DEAD MAN is the soundtrack to Jim Jarmusch's film of the same name. It features 13 connected, untitled instrumental tracks performed solo by Neil Young, along with dialogue from the film and selections of William Blake's poetry read by Johnny Depp.

Personnel includes: Neil Young (acoustic & electric guitars, piano, pump organ); Johnny Depp (spoken vocals).

Recorded at Mason St. Studios, San Francisco, California. Includes liner notes by Jim Jarmusch and poetry by William Blake.

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

The special edition of DEAD MAN is packaged in a hardcover book format.

DEAD MAN is the soundtrack to Jim Jarmusch's film of the same name. It features 13 connected, untitled instrumental tracks performed solo by Neil Young, along with dialogue from the film and a William Blake poem read by Johnny Depp.

Personnel: Neil Young (acoustic & electric guitars, piano, pump organ); Johnny Depp (spoken vocals).

Recorded at Mason St. Studios, San Francisco, California.

All music written by Neil Young. Poem written by William Blake. All dialogue written by Jim Jarmusch.

Even within the unpredictable Neil Young discography, this qualifies as one of his most unpredictable efforts. This soundtrack to the Jim Jarmusch film Dead Man is entirely instrumental, with the exception of some poetry read by Johnny Depp (who stars in the film) and a bit of dialogue. What's more, these untitled instrumental passages are dominated by subterranean guitar rumbles that manage to sound both grungy and subdued. Young also takes care to vary his approach a bit, switching occaionally to pump organ, detuned piano, and acoustic guitar. The results not only evoke the hostile, desolate landscapes of the film's Old West, but work on their own terms as ambient mood music for the non-new age crowd, creating an atmosphere of restless disturbance with subtlety and grace. It's not necessarily for the typical Neil Young fan (whoever that might be), but it's certainly one of his most successful experimental efforts. ~ Richie Unterberger

During the writing and shooting of Jim Jarmusch's DEAD MAN, a surreal spiritual journey through the old West starring Johnny Depp, he listened continually to the music of Neil Young, dreaming of tapping the artist to provide the film's soundtrack. Fate smiled on Jarmusch (and the rest of us) when Young agreed. Performing solo, Young recorded a series of moody, introspective instrumental pieces for the film, centered mostly around his distinctive electric guitar sound, but also utilizing pump organ and piano. The music evokes the hazy, unreal atmosphere of the film, as DEAD MAN's examination of the essential strangeness of nature is a longtime Young theme. Bits of dialogue from the film are interspersed throughout, but are poetic enough to enchance, rather than interrupt, the flow.

The Wire (p.48) - "[A] fine example of how resourceful and inventive a musician Young can be, given ample inspiration and room to manoeuvre. DEAD MAN was entirely improvised in real time..."

Melody Maker (4/6/96, p.37) - "...Listening to it is an odd sensation. Young has created a rumbling, harrowing noise that makes you want to use the phrase 'distant thunder' without it sounding like a cliche....When Depp reads [William Blake's poetry] you feel awed and excited....he is both moved and moving..."

NME (Magazine) (3/2/96, p.49) - 7 (out of 10) - "...Young is crackling like a campfire primed with gelignite. Occasionally, the urge to explode and explore is too great and, pump-organ at the ready, Young tramples all in his path with...a fistful of feedback....Encouraged by Young's...solemn scratchings, Blake's apocalyptic visions set up home in Jarmusch's weirdsville west..."