heart in mind with a stylistic array of early 1970s sounds supported by Trevor Rabin's orchestral score (one seven-minute excerpt, "Titans Spirit," finishes things off here). Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band's "Express Yourself" is, perhaps, the greatest surprise, while oddball favorites such as Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky," Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye," and Eric Burdon and War's "Spill the Wine" match up with country star Buck Owens's "Act Naturally." Covers include a fiery version of Sly Stone's "I Want to Take You Higher" and Leon Russell's laid-back barrelhouse-piano take on the doomsday anthem "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall." Cat Stevens's "Peace Train" rolls into the station in its original version. Creedence Clearwater ...  (less)

features songs from all-time greats The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, The Allman Brothers Band, Roy Buchanan and Badfinger along with a collaboration between Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, Van Morrison, and The Band. Add cult faves The Human Beinz, current South Boston punkers Dropkick Murphys, an R&B gem from LaVern Baker, a country- pop selection from the immortal Patsy Cline, and a pair of selections from Grammy® Award-winning score composer Howard Shore and The Departed's soundtrack album promises to be as widely popular as the film.  (less)

well as Krauss's contributions to film soundtracks, including the Oscar-nominated songs "The Scarlet Tide" and "You Will Be My Ain True Love," written for the motion picture "Cold Mountain," and "Down to the River to Pray" from the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Known for her collaborations, Krauss also includes several duets in the collection such as the 2003 hit with Brad Paisley, "Whiskey Lullaby," and her duet with James Taylor for the tribute album "Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers," "How's the World Treating You." The collection debuts five new songs: "You're Just a Country Boy," "Jacob's Dream," "Simple Love," "Lay Down Beside Me," and "Away Down the River," all of which feature Krauss as a prod...  (less)

van with his wife and a few journeyman players and gigged at university student unions for what amounted to spare change. Of course, by 1976 they were one of the biggest draws in rock, having the last laugh--if not necessarily the final word. Gathering the cream of their recorded output on a generous double-disc sampler-cum-TV-special-soundtrack seemed a promising effort at historical revisionism, but Wingspan itself is a distinct misnomer: fully 17 of the 40 tracks here hail from various pre- and post-Wings McCartney solo albums. Completely overlooked are unheralded B-sides such as "Oh Woman, Oh Why," "Little Woman Love," "Country Dreamer," "The Mess," "Walking in the Park with Eloise," "Sally G," and "Girl's School"--some of M...  (less)

far from that noble task, it gratifyingly jolts its familiar rumbas and tango rhythms with a few modern musical kicks all its own. Pussycat Dolls' crisp, sensuous take of the standard "Sway" may subtly juice tradition, but Gotan Project's "Santa Maria" gives those familiar Latin rhythms a downright savory electronica makeover. Producer/arranger John Altman underscores tradition via his versions of chestnuts both lively ("Happy Feet") and ethno-apropos ("Espana Cani," "Perfidia," "Andalucia") and even a suitably schmaltzy cover of Mancini's signature "Moon River." Altman's sturdy musical background helps focus songs as diverse as Peter Gabriel's bittersweet "The Book of Love" and Gizelle O'Cole/Pilar Montenegro's vibrant, modern Latin-inflected title ...  (less)

The album, recorded by some of the biggest talents of pop, country, and R&B, features songs from the stage show, which recounts the well-known tale of a love triangle further complicated by slavery, royalty, and the armed forces. John duets to great effect with country crooner LeAnn Rimes, the enchanting Janet Jackson, and the lovely Lulu of To Sir with Love fame. Lush and lively, the soundtrack hits a hoot of a (decidedly not highbrow) high point with the infectious pop of the Spice Girls warbling the merits of undergarments on "My Strongest Suit" ("Always wear underwear/Anytime, anywhere"). Lenny Kravitz funks things up with "Like Father Like Son." Shania Twain's husky emoting makes a fine pop ballad of the brief "Amneris' Letter." "Not Me" chro...  (less)

hopping, while a heap of lesser-known acts also make impressive contributions, most notably Pepe Deluxe (the from-Mars-sounding "Everybody Pass Me By") and the D-tent Boys (the irresistibly fun "Dig It"). It wouldn't be a Disney soundtrack without a wannabe or two, and for that we have a sprinkling of flimsy rock and country-folk. Still, title aside, here's a soundtrack stitched tight enough to avoid gaps in the fan base. --Tammy La Gorce  (less)

the forest for the trees. Both Bentley's own rootsy self-titled debut and Gretchen Wilson's Here for the Party prove quality modern traditionalism still sells. Bentley's sophomore album offers more straight-ahead amalgams of bluegrass, '60s Bakersfield, and raw barroom fare like the Waylonesque "Got a Lot of Leavin' Left to Do" and the beer-guzzling anthem "Domestic, Light, and Cold." He shows real depth on the sensual "Come a Little Closer." The moving, timeless "Gonna Get There Someday," a tale of a son at his mother's grave vowing to make something of himself, easily trumps the album's cliché-ridden title song, as does his fetching treatment of friend Del McCoury's "Good Man Like Me," recorded with McCoury's band. Bentley's lack of artifice proves his greatest streng...  (less)

DJ by readers of both DJ (UK) and BPM Culture (USA); released his artist album Just Be and the soundtrack to his performance at the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Athens 2004, entitled Parade Of The Athletes as well as the hit singles 'Traffic', 'Just Be', and 'Love Comes Again' (featuring BT); and two acclaimed live DVD's from the Tiësto In Concert events in 2003 and 2004. In Search Of Sunrise 4 is Tiësto's tribute to sun and sand, open air venues and long summer nights, inspired by his tours through Latin America in 2004 and 2005, where he visited Brasil, Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica, Colombia and many many more. His travels through these countries, especially the party atmosphere and the warmth of the people made such a deep impression that they would form ...  (less)

where the Cowboy Junkies left off--crafting intimate southern songs that unfold with quiet dignity over a bed of strings, pedal-steel guitars and restrained piano flourishes. That's more like it. Besides, in Sally Ellyson, the group has a singer whose clear, sweet voice can't help but make even the most overcast song sound oddly beautiful. If only "I'll Dream Of You Tonight" and "Too Late To Turn Back Now" could be the soundtrack to every waiting room people would actually look forward to that next root canal. -- Aidin Vaziri  (less)

everyone immediately forgot about. Also somewhat lost in the commotion was Yearwood's own honorable half-decade-plus of hits, so many that some of her best (like a masterful version of Melissa Etheridge's "You Can Sleep While I Drive") didn't make it to this roundup of singles. That's OK; there'll be another. And for now, Songbook honorably recapitulates the career so far of one of current country's most-reliables. --Byline  (less)

nabbed a nomination for Mark Isham's popular themes. Thomas Newman's score for Redford's adaptation of Nicholas Evans's bestseller relates well to the leisurely paced, nearly three-hour horse drama: it's never complicated. The rhythms of Big Sky country are introduced in a warble of strings in Newman's score and never overstay their welcome. Newman's dexterity in building various layers is more apparent in his scores for The Player and The People Vs. Larry Flynt , but those are more acidic movies (and scores). Most of the film's country-music sting originates with the songs that are available on a separate soundtrack album. There's more fluidity on this CD and, at nearly an hour of music, the disc lets Newman's score ease over you. --Doug Thomas  (less)