Reviewed! Various Artists - West of Memphis: Voices For Justice
Various Artists
West of Memphis:
Voices For Justice
Legacy
In you didn’t know because you’ve been living under a
rock or in a cave somewhere, West of Memphis: Voices For Justice is the sonic
accompaniment to the West of Memphis documentary, written and directed by Amy
Berg, which chronicles the mystifying story of injustice surrounding three boys
in West Memphis, Damien Echols (sentenced to death), Jessie Misskelley, Jr. (life
imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences), and Jason Baldwin (life
imprisonment), who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned as
teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three boys. In August of 2011, the
trio entered Alford pleas, which allow them to assert their
innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict
them. A judge accepted the pleas and they were released with ten-year suspended sentences, having served 18 years and
78 days in prison. West of Memphis:
Voices For Justice chronicles the trio’s plight well with no shortage of
highlight tracks, including Eddie Vedder’s “Satellite,” Citizen Cope’s “DFW”
and Marilyn Manson’s ominous take on Carly Simon’s unforgettable “You’re So Vain.”
It’s hard to ignore the bleak, yet powerful bookends of West of Memphis: Voices For Justice, which include Henry Rollins
and Johnny Depp reading excerpts from death row letters written by Echols
himself. Natalie Wood’s take on Pink
Floyd’s classic “Mother” and Lucinda Williams’ resilient “Joy” add a breath of
life into West of Memphis: Voices For
Justice, an uplifting release that plays more life an actual album than a
compilation of mere songs. There’s a message here, one of sheer hope,
determination and persistence – just press play to experience it yourself.
Grade: B
Go Download: Marilyn Manson - "You're So Vein"
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