Customer Reviews

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford [Music from the Motion Picture]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Easily the best score for 2007 from the best movie of the year. 'Song for Jesse' and 'Song for Bob' are worth the price of the album alone. The music never over powers the images on screen during the movie, and listening to the CD brings back the images from film like they belong together. One word describes this score, beautiful.

....this soundtrack would not only have been nominated for an Oscar, it would have been the clear favorite. Along with the appropriately nominated cinematography, this music gave the movie an authenticity and flavor most composers only dream about achieving. Truly, together, they formed the underpinning for an elegiac, mournful, poetic masterpiece of a film. Without this music, it is unthinkable that this misunderstood masterpiece could have succeeded in making of these characters what we come to think of them by the end of the last reel: Jesse as a haunted, nearly deranged soul, torn between the demons of his past and an ever more bleak future, and sad, folorn Bob Ford, who only wanted some respect and recognition, especially from his idol. Powerful stuff, encapsulated in music that stands for and speaks for itself. Like the film, it will never become dated. Its themes are universal and original.

I came to this record a Nick Cave fan. I was aware that he'd been scoring movies lately (and writing them, too; check out the fantastic "The Proposition"), but thought, since he made a cameo in this film singing the traditional ballad "Jesse James," this might not be score music. So I purchased it, and lo and behold it WAS score music...but I wasn't the least bit disappointed. As a Cave fan, I knew he could craft wonderful melodies. What I didn't know was that he could craft wonderful melodies that, without the aid of lyrics, convey a full range of emotions.

Simply put, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis have crafted a beautiful, haunting record. The movie itself was fantastic, but one of the key components of its success was the soundtrack. Listening to this record without the movie playing, one can tell why. Just lay back and close your eyes, and get lost in this world of cowboys and cowgirls, sins and redemption. It is an experience as enjoyable as watching the movie--and will doubtless make you want to do so.

With or without having seen the movie, this soundtrack stands on its own. Deep, intense, moody, oddly uplifting. If you've seen the movie, your listening experience can only be enhanced. If you haven't, you'll surely want to. "Rather Lovely Thing," "Another Rather Lovely Thing," and "What Happens Next" are my favorite tracks, but each cut has the power to draw you in and hold you there until the next arrives. Buy it. You won't regret it.

Such a beautiful, haunting, touching score. Strangely enough it doesn't really remind me of the movie, which isn't a bad thing. These compositions stand on their own. I have this on high rotation.

The goal of this review is to discuss solely the music from the film "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" without discussing the movie. Why shouldn't this be the goal? I am reviewing the "music from the motion picture," not the motion picture.

Having said that, what I can tell you is that this is possibly one of the most chillingly beautiful experiences ever recorded. It is the music of beautiful instability recounting the tragedy of loss and deception, it's haunting atmosphere reflecting the grey somberness of a mid-winter Missouri skyline. There is wheat growing out back and it's being blown by a strong, chilling wind. The piano strikes sad chords, a sadness that penetrates straight through the heart of the hopeful yearning of the strings. These compositions by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis listen and feel like the end of a short yet hard life.

"Song for Jesse" and "Song for Bob" both instill a sense of wonder; "The Money Train" conveys its dread and paranoia effectively; "Destined For Great Things" begins to pluck at the heartstrings. Not all of its moments are melancholy - no, there are passages of respite, such as the waltzing "Cowgirl" - but, overall, you're going to find these compositions to be just as I described: chillingly beautiful...and essential.

This is one of the great unrecognized soundtracks from one of the great unrecognized films of 2007. Really beautiful and haunting stuff.

It's a great soundtrack. The music features largely in the movie and the soundtrack takes you right there.

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis have crafted a score that will haunt you and make you think about the characters rise and fall. As Bernard Hermann once said, "A score should carry the emotions when nothing is being said". these composers have done just that.

These two epic composers also collaborated on The Proposition, which if you decide to buy this album I recommend this film as well.

This film was outstanding in every way. Great acting, direction; breathtaking cinematography and a wonderful score. it de-mythologized the Jesse James' legend and found it to be a very accurate depiction. It is a shame the distributors here in the NYC Metro area did not give it a good run when it first came out.