Smoke Signals: Music From The Miramax Motion Picture
At its best, the soundtrack toSmoke Signalsis a beautiful experience--simple orchestrations with plaintive flute and guitar (just check out "Arnold Is Dead") give the soundtrack to this Native American-directed, -written, and -acted film an introspective feel. Too often, however, the otherwise moving score by B.C. Rich resorts to standard rock clichés. The electric guitar used throughout has a generic '80s metal sound, which does little to enhance the film's tone (unlike the included and wonderful vocal contributions from Native American ensembles Ulali and the Eaglebear Singers). Guitar-shaded soundtracks can work extremely well (check out the excellentGas Food Lodgingscore). Here, however, the ax is up-front and distracting. It's a shame because on more subdued tracks like "Charles Bronson," "Fry Bread Riot," and "That's My Father," the Northwest Sinfonia is simply sublime. Cuts by singer/songwriters Dar Williams and Jim Boyd are also featured, making this soundtrack all the more powerful.--Jason Verlinde