Dirty Linen (p.62) - "Santaolalla's transition instrumentals add a contemplative, melancholy theme that brings cohesion to the various contributions."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.98) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Steve Earle and Rufus Wainwright add some passion and intensity."
Composer: Gustavo Santaolalla.
For Ang Lee's lauded 2005 drama about forbidden love in the Western wilderness, the director called upon Argentine musician Gustavo Santaolalla, renowned for his atmospheric contributions to THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES, to create the movie's score. Here Santaolalla's spare, resonant guitar-based compositions, which often echo the solo work of Daniel Lanois, provide a pitch-perfect backdrop for the moody film, particularly on the gentle "Brokeback Mountain #1" and the twangy "Snow." The soundtrack also features Willie Nelson performing a beautifully minimal version of Bob Dylan's "He Was a Friend of Mine," and Emmylou Harris lending her unmistakable voice to "A Love That Will Never Grow Old," a poignant song penned by Santaolalla and Bernie Taupin. A dynamic companion piece to the revered movie, this collection should appeal to fans of both the film and the aforementioned artists.