Plain to see the brand of T-Bone Burnett on this compilation, much like "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", the same driving force with cues like "THE SCARLET TIDE", brings the song writing talent of Elvis Costello and voice of Alison Krauss with harmony by Cheryl White to the fore and "YOU WILL BE MY AIN TRUE LOVE", another beautiful composition from String who also sings backup with Alison ~ "WAYFARING STRANGER", "SITTIN' ON TOP OF THE WORLD", "NEVER FAR AWAY", "CHRISTMAS WILL SOON BE OVER" and "GREAT HIGH MOUNTAIN", features blues, gospel, folk and country with an unforgettable interpretation by songwriter/vocalist Jack White (who debuted in this film).

My stand out pick is "I'M GOING HOME", performed by the Sacred Harp Singers at Liberty Church unleash the power of four part harmony that goes back one hundred and ten years ~ haunting and vibrate makes the floor shake with their sound ~ this cue is well worth the price of the album...gotta love it!

Total Time: 63:07 on 19 Tracks ~ Sony 86843 ~ (12/16/2003)


Transports you back to Cold Mountain...   February 24, 2004
 34 out of 39 found this review helpful

"Cold Mountain", an extraordinary piece of art in its own right, is greatly improved by its soundtrack. This wonderful soundtrack really creates the atmosphere of the South during the Civil War era. Fans of the accomplished Gabriel Yared (The English Patient, Message in a Bottle, Sylvia) will want to pick this one up as he composes the score. Numerous songs are provided by Jack White, Oscar-nominee Alison Krauss (who sings my favorite songs on the album), Tim Eriksen, Riley Baugus, and more. Though I must warn you, this soundtrack is definitely not for everyone. Some of the songs work well with the film (11. Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over - Jack White), but definitely not on their own. In addition, many songs on here are bluegrass, country, and folk; genres that are often parodied and ridiculed by mainstream music fans. However, if you enjoyed any of the music in the film, this is the CD for you. Unlike many other soundtracks which shall remain nameless, every single piece of music in the film is included on the soundtrack in its full and complete form.

FAVORITES:
4.) The Scarlet Tide - Alison Krauss
8.) You Will Be My Ain True Love - Alison Krauss
14. Great High Mountain - Jack White
15.-18.) All of Gabriel Yard's score
19.) Idumea - Sacred Harp Singers At Liberty Church


A Defense   December 22, 2003
 19 out of 24 found this review helpful

Since the knives seem to be out in some quarters for this album, I feel I need to say a few words in its defense. First, as to the matter of credentials: Stuart Duncan, Norman and Nancy Blake, Mike Compton, Riley Baugus, the Reeltime Travelers, and (yes!) Tim O'Brien are all on here, and at the top of their form. I'd hate to see their work go unappreciated because of what appears to be a controversy over who had the "right" to do this album. Second, while Jack White is definitely an "outsider" to bluegrass and old-time music (as is ex-punk rocker-turned-ethnomusicologist Tim Eriksen), their voices are perfectly appropriate to the material, working nicely with that of Baugus, one of the most "authentic" voices appearing here. In the movie (which I have seen in preview), the music they perform is largely played by a trio of itinerant backwoods musicians/Confederate deserters (including White) led by Ruby's (Rene Zellweger's) father, who entertain the women from time to time. They sound, in fact, much more appropriate for the parts than a more polished, mainstream performer would. And the music, while quiet and parlor-like, is perfectly appropriate to its function. I think particularly of "Great High Mountain," sung in the epilogue as the survivors sit down to Easter dinner; Ralph Stanley's mystical vision is transformed here (evidently with Dr. Ralph's blessing) into a happy account of life's journey toward heaven, and a benediction on the struggles of people whose trials have dwarfed anything we experience.

That said, I, too, find the album uneven. Alison Krauss's made-for-the-Oscars songs are flaccid, and in any case I think she sings much better with a fiddle in her hand. Gabriel Yared's movie music is just that. Nor am I keen on White's original song, which sounds greatly out of place (though T-Bone Burnett's song "As a Songbird That Has Fallen," done by the Reeltime Travelers, is exquisite).

Yet the good in the end far outweighs any exceptions for me. Finally, while I must confess that (like several other reviewers here, I suspect) I know and have sung with Cassie Franklin and the Sacred Harp Singers at Liberty Church, I'll nonetheless say that they're the most important reason to buy the album. Franklin's voice is a jewel, and her styling of "Lady Margret" is wise beyond her twenty years. The Liberty Church tracks are overpowering, especially "Idumea," which in the movie serves as a sort of Greek chorus, proclaiming to shattering effect the imminence of Eternity and the Last Trump over the din of the Battle of the Crater. If you see the movie, find the words to "Idumea" before you go; you'll understand it much better.


