Rolling Stone : A Broke Down Melody : Review

The best substitute for that New Zealand surf trip with Jack Johnson A Brokedown Melody isn't just a film soundtrack -- it's a sales pitch for a lifestyle. Featuring a pair of new songs by Jack Johnson as well as material from Eddie Vedder, M. Ward, Matt Costa, Beta Band and Built to Spill's Doug Martsch, this collection of tunes accompanies a surf documentary by video-director pair the Malloys, who've shot three of Johnson's clips as well as videos for everyone from Wolfmother to Black Eyed Peas. Whether it's Astor Piazzolla's "Vuelvo Al Sur" remixed to include the sound of waves crashing in the background or Vedder's "Goodbye" -- a gently aching ditty featuring little more than his plaintive warble and some ukulele -- A Brokedown Melody maintains a mood so even-keeled that it's hypnotic. Johnson's tunes include "Breakdown," the 2005 song that is now the theme to the movie, and the more inviting "Home," which makes clear that his strengths as the maestro of chill aren't to be underrated.

JENNY ELISCU

(Posted: Dec 7, 2006)