into the wild (soundtrack)

i was totally impressed by the sean penn directed film of the same name
at the time of viewing it seemed that eddie vedder had delivered up an appropriate soundtrack
saw said cd on display and beautifully packaged so the purchase was made
setting forth
mix of electric and acoustic guitars lead in before that voice arrives
totally, absolutely and instantly recognisable - pearl jam he is
in this one he hits the highest notes he can in the short tune of 1 min and 37 seconds
a very appropriate opener to the film and cd as our adventurer sets out
setting forth in the universe, out there realigned, a planet out of sight
no ceiling
another short one about the same length as the previous track
a gentler less rousing number featuring strummed banjo
a lot of respect due to vedder and penn for providing such appropriate music
this one has a great introspective feel contemplating life on the road
i leave here - believing more than i had - this love has got - no ceiling
far behind
sounding more like something from his main and regular band
another road tune with a real feel of freedom and correct decision made
quite a rock-out track actually and extending the length now to 2 minutes plus
my shadow runs with me underneath the big wide sun
my shadow comes with me as we leave it all - far behind
rise
mandolin used to great affect to lead in the main man's distinctive vocals
quite a rousing tune this one with a quite singalong chorus
no other instruments so the mandolin is worked quite hard
can't remember where this one was used in the film
but conjurs up scenes in the desert around the campfire with his road buddies
long nights
another gentle little number with his vibrato voice to the fore
bass guitar, light percussion and a lightly picked steel guitar (maybe)
the mood of this one very well captures the feeling of isolation and redemption in the film
i'll take this soul that's inside me now - like a brand new friend i'll forever know
i've got this light and the will to show - i will always be better than before
tuolumne
beautiful little acoustic guitar piece that gives us a nice mid-album break
wiki tells us that tuolumne is a small-ish under-populated county in california
the name originates from native indian meaning people who live in caves
i can't remember the actual time this tune was used in the film
but i suspect it was hanging out with the hippies in the desert easy-rider style
hard sun
when i walk beside her i am a better man when i look to leave her i always stagger back again
so begins this most memorable verging on anthemic tune off the album
eddie vedder seems most relaxed and natural sounding belting out this one
great production also means everything works well together
it starts out strong and builds to an even better finish - big, big song
society
back to basics with this one with mr vedder alone with an acoustic guitar
as a standalone song there's depth and meaning to this tune and it's lyrics
but in context of the film it is part of it then this tune is quite exceptional
society have mercy on me i hope you're not angry if i disagree
society crazy and deep i hope you're not lonely without me
the wolf
sounds like a pump organ at work on the introduction to this tune
then e v cuts in doing some vocal chord workouts in harmony with the organ
in this case as a standalone tune it doesn't make much sense beyond that
another case of not sure where it was actually placed in the film
but certainly implies the knowledge and fear of total isolation as seen in the film
end of the road
i won't be the last i won't be the first - find a way to where the sky meets the earth
it's all right and all wrong - for me it begins at the end of the road - we come and go
that's the extent of the lyrics in this ode to life on the road
the song starts out quite simply, lyrics sung, then a mix of drums, organ , guitar
take the song out with an almost haunting but quite memorable and loose arrangement
guaranteed
leave it to me as i find a way to be - consider me a satellite, forever orbiting
i knew all the rules, but the rules did not know me - guaranteed
another simple tune featuring eddie vedder on voice and acoustic guitar backing
an amazingly natural way for his voice to be showcased without all the argy bargy of a full band
the final track on the album and a beautiful way to wrap it all up

summary begins here - not a big fan or serious listener of film soundtracks
toooooo many examples of music being added as an afterthought or as a marketing exercise
but in this case the music seems to have been worked in as part of the creative process
meaning that in the first instance the music enhances the action laid out on the screen
but then it brilliantly serves the purpose of being a reminder of the film
yet means it also stands on it's own as a cd of totally listenable music
eddie does good again