One Fast Move or I'm Gone (Music from Kerouac's Big Sur) [Audio/Video Deluxe Version]

Is this how Jack would have done it if he were to record an album? No, but would he hate it? Personally I do not think so. This album meshes two great musical talents with a master of word. To pay tribute you do not have to do things how jack would have done it. One word to describe this album is beautiful. I am a fan of all three of the main players here. This album rips at your soul the way Jack's books do. Deffinitly one for the collection. If you enjoy this album check out Last Pale Light In The West, by Ben Nichols. Its based on great material (Blood Meridian) by Cormac McCarthy. It used to be my favorite album based on a book, but it has finally found a solid rival in my mind.....Amazing

Just give it a listen and then decide. I'm a fan of both Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard and think this is a unique and wonderful collaboration that differs from all of their previous works (kind of reminds me of old Jayhawks at times). Love it!

Those that have read all or most of Kerouac’s books, poems, haikus and letters know that Jack absolutely loved music–all kinds of music. In most of his works he mentions music running through his head, music playing in bus stations, music on record players at parties, music hummed by hobos on trains and songs lilting out of bars and church towers as he wandered streets around the world. Jack would not want to be tied to one particular genre of music. He loved all music, and that fact is pretty evident when you get beyond his one or two most well-known books. As an ardent student and reader of all of his works, my opinion is that he would most likely be very pleased with this effort. You can hear the soul and passion that Jay and Ben put into this record. It oozes out from each track, phrase, note and lyric. This is heartfelt, deep stuff. Also, the record manages to show Kerouac’s penchant for being optimistic and top-of-the world one moment and then in the doldrums and bottoms the next. This is a window into his soul and a roller-coaster ride that is representative of his life during this time. Time will prove that this record is a beautiful memorial to Jack and his amazing life and writings.

Love the music. Love the movie. Love Jay. Love Jack. Love the book. Even if this wasn't connected to Kerouac and "Big Sur," this would be one of my favorite albums of the year. Beautiful melodies, great Americana/folk arrangements, sweet steel guitar by Mark Spencer, and the words of Jack. Really glad I encountered this music. Can't stop playing it. JW

I like anything ben gibbard is involved with. Before i listened to this i heard mixed reviews from fans but the second i heard california zephyr i knew i was going to love it. HIghly recommend for any death cab/postal service/all time quarterback fans.

Not buying the comments that this "interpretation" and music is not appropriate for Kerouac. Just because Kerouac appreciated and identified with jazz does not mean that is the only music appropriate to be associated with him. Personally, I think Jack would dig it. Blows a breath of fresh air through the cabin door.

I agree with many of the other commenters that this is not representative of Kerouac at all. That being said, I don't like the album in it's own right. While the songwriting is impeccable UT-era Farrar, it makes for a flat album. The songs are all roughly the same tempo with the same feel. There is little change in instrumentation or theme. This is made all the worse by Gibbard's voice throughout. I don't mean to knock his voice in general, because it certainly sounds right with deathcab and the PS, it just doesn't work here. Farrar's writing almost begs for a rough, earthy singer. This is why he has found success with Jeff Tweedy and singing himself. Gibbard's voice is precisely opposite of what is needed here. It is high, smooth, and whiny. If you are going to ignore Kerouac's love of Jazz, and you mean more to represent the place than the man, then you could at least do it with some more grit.

im not much of a country fan, but i guess when you throw ben in anything it turns out excellent. im impressed, although its not my favorite it surely has my attention.

I get that the lyrics were taken from Kerouac's words, but shouldn't the soundtrack to a documentary at least "sound" like the subject matter? These songs are very produced, polished, and deliberate, none of which could be used to describe Kerouac at any point in his life, particulary the Big Sur period. I enjoy most of Farrar's and Gibbard's work, but perhaps they were over-matched by the subject matter here.

That's certainly not very Kerouac-esque.