Customer Reviews

A Mighty Wind: The Album

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album leaves me speechless. I'm a big fan of the work of Guest, Shearer, McKean, Levy et. al., and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie "A Mighty Wind", of which this is the soundtrack. But the movie wasn't by any means the funniest thing to come out of this very talented group of people (I think "Best in Show" and "Waiting for Guffman" were both better, and "This is Spinal Tap", of course, is legendary). Nevertheless, it was clear from the movie that the folk song parodies were dead on, so I got the soundtrack album. I've just been listening to it for the last two hours; every time I finish it I start playing it again. The songs are THAT GOOD. There are three groups here, with three different personalities. The Folksmen (consisting of the three members of Spinal Tap: McKean, Guest, and Shearer), stick closest to the folk formula. Their songs are very enjoyable both from the humor standpoint (what they do to the Stones' "Start Me Up" will have you rolling on the floor) and also musically. The New Main Street Singers are so unctuously sweet that they'll put you into a diabetic coma; "Potato's in the Paddy Wagon" is their best song. But the real surprise is Mitch and Mickey (Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara). Their four songs are astonishingly beautiful and not played for laughs at all. This is way, way beyond mockumentary good; these two have real talent (songwriting as well as singing), and I wouldn't be at all surprised if this album wins some Grammy awards. I want to hear more songs from them (and from the other groups too). The album ends with the title song, performed by all three groups together, which is also a terrific song (and has a nice joke at the end, if you can catch it). This is spectacular work -- it might just bring folk music back into style. Way to go, guys!

I've loved the work of Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy's mockumentary style over all three of their movies. A Mighty Wind is the most sweet, sentimental and musical movie of the three. Waiting for Guffman and Best In Show are of course the other two. I was very pleased with the movie, as it is a tad darker and the plot is bit more serious. The music throughout the movie is outstanding and gives us a deeper glimpse into the wellspring of talent this unique ensemble cast is capable of offering.

Now to the album. I saw the film and was immediatly taken by the great songwriting and remarkable performances of the cast. All the principles sing and play their instruments. No overdubs or studio standins. It is expected that Spinal Tap aka The Folksmen are no strangers to music and their renditions of "Never Did No Wanderin" and "Blood on the Coal" are true to the folk roots and hit home with a tongue in cheek authenticity. The New Mainstreet Singers are a saccharine sweet parody of the New Christy Minstrels and the Rooftop Singers. They perform goofy over the top campfire singalongs like "The Good Book Song" and "Potato's in the Paddywagon" with great hooks and harmonies. However, Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara steal the show and the album with some truly beautiful and touching duets. As the long estranged former husband and wife team of Mitch and Mickey, they convey catchy and genre perfect interpretions of the coffee house style like "When Your Next To Me" and "The Ballad of Bobby and June" and are taken right from the pages of the best duos of the 60's. The absolute highlight is the wonderful and affectionate "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" It is arguably the films climactic moment as well as a true folk song for the ages. I can't overstate the quality of the performances of Levy and O'Hara. I demand a Mitch and Mickey album. This soundtrack is a gem.

Having caught a fragment of an ad for the upcoming film A MIGHTY WIND on TV, I dabbled around online until I found out more about it. This included this soundtrack CD, so I have enjoyed the music BEFORE the film has been released nationwide. I am certainly looking forward to it.

This CD is unique. So much so that there is really nothing to compare it with, and my 5-star evaluation reflects my being tremendously impressed, perhaps more than its musical accomplishment (although it is quite good).

A MIGHTY WIND is a "mockumentary", but by definition this is a mock documentary, not necessarily a mocking one. Indeed, the satire is pointed, but fairly gentle, and there is about the whole experience as much the quality of a tribute as there is of comedy.

It is the soundtrack which pulls this off. The creators (Guest, Levy, et al) have gone out of their way to fashion a credible backstory, complete with truly original songs, performed (sung AND played, often live) by the actors who play The Folksmen (based on a bizarre combination of The Kingston Trio, Limeliters, Brothers Four, Highwaymen), The New Main Street Singers (a very loose mix of the New Christy Minstrels, Back Street Majority, Serendipity Singers), and Mitch & Micky (Ian & Sylvia, Sonny & Cher gone folk, with a bit of skewed John Phillips in the Mitch character). Still, none of these comparisons can be taken literally, as they are all leavened with a considerable dose of the creators' perverse sense of humor.

As for the songs, OF COURSE they are parodies. Anyone familiar with the 60s folk genre has but to listen carefully to the lyrics. But they are performed so sincerely, so seriously, that at first you don't notice: you just enjoy the pleasant, somewhat nostalgic harmonies. When you finally figure it out, the straightforward (nothing coy or wink-wink about it) presentation makes it all so much more effective and brilliant.

The soundtrack alone is both poignant and funny-- well worth experiencing.

