Customer Reviews

The Straight Story: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Angelo Badalamenti has written his greatest soundtrack ever, no small accomplishment for a man who has won popularity for his haunting 'Twin Peaks' themes and his acclaimed 'Arlington Road' soundtrack earlier this year. 'Straight Story' is far, far from being sentimental as reviewed below; maybe we have just forgotten the sound of beautiful music! What Badalmenti has done here is use music as a voice for his characters in the film who are simple and wise, but do not always have the contemporary language to say outright and psychologically what they are thinking. This is a different set of values, values we have lost, and the music reflects many of those kinder and gentler values, the excitement and awesomeness of the sounds of trains (the whimsical 'Alvin's Theme') rather than jets roaring overhead; the sound of the heart beating with love(the joyous 'Country Waltz') rather than violent, action sequences; the beauty of open spaces (the sparkling 'Lauren's, Iowa') rather than suburban sprawl and concrete cityscapes. Badalmenti was wise to produce this album with Windham Hill who has honored his crystalline writing with the digitally clear recording it deserves. The fiddle, cello and guitar soloists are first rate, people who have a passion for their instrument's voices, and who play to the soul of the listener. Next to 'The Red Violin' and 'The Talented Mr. Ripley,' this is one of the finest soundtracks of 1999 for one of the finest films of 1999, and a wonderful musical tableau for actor Richard Farnsworth, truly the best actor of 1999.

Yes, really different! Different, as in, not what I expected from Angelo Badalementi. While sitting in the theater watching the movie, my wife and I were completely overwhelmed as the music engulfed us and took us into the story. As we were sitting there, enjoying the film, we knew immediately that we had to have the soundtrack.

Several months have passed since then and we know that we'll always enjoy listening to these wonderful pieces. They bring back the quiet serenity and depth of the film every time. The CD has everything on it that we wished for, and more.

Angelo Badalementi used very fine melodic accentuation in this music. For instance, the quiet guitar medley in "Rose's Theme", very simple and yet stirring with emotion. Or the gentle, country or folk style violin strokes in "Laurens Walking". An absolute masterpiece of thematic programming. Thank you, Mr. Badalementi! Keep it up!

The first time I saw David Lynch's monumental achievement, The Straight Story, I was mesmerized with what I saw, but not so much as with what I heard. Angelo Badalamenti has orchestrated an audio masterpiece that touches the heart and places the listener in place where warm summers and kind atmospheres are illuminated by the power of music. The movie, by itself, is a unique tale that is touching to say the least and uplifting to the point of emotional redemption. The music dances with the story and cinematography so well that the film's tale could probably be told without any dialogue, using only the lucid ambience of the soundtrack and the settings of rural splendor. This is a true accomplishment for Badalamenti and a composition that should not be passed up by anyone who loves a relaxing, soothing sound. Should you purchase it, listen to it in the spring or summer months while relaxing and reflecting on the happy days of your life. But I would also recommend watching the movie prior to purchase, because it is a departure from Badalamenti's previous works on Lynch films. Less darkness, more shining beauty.

The Straight Story Original Soundtrack actually made me go see the movie over and over again, about 4 times or so. I'm just a poor student and this is Denmark, movie-tickets aren't exactly cheap you know ! But if you thought that the film made life seem beautiful, just wait till you hear the music, without all those noisy people in the movietheatre, giggling and fiddling about with their bags and all that irritating stuff. I give this cd three thumbs up, this is absolutely beautiful music, worth only the comparisment of R.E.M. and the absolutely marvelous bloke who wrote the music for The Last of the Mohicans ! Buy it now or be an absolutely miserable old sod the rest of your sad, uncultivated life !

To the many other fine and well-deserved reviews of Angelo Badalamenti's score for The Straight Story, may I add the three words above. A grand film is given even greater emotional impact by music which somehow deepens and refines our sensibilities as we go along the journey. We feel more deeply immersed in the film, we see more clearly the people and the country, and within us are aroused the kinds of images and stirrings that only good music can evoke. Yet the music can and does stand alone as a compelling listening experience.

Mr. Badalamenti has given his legion of fans a truly Oscar-worthy contribution.

Badalamenti's scores for David Lynch's films just seem to get better with each new movie. From the dark density of "Blue Velvet" to the lush jazz from "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me", his scores always contain an air of sadness and contemplation. For "The Straight Story", Badalamenti seems to have also 'gone straight' as it were, veering away from the creepy atmospherics and focussing on the simple underpinnings of the music through washes of lush keyboards and strings and soft, tender melodics. Complimenting Lynch's tale of an elderly farmer's voyage, the music also cascades into guitar interludes that conjur images of corn-country backroads and big country skies. Never boring or redundant, Badalamenti serves up a soft and relaxing score that verges on the cusp of being wannabe Wyndam House new age pandering but never fails to verve back towards those distinctive Badalamenti fingerprints. Highly, highly recommended for anyone who enjoyed his work on the Twin Peaks scores or who wants some angst-free wind-down music.

These powerful compositions capture moods that most writers find elusive. For example, here is a sound of nostalgia without cloying sentiment. The feeling of rich country without corny quotations from mid-western music. Great variety, brilliant instrumentation. Wondrous emotional clarity. If you buy this disk, you'll love it--even if you haven't seen the film yet.

This is a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. As impressive as his resume is, this is easily Angelo's best work since the original Twin Peaks soundtrack. I can't wait to see how the images interact with the music in the film, Badalamenti is Lynch's greatest and most important collaborator.

The Straight Story is a film that I really like and a major reason for this is the music. I can't think of another movie I've seen in which the musical score is this gripping, especially song 3, which I think is called Laurens walking.

After hearing what Angelo Badalamenti did on Twin Peaks, as well, makes me aware I'm in the hands of genius.

Though David Lynch and his editors (Mary Sweeney, I think, is a key one) didn't create any of this music with Angelo (at least, I don't think), they accentuate it so immensely by using it in such beautiful ways with the images in the film that it seems they should almost get a small songwriting credit as well.

I didn't think watching a 79-year old man riding on a tractor from Iowa to Wisconsin could feel so haunting, endearing and sometimes spooky.

After I Bought the soundtrack for Twin Peaks, I became an Angelo Badalamenti`s fan. Since then I bought almost every new of his amazing soundtracks like Arlington Road. Even tough i didn`t see The Straight Story I was assured that the soundtrack would be spetacular and endeed it is! Every song, every beat is just incredible! One of my favorite`s songs are Rose`s theme and Alvin`s theme they are very touching. For a Angelo Badalamenti`s fan this is a must buy score! Let's hope the score will be nominated to the Oscars.