O Sister, here thou art. And if the unexpected commercial success of the O Brother soundtrack means more such compilations of beautifully played old-style country songs are going to dot the marketplace, you’ll get no complaints here.
Frankly, I’ve no idea what the film is about, and probably it doesn’t matter, as this is one of those “music from and inspired by the motion picture” deals. (And, in fairness, it was in progress long before O Brother topped the charts.) What does matter is that the first dozen songs on Songcatcher offer uniformly excellent work from some of the finest female vocalists throughout country music.
Simplest to list, then: Rosanne Cash, Iris DeMent (and when is she going to make another record; anybody?), Dolly Parton dueting with Emmy Rossum — no idea who Rossum is, but it’s worth finding out — Emmylou Harris, Allison Moorer, Patty Loveless, Julie Miller, Maria McKee, Sara Evans, Gillian Welch (with David Rawlings and David Steele), and Deana Carter.
Yes, McKee’s “Wayfarin’ Stranger” is extraordinary, and the first thing I’ve heard from her in years that lived up to the promise of her voice. Of course Moorer’s “Moonshiner” is stunning and brave; Miller’s “All My Tears”, too, is an unexpectedly bold take. If one must pick at something, Evans may be a little too naturally countrypolitan for the tragic “Mary Of The Wild Moor”, but it misses by so little as to be immaterial.
Welch’s powerful (and nearly obligatory) death ballad, “Wind And Rain”, isn’t the only note common to O Brother. One of the final tracks, called here “A Conversation With Death”, has Hazel Dickens, David Patrick Kelley and Bobby McMillon taking turns at “Oh Death”.
Really — and this is poor criticism but the truth — it’s all good. Almost. Right up until the thirteenth track, when the producers have inexplicably intruded the first of two instrumental bits from the soundtrack, thoroughly ruining the mood of an otherwise glorious record. This is why CD players may be programmed.