Echo In the Canyon [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Echo In The Canyon Artist

As a film and an album, {|Echo in the Canyon|} is designed to celebrate the glory days of Los Angeles' Laurel Canyon. Those would be the years between 1964 and 1967, which encompass the prime of folk-rock, the music made when {|the Byrds|} played the... Read more

As a film and an album, {|Echo in the Canyon|} is designed to celebrate the glory days of Los Angeles' Laurel Canyon. Those would be the years between 1964 and 1967, which encompass the prime of folk-rock, the music made when {|the Byrds|} played the songs of {|Pete Seeger|} and {|Bob Dylan|} with an electrified jangle. As it happens, {|Jakob Dylan|}, son of {|Bob|}, plays a pivotal role in {|Echo in the Canyon|}, acting as the guide in the film's journey through the past and anchoring the 13 cover versions that comprise the film's soundtrack. The soundtrack to {|Echo in the Canyon|} shows how the entire project tends to conflate the sound of Hollywood and the sound of the beach with the sound of the canyon -- a perhaps inevitable move, as there was so much crossover between these specific L.A. scenes. That said, having {|the Beach Boys|} play such a prominent role on {|Echo in the Canyon|} feels just slightly off, and having In My Room and I Just Wasn't Made for These Times here alongside {|the Association|}'s AM staple Never My Love and {|the Monkees|}' She ever so slightly turns the album into a good-hearted oldies revival, as {|Jakob Dylan|}, his crackerjack studio band, and a rotating cast of duet partners play with the gusto of a good bar band. Since everybody involved is a pro, this is tight, not loose, which means every cut feels a little too tidy and straight. {|Dylan|} proves to be an amiable host, coaxing out friendly harmonies from {|Beck|} and {|Josh Homme|} while happily ceding the spotlight to {|Fiona Apple|}, {|Regina Spektor|}, and {|Norah Jones|} and the mellow camaraderie is appealing and even ingratiating. It isn't especially compelling, though. After a while, the album settles into a genial groove, generating good vibes but also the desire to put this CD away so you can dig out the old records and hear the originals. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Less