O Brother Where Art Thou:Soundtrack

Despite the presence of Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss and bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, the stars here are the songs themselves, a host of traditional songs augmented by archival recordings. The collection is also a showcase for a host of lesser known and forgotten bluegrass masters: The Cox Family, collaborators with Krauss; Norman Blake, a sideman for Bob Dylan and June Carter Cash; country gospel group The Whites, who once counted Ricky Skaggs as a member (and who, here, cover the Carter Family); and young bluesman Chris Thomas King among them. All bring life to their songs, and the results are sublime--and, at times (Krauss and a choir's take on "Down To The River to Pray", Blake's instrumental version of the oft-repeated "I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow"), downright entrancing.

Some of these songs can be found on Alan Lomax collections. If you enjoy this album, we also highly recommend the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music and Woody Guthrie's Asch Recordings series. --Randy Silver

Chronique amazon.fr
Les freres Coen ont convoque la fine fleur du bluegrass et du gospel pour realiser la bande originale de leur film le plus drole. On y entend des violons qui geignent, des voix qui chantent a la lune, et on y sent vivre un monde et vibrer une epoque. Et quand ces violons, par exemple, sont entre les mains de John Hartford ("Indian War Whoop", "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow"), on traverse des moments de pure delectation. Hartford est un des maitres du violon bluegrass et Alison Krauss s'impose comme sa nouvelle deesse. Elle interprete ici "Down To The River To Pray" avec une devotion intense et un abandon total. Les anciens cotoient la releve pour signifier encore mieux l'inalterable continuite de ces musiques sans age. Ainsi en est- il de Ralph Stanley ("O Death") ou des Stanley Brothers ("Angel Hand") qui chantent ces classiques du gospel du fond de leur ame. Toutes ces chansons sentent la tourbe et la sueur, le travail penible sous un soleil de plomb et les bouffees d'espoir. Cet album permet en prime de decouvrir des reunions inesperees avec le duo Gillian Welch et Alison Krauss ("I'll Fly Away"), ces deux-la rejoignant a leur tour Emmylou Harris ("Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby"). Un CD 100 % au bois et aux voix d'une tracabilite totale. --Jose Ruiz

Highlights include the Big Rock Candy Mountains, Man of Constant Sorrow, In the Jailhouse Now and O Death. If you have ever wondered what bluegrass sounded like but have been afraid to try, this is the CD for you. It will show you the magic that this genre of music can provide.


Great but.....   June 14, 2004
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This CD is fantastic, with songs that will leave you humming and tapping your feet. I would have given it 5 stars except for the fact that the primary song I wanted featuring the artists from the actual movie was not featured on the album. The version of "I'll FLy Away" from the actual movie is done by the Kossoy Sisters and is featured on their album "Bowling Green". I hope this helps anyone else who will end up trying to hunt down that origianl version.


O Brother   June 10, 2004
Russell Diederich (Littleton, CO United States)
This is the soundtrack to the Coen brothers' film based loosely on Homer's "The Odyssey". This soundtrack takes the movie from good to great. The tracks follow the progression of the movie. Nearly an hour of blue-grass music, even if you haven't seen the movie, this is worth having if you like "Old-Time" Country music and blue-grass.

The legend, Ralph Stanley, appears a couple of times here, although his "Man of Constant Sorrow" is here too, but covered by Dan Tyminski. Stanley's "O Death" is a haunting tune sung without accompaniment. His voice is sorrowful and full of pain, and will send shivers up your spine. Tyminski's cover is well done and becomes the centerpiece for the movie. The sultry voices of Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch provide a rising rendition of "Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby." Alison Krauss also lends her voice to the spiritual "Down to the River to Pray," and joins up again with Gillian Welch for "I'll Fly Away". The surprise here is Tim Blake Nelson on lead vocals as the dimwitted Delmar on "In the Jailhouse Now."

Overall, this is a great soundtrack, and well worth owning if you like this type of music. I think the Coen brothers have done a lot with the release of this movie to turn the spotlight onto blue-grass music. This is great music that deserves more than the fifteen minutes of fame it's received.


Wonderful!   May 5, 2004
Movie and Music lover! (HOLLYWOOD, California)
My husband and I listen to this cd all the time, and we never tire of it. You should purchase this cd. It is really good.