Cold Mountain Soundtrack   December 17, 2003
 15 out of 21 found this review helpful

As soundtracks go, the Cold Mountain soundtrack did a pretty good job of encompassing the music that's in the film while making it good to listen to as a CD. Not all soundtracks can say that.

I think that, in part, this comes from the strength of the old tunes that were used for this CD. Even in their watered-down, once-or-twice removed versions (i.e., except for the Sacred Harp songs, they are not being sung by people who have grown up with them and lived with them their whole lives, but by performers who sing them on stage), they shine through. I'm not a fan of Jack White's singing voice, but even he can't wreck "Wayfaring Stranger or "Great High Mountain."

Actually, most of White's songs were pretty good except for one he wrote himself: "Never Far Away." This was a truly mediocre song, sung in a very mediocre way, and the 3-note accompaniment to it reminded me of "Three Blind Mice." This song should have been left off of the album.

I enjoyed all of the other songs, especially those sung by Tim Eriksen and Cassie Franklin. "If fine lead crystal could sing, it would sound like Cassie Franklin," said someone who is familiar with her singing. I think this is a fine and accurate description of her voice. Tim Eriksen has a wonderful voice too, in my opinion, and I liked his rendition of "Am I born to die?" which also happens to be the tune, unharmonized, of "Idumea" which is featured last on the album.

Allison Kraus sounded far too tentative to my ears; I've heard her sing much more confidently on other albums and in person. I do wish that she had sung out more, so that her lovely voice would shine forth. It didn't on this album. Still, I liked her songs.

For sheer power, in my opinion the Sacred Harp singers steal the album. If you like your music served up with intensity, you will be delighted with these selections.

A word here about Sacred Harp singing: Unlike all the other selections on the album, which are performances, Sacred Harp is the real thing -- first generation, not watered down, sung by a mixture of those who have had it in their families for generations and those who have just discovered it. The people on the album are not a choir but a small group assembled from a larger community of singers who love this music.

The good news here is that, if you loved the tracks on this album, you too can get involved in Sacred Harp singing. It is participatory music, meaning everyone is there to sing for each other or, if they can't sing, to listen (but it's not a concert). Everyone is welcome; there are no auditions. You don't have to have a trained voice; you just have to have the voice you were born with. Just show up and you will be welcome. There's likely a group in your area; to find one, go to a search engine and type in "Sacred Harp."

All in all, I enjoyed this Cold Mountain CD. It will be one I listen to many times.


Powerfully evocative soundtrack   August 31, 2004
 15 out of 16 found this review helpful

Regardless of what you feel about Titanic, its soundtrack was a success in that its music resonated the same feel, or aura, as the movie did, and everytime you listened to it, the music brought back feelings and impressions you felt while watching the movie. Cold Mountain's soundtrack does the same and that makes it a successful soundtrack, in my opinion. You relive the movie through the soundtrack vividly; both the movie and its soundtrack strike the same emotional chords and both complement each others artistic style.

I'm not familiar with bluegrass music, so I can't say if this is a successful bluegrass compilation or not, but I suspect it isn't, because that wasn't the goal of this production. The goal was to use music as a means to amplify the themes and emotions portrayed in the film--the songs were used very well to serve as musical exclamation points for key scenes.

You really can't separate the movie Cold Mountain from its music. Like with Titanic, its soundtrack was inseparable from the movie. While I was watching Cold Mountain with my husband, both of us commented on how good the songs were during the movie.

This soundtrack has received a LOT of criticism for not being an true bluegrass album, but a lot of people are forgetting this is a movie soundtrack, not a historical folk album. Cold Mountain is a war epic and love story, not a movie about bluegrass, so its songs are not going to be limited to only historical folk songs--songs that will help further the plot or help to bring certain scenes to life will be used in a movie soundtrack, because that's the job of the music.

Nobody complained that the music in the Braveheart score was not historically accurate because they were actually contemporary works, and nobody complained that Titanic's music didn't actually exist during the early 1900's because James Horner wrote the songs and James Horner wasn't alive back then. That is because that they are soundtracks for the movie, and the goal of a soundtrack complement the movie. Sometimes, exceptional soundtracks will come along--a great soundtrack to go with a great movie--and Cold Mountain's soundtrack is one of them.

Jack White surprised me with his versatility as an artist. His renditions of songs felt authentic and believable.

For what it's worth, this city slicker was smitten by this production. I experienced a taste of the grandeur, dignity, and beauty of Appalachian history and culture through the movie, and especially through its music. I'm not a fan of country or bluegrass, but I'm a fan of this soundtrack.