Dead Man

Truth be told, I completely lose myself in this soundtrack. Apart from being one of the most influential films of my entire life, it has now given me the added bonus of giving me one of the most astounding albums I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. I would nearly say that it is my favourite of all soundtracks….*stops…thinks twice about that statement…nods convincingly to himself and moves on*

This film was a vision that came to fruition regardless of what was expected by the production company and that the soundtrack leaves the listener feeling as though they are side by side with William Blake & Nobody during this epic tale of a dying mans surrender. Surrender is the key here I think. Jim Jarmusch is a genius [period] when it comes to portraying intimacy in film and Dead Man shows itself to be exactly this in a way you least expect it.

Neil Young’s brilliance shines through for me in his freedom of orchestration. In a way, you could say “Oh, it’s sooo Neil Young” because of it’s guitar sound that has become familiar to many. But what I love innately about this soundtrack is the manner in which it was created.

In all Young and Jarmusch’s wisdom, the music to this film was created as Neil sat alone in a darkened room and improvised while watching the final edited version. How amazing is it that there are artists out there who value the emotions a viewer feels while watching a film enough to embed that principal at the core of its soundtrack, which in turn will shape the film. High five guys. High fucking five.

Like the film, it is filled with raw guitar meanderings that leave you with a sense of power and space. The space to ponder and question. The space to be confused or at complete peace. Maybe this is why I lose myself inside it.

I’ve not been quiet about the fact that some of what I consider the best soundtracks of all time embody a sense of space. A vacuum that gives you the opportunity to actually process the movie as it’s happening instead of being bombarded with a whole lot of Hollywood style, wiz bang [I’m pretty certain thats the technical term] elements to deal with just to keep the viewer entertained.

Maybe there is something to the idea of what space you’re in personally the first time you experience a remarkable film. I can honestly say that every time I watch this film, I enjoy the parts with no dialogue more than the ones with. Maybe its just me wanting to not hear people speak as I get older. Maybe its just an appreciation of silence and how it can be used effectively. More than likely I think its the ability for the music to speak its lines without anyone interrupting.

Then there are the dialog excerpts from the film dispersed throughout the album as well. If done well, dialogue can really enhance an album and take you on a journey that parallels the movie. Its not always done correctly, but in the case of Dead Man, it only strengthens its affect on me.

Listening to Nobody spit the words “Stupid white man”, hearing the hesitating unsureness of William Blake or taking in an entire track on the album of Iggy Pop & Billy Bob Thornton do their best backwater redneck impressions always makes me smile and never ever gets old. It’s a brilliantly written screenplay. It’s brilliantly performed. All round, I really do think it’s Johnny Depp’s best performance ever.

Scattered throughout the film as well as the soundtrack, Jarmusch adds excerpts of William Blakes poetry [The real one who Nobody mistakes for Depp’s character], but it simply adds to the romance and nuance of the storytelling, and as I sit here now and listen, we come back to Neil Young’s incisive ability to play alongside the film, accompanying it as if you were sitting on the back porch with your Grandad…silently watching the world slip by.

So I can only encourage you once again, to hopefully slow down and take time enough to listen to this album, or watch the movie….again. And while you’re doing this, appreciate the fact that even though our world is filled with lawyers, teachers, gardeners, canteen ladies, factory workers…just to name a few, there are artists out there who’s sole aim in life is to break your ideal of what life is and could be with their craft. We don’t give them enough credit. We take them for granted. And then we just get on with going to the shop to buy bread for the morning and putting the kids to bed or finishing that last bit of work that needs to be done.

In an age where politics, economies, celebrities & sport seem to take the front row, I’d just like to remind everyone that throughout time, art has been the great communicator. It connects us through language, distance and time, and I often wonder who will be remembered in 100 years. 500 years, or even a millennia. My guess is the people who are brave enough to shape their stories outside of what we expect. And someday, I’m hoping we’ll all have a better appreciation of the value behind something like Dead Man. Both film and soundtrack alike.

Maybe its just calling us to enjoy them as much as we can today & remember to appreciate the hands down awesomeness and beauty that lies in the gems that are only an arms length away. And Dead Man…Dead Man is a goddam gem.

M /

“Every Night and every Morn
Some to Misery are born.
Every Morn and every Night
Some are born to Sweet Delight,
Some are born to Endless Night.”

William Blake