Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you one of the best albums of the year: The soundtrack to TV drama Crossing Jordan.
No, really. I ain't kidding. I've never even seen the show-- from what I've heard, it's rather mediocre-- but this fourteen-song collection is an absolute gem. With the possible exception of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, there aren't any other various-artist compilations in recent memory that compare to Crossing Jordan in craftsmanship, artistry, and beauty. Even in a year that gave us new releases from Radiohead, Elvis Costello, and Sting, this soundtrack is one of the best records of 2003.
Still skeptical? Well, just take a gander at the formidable list of talents that appear on this disc. Producers Craig Street and the amazing T-Bone Burnett guide a team of performers that include Alison Krauss, Sam Phillips, Marc Anthony Thompson, Lucinda Williams, Joe Henry, and others. And as if that weren't enough, these impressive singers tackle songs written by such greats as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Tom Waits, Lou Reed, even the great Bob Dylan. Now, if that doesn't sell you, I don't know what will.
The hard part is picking out a standout song; with the exception of the ho-hum instrumental theme song, every track on here is a jewel. Marc Anthony Thompson's cover of the Kinks' "Days" is warm and inviting, mellower than Elvis Costello's version. Joe Henry takes "Pale Blue Eyes," a less-than-masterful song by Lou Reed, and turns it into a tearjerker. The Holmes Brothers bring a touch of sweet, soulful gospel to their two tracks on the album. Sam Phillips offers a sly cover of the Lennon/McCartney tune "I Wanna Be Your Man." The list goes on and on.
Richard Thompson deserves special recognition for his scorching version of "Season of the Witch." It's nine minutes of pure, fiery electric guitar wizardry, and you're unlikely to hear a more exhilarating rock song all year. Also worth pointing out is Vic Chesnutt's delicate reading of Bob Dylan's classic "Buckets of Rain." It's just as heartbreaking as the original, and the subtle traces of desperation and angst in Chesnutt's voice are masterful.
The same set of musicians contributes to most of the songs on the album, giving these songs a sense of cohesion and continuity that rivals anything you'd find on a single-artist album. And, at over an hour in length, Crossing Jordan certainly gives you your money's worth. It's an exquisite collection of songs, and it just goes to show that, sometimes, the best gifts come in the strangest packages.
