With the release of Broken Bridges Toby Keith is taking his career to another level. Every song he performs on here is very well done. But the real star of this soundtrack is his movie co-star Lindsay Haun. If you like country music soundtracks, you'll like this one.
Toby Keith had barely left UMG Records Nashville before he announced that he'd signed on to make "Broken Bridges." At the time of the announcement there was no indication what kind of film it would be but only that Toby was the main star and that he'd release the soundtrack on his own Show Dog Records label. In the movie Toby stars as a down on his luck country star who unknowingly is the parent of a 16-year-old girl played by 21 year old actress Lindsey Haun. Kelly Preston also stars as Keith's love interest and mother of Haun's character.
The Soundtrack
Leading off the soundtrack is the title cut and one of 7 songs that feature Toby Keith. This song is a duet with Lindsey Haun and the young actress, who's also signed to Show Dog Records. Toby's voice works well with Lindsey's and the production by Randy Scruggs fits the mood of a movie. This is a soft and delicate ballad that tells a bit of the movie's story. Singer/Songwriter Fred Eaglesmith's "Thinking About You" is a cool slice of Americana music that finds the protagonist of the song constantly thinking about someone, to the point it's all they can do."Crash Here Tonight" is one of Toby's solo tracks and it is a short song with a soft, delicate and acoustical arrangement that's different from the "White Trash With Money" album cut. "Broken" is Lindsey Haun's coming-out party as a singer. With a Faith Hill-like vocal, Lindsey sings a whale of a power ballad that will give Carrie Underwood a run for her money. It features uplifting lyrics with a familiar, yet killer melody. This is the lead-off single from the album.
Songwriter Matraca Berg's "Along For The Ride" is a wonderful track that's from a 10-year-old album while "Uncloudy Day" is a jovial track that finds Toby Keith, Willie Nelson and Bebe Winans singing of better days ahead. Toby's songwriting partner and sidekick Scotty Emerick contributes the fun George Strait sound-a-like "What's Up With That." The southern rock featured in Flynnville Train's "High On The Mountain" reminds me of something that the Kentucky Headhunters would record while Sonya Isaacs' "The Battlefield" is a soft, Celtic-like vocal gem."Can't Go Back" is a soft, traditional-based ballad that features one of Toby's better vocals while both "Big Bull Rider" and "Zig Zag Stop" showcase two sides of Toby's bigger than life persona. The album ending track "Jacky Don Tucker (Play By The Rules Miss All The Fun)" was on Toby's "Dream Walkin'" CD and is revisited here. I have always liked the song and it is nice addition to the soundtrack. With 14 strong tracks, Toby Keith and album producer Randy Scruggs have compiled the kind of soundtrack that sounds more like an album than a 'hits of the moment' compilation. Fans of Toby Keith or just good music should find something to like here.
Song List:
- "Broken Bridges" - Lindsey Haun (With Toby Keith)
- "Thinking About You" - Fred Eaglesmith
- "Crash Here Tonight" - Toby Keith
- "Broken" - Lindsey Haun
- "Along For The Ride" - Matraca Berg
- "Uncloudy Day" - Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, BeBe Winans
- "What's Up With That" - Scotty Emerick
- "High On The Mountain" - Flynnville Train
- "The Battlefield" - Sonya Isaacs
- "Can't Go Back" - Toby Keith
- "The Waiting Game" (Instrumental) - Poor Richard's Hound
- "Big Bull Rider" - Toby Keith
- "Zig Zag Stop" - Toby Keith
- "Jacky Don Tucker" (Play By The Rules Miss All The Fun)" - Toby Keith
