Everything Is Illuminated

I love it. I'm sick of the same POP music everyone listens to on the radio.

Supposing I would only listen to certain types of music and gave myself the unrequited wrong of not exploring farther into the World of Music and the many talents that await unknown to my little world, it would the the biggest Fiasco I can think of. Many is the time when I have bought music from different parts of the world and been amazed for the wonderful Heart and Talent they bring in their own special way! Gogol Bordello was virtually unknown by me when I happen by chance to be watching IFC The Henry Rollins Show and saw them Live! I really like them and almost immediately after, bought my first Gogol Bordello record (I seeked amazon, like I always do, and chose Super Taranta). Needless to say it has become a proud member of my collection and what is more, it delights me to no end to be able to visit the musical world they offer. Talk about changing the pace! Everything is illuminated is truly a pleasure to have heard and believe me when I say I am intrigued and mystified with this CD, overall I would gladly rated a 4.5 for the wonderful moments I experienced by listening to the tunes on my way to Wonderful Las Vegas. I am a confessed stoner and this day was no exception, I, readily attuned for whatever came through those old speakers I have and that hopefully soon I will be able to change for the faitful stereo is going on 7 years already and must have played 1,000's of CD's over its illustrious existence. What a CD! I saw the movie and I liked it but a little slow for my taste with some great parts, funny funny!! So I gave a 5 Stars, and I am about to purchase "How it Ends" by Devotchka which is the same type of sounds. I was in a very happy state of mind, fully stoned, and for a moment or more I really felt illuminated by the beauty of good music. What more can I ask for? Perhaps the experience of traveling to the Hottest Music Spots in the world and mingle in their cultures (ruling out all middle east travelling and some other parts of the world where danger lurks in every corner-strictly civilized nations to keep it on the safe side!)and stay a while, smoke what they smoke, drink what they drink if you know what I mean! Everything is Illuminated is Music W Heart & Talent, that's fo' sure!!

Passionate, inspired and exotic, this soundtrack truly captures the spirit of the movie as well as Safran Foer's brilliant first novel; it resonates with longing, heartbreak, and a totally unique sensibility; highly recommended.

This is an amazing soundtrack that highlights the two prevalent emotions in the film: hilarity and tragedy. Paul Cantelon deftly mixes an Eastern European feel with pure, gorgeous soundtrack music. Along for the ride are songs by genuinely fun and original bands. I never get tired of it. Sometimes, indeed, there are tracks I can't listen to simply because they're too sad - but then I switch to the upbeat, funny tunes, which always manage to entertain.

1. Odessa Medley: 9/10 - Enjoyable, with fun instruments. It builds up into an intricate array of instruments and melodies, and really picks up at the end, tempting you to let it sweep you along into the movie's crazy world. A great overture to the movie.
2. Leningrad, Zvezda Rok-N-Rolla: 8/10 - Oh, the drama! Leningrad is a Russian band. All of their songs on this album are crazy and fun and fit the craziness of the movie to a T. The horns are wonderful.
3. Csokolom, Amari Szi Amari: 10/10 - Superbly catchy, with that quirky, old feel dominant in the film, this song is a laidback sort of fun. It's the only song on the album not in Ukrainian, Russian, or English: it's Hungarian. This doesn't matter, however, because it fits so perfectly with the feel of the movie.
4. Leningrad, Dikiy Muzhchina: 10/10 - I LOVE this song. It's one my favorites here. The title means "Wild Man" in Russian, and it is definitely a very wild and (dare I say it again?) fun song. The lyrics really are just plain fun to sing along to, even if you don't speak Russian. You can practically feel the energy. In fact, I just now started to sing to it again...
5. Prologue/Babushka: 9.5/10 - This is where a darker mood begins to edge in. It sinks into a waltz that is more bittersweet than tragic, and then slows down to make way for a sweeping, haunting tune. Lovely.
6. Little Jonathan/The Wall: 9/10 - Playful, but once more in a bittersweet sort of way. After awhile it switches gears, swooshing up with energy, befores changing back to that haunting feeling of "Babushka" that I like to think of as simply The Past.
7. Gogol Bordello, Bublitschki: 8/10 - Time for some fun again. This instrumental piece by an immensely talented band (actually, Eugene Hutz, who plays Alex, is the lead singer of Gogol Bordello) mixes an irresistible beat with a traditional Slavic sound.
8. The Con Artists, Peter Miser, Ya-takoy: 9/10 - This definitely brings one back to the silliness of Alex in the beginning of the film. With snippets of his unbelievably hilarious dialogue and an urban beat going in the background, you'll be sucked right in.
9. Leningrad, Malen'kiy Mal'chik: 9/10 - Great fun! Leningrad never fails to entertain with this lazy collection of horns and vocals.
10. Tin Hat Trio, Fear of the South: 8/10 - Here's a piece to relax to. It's lighthearted and fresh.
11.Paul Cantelon, River of Collections: 9/10 - With breathy strings, "River of Collections" urges you quietly but with instistence along the river of The Past.
12. Paul Cantelon, Tank Graveyard/Valse de Suzana/Dee-yed: 9.5/10 - Here is the tragedy I've been referring to. It's sad. Almost unbearably so. It sweeps you up in the conflict of the characters, teasing you with peaks at the truth before fading back into the darkness.
13. Paul Cantelon, Sunflowers: 10/10 - Ukrainian, I believe. Haunting, with strong vocals that cast a spell.
14. Paul Cantelon, War Is Love/eta-Ya: 9.5/10 - It begins with lazy simplicity, but toward the end bursts into a powerful and urgent message.
15. Paul Cantelon, Trachimbrod/Ressurection/Requiem: 10/10 - Simply beautiful. About halfway through, the urgency of the previous tracks finally builds up for the climax, whooshing over you bitterly, sadly, and with almost a sense of determination. Again, it's tragic. You don't hear the lightheartedness of previous tracks, but the slight nudging of a past that doesn't want to haunt: it just wants to resolve itself. To exist.
16. Paul Cantelon, Inside-Out: 10/10 - And it does resolve itself. Here is another bittersweet piece. But this time, it carries a touch of enlightenment (illumination?) with it.
17. Gogol Bordello, Start Wearing Purple: 10/10 - This was the absolutely most perfect song the movie could have ended with. It switches the film seamlessly back into that feel of silly hilarity, single-handedly managing to leave the audience uplifted - a sore necessity for such a partly bleak film!

Overall, one of my favorite soundtracks out there. Whether you've seen the (remarkable) movie or not, get this! It is gorgeous, beautiful, fantastic, powerful, uplifting, and itching to tell you something you've known all your life but just can't quite grasp. In short, a brilliant piece of work.

does anyone know who sings the last song that plays on the movie trailer?