LB mentioned in Elizabethtown soundtrack review

[Livia]

Elizabethtown Soundtrack
written by Matt Kelly on 13 Feb 2006

Elizabethtown
Music From The Motion Picture
15 tracks, 58 mins
www.elizabethtown.com

Cameron Crowe's quite keen on his music. His wife Nancy Wilson does a lot of his scoring and he gets hands on with his soundtracks. So it is that with his latest film Elizabethtown director Crowe selects and produces this soundtrack disc.

But what did he put on the darned thing? Country flavored stuff mostly. Elton John may not be thought of as a country artist but his contribution, My Father's Gun (from 1970's Tumbleweed Connection) is a great forgotten Elton gem, a slow epic down-home number reminiscent of The Band that clocks in at over 6 minutes.

Most of what's on here though, seemed a bit crap at first. Country can be like that though- unflashy guitar work, predictable lyrics, doesn't often grab you violently and suddenly like avant garde rock can. But spend some time with good country and you'll find enjoyable, slow-burning vibes and refreshingly honest and direct wordsmithery. Of course I'm generalising but this applies to this album. Doesn't smack you between the eyes, won't bother those seeking something new and exciting, but it's a warm, satisfying experience if you're in the mood.

For example, Helen Stellar's five minute plus Io which has three lines constantly repeated over a building wash of piano and synths. And a great little number from The Hollies called Jesus Was A Crossmaker which sounds like the best song The Eagles never recorded. Tom Petty pops up twice, first with It'll All Work Out which features pretty, subtle guitar work and a lyric so overladen with maudlin cliches you can't help but be charmed. His second number is Square One, where he sings in a higher voice distinct from his familiar twangy drone. It just doesn't have that much substance though sadly, coming across as a bit girly.

Waving the flag for the ill-defined sub-genre of alt-country is Ryan Adams. Adams drops Come Pick Me Up, intentionally trainwrecked vocals draped over harmonica and drums. My Morning Jacket have Where To Begin to offer, a song so genuinely old-fashioned sounding it's quite amazing to realise it was recorded in 2005.

Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac comes out of the woodwork with the surprising Shut Us Down, an incessant guitar strumming with Buckingham's wierd high whisper as the hook. The Hombres wake things up a bit with the sarcastic but danceable whimsy Let It All Hang Out and Eastmountainsouth step up to the task of giving us those classic country harmonised vocals on the uplifting Hard Times.

Nothing groundshaking but it's not supposed to be. Goes well with quiet beer and sunshine and barbeques.




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