My Blueberry nights
Music from the Motion Picture
Various Artists
Blue Note Records
Release date: April 1, 2008

It is not normally like me to expel some type of uncharactaristic, over-enthusiastic exclamation over the intraweb thing, but… O.M.G.!!!!!!

My Blueberry Nights, the first English speaking film from acclaimed director Wong Kar Wai, whilst managing to harbor some intense criticism in a directorial sense (it’s his first English speaking film, oooooh!), gains some serious respect musically. With his creative eye and these amazing tracks, the film promises to be a great cinematic slice of the good old USA.

If you only slightly “like” blues, buy this Soundtrack. If you love blues, definitely buy My Blueberry Nights – Music from the Motion Picture, it will make a big difference in your life. I have had this on rotation since I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to review it. This compilation stands up all by itself as a fantastic collection of music, one quick glance down the list of artists involved should prove that! I mean, you have Norah Jones for a start, Ry Cooder, Otis Reading, Ruth Brown, and Mavis Staples. Even as a random Blues collection this CD is just simply brimming with talent and fantastic compositions.

Interesting fact: Norah Jones, when contacted by Wong Kar Wai, at first expected to be asked to compose music for a film, but soon found herself staring in it! The acclaimed director then gave her a stack of location photos and she in-turn suggested a slew of great music that they used as inspiration during filming and — I assume — for the soundtrack. The first track on the CD, “The Story,” relates to her experience on the set. She sauntered home one morning after an intense night of filming, sat in her piano room wired from the night’s activities, watched the sun come up and wrote it, just like that!

My Blueberry nights – Music from the Motion Picture features legends like Otis Redding, Gustavo Santaolalla (two-time Grammy award-winning composer), Cassandra Wilson, and the incredible Ruth Brown, interspersed with a sprinkling of soundtrack-styled instrumental pieces from the legendary Ry Cooder. Cat Power (one of my favorite bands), Amos Lee, Mavis Staples, all these great artists add a touch of class to a great soundtrack and have broadened my musical horizons in a great way.

TRACK LIST
1. Norah Jones The Story
2. Cat Power Living Proof
3. Ry Cooder Ely Nevada
4. Otis Reading Try a little Tenderness
5. Ruth Brown Looking Back
6. Ry Cooder Long Ride
7. Mavis Staples Eyes on the Prize
8. Chirikara Tsuzuki Yumeji’s Theme
9. Amos Lee Skipping Stone
10. Ry Cooder Bus Ride
11. Cassandra Wilson Harvest Moon
12. Hello Stranger Devil’s Highway
13. Gustavo Santaolalla Pajaros
14. Cat Power The Greatest