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Elizabethtown
Original Soundtrack
2005
Although Cameron Crowe’s recent road-trip/personal drama film of the same name has been almost universally panned, any music fan worth his or her salt would have to be severely deluded to not recognize the value of the accompanying soundtrack. From the opening notes of Mrs. Crowe’s (AKA Heart’s Nancy Wilson) gorgeous guitar instrumental, “60B (etown theme)” to the sweet, sorrowful closing number “Same In Any Language” by 1 Nine, the E-town soundtrack is a veritable cornucopia of aural delights.
Tom Petty’s (he contributed two tracks here) “”It’ll All Work Out” is a mando-driven heartbreaker, the kind of road trip anthem that probably brings out the true aim of Crowe’s coming home opus a hundred times better than the film itself did. The inclusion of the old Elton John chestnut “My Father’s Gun” probably does what Crowe wanted it to here, but after hitting a definite homer with “Tiny Dancer” in “Almost Famous,” what was he thinking by not including “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” here? Ah well, maybe next time, eh, Cam?
Other stand-outs include Helen Stellar’s sublime, keyboard-driven “io (This Time Around),” Eastmountainsouth’s heartrending “Hard Times” and Patty Griffin’s devastating, funereal “Long Ride Home,” which probably captures the pain and loss associated with the death of a loved one at least as astutely, or as poignantly, as Lucinda Williams’ breathtaking “Sweet Old World.” A few classic rock nuggets (“Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)” by The Hombres; The Hollies’ “Jesus Was A Crossmaker”) allow Crowe to strut out some of his own personal faves, and although I can think of 20 other recent films where it would’ve worked better, it’s nice to see Ryan Adams’ “Come Pick Me Up” included here.
A stunning new cut from Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham (“Shut Us Down”) proves that the nimble-fingered singer/songwriter is way past due for another stab at a serious solo career. Simply staggering.
The real treat here, though, is a relatively new My Morning Jacket track called “Where To Begin.” Fans who’ve already glommed onto the band’s latest, Z, know that Jim James and Co. continue carrying on the high lonesome, soul-stirring sense of wonder they’re known so well for, and recent lineup changes have added even more depth to an already mind-blowing modern rock beast. “Where To Begin” is as sad, and hopeless, and wonderfully lonely as anything from the band’s last few efforts, but speaks to a universal sense of pain and emptiness that only the loss of a loved one, the death of a relationship or the—er—bombing of a major motion picture can inspire. I’d sit through six viewings of Elizabethtown just for the chance to hear this song one more time. My advice? Wait for the DVD, buy the soundtrack NOW. Killer ****.
