I’ve not seen the film yet, but according to Metacritic, it’s bold and individualistic or, if you read the detractors, superficial and lacking in a point. If all those things are true, then this is the perfect soundtrack.

I’m Not There, the movie, is an arty biopic of Bob Dylan. I’m Not There, the soundtrack, is a collection of more than 30 covers of his songs, from the obvious to the not so, and pretty much covering all the bases in the process (as long as all the bases is alt.country, pop and er, well, alt.country and pop really). As with almost every compilation you can think of, especially of covers, it’s a hit-and-miss affair. And while 34 songs sounds like a lot, anyone with a penchant for the wrinkly old American folk reactionary should find a good chunk of them worth keeping.

What amazes me is that you can murder a Dylan song, especially if you get to pick the one you want to play, and how. I don’t own any of his albums, but have massive respect for his ability. As a poet, songwriter and activist, his credentials are impeccable. But, and I know I’m going to lose a few of you here, he can’t sing for shit and he delivered some wonderful songs with a, well, rather basic approach to ‘entertainment’. So covering these masterpieces, on paper, has got to be a doddle for a pro, right? Wrong. Los Lobos, The Hold Steady, Sonic Youth and The Black Keys all blow it – even Yo La Tengo (who ruin one of two) and Stephen Malkmus (who murders two of three). And who the hell decided John Doe should get two cracks at it? Awful nonsense both.

But there are a lot of goodies too – I’m still listening to about two-thirds of them. Calexico are all over “I’m Not There” like a rash (as are ‘super group’ Million Dollar Bashers), with a variety of guest vocalists, the best being Iron & Wine, Roger McGuinn and a brilliant turn by Willie Nelson on “Senor”. Mason Jennings, Tom Verlaine, Mark Lanegan, Jeff Tweedy and Sufjan Stevens all put in an honest day’s work, but special mention has to go to Karen O’s “Highway 61 Revisited”, Mira Billottes’ “As I Went Out One Morning” and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot’s “Just Like Tom Thumb Blues”, all of which stand out from what is, on paper, a pretty impressive crowd. And I know I shouldn’t say it, but Antony and the Johnsons’ “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” is really lovely too. But don’t tell anyone I said that.
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Links
I’m Not There [official site]