REVIEW: Soundtrack, The Cowboy Way (Epic Soundtrax)
- Bob Gajarsky
Woody Harrelson and Kiefer Sutherland have helped catapult the film The Cowboy Way into a box-office smash. The soundtrack with the same name features some of the biggest names in rock and country. So, it should be a great effort, right?
Well, not really. Rock and pop stations are playing Bon Jovi's "Good Guys Don't Always Wear White". Bon Jovi's effort is reminiscent of his solo work for the film Young Guns II and should eagerly be snapped up by the New Jerseyan groups loyal fans.
The marketing department is working overtime, pushing another single to country radio stations, a cover of the Willie Nelson/Waylon Jennings song, "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Cowboys" by the Gibson/Miller Band. The band, who were voted the best New Vocal Duet Or Group at this year's Academy of Country Music Awards, bring a 1990's sound to this country classic.
However, the soundtrack leans heavily on substandard efforts by a wide variety of bands. Alternative artists, such as Blind Melon and Cracker, don't produce the quality which has been expected from these groups (in a cover of Lou Reed's "Candy Says" and the new "Blue Danube Blues", respectively) while almost trying to sound country. The cover of the Drifters classic "On Broadway", is poorly covered by Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers. The best part of the soundtrack is the inclusion of country stars Travis Tritt and Emmylou Harris.
In conclusion, The Cowboy Way is really only recommended to those who are into country-rock. Those artists who aren't already country stars, as a rule, just don't deliver quality performances on the release. Track listing - Jon Bon Jovi - Good Guys Don't Always Wear White; Travis Tritt - The Cowboy Way; Gibson/Miller Band - Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys; Cracker - Blue Danube Blues; The Allman Brothers Band - No One To Run With; Jeff Beck & Paul Rodgers - On Broadway; James House - Days Gone By; Blind Melon - Candy Says; Emmylou Harris - Too Far Gone; George Thorogood - Sonny Rides Again; En Vogue - Free Your Mind
