[.ca] The Straight Story

From Amazon.co.uk:
"Laurens, Iowa" is the opening credits which, in the film, segues from a starfield in motion into a first view of waving corn. Structurally the piece follows the rhythmic flow of Badalamenti's classic Twin Peaks theme but plays out a longer and far more Melancholy melody. And it is with melancholia that both film and score continue as Alvin's extraordinary journey is told. The rolling fields at the turn of harvest are a quite beautiful visual metaphor for the getting-to-the-end-of-the-road tale. They inspired an unprecedented level of intimacy from this long-standing director/composer relationship, with David Lynch's sound design always erring in favour of Badalamenti's tear-jerking score. With a guitar ensemble, Country scratch fiddles, and strings, "Rose's Theme" and "Alvin's Theme" are unashamedly bittersweet. These motifs re-appear in various solo guises ("Final Miles") and frequently interweave as a statement of Alvin's realisation that family is the most important thing in life. You're always going to get something spectacular when these two work together, and this is easily their most universally appealing project. --Paul Tonks

sublime:
As I type this at 3:30 in the morning because of the odd sounds outside my bedroom that won't go away.... I yearn to hear the lilting beauty of this soundtrack. Angelo Badalamenti has created a warm tapestry that speaks to the love and yearning that The Straight Story, the film, so wonderfully captures. To listen to this music is to give yourself over to the notes; time is transcended and you float in a dream of bliss and love. Beauty rests easily in this soundtrack.

awesome driving music:
A-Bad and Lynch are great on this cd.You've got to see the movie to truly appreciate it,I think,but it also stands by itself as a calming series of guitar peices and light-hearted orchestrations.my favorite on the album is"nostalgia" because the intro sounds like an old record with the "hiss and pops".All in all,if you're an Angelo/Lynch fan,or just like relaxing music after a hard day's work,this one is definatly worth the $.

Sounds of Wonder:
The first time I saw David Lynch's monumental achievement, The Straight Story, I was mesmerized with what I saw, but not so much as with what I heard. Angelo Badalamenti has orchestrated an audio masterpiece that touches the heart and places the listener in place where warm summers and kind atmospheres are illuminated by the power of music. The movie, by itself, is a unique tale that is touching to say the least and uplifting to the point of emotional redemption. The music dances with the story and cinematography so well that the film's tale could probably be told without any dialogue, using only the lucid ambience of the soundtrack and the settings of rural splendor. This is a true accomplishment for Badalamenti and a composition that should not be passed up by anyone who loves a relaxing, soothing sound. Should you purchase it, listen to it in the spring or summer months while relaxing and reflecting on the happy days of your life. But I would also recommend watching the movie prior to purchase, because it is a departure from Badalamenti's previous works on Lynch films. Less darkness, more shining beauty.

Great movie and soundtrack:
This music is suited so well to the movie. The movie was great and the music is adapted to the gentle landscapes and scenes of the movie. It is very soft and gentle with soft stringed guitars. One of the best sountracks of my extensive collection.

A soundtrack well worth having:
On occasion, a movie soundtrack is so moving, I make a note to purchase the CD. "The Straight Story" is a wonderful movie, greatly enhancing by this moving score. The music itself defies an easy description. It is as if the rolling cornfields of mid America were woven into gentle guitar and fiddle. Try some of the free samples.

• Laurens, Iowa
• Rose's Theme
• Laurens Walking
• Sprinkler
• Alvin's Theme
• Final Miles
• Country Waltz
• Rose's Theme \oVariation\c
• Country Theme
• Crystal
• Nostalgia
• Farmland Tour
• Montage