How wrong could you go when covering songs of the greatest songwriter in rock history?
Well, not very wrong at all.
I’m Not There is the unique biography of the legendary Bob Dylan, and for the soundtrack, twenty-nine artists were collected to record thirty-four songs.
What became of this collaboration is an album with mixed but largely positive results.
The songs of choice for the soundtrack span his entire career nabbing the true folk Dylan to the born again Christian Dylan.
The choice of songs seem to have a goal of capturing each moment of his life, for instance the choice of “Pressin On” from his 1980 album
Saved which has lyrics with heavy religious connotations.
Many try to stop me, shake me up in my mind,
Say, "Prove to me that He is Lord, show me a sign."
What kind of sign they need when it all come from within,
When what's lost has been found, what's to come has already been?
Each artist goes their own way with their respective song. Many stick to the easy path with trying to recapture the exact feel of the original, and other artists trying to make it their own. Sometimes the reach for originality pays off such as Eddie Vedder and the Million Dollar Bashers take on “All Along the Watchtower” which summonses a more Hendrix than Dylan feel. Other times the originality completely misses the boat like Anthony & the Johnsons version of “Knockin’ on Heavens Door” which simply sounds uninspired and dull. For the most part however, the artists choose to stick to the original composition.
Two of the strongest pieces on the album come from two women. The first of which being Cat Powers take on “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again”. Cat Power goes for a straight forward cover sounding extremely similar to Dylan (for a woman) with her outstanding voice. The second song being from Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and her take on the quirky “Highway 61 Revisited” which she makes all her own with her outlandish vocal techniques.
Dylan has been one of the most covered artists in Rock history, and this album continues to show why. Absolutely anyone can take a Dylan song and make it sound good as long as they hold somewhat true to the original. His career has been nothing short of spectacular, and his songwriting abilities are all but perfect.
Grade: B
