Dead Man (Music from and Inspired By the Motion Picture)

Fans of both Neil Young's signature electric-guitar skronk and Jim Jarmusch's 1995 film Dead Man are in for a double treat as the soundtrack features all instrumental pieces provided by Young interspersed with memorable movie sound bites. Young plays with a haunting despondence throughout, turning up "Old Black" (his famous Les Paul) to create an exaggerated feedback that he wouldn't fully utilize until 15 years later on 2010's Le Noise. "Guitar Solo, No. 1" opens with slowly stuttered riffs falling like heavy raindrops before "Guitar Solo, No. 2" builds up swells of moody depth as Young rides out each take with low-string rumblings and airy arpeggios. Since Dead Man was tracked at a time when Young was crowned the "Godfather of Grunge," certain parts play with a detuned distortion distinctive of the era — especially "Guitar Solo, No. 3," riffing with a reverberated crunch that echoes what was happening in the Pacific Northwest at the time. With "Organ Solo" Young plays the pulsing drones of an antiquated pump-organ, squeezing out melancholic notes that oscillate in rich tones and beautiful textures.