The soundtrack to
Jim Jarmusch's excellent film about various intersecting characters in the underbelly of Memphis is divided between vintage Memphis rock-soul and
John Lurie's atmospheric score. The classics by
Elvis Presley,
Junior Parker,
Otis Redding,
Roy Orbison,
Rufus Thomas,
Bobby Blue Bland, and
the Bar-Kays are certainly good, though for the most part easily available elsewhere. Most of
Lurie's compositions are delicate miniatures built around spare, reverbed guitar lines that evoke a haunted, late-night Delta vista. There are much better tasters of either Memphis rock-soul or
John Lurie, but for someone who just wants a bit of the flavor of the movie and isn't worried about building serious collections, it's not bad at all. ~ Richie Unterberger