Customer Reviews
No Safety Zone - By: GJ, 24 May 2007 
Is this, I wonder, the greatest filmscore ever made? Well, if it isn't, it must come close.
It is impossible to imagine Wim Wenders' film without the sparse, haunting, melancholy wail of Ry Cooder's guitar, the soundtrack being an integral part of the action (if the film can reallly be considered to have much in the way of action). It is as difficult to imagine "Paris, Texas" without Cooder's music as it is to imagine the shower scene in "Psycho" without Bernard Herrman's staccato strings but, whereas Herrman's score works only with the film, the music on "Paris, Texas" makes for a raw & wonderful listening experience on its own.
Listen to this album with your eyes closed & the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end with the power of the plaintive sounds. The extract of dialogue, "I Knew These People", is Harry Dean Stanton narrating the tale of young love gone sour: it fits so well with the rest of the album but still comes as a surprise, increasing the emotional weight of the record. All of which makes it sound like a bit of a miserable endeavour but, melancholy though it is, it is, somehow, far from miserable. Just beautiful.
Out There! - By: Ernest the Goose, 16 Feb 2007 I have to confess to hearing Ry Cooder's memorable & beautiful soundtrack long before seeing the film, however like many film soundtracks I have since purchased, this one stands up as a fine example of inspirational music on its own - with or without the film for reference.
It's funny, that years later I find myself embracing, with equal enthusiasm, the work of Gustavo Santaolallla: memorable for his soundtracks to Brokeback Mountain, 21 Grams, & Amores Perros. Like Cooder, Santaolallla also creates a timeless haunting soundscape with the purity of a simple guitar palate & when it works... there is nothing to beat it.
If you like this album, check out the other soundtracks I mentioned. In the meantime if you only have room for one 'out there' acoustic guitar album, buy this one at any price... you will not be disappointed.
Enjoy,
Ernest the Goose
A Beautiful Soundtrack - By: Andrew Moore, 13 Oct 2003 A beautiful soundtrack to an even better film, Ry Cooder's music fits the mood of 'Paris Texas' so well. 'Paris, Texas' is my favourite film & I just had to buy this CD & it still sends tingles up my spine in place.
So atmospheric.
Andy Moore
Absolute twanging slidy, front porch swing brilliance! - By: , 10 Aug 2001 Twang....budoing....shimmer (then slide up six) budoing ..wheee..shimmer ( finish on low E)
All of you slide guitar afficionados will recognise the brilliance of Ry Cooder at his best. You can sense the heat of the deserted black-top highway & feel the perspiration start to prickle on the back of your neck - alll by listening to this CD! How good is that!
Next time I'm in the Southern States this one is going with me for the car! Ry can also be found in "Why don't you try me tonight" & of course the wonderful soundtrack of "Crossroads."
Classic Ry Cooder Slide guitar! - By: Matthew R. Coupe, 19 Feb 2001 If your feeling restless need to chillout, feel the warmth of a desert dusk on your face sipping a shot of aged tequilla & you've got Ry Cooders Paris texas soundtrack, The film is awsome & Ry Cooder does it justice with a sublime accompaniment on slide guitar, telling the story of the film as well as any dialogue. A must for late evenings & any music taste......
