The tenth anniversary edition of the "soundtrack," a bit of a misnomer since only four of the album's tracks were used in the film, for Dead Man Walking is as poignant and arresting as it was in 1996. The film by Tim Robbins that starred Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn was a powerful meditation on the death penalty. Robbins showed the film to a number of musicians and asked them to contribute music; the most unusual pairing was between the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Eddie Vedder. This edition comes with an added bonus, not only does the original album have a bonus track -- a studio version of Vedder's "Dead Man" -- there is a DVD added as a second disc in the package. Not in Our Name, the Dead Man Walking Concert took place on March 29, 1998. This show included performances by Steve Earle and Lyle Lovett (separate and together), Ani Difranco, Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Dildar Hussain, John Densmore (the Doors) and David Robbins. The show itself is deeply moving, and is hosted by Tim Robbins and Sister Helen Prejean, whose autobiographical book Dead Man Walking the film was based on. This edition, with the added concert puts the music from the soundtrack into a new, and different context. The liner book is filled with notes and photos, letters from Robbins, Prejean, Densmore, DiFranco, and most importantly perhaps, by Susan McMahon from Active Music who produced the concert as a benefit for Prejean's work and MVFR -- Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation -- who educate and oppose the death penalty. Her comments on the societal costs and capital punishment don't read like a sermon, but as a complex tragedy on both sides of the fence. Highly recommended. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
