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.
- Artist: Barry Adamson
- Title: Moss Side Story
- Year: 1989
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1989 – Bought it at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA
- Keeper: Yes
Moss Side Story is a film score by Barry Adamson for a three act murder mystery that doesn’t exist. Most people that have this album seem to really love it. I really love most of it, but I have to tell you that the opening cut “On The Wrong Side Of Relaxation” really gets on my nerves. Which, based on the title, seems appropriate. I played Moss Side a number of times over the last week and most of the time I put the needle down on the right side of that song. He has also done music for real movies as well as performing on many albums with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
More about Barry Adamson at Wikipedia and BarryAdamson.com.
- Artist: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis
- Title: The Proposition Original Soundtrack
- Year: 2005
- Format: CD
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 2006 – Christmas gift!
I was shopping around for Mary this Christmas when I stumbled on this. I hadn’t even heard of the movie The Proposition. It turns out, not only did Nick Cave, her favorite music artist, write and perform the soundtrack music, he also wrote the script. Best of all, it seems people really like it, the movie, that is. I don’t know much about his collaborator Warren Ellis, but I do know he is not the comic book author.
This really is movie music, and I would call it a “score” rather than a soundtrack. I don’t think the “songs” here are meant to stand alone; for the most part they are more like music cues. Overall, I dig it, but I like listening to scores/soundtracks probably more than most folks. I really don’t want to use the word “ethereal”, but there, I’ve done it. Of course, it’s ethereal with a very subtle Western movie edge and a not unexpected old man Nick Cave sound. Listen for yourself.
- Artist: Isaac Hayes
- Title: Shaft
- Year: 1971
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 9
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: No idea when, bought it used and it’s near mint
Butter Your Soul With the Movement
Which is to be Continued by Black Moses.
Whatever you say Mr. Hayes. That psychedelic sentence is big and bold on the inside of this gatefold double album, but it’s just a promotion line using the titles from the four earlier albums pictured right below it. Anyhow, I would guess that very few people familiar with the hit “Shaft” have ever heard the whole double album. That’s too bad. The first disk is heavier with a few very rocked out jams, and the second is so chill I could feel my blood pressure dropping as I played it. I don’t have a lot of records by Isaac Hayes, but I’m glad I have this one.
IsaacHayes.com
