I don't know whether it shows my age or my naivety, but at one time, 45 could also mean a 7" vinyl record. That would make for a pretty bizarre film. However, the meaning is more conventional: a Colt '45 hand-gun. Oh well.
All the same, now that I have listened to the soundtrack, I think I'll go and see the film. With out any more ado, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce (in order of appearance) The Flaming Lips, Meat Puppets, Mazzy Star, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Kim Deal & Bob Pollard, The Reverend Horton Heat, April's Motel Room, FSK with David Lowery from Cracker, Butthole Surfers, Johnny Cash, Courtney & Western and Roger Miller.
The overall tone of the album is country. Looking at the photos on the inner sleeve I guess the film is some kind of Quentin Tarantino-esque road movie. Now, my knowledge of country music doesn't extend much past Johnny Cash, or, thanks to a TV documentary, Hank Williams. So you'll have to forgive my near-total ignorance in the matter.
On to stuff I do know about. The album opens up with an irreverent number, "Turn It On", sung off-key by The Flaming Lips. Ever since the days of "Wish You Were Here", I've always been a sucker for a song that simulates a short-wave radio broadcast.
The second track is "Animal", by Meat Puppets. Now, here is a group that, if my archives are correct, have released 8 albums over the course of 12 years. In an all-too-frequent scenario, they are still no closer to mainstream acknowledgement. I suppose I am 0.000001% to blame for their predicament, because I don't own any of their material. That said, on the strength of this one song, I'd be interested in buying an album, for more of the same. Sort of laid-back Pixies.
Next comes "Ghost Highway" by Mazzy Star, a jauntier piece than the material on So Tonight That I Might See; it provides an interesting look at another face of the band. This is followed by "Come On", from The Jesus & Mary Chain. They just sound like themselves, but I guess that is why we like them so much. I wonder what effect this album had in getting Hope Donovan singing a track on The 'Chain's last album (Stoned & Dethroned).
After that, things start to get a little kooky. First up, Kim Deal (ex Pixie, current Breeder) and Bob Pollard (got me on that one) do a remake of "Love Hurts". This current version is quite a soulful rendering and I think it is an improvement on the original.
Then there is stuff I know less about, people like The Reverend Horton Heat (rockabilly), April's Motel Room (somewhere between The 'Chain and R.E.M.) and FSK (yippee yee-har!). The tone heads further out into country territory, but quite acceptable to my urban ears. To obfuscate the issue, The Butt-hole Surfers roll into the corral and the old-timers push up their Stetsons and scratch the foreheads at these strange intruders. If you haven't heard of them, think of a rockier version of The Residents. Although you may not have heard of them either.
Just when you thought he was dead, it turns out he is alive and well, and this year's (re)discovery Johnny Cash trots out his "Ring of Fire". A lot more upbeat than, say, Wall of Voodoo's cover. If you have forgotten, or never heard of Johnny Cash, pick up Live at San Quentin.
The only song I really can't get into, and I thank CD technology to let me skip it from time to time, is "Am I In Love", by Courtney & Western. This is the whiney aspect of country music that I hate. In my ignorance, I am perhaps slagging off the greatest act in Nashville, but hey, in choosing between listening to this and, say, My Bloody Valentine, there's no contest. But Country-lovers will no doubt groove to it.
The album ends with "King Of The Road", by Roger Miller. I think my dad used to hum this from time to time. A cool song, and I'm hooked. Foot- tappingly addictive. R.E.M.'s drunken cover of it appeared a few years back as an outtake from their Dead Letter Office compilation.
So, who knows what's in store in the film - but the soundtrack has a fine musical pedigree. If anything, a quirky compilation of good stuff. I give it 7/10.
- David Landgren
