Brokedown Melody [Original Soundtrack] [LP]

In the tradition of films about the secret to happiness via the search for the perfect wave comes BROKEDOWN MELODY, which contains plenty of great surfing footage, commentary, and music. The latter element is showcased on the film's soundtrack, which includes contributions from the Beta Band, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Built to Spill's Doug Marstch, and Jack Johnson, who also appears in the movie. Thankfully, the soundtrack steers away from hackneyed traditional surf music and the in-your-face rock and metal associated with extreme sports. Instead, thoughtful, folk-leaning troubadours like M. Ward and Kings of Convenience are included, reflecting the more spiritual side of surfing, which--as BROKEDOWN MELODY shows--is as much a philosophy as a sport.