Amazon.co.uk Review
Country music reclaimed its traditional soul with the chart-topping triumph of the
O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack.
Down From The Mountain, the concert sequel, recorded (and filmed) at Nashville's venerable Ryman Auditorium, reunites
Emmylou Harris,
Gillian Welch,
Alison Krauss and Union Station and other
O Brother standouts. With little duplication, the selection extends the film's revival of acoustic spirituals and Appalachian balladry, though the performances and pacing of the concert aren't quite as consistently compelling as the studio soundtrack. Among the highlights is a pair of originals by Welch and David Rawlings, the bluesy "Dear Someone" and the Everlyesque "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll". Where
O Brother interspersed archival recordings among the contemporary artistry, the concert finds Nashville gospel's
Fairfield Four harmonising on the chain-gang chant of "Po' Lazarus", while the late John Hartford (in one of his final performances) renews the deadpan whimsy of "Big Rock Candy Mountain".
--Don McLeese