Again, I can't wait to see this movie.

I can think of two reasons to buy this cd. One, you liked the film with its quirky off stage personas and are fan enough of the parody genre to want to relive some of the corny white bread mock ups recorded by the faux folk groups, The Main Street Singers and The Folksmen. Both pay clever heed to the art while accentuating its tongue in cheek naivety and noticeable silliness. Secondly, however, you might be inadvertently swept up in the actual beauty of the songs by Mitch and Mickey, the alter egos of Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara, and find yourself wondering how on earth this is supposed to be funny when the lyrics and harmonies give you the kind of chills that you'd rather not admit. Levy, who usually reduces himself to a talentless shmuck for the sake of comedic value, is a damned good surprise showcasing his songsmith talent while his off key vocal stylings from Waiting for Guffman take the form of a musically inclined baritone. Meanwhile, O'Hara flips the preconceptions in a similar manner, departing from an atonal, suburban wasteland character actress to this refreshing foil who, both on film and behind the mike, is a convincing veteran folkie with a voice that goes from crow to nightingale. Simply put, she makes me want to buy an auto harp. I can see why during the film so much emphasis was placed on their reunion, because while listening to such charming tracks as "When You're Next to Me," whose live video performance is a welcome inclusion to this multimedia disc, and the gem "One More Time," I had a severe "hankerin" that the duo would go on tour and grace us with a full repertoire. Without showing too much favoritism, it is important to note that The Folksmen have a believable early 60s knack for the original intent of folk. The opening song, "Old Joe's Place," has all of the elements of the story as told by the wanderer in a full blown laundry list of visual detail reminiscent of the beat poets. And it should also be noted that "Never Did No Wanderin'" is a classic tribute to the value of acoustic strings in a minor key. Never mind the irony that the protagonist has an antifolk yen to stay home, because the melody has a wandering quality best appreciated in a Greenwich Village coffee house circa 1962. The Main Street Singers are a pure jest as recording artists. Though you can listen to Mitch and Mickey in your car with the windows rolled down you may want to keep the joke to yourself when the poster children from the dark side of Utah sing "Potato's in the Paddy Wagon." It's just that funny, but as the group themselves will tell you, "It's scary but it's true." For a tight wrap-up the only thing to say is this album is a schizophrenic joy. That would go nicely on a poster, I think.

Unlike some of the other reviewers of this CD, I know nothing about folk music. I don't think I could name three folk musicians if you asked me. But after seeing this hilarious movie (better than Best in Show, equal to Guffman) and tapping my feet all the way through, I immediately bought the CD and it hasn't left my stereo.

This is high praise coming from someone whose CD collection consists mainly of alt rock. The songs are subtly funny, with the sometimes awkward and purposely cheesy lyrics, but not outright parody like "Weird" Al. The result is an album that has some beautiful, moving songs (the trio of Mitch and Mickey tunes), some great sing-a-longs and incredible harmony. Even more amazing when you consider that most of the singing, playing and songwriting was done by the actors.

I'd pay to see a show like the PBN program at the end of the film.

At some time in your life you have probably heard how the difference between the DNA of human beings and chimpanzees is almost identical. Go one way you get Johnny Weismueller, Dave Garroway, and Ronald Reagan; go the other way you get Cheetah, Fred J. Muggs, and Bonzo. That scientific detail is a pretty good explanation for how the great collection of "folk" songs on "A Mighty Wind" are such perfect parodies of the music of the American folk music revival that dominated the charts in the late 1950s and 1960s.

I think it is a mistake to try and equate all of the characters created by Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, and their company of players as representing real counterparts. True, it is impossible to look at the New Main Street Singers and not think of the New Christy Minstrels, but there were lots of groups of giddy young people singing folk songs and such at that time. Besides, it is impossible not to think of Mitch & Mickey as a real group. Who did not get a lump in their throat watching the film when the reunited duo sang "Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" and recreated their famous onstage kiss? You can look for some hidden humor in their songs, but you are not going to find anything amusing beyond their simple earnestness. I just have to say that it if they had not cut "When You're Next to Me" from the film then Mitch & Mickey would would have had two incredibly catchy songs in a single movie, and you know what that did for Evanescene. Throw in "One More Time" and the "Ballad of Bobby & June" (okay, that one has some funny bits) and you will be pestering your local music store for old Mitch & Mickey albums. Who would have thought that Eugene Levy and Catharine O'Hara could make such beautiful music together.

If Mitch & Mickey provide the heart and soul of this soundtrack album then it is the Folksmen who provide the biting wit, although the only really tongue in cheek effort that made it into the film was the title track, "A Mighty Wind." "Old Joe's Place" is silly tongue twisting fun, but "Blood on the Coal" and "Skeletons of Quinto" take some serious swipes at the pretentiousness of protest music. But then they do a harmonic cover of "Start Me Up" and you have to just shake your head and chuckle. Having the two versions of "Never Did No Wanderin'" (without the "g", for the Folksmen but with it for the New Main Street Singers of course) is a nice little case study of how populaist folk songs were turned into popular pap for by the process of crass commercialism.

