Jay Ferrar, founder member of Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt, a father of the alt. country movement and Benjamin Gibbard, founding member of Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service, in many ways an indie rock king, have teamed up on an unlikely project, a tribute to Jack Kerouac through music. One Fast Move Or I'm Gone showcases Kerouac's own words and images and Ferrar and Gibbard create a dreamy palette for them to land on. Though partially a soundtrack to a documentary film of the same name, this album easily stands on it's own as an enjoyable piece of music.
"California Zephyr" is an uplifting song with Gibbard on lead vocals. Slight reverb on the electric organ and acoustic guitar create a hopeful tone, reflecting the lyrics about breaking free from your past.
Ferrar lends his trademark melancholy vocals, with that edge of a twang, to "Low Life Kingdom." Gibbard provides backing vocals. Mournful steel guitar and plaintive drumming complete the mood.
"All In One" is a bit crisper and fuller than most of the other songs. The drumming isn't as compact and the layered vocals and waves of steel guitar add to this effect.
"Breathe Our Iodine," with Ferrar on lead vocals, is very understated. The drumming is mostly just the stick clicking on the side of a snare and a quiet acoustic riff mid-mix.
"These Roads Don't Move" is a gently undulating country song as it's core. Musically, it could have easily found it's way onto Lucinda Williams' World Without Tears.
Musically, "Big Sur" reflects it's subject matter best. It's a soft, introspective song that conjures up images of it's namesake, like the water and the forest.
"One Fast Move Or I'm Gone" has rock-like drumming that provides an anchor for Gibbard's voice and the acoustic riffing placed on top of it.
"Final Horrors" is unique on the album because it's essentially a blues song. With lightly overdriven electric guitar, Ferrar channels Skip James or early John Lee Hooker.
"The Void" feels as vast as it's title suggests. Whether it be piano or guitar, the core of the music ripples outward from below to push on the vocals and acoustic strumming from Gibbard.
While Gibbard and Ferrar have come from different places musically, they've found common ground in a love for Kerouac's works. The two are also experts at creating mood with their vocals, which is what this kind of project demands. This collaboration has produced music that is atmospheric but earthy and organic, exactly like Kerouac's writing.
