Various - My Blueberry Nights (Music From The Motion Picture)

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 31 / 3 / 2008

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Review

This is the soundtrack to the film by Wong Kar Wai, which stars Norah Jones in her debut film role. Norah opens the album with ‘The Story’, which was released as a download only single, on the same day as the album. It is jazz-based and smooth-sounding, one for lovers to chill to, but lacks many lyrics, and is the sort of thing she has done this before. so it adds nothing new what she has released previously. Cat Power has two tracks here. On ‘The Living Proof’ she does a similar thing to Norah, but with more of a rock music attitude. It features keyboards and brass and she comes over on it sounding like a chilled PJ Harvey. Ry Cooder has a number of tracks on this, which like Norah's new tune are exclusive to this release. ‘Ely Nevada’ is moody and cinematic and recalls Ennio Morricone. Then there is the Otis Reding classic Motown number, ‘Try A Little Tenderness’. Ruth Brown’s Looking Back Again’ is another soulful number. Ry Cooder’s ‘Long Ride’ has more of a live feel and is blues based number. Mavis Staples’ ‘Eyes on the Prize’ is too a blues number, but with a dirtier sound and a very smokey vocal. Chikara’s Tsuzuki’s ‘Yumeji's Theme (Harmonica Version)’ has a spaghetti western feel but its roots are in classic folk. Amos Lee’s ‘Skipping Stone’, is another soulful, chilled number, while Ry Cooder’s ‘Bus Ride’ features strings and Ry on slide guitar which is what he is best known for. Cassandra Wilson’s take on Neil Young's ‘Harvest Moon’ make it a sorrowful and lonesome experience, while Hello Stranger’s ‘Devil's Highway’ is dark and twangy before developing a more soulful and commercial sound. ‘Gustavo Santaolalla’s ‘Pajaros’ is a short masterful piece of acoustic guitar playing, while Cat Power's ‘The Greatest’ ends the album and formerly an album title track again is reminiscent of Norah and very lush in sound.

Track Listing:-

1 Norah Jones- The Story
2 Cat Power- Living Proof
3 Ry Cooder- Ely Nevada
4 Otis Redding- Try A Little Tenderness
5 Ruth Brown- Looking Back
6 Ry Cooder- Long Ride
7 Mavis Staples- Eyes On The Prize
8 Chikara Tsuzuki- Yumeji's Theme (Harmonica Version)
9 Amos Lee- Skipping Stone
10 Ry Cooder- Busride
11 Cassandra Wilson- Harvest Moon
12 Hello Stranger- Devil's Highway
13 Gustavo Santaolalla- Pajaros
14 Cat Power- The Greatest

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