Zabriskie Point [Import, Soundtrack]

The other tunes on the album? I guess they're alright if you are into that sort of thing ;)

First, to those who want to buy or already own the CD, pay no attention to the other songs on the disc besides the songs from Pink Floyd and Jerry Garcia.

First, the tunes from Pink Floyd;

"Heart Beat, Pig Meat" might as well be called the Father of "Speak To Me" from Dark Side Of The Moon, for that both the former and the latter have the same format, sound effects of nothing to do with nothing over a laid down backbeat. This song was used as the introduction to the movie where a bunch of hippie radicals were discussion politics and the government.

"Crumbling Land" is drastically mis-labeled by David Gilmour in the liner notes by saying that the song is a "regular country-western tune". I'd say that, that is utter bulls&!t. The song is absolutly no way country or western, that is the label that is given to other tunes on this album like "Tennesee Waltz" by Patti Page. This song is more folk-rock, then country-western. When I listen to this song it reminds me of the open road, soaring down I-95 in the back country of Pennsylvania or New York, watching the miles fly by, and seeing rolling hills pass me by. Isn't that what the title itself refers to? On this song we get multiple layered harmonies by David Gilmour and Richard Wright, which is something that had to have inspired Crosby Stills Nash & Young.

"Come In Number 51, Your Time Is Up" is basically "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" transposed from it's original D-minor chord progression which brought on a sense of fear to E-minor, which brings on an apocalyptic feeling, like it's the end of the world, which is exactly how it's presented at the end of the movie, where the heroine of the story crashes her plane into her boss' housing development, setting all of the houses ablaze.

"Country Song" which was left out of the original soundtrack, is typically the father to the Atom Heart Mother, because the way it's played is so similar to tunes from that album, like "Fat Old Sun", "Summer '68" or the 3rd part of "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast".

"Unknown Song" is actually called "Rain In The Country" because the song has appeared on countless bootlegs under that title. The song features the acoustic guitar lick that became "The Narrow Way, Part 1", but about 2 minutes into the song we are greeted by Roger Waters and Nick Mason with the rhythm that would become part of "The Atom Heart Mother Suite" creating a countermelody with what Dave is playing on his many guitars.

"Love Scene Version 4" is a nice afterhours jazz improv by Rick Wright solo on the piano, which probably is the best thing he ever did, besides "The Great Gig In The Sky" and the melody for "Us And Them", which came from this very session, but was rejected by the director for the soundtrack. This would have fit in very well with the orgy scene in the movie, too bad it was scrapped.

"Love Scene Version 6" is typically a reworking of "More Blues" from the "More" soundtrack. It probably wouldn't have made the orgy scene that good anyway, but that doesn't make this a bad song. This is actually a great tune for blues enthusiasts. Usually you don't get to hear Floyd play the blues, but it really shows on this tune.

Jerry Garcia's tunes are amazing as well;

The 2-minute "Dark Star" excerpt is taken from the career-making performance on their "Live/Dead" CD. This was used when the hero of the movie stole the plane to escape from the cops, after he shoots one dead.

"Love Scene" is an amazing acoustic piece showing Jerry in is natural habitat, solo acoustic guitar, and the 4 outtakes are basically the original takes that the one in the movie was used for.

The album is amazing discarding the country tunes. Buy it...