But once you see the film and rush out to get this album so you can play it over and over again, it is going to be Mitch & Mickey that join the pantheon of great faux music groups, along with Eddie & the Crusiers, Ellen Aim, the Commitments, and, of course, Spinal Tap. Just remember: "When the veil of dreams is lifted, and the fairy tales have all been told, there's a kiss a the end of the rainbow...more precious than a pot of gold."

Christopher Guest and company are known for their abilities to take beloved institutions and make hilarious fun of them. Most of these films have layers that often go unnoticed. This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, and A Mighty Wind are all musicals in some form. These songs have to be written and performed and must mirror the styles they mock while retaining a love for the form. Thus the soundtracks to these films stand on their own.

A Mighty Wind's collection of seventeen folk songs take the archetypal styles of the 1960s folk period replicate them marvelously. Guest has been making fake folk songs since his days with the National Lampoon (two good examples can be found on Gold Turkey).

"When You're Next to Me" by Mitch & Mickey is a beautiful love song that works because it retains its beauty in spite of the humor of the surrounding film. It could easily become a standard, if allowed to survive out of context. However, in context, it takes on an entirely new layer with the characters.

The different bands each have a distinctive style that is captured with panache: the love ballads of Mitch & Mickey, the light and airy ditties of the New Main Street Singers, and the mixture of death and humor of the Folksmen. Arranged in such a way that you don't get tired of one style before going on to the next, they make for a full experience that can be repeated multiple times. Songs by the Folksmen blending into those of the New Main Street Singers and Mitch & Mickey, it feels a bit like the concert that ends the film, complete with the final title song sung by all three bands.

I especially like that the filmmakers were not afraid to put two versions of the same song on the album as the versions of "Never Did No Wanderin'" by the Folksmen and the New Main Street Singers are different enough that I didn't notice on first listen.

Folk fans needn't feel that their beloved music is being jabbed injudiciously. The actors are all accomplished musicians so these songs are quality examples of the form. A Mighty Wind's soundtrack is at least as entertaining as the film, without the flaws that it has. And you'll never hear the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" the same way again.

I'm talking, of course, about "A Kiss..." NOT winning the Oscar for best song, when it was head and shoulders above "Into The West" and the other nominated songs!!!! Yes, the movie was a "mockumentary," but the music on this soundtrack is just divine. Many folk acts from the 60's would have been proud to write a song as good as "When You're Next To Me" or "Never Did No Wanderin." The soundtrack does the seemingly impossible job of mocking the folk genre, while at the same time delivering songs with staying power. Put it on repeat and go back to a time when the SONGS were the key to music, not breast baring and butt shaking!!

After just catching "A Mighty Wind" last night, I was in line at my local music store purchasing the soundtrack to this movie. I would have done it last night, but the stores already closed.

From the brilliant minds of Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, and company, come the folksy parodies on "A Mighty Wind". This album somehow manages to be both a wonderful folk music album and a parody of one, at the same time. The music is intensely listenable, but you catch yourself saying, "Did I just hear right?", and you re-listen to the song just to make sure.

My favorite songs have to be from the musak-ishness of "The New Main Street Singers". I grew up listening to these harmonic, music brain dead groups, and that feeling is captured brilliantly. They are appropriately brightly sounding, and obscene, if that makes sense. The final song, "A Mighty Wind" just seems right, and as the final song on the album, makes for a great period at the end of this remarklable CD.

The brilliance of parody is extremely difficult to pull off, but the cast of "A Mighty Wind" certainly produced something that surely will be underappreciated by those who aren't in the know.

Be in the know, and buy this album today!

Christipher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer have done it again. The Folksmen have been following Spinal Tap around for years (they opened for them at a few LA concerts not so long ago), and now they get to really show off! The musicianship of all three is impeccable. This is a phenomenally produced, recorded and written CD - it harkens back to classic folk and vocal groups like The Kingston Trio, The Ray Conniff Singers and others from the 60's. If you've never heard them before, this CD will introduce you to those styles and you'll love them! These songs were written for the movie but even if you don't see it it's completely enjoyable on its own. When you realize most of the performers on the CD are actors (some that trained just for this movie), it's even more impressive! In a time when we need some sweet, engaging and fun music (and movies), "A Mighty Wind" is a perfect antidote to a world filled with other lesser choices. Kudos to the entire cast and crew and to CJ Vanston and T-Bone Burnett ("O Brother, Where art thou?") for producing such a slick, crisp and entertaining album. Buy it now!! You won't regret it!!