cohen brothers specific choices for the songs but also the poignant story-telling elements in the songs themselves.
Pick this one up if you're looking for something DIFFERENT, you will be Pleasantly surprised.
Free Music Review: O Brother, What Good Music!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have to admit that I don't have much knowledge in the area of bluegrass/folk/country music, however after hearing the great music from the film I knew I had to have these tunes playing on my CD player. Great moments abound on this disc like the Dan Tyminski sung "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" which evokes the feel and time of the movie so well. The solemn "Down To The River To Pray" has Alison Krauss backed by The First Bapist Church Choir and nothing else. "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" only has Chris Thomas King picking some sad blues on an acoustic guitar. The instrumental of "Constant Sorrow" played on acoustic guitars is brillant. "Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby" sung by the trio of Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch and Alison Krauss is another great example of the really good harmonies on this disc. "Keep on the Sunny Side" while not as outstanding as other songs mentioned here still has that quality singing. "In The Jailhouse Now" is sort of surpise since its the only song that features an actual member from the movie on the soundtrack--Tim Blake Nelson, he sings the lead and does a good job. The stellar track as I see it would be "I'll Fly Away" with Gillian Welch and Alison Krauss. Their voices blend so well together that its almost a shame when the song ends. The are other good songs on the disc to be sure, but these are really the high points of what amounts to an excellent soundtrack.Free Music Review: Finally some variety in the music industry.
Hit: 5 Stars
This album represents something that has been long overdue in the mainstream music industry for the past 2 or 3 decades. Most music being released has slowly but surely digressed to the Brittney Spears and Madonna image. Even some favorite country artists are finding that they have to dress in skimpy clothes to sell records. Quite honestly, its time to make some music available to the major market that is not centered around the themes of drugs, sex, and how many STD's a person can acquire in one night. I'm not saying that Notorious B.I.G. has very bad songs, I have listened to those too, and the rhythms are good. However, if all that is available in the mainstream is songs of distruction and corruption, what can we possibly expect our society to become. I'm not saying that rock, metal, rap, and pop artists should be banished. They have a right to play their music just as everyone else does. ITS ABOUT VARIETY. Let's have some more records like this (even if they are reproductions from the past) where at least people have a choice when they go the record store. No, I don't mean the tiny rack in the back corner where the store wants $22.99 for a 40 year old song. Stores should display such records beside Metallica, 3 Doors Down etc. Let the people make the choice, not the industry. Then the industry will find less piracy, and a more enthusiastic audience.Free Music Review: O Brother
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the soundtrack to the Coen brothers' film based loosely on Homer's "The Odyssey". This soundtrack takes the movie from good to great. The tracks follow the progression of the movie. Nearly an hour of blue-grass music, even if you haven't seen the movie, this is worth having if you like "Old-Time" Country music and blue-grass. The legend, Ralph Stanley, appears a couple of times here, although his "Man of Constant Sorrow" is here too, but covered by Dan Tyminski. Stanley's "O Death" is a haunting tune sung without accompaniment. His voice is sorrowful and full of pain, and will send shivers up your spine. Tyminski's cover is well done and becomes the centerpiece for the movie. The sultry voices of Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch provide a rising rendition of "Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby." Alison Krauss also lends her voice to the spiritual "Down to the River to Pray," and joins up again with Gillian Welch for "I'll Fly Away". The surprise here is Tim Blake Nelson on lead vocals as the dimwitted Delmar on "In the Jailhouse Now."
Overall, this is a great soundtrack, and well worth owning if you like this type of music. I think the Coen brothers have done a lot with the release of this movie to turn the spotlight onto blue-grass music. This is great music that deserves more than the fifteen minutes of fame it's received.
Free Music Review: Easily the best soundtrack album of 2000
Hit: 5 Stars
Don't take the word "soundtrack" too seriously with this album: it absolutely stands on its own as a lovely collection of old-timey/bluegrass/folk from the Depression era and doesn't come across as a pre-packaged film promotion. Indeed, the liner notes suggest that the soundtrack was created before the film was actually made, with the music intended to add color to the film. I am eagerly awaiting this movie, and after having listened to the entire CD twice in a row upon receiving it, I am looking forward even more to seeing it to see how well the music fits into the overall experience.Featuring well-known artists like Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, and the Cox Family, the album also showcases some other performers that I'm not familiar with (and therefore won't comment on their reputations and show my ignorance). There are also some original recordings (such as Harry McClintock's "Big Rock Candy Mountain", for one).
The liner notes contain a lot of information about the genesis of the album and the part the music plays in the movie. It's clear that those involved in the making of this album put a lot of care into it and respect for the music.
Standout tracks for me: The Whites' "Keep on the Sunny Side" and Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch's cover of "I'll Fly Away".