Customer Reviews

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

T-Bone Burnette's foray into the world of film soundtracks continues to produce some beautifil results. Blending old time Cajun blues, some of today's finest female vocalists, and a few icons (Dylan, Mahalia Jackson), the soundtrack to YaYa works as you would expect a soundtrack to work - it has some stellar moments, but it isn't fully cohesive.
Someone had a lot of fun putting this CD together, because they are some obscure, yet delightful tracks. Ann Savoy, a singer I did not know before buying this disc, has a gorgeous voice, and the soft accompaniment to her three contributions highlights her music very well. New tracks from two of today's most interesting singers, Allison Krause ("Sitting At The Window Of My Room" is wonderful), and Lauryn Hill ("Selah", a great track that is much better than anything on Miss Hill's 2nd album) are extremely enjoyable.Mahalia Jackson's "Walk In Jerusalem" is a soulful gospel pleasure, and Richard and Linda Thompson's "Dimming Of The Day" is one of their best songs (though if you know this song beware, for some unknown reason, the instrumentation is a lot different than on the original).
The biggest misfire on this disc is Macy Gray's remake of Billie Holiday's "I Want to Be Your Mother's Son In Law". Gray is a great singer, but her voice isn't equipped for remaking classic blues/jazz numbers, especially one where the limitations of her voice are readily apparent.
The problem with this disc is that it cannot set (or cannot hold) one mood for more than 2-3 songs in a row. I have been hitting the skip button on my player a lot since I bought it. You'll enjoy the songs, just be prepared for an erratic approach to the programming.

After experiencing newfound fame and success with the multi-platinum Grammy awarding O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU soundtrack and DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN, the live companion to its hugely popular predecessor, producer T Bone Burnett has created yet another masterpiece. While the DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA YA SISTERHOOD soundtrack does not follow in the same bluegrass vain as Burnett's other two efforts, it is still a phenomenal collection of music worth owning.

The soundtrack contains a wonderful variety of cajun, blues, and rock and roll music that any music fan will find pleasing and refreshing, as well as appearances by some of today's most talented musicians. Macy Gray performs the Billie Holliday tune, "I Want to Be Your Mother's Son In Law" to sheer perfection, Lauryn Hill contributes an emotion-packed recording of "Selah," and Grammy award winning O Brother veteran Alison Krauss appears with a lovely version of "Sitting in the Window of My Room." New music by music legends Tony Bennett and Bob Dylan is also worth hearing. Like the O BROTHER soundtrack, Burnett mixes the newly recorded songs with music of the past, including three rockin' Jimmy Reed tracks and a symphonic remix of Richard and Linda Thompson's "Dimming of the Day."

Whether you've seen the movie or not, this is a fantastic music collection to own. If you loved the O Brother soundtrack, love the blues, or love great music in general, check it out! :-)

While watching a private viewing of this film with a YaYa Sister of my own, I found my foot tapping more than not. I preordered the CD from Amazon and have not stopped playing it since it arrived.

The Cajun Violins sing soulfully of the bayous lost in the waves of heat and heart. Each song flows gently in the next and one finds themselves dancing away their gloom. Jazz from years gone by jumps alive in the new. There is not one track that one wants to "pass over". A true little jewel in a world of pretenders.

I absolutely love this CD, --it's a great stand alone cd--the mood, the many styles just tell a great story and leave me extremely satisfied. The cajun blues are fantastic, and you can just picture yourself on the bayou listening to a live band clapping and shouting with the sounds of the harmonica and fiddle.
If you've seen the movie the soundtrack doesn't miss a song or a moment to remember it by.
Bye this CD!

I got tipped to this soundtrack by a man that's twenty-odd years my senior and is hipper to what is happening in music much more than I could ever hope to be. And I must when it comes to getting your Ya Ya's out, you might as well do it with T. Bone Burnett instead of how it's been traditionally done with the Stones (those of the rolling variety that is).

Yes, T. Bone Burnett, he of the "Midas everything I touch turns to gold lately" production fame. He of the "O, Brother Where Art Though," Natalie Merchant's "Motherland" and the Counting Crows, "August and Everything After" success. The guy has the heartbeat of Americana folk, Cajun, bluegrass and those styles and more are represented here. There's some wonderful nostalgia with Blind Uncle Gaspard's Cajun album opener. There's a little big band jazz with Macy Gray and Taj Mahal, acoustic R & B with Lauryn Hill, gospel with Mahalia Jackson, and even a little ambient trip hop with Jade Vicent.

Usually these disparate styles sink the majority of soundtracks for me and it has been my constant complaint of the genre. But I'm ready to join the sisterhood with this wonderful soundtrack. Now if I can just find where I left my Ya Ya's. Oh, there they are in the corner hanging out with Mick and the Boys. Roll on and then some brothers and sisters.

I bought the CD after I read the book and before I saw the film, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Believe me, it was very different - I had imagined it more zydeco-driven. The first few times I listened, I was a little disappointed that the CD wasn't more upbeat, but now that I have listened to it more, it goes with me everywhere! My favorites are Taj Mahal's "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" and Ann Savoy's "Lulu Revenue Dans la Village" - all the songs are fantastic, you might just have to listen to the CD a few times and let them grow on you.

Having read Ms Wells' books over three years ago, I wanted this soundtrack and preordered it. Am I glad I did. As much as I enjoyed "O, Brother" and the Oxford Jazz albums, I have enjoyed this one just as much. The movie will not be in my area for sometime, so I do not have a comment about how well the music fits. Knowing the stories and their settings, I can guess. It would seem that it fits very well, indeed. Now I am more anxious to see the movie than ever. If it is anywhere near as good as the music, it will be delightful.

As another reviewer mentioned, someone had fun putting this all together. The talent that is showcased, is really a unique combination. There is traditional and non - something for many tastes. I enjoyed Macy Gray and Jimmy Reed as much as Ray Charles and Toney Bennett, right along with Alison Krauss and Bob Dylan.

All and all, this is turning into one of my all time favorite CD's. I am seriously contimplating getting a second copy to keep handy to play in my vehicle.

Being a southern girl, this track takes me back to the college days with Jimmy Reed playing in the background of studying, partying, and lazing about. Even the more modern pieces just fit the fabulous movie--regardless of the reviews--it was great. On the way home from the movie I stopped and bought the soundtrack. Couldn't wait...

I loved the music while watching the fillm itself - but the soundtrack stands alone! A truly fun and beautiful mix of songs, this Cajun and blues cd is a must-hear.

While suffering through the movie, I kept thinking to myself: "I have to buy this soundtrack!" And I did.

As bad as the movie was (in my opinion), that's how good this eclectic, fabulous collection of everything from cajun to Taj Mahal. There is not a bad cut in the bunch. The music is one of the few things that redeemed the movie, and I am happy to say that it wears just as well without a visual influence. I would probably have bought it for the Looosiana stuff alone, but there is so much more! Every musical genre is represented on this CD, and yet it all fits together.

Forget the movie and give this fine CD a try.