Tom Sawyer soundtrack (MCA Nashville, 2000)
Various Artists
Reviewed by Dan MacIntosh
Too many selections are nothing more than pop psychology clich+s. "Light At The End Of The Tunnel" performed by Bryan White and Rebecca Lynn Howard and "Friends For Life (Tom and Huck)" sung by Rhett Atkins and Mark Wills sound like the kind of mindless drivel Stuart Smally used to spew out on Saturday Night Live. But here it's neither good enough, nor smart enough, and doggone it, it's boring. Ray Stevens is a bright spot, as he brings out the dark side of the character "Injurin' Joe," and Lee Ann Womack's familiar quiver is always welcome - even on weak material like "Never, Ever and Forever." Charlie Daniels is also at his fighting best on "Can't Keep A Country Boy Down (Tom's Dream Sequence)."
Mark Twain's work was characterized by sharp wit and great storytelling, qualities conspicuously absent from this weak soundtrack.
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