One Fast Move Or I'm Gone: Music From Kerouac's Big Sur

Jay Farrar, Benjamin Gibbard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic
• ASIN: B002LFPA3O
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,589 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. California Zephyr

2. Low Life Kingdom

3. Williamine

4. All In One

5. Breathe Our Iodine

6. These Roads Don't Move

7. Big Sur

8. One Fast Move Or I'm Gone

9. Final Horrors

10. Sea Engines

11. The Void

12. San Francisco

Editorial Reviews

Jack Kerouac was a literary rock star, lionized by his fans. He was called the avatar of the Beat Movement, a new voice of his generation. But along with sudden fame and media hype came his unraveling. The new film, One Fast Move or I'm Gone- Kerouac's Big Sur, takes us back to the cabin he retreated to in the Big Sur woods, the Beat haunts of San Francisco and New York City for an unflinching look at the compelling events his book is based on. The story unfolds through Kerouac's prose, first-hand recollections from Kerouac's contemporaries, as well as writers, poets, actors and musicians who have been deeply influenced by Kerouac's unique gifts.Appearing in the film are Sam Shepard, Patti Smith, Tom Waits, S.E. Hinton, Donal Logue, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Robert Hunter and many more. The stunning, High Definition visual imagery is set to original music composed and performed by recording artists Jay Farrar of Son Volt and Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie.
Gibbard stayed in Big Sur to compose songs for his band's 2008 Grammy-nominated album, Narrow Stairs. For many years, Jay Farrar's songwriting has been inspired and influenced by Kerouac's compositional style. Gibbard and Farrar, having never previously met, discovered a mutual kinship in their passion for Kerouac's work while recording several songs for the documentary, produced by Kerouac Films. After the initial San Francisco recording session in July 2007, they decided to develop the project further to create an album using Kerouac's own words from the book as the lyrics.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great tribute to a great writer October 30, 2009

By Kerouac fan

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar are both highly respected rock musicians. But they're more than just technically good they're artists. So I was delighted as a Kerouac fan when I learned that they were bringing out a tribute album to the man. Didn't know what to expect, but it's certainly not a disappointment. What it is, is an extremely laid-back meditative country-rock album, which is fitting because Kerouac's writing was often introspective, and apparently the lyrics here are taken from Jack's text in his novels. If you're looking for a hard rocking road album this is not the one, but if you're looking for a contemplation of the inner working of Kerouac's mind - this is the one for you.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing October 26, 2009

By Atticus Field

Format:Audio CD

I had high expectations for this album because Jack Kerouac is an amazing author and Big Sur is one of his best works. The album has a folk sound to it, Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar have very contrasting voices that give a nice layer effect to the tracks. All the lyrics were taken from the book, in the 24 page booklet that comes with the cd/dvd it list Jack Kerouac as one of the writers for all the songs. There is a deep passion in the songs which I believe reflects well with the way Kerouac wrote, there is no holding back. The album was composed in five days with little or no editing which is the same way Jack wrote. The documentary DVD that accompanies the album is something every Kerouac fan will love. It includes interviews with people who were present with Kerouac when he was at Big Sur. One of the individuals interviewed is Neal Cassidy's wife who was a huge part of Jack life in many of his writings. Any fan of Kerouac will enjoy this combination CD/DVD, this new medium will help introduce an amazing american author to a new generation.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars illuminating December 20, 2009

By M. H. Rock

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

they really nailed it on this one;despite the great dark depths of the material and the ravages of time, the cast shines through and jay farar provides additional resonance to this saga of a man redeemed by his art.the dvd has addional material in which carolyn cassidy and patti smith are outstanding.this is one for the ages,and jack will live on