Music From The Miramax Motion Picture Cold Mountain (DMZ, 2003)

One primary selling point for the "Cold Mountain" new soundtrack release is its producer, T Bone Burnett, who was also responsible for the surprisingly successful "O Brother Where Art Thou?" movie music.

Other bullet points include this disc's many traditional country music contributions from Jack White (of The White Stripes), which find the alternative rock star temporarily stepping away from his more familiar blues/rock sounds. White sticks to familiar standards, for the most part, and shines brightest on versions of "Wayfaring Stranger" and "Sittin' On Top Of The World." As an added bonus, White sounds equally at home with the self-written "Never Far Away," where he's accompanied instrumentally by the always-steady Norman and Nancy Blake.

Alison Krauss also makes two contributions - "The Scarlet Tide" and Sting's "You Will Be My Ain True Love." Great musicianship abounds here, which is typical of a Burnett production. For example, fiddler Stuart Duncan is all over it. Sacred Harp Singers At Liberty Church (and what a mouthful for a name!) contribute "I'm Going Home" and "Idumea," and the disc is filled out by Gabriel Yared's instrumental music.

Once again, brother T Bone Burnett has his finger on the pulse of today's best examples of traditional music.