One Fast Move Or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur
by Jay Farrar And Benjamin Gibbard
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Oct 20, 2009
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Rolling Stone
    60
    The lyrics, built from Kerouac's prose, often feel wordy. But the singers channel Kerouac's angst, and when they combine their magnificent voices, as on 'Sea Engines,' the effect is striking: ugliness spun magically into beauty.
  2. PopMatters
    60
    Taken in isolation and away from their intended meaning, most every song on the album sounds like a Grade A piece of Americana, but it’s almost impossible to distance these songs from their whole, and it would be disrespectful to both Farrar and Gibbard to do so, which in turns makes the album more of a nice attempt to pay respect to Kerouac from two fan boys than a legitimate tribute to one of America’s most famous and influential writers.
  3. Pitchfork
    49
    For an album about a doc about a book about going into the wilds of California, One Fast Move sounds awfully sleepy.

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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 2 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 1 out of 2
  1. gkelly185
    Mar 30, 2012
    10
    It's hard to imagine why artist's open themselves up to such challenging material. So often, musicians fail to satisfy passionate followersIt's hard to imagine why artist's open themselves up to such challenging material. So often, musicians fail to satisfy passionate followers of a writer such as Kerouac but Farrar and Gibbard bravely tread into the fray. The subsequent product is astoundingly faithful to the spirit and writing of Kerouac while producing some fine music along the way. There is not one weak song on this album. Standout tracks include "California Zephyr", "Big Sur", "One Fast Move or I'm Gone", "Williamine" and "San Francisco". This was a serious endeavor that resulted in some masterful music.… Full Review »
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