Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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57 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another brilliant soundtrack from T-Bone Burnett..., 6 Jan 2004
Dylan-collaborater T-Bone Burnett has been behind several of the best soundtracks of recent years- from 1997's The Big Lebowski (which tended to use back catalogue material, such as Dylan, Captain Beefheart & the Gipsy Kings)to 2000's bestseller O, Brother Where Art Thou? (which was far more popular than the film & starred artists like Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch & Emmylou Harris). O Brother...even lead to a documentary by DA Pennebaker & a spin-off soundtrack, Down from the Mountain. It seemed that the roots sound of the Harry Smith Folk Anthology had found a fresh audience- the soundtrack to Anthony Mingella's adaptation of Cold Mountain is as great as those soundtracks (I've not seen the film yet- but this album is brilliant in its own sphere anyway...)As O Brother & Down from the Mountain, there are songs that are somewhere between appalachian, blues, country & folk- loosely defined as roots & Alison Krauss returns from O Brother to sing on a few tracks. An array of artists (Tim O'Brien, The Reeltime Travelers, Cassie Franklin, Tim Eriksen etc) feature- which opens up further possibilities for further purchases I can't really afford! The Sacred Harp Singers at Liberty Church are a wonderful discovery & Gabriel Yared (Betty Blue) offers some great instrumentals also. But the highlight for me are the five-tracks from Jack White, of the acclaimed White Stripes; now I don't really see the appeal of the White Stripes- it all seems like hype from the media/XL-records & worthy of the joke Paul Morley makes about them regarding 1963 in his recent book Words & Music. It all seems like garage-rock retro & not as interesting as similar acts like Violent Femmes, Pixies, Pussy Galore, Royal Trux, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Cramps & Gun Club. But, here on Cold Mountain, I finally GET Jack White & these tracks are great, particularly Wayfarin' Stranger, Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over & Sittin' On Top of the World. Cold Mountain is an excellent purchase, & along with the box-set Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues & recent albums from Bonnie Prince Billy, Handsome Family & Gillian Welch, must purchases on the Americana count & compulsive listening...
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Old timey music at its best. Great album. , 21 Nov 2007
Whether you like the film or not, this is a great album of old timey/bluegrass music. Jack White is a revelation. Alison Krauss is as reliable as ever. Cassie Franklin produces one of the highlights. The Sacred Harp Singers made the hair on my neck stand up. I don't think the Gabriel Yared tracks add much to the CD and do not really fit in with the other tracks but they are ok. Ignoring those tracks this is a CD of pwoerful music beautifully played and produced. Recommended to those who enjoy the old timey/bluegrass/accoustic music.
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10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heart-warming, Soul-searching Music, 22 Feb 2005
Playing this CD helps me recall the heart warming, sensitive and powerful scenes from the film and book, both of which left a huge impact on my psyche. Any time I wish to return to those soul searching moments, all I need to do is listen. When hearing this CD ... surges of deep intense emotions are aroused ... nostalgia for the Civil War era returns. Recently for me, one of the greatest moments on television was watching Allison Krause and Sting perform, "You Will Be my Ain True Love". Viewing these two amazingly talented artists ... one with a voice like a nightengale, the other playing a traditional instrument ... before millions of viewers and Hollywood notables, performing the song which I love on this CD -- leaves me speechless!
"Wayfaring Stranger", the first track, is like a metaphor for the film ... Inman, climbing through the snow, wading in the river, hiding out ... walking back to Ada. The mandolin, banjo, and fiddle music draw out intense feelings of longing for his sweetheart and determination ... to survive. Tracks, #5 and #6, are fun-loving lively tunes that have the listener tapping their toes and fingers to the beat. The Sacred Harp Singers at Liberty Church (Henagar, Alabama) who perform, "Idumea" are a hidden source of inspiration ... the sounds they create form a source of spiritual sustenance, like manna from above. They are a true spiritual gift and a powerful presence on this CD. "Ruby with the Eyes that Sparkle" and "Lady Margaret" bring back scenes of family reunion and the sad impact of separation caused by the war. The pleasure of listening to this CD is enhanced if one saw the film, "Cold Mountain" or read the book. However, the music is so reminiscent of the era and times in which it was born that it will highly appeal to anyone who loves traditional music.
My highest recommendation. Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla)
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