Lackawanna Blues: Music From the HBO Film [Audio CD] Various Artists

Mixing new versions of old songs with originals isn't a unique concept when it comes to constructing movie music, but it's seldom been done as effectively as on this soundtrack from the 2005 HBO film Lacakawanna Blues. Macy Gray, Robert Bradley, and perhaps most surprisingly, Mos Def--all of whom have parts in the film--contribute updated material which ranges from the jump blues of Mos Def's "Caledonia" to Bradley's sizzling low-down covers of Elmore James's "One Dime Blues" and Floyd Jones's grinding "Dark Road." Young old-school vocalist Ricky Fanté finds a sunny groove on Magic Sam's "That's All I Need," and the Blind Boys of Alabama, the go-to group for gospel, bring the church on a stunning "Faith and Grace."

The album's success lies in the way the predominantly obscure songs are sequenced. The spare but lovely Piedmont acoustic picking of Etta Baker's "One Dime Blues," Jimmy Scott's yearning, string-drenched ballad "If I Ever Lost You," and J.J. Jackson's Impressions' styled, finger-popping "But It's Alright" have little in common, yet comfortably share space with each other and the newly recorded tunes. This makes for a engaging collection of music that stands on its own as a compelling listening experience, even for those who haven't seen the movie that inspired it. --Hal Horowitz