Various Artists -- Everything is Illuminated (Picture Soundtrack)

• Artist: Various Artists
• Title: Everything is Illuminated (Picture Soundtrack)
• Year: 2005
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2007 – Christmas present from my beautiful wife
• Keeper: Yes

First of all, if you haven’t seen the movie Everything is Illuminated make sure to put it on your list. It stars Elijah Wood, but to me the real star is Eugene Hutz. Eugene is also the singer of Gogol Bordello. The film is excellent, and I’ll leave it at that. The soundtrack, which is why we have gathered here today, is also excellent. Most of the music is original stuff from Paul Cantelon. Other artists have also contributed songs, with a couple from Gogol Bordello, including “Start Wearing Purple.” I’ve praised that number before. That happens to be the most raucous song on the album. While raucous is usually my thing, I do enjoy the entire soundtrack. I could sit on the couch and just listen to it over and over. I prefer to consume music as primary activity. But let’s say you do your music listening mostly as a secondary activity, say, walking around town with your iPod. Everything is Illuminated would make the experience of running errands a lot more interesting. It’s full of unusual music and often slightly mysterious moods. Pretend you are in the movie.

I have had Gogol Bordello’s “Start Wearing Purple” stuck in my head for months. For a few reasons, I haven’t gotten around to buying the album to review it, but I can no longer in good conscience keep them a secret from my millions of devoted readers. If you haven’t already heard of them, this is your lucky day. If you act now, you get the song with the video included for free. Just click the player below. For a limited time, as an added bonus you can also hear all the songs from their new album Super Taranta. Operators are standing by.