AA.VV.
The Soul Of A Man - Martin Scorsese presents A Film by Wim Wenders

I'm very intrigued by Wim Wenders' latest film, primarily because it uses the documentary format to tell the stories of Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson, and J.B. Lenoir, about whom I know little to nothing, and also because it's part of a larger project that envisions the creation of seven films about the blues.

The soul of a man is the first in the series. While waiting for Wim Wenders' film to hit theaters, I've started to satisfy my curiosity by listening to its soundtrack. And it's not bad at all. The album features a striking 20 tracks, 14 of which were recorded specifically for Wenders' movie. The list of artists involved is impressive and deserves to be highlighted: Cassandra Wilson, Lucinda Williams, Lou Reed, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, T Bone Burnett, Los Lobos, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, J.B. Lenoir, Shemekia Copeland, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Beck, The John Spencer Blues Explosion, Marc Ribot, Bonnie Raitt, Skip James, Garland Jeffreys, Blind Willie Johnson, Eagle Eye Cherry, Vernon Reid.

Let's focus on a few. Simply amazing are the tracks performed by Cassandra Wilson (Vietnam Blues - Slow down); her voice, one of the most beautiful around, fits perfectly with the blues atmosphere. Worth listening to again and again. Lou Reed also does an excellent job on two tracks (Look down the road, See that my grave is kept clean), but don't trust me too much. When I talk about Lou Reed, I lose the objectivity I usually strive for. Lucinda Williams' rendition of Hard times killing floor blues is also noteworthy, grittier and more energetic than her recent albums. I've never been a big fan of Los Lobos, but this time they are transformed and make me want to sing along with them on Voodoo Music. Marc Ribot, who performs Dark was the night cold was the ground, is the only one slightly off the mark because he doesn't shy away from experimenting with sounds on his guitar, even on this occasion. But all in all, he doesn't clash with the whole. And Nick Cave? The track is short but punchy (I feel so good 1m.44sec) and leaves its mark...

Oh Yeah! So what didn't I like? Eagle-Eye Cherry, but only because I can't stand his voice. Everything else is of excellent quality. If you like the blues, go for it.