Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Stark, Ancestral, Remarkable
When an album of old-time music goes platinum and hits #1 on the country chart with no significant radio airplay, one may rightly wonder what the hell is going on. The star power of George Clooney in this depression-era Coen Brothers film may have drawn attention, but the soundtrack stands on its own as a remarkable achievement. The 19 rustic tracks here are mountain music, primitive gospel, and the hobo vein of folk, the ancestors of bluegrass and country. You can feel the desperation, simplicity, and reverence of another era through performances by Ralph Stanley, Gillian Welch, Norman Blake, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, John Hartford, Chris Thomas King, the Fairfield Four, the Whites, the Cox Family, and others, along with a field recording of a chain gang ("Po Lazarus" by James Carter & the Prisoners), Harry McClintock's 1928 hobo fantasy "Big Rock Candy Mountain," and the Stanley Brothers classic "Angel Band." Union Station takes on the musical identity of the three star characters onscreen, known as the Soggy Bottom Boys, and their stark, unvarnished renditions of "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" and "In the Jailhouse Now" are arresting. Ditto for Ralph Stanley, who raises the hairs on the back of the neck with his acapella mountain singing on "O Death," and the Fairfield Four on "Lonesome Valley." The emotional purity and grit of this soundtrack will take the buildup of the plaque of modern living and peel it right off.
Rating: - Just a great CD
I haven't seen the movie -- YET! However, I bought this CD because I am a great fan of bluegrass, gospel, old time folk music. This CD has roots. I think no matter what your background is, where you come from, the music on this CD brings back memories, or should, anyway. I especially love Alison Kraus' "Down in the River to Pray". I've not heard a more beautiful version of that song ever. Gillian Welch and Alison do a wonderful job on "I'll Fly Away". "Angel Band" needs no reviews; the Stanley brothers do an amazing job on that cut. The Whites, The Cox Family, Emmylou Harris, Dan Tyminski, Norman Blake, are all superb on this soundtrack. Bluegrass rules, most of us know that but I believe this CD is going to help those who have not had an appreciation for this music to have a new outlook on the music that really shaped America. Whether or not you have seen the film, the soundtrack will take you back in time.
Rating: - O Brother, I have found thee.
Let me tell you first off, being a 13 yr old girl, in the middle of the pop world, I hate country. I would beg my parents in the car to let me listen to my Pop/Rock/Rap stations, but one day my dad popped in this Cd, and now we all sing along to it on road trips, or trips to the store.1)Po Lazarus... man, this 1950's was originally recorded by a prision chain gang, the song being written by James Carter. I just wish that the chopping didn't drown out the lyrics. 2)Big rock cany mountians.... the original adult version. This funny song is no Willy Wonka favorite. 3) You are my sushine... Such a sad, touching song. I love this song, with it's syncappated country sound. 4) Down to the river to pray... this is my favorite song to sing and listen to. I love picking out all the bacground harmonys. it is a beautiful song, with Aloson Krauss as lead vocalist. 5) Man of Constant Sorrow.. a catchy, great song. If you've seen the movie, how could you think of anything other than George Clooney's eyebrows? 6)Hard time Killing Floor Blues.. a beautiful song. Chris Thomas King's voice is so rich. Very thought-prevoking 7) Man of constant Sorrow.. a beautiful guitar instrumental that gets you in a mood for music appreciation. 8)Keep on the sunny side.. the titel says it all. A happy true-bluegrass number 9)I'll fly away... an old hym that is very moving, though I like the higher pitched version in the movie better. Wonder why they changed it? 10)Didn't leave nobody but the baby.... Ahh the sirens, the vocals are supurb, but when u really listen to the lyrics, they are quite desturbing. 11) In the Highway.... if u haven't seen the movie (u need to) then u will not understand why there are three little girls singing. 12)I am weary (let me rest).... one of my favorites, the Cox family is very talented. 13)Man of Constant sorrow... I love this violin instrumental. It is my favorite song. A violin player myself, i guess I appreciate it, but it's just so beautiful!! 14)o death.... O DEATH!!!! Ralph stanley's haunting tenor voice is perfect for this song. It upsets my mom, but I love it. It makes me thankful for life. 15)In the Jailhouse now... a funny, uplifting song, with a suprising yodel. you should hear my family on this part, haha. 16) Man of Constant sorrow... The full band id behind them this time, and I like it better than Just the gitar accompaniment (sorry tommy) (see the movie) 17)Indian War Whoop... don't worry, it's not what it sounds like. it portrays the village idiots... once again, WATCH THE MOVIE 18)Lonesome valley... while this is kinda a weird song, u have to admit, the vocal harmony is amazing. 19)Angel Band.... this is a beautiful song. The stanley brothers are very good. In the movie i liked it better, but it's still wonderfull.
I hope u found this movie.
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