Various Artists - The Music of Nashville: Season 1, Volume 2
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The Music of Nashville: Season 1, Volume 2 (Big Machine, 2013)

Various Artists

Reviewed by Michael Rampa

ABC's Nashville has been called everything from a guilty pleasure to "the musical equivalent of a Nicholas Sparks novel. Well, the formula works. In conjunction with being picked up for a second season, Volume 2 of the soundtrack was released. The album cover is a perfect portrayal of the show. The veteran and the vixen sit on opposite ends of the same couch with a huge gulf between them. No matter how different they may seem their experience as music stars is the glue that holds the story line together.

T Bone Burnett plays a similar role handling the music. He is able to incorporate bubble gum pop, moving duets and choice covers into a cohesive album.

Fans that have been clamoring for Fade Into You finally get it here. The show's signature duet is a haunting lullaby featuring Sam Palladio and Claire Bowen, arguably the series' best female vocalist. The charismatic songwriting turned lovers duo also shine as solo acts. Palladio rocks David Poe's Gun For A Mouth while Bowen angelically delivers Looking For A Place To Shine.

There is no shortage of pleasing pop. The impossibly cute Stella sisters (fictional daughters of Rayna James) perform an innocent version of The Lumineers' Ho Hey and Hayden Panettiere (crossover sensation Juliette Barnes) clocks in with the danceable Hypnotizing.

Connie Britton (Rayna James) is the only cast member with no public singing experience, but she performs as fearlessly here as she did on Volume 1. Lucinda Williams' Bitter Memory gets a kick in the pants with the help of co-producer Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys). Like the show itself, the soundtrack can be anything from traditional to slick crossover material. The good news is there is something appealing for everyone in the 12-song collection.




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