Jay Farrar and Benjamin Gibbard

Say what you will about Jack Kerouac, but his work wasn’t toothless. Yet in the hands of Jay Farrar (Son Volt) and Benjamin Gibbard (né Ben, of Death Cab for Cutie and the Postal Service), the writer appears defanged: an impotent man in flannel. One Fast Move or I’m Gone, a CD companion to the documentary of the same name, adapts its lyrics from Kerouac’s 1962 book, Big Sur. The two musicians, who also contribute instrumental tracks to the film, take turns singing, each voice as rough as pudding. Their roots songs mean no harm and successfully eschew the corniness that often clings to Kerouac. But tidy gentility misses the point of the Beats—and of true American roots music as well. One Fast Move is a thoroughly pleasant record where it ought to be brash, risky, offensive and maybe even cheesy.—Jay Ruttenberg

Jay Farrar and Benjamin Gibbard play Webster Hall Oct 28.

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