Brokeback Mountain

Not KNown

The verdict is in on the Ang Lee directed movie Brokeback Mountain; seems folks are either moved deeply by the picture, or they are totally disgusted by it. The story of two cowboys who struggle with their burning love for one another has drawn praise from critics and rebuke from religious groups. Regardless of which side you're on, the accompanying soundtrack is a solid collection of songs.

Albums of this nature usually feature musical scores awkwardly sandwiched between rock or pop tracks that have nothing whatsoever to do with the movie, but Brokeback Mountain: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is different; the songs actually compliment the scores. Producer, musician, and writer Gustavo Santaolalla has created some beautiful instrumental pieces, including the lightly picked "Snow," the sparsely arranged "Riding Horses," and the mournful "The Wings." The latter is a soul weeper with lightly strummed acoustic guitars, subtle organ shadings, and brilliant steel work courtesy of Bob Bernstein.

Santaolalla's writing skills go beyond instrumental tracks. The multi-talented knob turner also co-wrote four vocal numbers on the disc, including "I Don't Want To Say Goodbye," performed by Teddy Thompson. Thompson's voice breaks in all the right places on the poetic love song. Emmylou Harris adds her refined vocals to Santaolalla's and Bernie Taupin's graceful "A Love That Will Never Grow Old." Harris' voice is like a well-aged saddle: it's comfortable, has character, and still looks better than most of the new saddles on the market. Jackie Green takes the Santaolalla/Jeremy Spillman penned "I Will Never Let You Go" out for a gallop and turns in one of the album's finest performances.

Elsewhere on the disc, Willie Nelson shines on a cover of Bob Dylan's "He Was A Friend Of Mine." Nelson may be in his seventies, but it sure doesn't show here. Rufus Wainwright and Teddy Thompson join forces for a shuffling cover of Roger Miller's "King Of The Road." Wainwright appears again near the end of the disc singing his own composition, "The Maker Makes." The gifted singer/songwriter delivers a plaintive piano/vocal performance. Americana rebel Steve Earle offers up an accelerated version of "The Devil's Right Hand." The Duke of Earle blazes through the bass heavy track like it's the last time he'll ever get to play it.

Brokeback Mountain: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack stands on its own as a remarkable collection of songs, regardless of the movie's gay cowboy storyline. A compilation like this would do well even if it wasn't attached to such a controversial movie.

Performer	Various Artists
Music genre	Soundtracks, Film Soundtracks
Music subgenre	Original Soundtrack
Media format	CD
Language	English
Has parental advisory label	N
Number of discs	1
Track listing	Opening - Gustavo Santaolalla,He Was A Friend Of Mine - Willie Nelson,Brokeback Mountain 1 - Gustavo Santaolalla,A Love That Will Never Grow Old - Emmylou Harris,King Of The Road - Teddy Thompson & Rufus Wainwright,Snow - Gustavo Santaolalla,The Devil's Right Hand - Steve Earle,No One's Gonna Love You Like Me - Mary McBride,Brokeback Mountain 2 - Gustavo Santaolalla,I Don't Want To Say Goodbye - Teddy Thompson,I Will Never Let You Go - Jackie Greene,Riding Horses - Gustavo Santaolalla,An Angel Went Up In Flames - The Gas Band,It's So Easy - Linda Ronstadt,Brokeback Mountain 3 - Gustavo Santaolalla,The Maker Makes - Rufus Wainwright,The Wings - Gustavo Santaolalla
Record label	Verve
Target audience	Not Known
Track name	Opening, He Was A Friend Of Mine, Brokeback Mountain 1, A Love That Will Never Grow Old, King of the Road, Snow, The Devil's Right Hand, No One's Gonna Love You Like Me, Brokeback Mountain 2, I Don't Want To Say Goodbye, I Will Never Let You Go, Riding Horses, An Angel Went Up In Flames, It's So Easy, Brokeback Mountain 3, The Maker Makes, The Wings
Music media format	CD
Is edited	N
Is enhanced	N