O Brother

I've just watched a DVD version of "Down From the Mountain", which is the 2000 concert featuring the music from the masterpiece movie "O Brother Where Art Thou". The movie contains lots of great music, the musical CD has some more good stuff that's not in the movie, and the concert has some absolutely brilliant songs that are not found either in the movie or on the CD. Just go out and buy all three!

The DVD opens with interviews and scenes from backstage and the rehearsals, then there's the concert proper. If you like good music, this movie is a must. I sat with a lump in my throat and goosebumps all over throughout the 98 minutes it lasted - it IS that good!

- Alison Krauss has a couple of numbers, including a mighty purdy version of "Down in the river to pray", toghether with a Baptist Choir from Tennessee...

- The Fairfield Four does a rousing a capella version of Po' Lazarus...

- Gillian Welch and David Rawlings do an incredible "I wanna sing that rock and roll"...

- Goddess Emmylou Harris... her voice is indescribable... she sings "I am weary, let me rest" in a tear-inducing way, then does an eery version of "Go to sleep little babe" together with Welch and Krauss (she also sings a couple of lines of other things backstage that alone make this movie worth buying... damn, that woman can sing!)

- Finally, living legend Ralph Stanley (born 1927), who started his career way back in the '40s sings the old traditional "O Death". Hearing and seeing this ancient grayhaired guy singing that haunting tune, with its sombre words in his "high, lonesome sound" voice... now, if that doesn't chill you to the bone, nothing will, you poor, sad bastard.

There's lots of other goodies here too from less well known artists, all very much worth looking further into. Get thee to a music store, or to amazon.com and buy, buy, buy!