ListenUp: Vedder Wild-ly inspired

Watson's voice is classic country; talented Beatz is lyrically challenged

— Eddie Vedder Into the Wild (Musicmusic from the motion picture) (Monkey Wrench/J) RockB+

The new film Into the Wild, directed by Sean Penn, is the adaptation of Jon Krakauer's nonfictional account of the life (and death) of Christopher McCandless, an adventurous and reckless young man who trekked across America and into the Alaskan wilderness. The soundtrack features nine new songs (and two covers) by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder on essentially his first solo outing.

The journey begins with the Tom Petty-channeling "Setting Forth." "Long Nights," a harpsichord-heavy tune, reflects homesickness and anxiousness. The Dylan-esque "Hard Sun" speaks of the hardships of life and the desire to escape its trappings.

Although Pearl Jam has long flirted with different sounds, from punk to Middle Eastern music, Vedder sounds even more liberated without them. Much like the film's protagonist, the soundtrack wanders, though not aimlessly. Vedder's musical take on Into the Wild is sentimental and sympathetic. The grand lyrical allusions and majestic yet simple instrumentation paint a portrait not only of freedom, but of life itself.

- KODY FORDGene Watson In a Perfect World(Shanachie) CountryB+

Gene Watson is one of those veteran Texas country singers who seems to have been around forever, just doing his job without any fuss.

Now it turns out that he spent the turn of the century battling cancer.

When he finished chemotherapy, he put out albums in 2001, 2003 and 2005, but all three vanished when the labels they were on went out of business.

Though he would be qualified to sing the blues, Watson has stuck with country, even though his latest CD is on a label, Shanachie, that was once linked to world beat and English folk music. No matter. It's good to hear a classic voice like Watson's, who is no songwriter but knows how to pick and choose from the output of those who do write.

He has some nice remakes here of Merle Haggard's "Today I Started Loving Her Again," Ray Price's "Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me" and Buck Owens' "Together Again." It's also a treat to again hear the piano playing of Hargus "Pig" Robbins.

And he has guest singers Joe Nichols, Vince Gill, Connie Smith, Lee Ann Womack, Mark Chesnutt and Rhonda Vincent on six of the 11 songs. But it's Watson's classic voice that is the attraction here, especially on the title cut, "What Was I Thinking?" and "A Good Place to Turn Around."

Those who love classic singers like Willie Nelson, George Jones and Merle Haggard should make room for Watson's latest.

- JACK W. HILLSwizz Beatz One Man Band Man(Full Surface/Motown) Hip-hopC+Swizz Beatz is a successful producer known mostly for his aggressive, up-tempo party music.

Beatz has helped craft the sound of superstars like DMX ("We in Here"), TI ("Bring 'Em Out") and Eve ("Tambourine").

Now the producer has made the inevitable move from behind the boards to behind the mic with his debut solo album, One ManBand Man. Known for often putting together entire songs in less than a half hour, Beatz's album does not sound rushed or poorly arranged - it just sounds OK.

Highlights include the club thumping "Money in the Bank" and the kinetic "It's Me (Snitches)." "Product Man" has a sharp New York feel.

Unfortunately for every hottrack Beatz produces, his lyric prowess is understandably a bit lacking. His rhyme style is more of a throwback to the party style MCs that got the crowd going with response chants.

Beatz is one of the best producers in the game and as a rapper ... he's one of the best producers in the game.

- SHON MCPEACE

Style, Pages 60 on 10/07/2007

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