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It’s not absolutely necessary to watch the movie before listening to this
CD if you remotely like bluegrass, gospel, or “old-timey” music in
general—it can stand alone. But if you don’t like these types of music
or want to hear this collection in its context, watch the movie first, and you
just may find yourself buying this quirky soundtrack.
The music is such a large dimension to the movie, and is woven in so excellently,
that you may find yourself tapping your foot to the Soggy Bottom Boys even if
you can’t stand country. That’s partly because none of this is truly
“authentic” American roots music—its sound is updated a bit and
sung by such contemporary talents as Allison Krauss, who make songs like “I’ll
Fly Away” a bit more palatable to the modern (and postmodern) ear.
And boy, do the singers on this compilation sing it well. From three versions
of “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” (note: to answer a question for
you fans, George Clooney was definitely lip-synching) to “Down to the River
to Pray,” “You Are My Sunshine,” and “Big Rock Candy Mountain,”
this engaging soundtrack is full of harmonious, fun music that’s enjoyable
to listen to. Nothing too deep, but definitely worthwhile.
To my mind this soundtrack deserved its Grammy and is a must-buy for a well-rounded
music collection.
