Country&Western music plus subtley and irony would seem to be an oxymoron. But these aren't ordinary country tunes, just as "Nashville" is no ordinary movie. Though critical and satiric, the songs, like the movie, manage to be infectious and touching as well. I'd recommend the album not only for fans of the movie but as preparation for younger viewers who may not even have been around at the time of the movie's release. Despite its academy award, I find Carradine's "I'm Easy" to be one of the weaker songs in the collection. The stand-out is Ronee Blakeley's performance of "Dues," in which the pathos and emotional vulnerability equal some of the best moments in the music of Judy Garland and Billy Holiday.