This is definitely not the soundtrack you’d expect it to be…

 

Artist: Various

Album: TransAmerica Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Label: Nettwerk

Tracks: 21

 

 

 

 

I know very little about the film TransAmerica, but my own preconceived ideas of a soundtrack for a movie based on a transgendered person’s identity struggle would certainly include bands like Tears for Fears, Boy George, and Antony & the Johnsons, perhaps even The Velvet Underground, Jarboe, or other avant- garde artists that are widely respected but not exactly popular. This soundtrack met zero percent of my expectations.

 

I love this soundtrack. I may have sounded like I hated it a minute ago but, truth be told, the fact that it didn’t play into anything remotely like what I was expecting is a huge plus in my book. First off, what this soundtrack offers artist wise are a variety of established and widely respected artists. You’ll find Dolly Parton, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Duncan Sheik, and Lucinda Williams here as well as lesser knowns like Larry Sparks and David Mansfield. That’s right, this is almost an entirely country (er...Americana?) album. The only real exception is the opening world music from Miriam Makeba. From Track 3 on, these are country roads.

 

Almost every song here is a highlight if you like country/Americana music. My favorites include the homegrown “I Find Jesus” from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Larry Sparks “Lay My Burden Down” is excellent as well, exhibiting a sort of reserved optimism that seems to fit well with the movie’s theme. Dolly Parton’s “Travelin’ Thru” ends the soundtrack and if you weren’t hooked yet, this one will do it.

 

I suppose if I knew more about the movie, I may not have been as surprised by the content of the soundtrack. I have enjoyed the surprise tremendously though, I’ll even go as far as to say that it made me very interested in seeing this movie. I hadn’t really considered it before this but the lonesome conflict that these songsmasterfully display make me think that there is a lot to mull over in this movie.