Music from Vanilla Sky

I have basic misgivings about all soundtracks. The very reason such a bunch of tunes are thrown together in the first place is supposedly to complement the film, yes? So expecting them to hang together, when taken out of that context and hurriedly bunged onto a CD (let’s make a fast buck), is usually asking too much.

As an REM fan, before I’ve even picked it up, I have a problem with Music From Vanilla Sky. Cameron Crowe – with his hip music credentials and obviously bulging phone book – managed to persuade his Athens GA buddies to take a day in the studio last year to record ‘All The Right Friends’ – a 20-plus year old song previously only available on very early (and appalling quality) live bootlegs. You see why I’m unhappy? In order to get my hands on this one song I have to fork out for an album that may well be rubbish.

However, luckily for Mr Crowe, my wrath is tempered this time. Because Music From… turns out to be not bad at all. It’s almost like a mix-tape made up for you by a mate with particularly discerning taste and… well, access to unreleased material by one of the world’s biggest bands.

More mainstream choices like Leftfield’s ‘Afrika Shox’ and Jeff Buckley’s ‘Last Goodbye’ lead into tracks from Sigur Ros (their first licensing to a major film apparently) and Looper. Paul McCartney chips in with the title track and Peter Gabriel rustles up a remastered ‘Solisbury Hill’. Throw in honorary Irishman Josh Rouse’s ‘Directions’ and Dylan’s ‘Fourth Time Around’ and this shapes up quite nicely. Crowe won’t be getting any letters of complaint from this REM fan this time round.