Music : Paris Texas: Original Soundtrack

Rating: - No Safety Zone

Is this, I wonder, the greatest filmscore ever made? Well, if it isn't, it must come close.

It is impossible to imagine Wim Wenders' film without the sparse, haunting, melancholy wail of Ry Cooder's guitar, the soundtrack being an integral part of the action (if the film can really be considered to have much in the way of action). It is as difficult to imagine "Paris, Texas" without Cooder's music as it is to imagine the shower scene in "Psycho" without Bernard Herrman's staccato strings but, whereas Herrman's score works only with the film, the music on "Paris, Texas" makes for a raw and wonderful listening experience on its own.

Listen to this album with your eyes closed and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end with the power of the plaintive sounds. The extract of dialogue, "I Knew These People", is Harry Dean Stanton narrating the tale of young love gone sour: it fits so well with the rest of the album but still comes as a surprise, increasing the emotional weight of the record. All of which makes it sound like a bit of a miserable endeavour but, melancholy though it is, it is, somehow, far from miserable. Just beautiful.

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Rating: - Out There!
I have to confess to hearing Ry Cooder's memorable and beautiful soundtrack long before seeing the film, however like many film soundtracks I have since purchased, this one stands up as a fine example of inspirational music on its own - with or without the film for reference.
It's funny, that years later I find myself embracing, with equal enthusiasm, the work of Gustavo Santaolalla: memorable for his soundtracks to Brokeback Mountain, 21 Grams, and Amores Perros. Like Cooder, Santaolalla also creates a timeless haunting soundscape with the purity of a simple guitar palate and when it works... there is nothing to beat it.
If you like this album, check out the other soundtracks I mentioned. In the meantime if you only have room for one 'out there' acoustic guitar album, buy this one at any price... you will not be disappointed.
Enjoy,
Ernest the Goose

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Rating: - A Beautiful Soundtrack
A beautiful soundtrack to an even better film, Ry Cooder's music fits the mood of 'Paris Texas' so well. 'Paris, Texas' is my favourite film and I just had to buy this CD and it still sends tingles up my spine in place.

So atmospheric.

Andy Moore

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Rating: - Absolute twanging slidy, front porch swing brilliance!
Twang....budoing....shimmer (then slide up six) budoing ..wheee..shimmer ( finish on low E)

All of you slide guitar afficionados will recognise the brilliance of Ry Cooder at his best. You can sense the heat of the deserted black-top highway and feel the perspiration start to prickle on the back of your neck - all by listening to this CD! How good is that!

Next time I'm in the Southern States this one is going with me for the car! Ry can also be found in "Why don't you try me tonight" and of course the wonderful soundtrack of "Crossroads."

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Rating: - Classic Ry Cooder Slide guitar!
If your feeling restless need to chillout, feel the warmth of a desert dusk on your face sipping a shot of aged tequilla and you've got Ry Cooders Paris texas soundtrack, The film is awsome and Ry Cooder does it justice with a sublime accompaniment on slide guitar, telling the story of the film as well as any dialogue. A must for late evenings and any music taste......