Jim's song from "I'm not there"

[Angry Ewok]

I tried, but I really couldn't get into this soundtrack... Jim's track isn't bad, although I've never been too big a fan of that particular song. Eddie's track may be the weakest of the bunch, I'm not sure if it's a half-assed cover of Bob Dylan or a lead guitar-less cover of Jimi Hendrix.

[tomEisenbraun]

I think you all are crazy.  Goin to Acapulco is a GREAT song.  I like Jim's version of it.  It may not be better than the original or unique to it but if you noticed Jim never strays that far from the original version in any cover they do, he just adds his magic to it.  There is no way this soundtrack will not be worth the money and then some.  I can't believe people are so disappointed.  Give it another listen, people, please.

Hey man,

I respect how big of a Dylan fan you are, and I think that might make a world of difference. I've been a huge Zeppelin fan, and a HUGE Metallica fan at different times of my life, and huge Flaming Lips fan, as well as a huge MMJ fan, too. If the jacket or another artist I loved a bunch covered one of these other guys' songs, I'd be all over it. I think part of what makes the difference for a lot of us is the familiarity with the material.

You could probably sing Acapulco when you saw the song title, where a lot of us have probably not heard it before. Being really familiar with it makes a difference, because you can hear how Jim adds his own inflections to certain parts, and you can pull out everything he does new for the song, the way Calexico changed the instrumentation, the way they played on how the song worked before and really made it their own. That's a huge difference than some of us who've heard the song for the first time as Jim's version.

That makes this something really special for you, and I'm glad for that. It's always wonderful to see someone you appreciate so strongly being supported and promoted by someone else you adore a ton. That's huge, and I'm excited for this whole thing for you, because it'll be a ton of fun to delve into this soundtrack for you! For the not so huge Dylan fans, though, it's a little harder to get into. Maybe because we know some of the songs, but haven't spent the time to understand what went into them, and therefore they mean a little less when someone covers them. I think what makes a beautiful cover is when someone has a song mean so much to them that they make it their own. I think that's what music is for, is for someone to create something beautiful for someone else to make their own. In that way, these guys have (hopefully) discovered the beauty behind these Dylan songs and worked to capture that beauty as their own take on it in these covers. I dig that. That said, I don't have enough Dylan background to truly enjoy listening to this soundtrack. I'm not condemning it one bit, I just understand that I'm probably not a big enough Dylan to get it as much as I could I could. That's a shame, because this sounds like good fun, and being a big Dylan fan probably allows you to have more fun with it and be less critical of the people who put work into the soundtrack.

Here's a thought, I've been reading Oscar Wilde's "Picture of Dorian Gray" and there's a quote in there about art. Lord Henry says to Basil (the painter) that a portrait is never an interpretation of the person being painted, but an interpretation of the artist through their subject. It's a look at the artist's mind, not the subject's person. With that in mind, these aren't representations of Dylan's songs, they're interpretations of his work, but channeled through these guys. That's cool.

That said, I still don't thoroughly dig Watchtower (Neils! Please use some reverb sometimes!).

[tomEisenbraun]

p.s. does anyone actually bother to read it when i accidentally type books like that?

[BH]

Here's a thought, I've been reading Oscar Wilde's "Picture of Dorian Gray" and there's a quote in there about art. Lord Henry says to Basil (the painter) that a portrait is never an interpretation of the person being painted, but an interpretation of the artist through their subject. It's a look at the artist's mind, not the subject's person. With that in mind, these aren't representations of Dylan's songs, they're interpretations of his work, but channeled through these guys. That's cool.

That's super cool. ^

I do read your "books" Tom. ;)

I totally agree with what you are saying.  However, I think everyone might be a little quick to judge on this thing man, it just came out two days ago for crying out loud.  I for one, have only made it thru Disc One.  I don't know much about Yo La  Tango but I love that song, also, the Mason Jennings song is great.  The Karen O song was cool.  And Willie with Calexico. I enjoyed looking thru the liner notes.  I like how they listed all of the musicians on every song.  I noticed Doyle Bramhall II was playing on the John Doe stuff.  I'm a big fan of Doyle's guitar.  Anyway, if nothing else, it has peeked my interest on a couple of other artists that I don't know.

All this and Disc Two (Including the Hold Steady!) still to come.

[Chills]

[ That said, I don't have enough Dylan background to truly enjoy listening to this soundtrack. I'm not condemning it one bit, I just understand that I'm probably not a big enough Dylan to get it as much as I could I could. That's a shame, because this sounds like good fun, and being a big Dylan fan probably allows you to have more fun with it and be less critical of the people who put work into the soundtrack.

Interesting post Tom, but this point makes little sense to me.

Why should you even need to be aware of the original to enjoy a good cover?

Look at Wilco's cover of Charles Wright's Comment. I had never heard of Charles Wright before, but just loved it and searched for the original and loved that as well. Likewise, I wasn't familiar with Nashville Skyline before hearing Tweedy's cover of I Threw It All Away and adored that one immediatelly.

On the other hand I was VERY familiar with Blood On The Tracks. It might be my favourite album of all time. Yet Jeff's Simple Twist Of Fate cover does not manage to capture the feeling of Dylan's original. It's partially the performance and partially the choice of song. Can't see anyone doing Idiot Wind as well, that could never work. Those are such unique and personal songs.


PS: Andrew Bird's cover of Oh Sister still rules 'em all!

[harpua51]

You guys got me thinking?  "Singles" has a mighty strong place in my heart.  I believe Im gonna have marinate on this for a while????? :-/

[the_wizzard]

i was weened on dylan (my mom is an ole' folkie), and I am very familiar with dylan's work...and my husband is a bigger fan than i...so this album has been anticipated in our home.

my take, after listening to the album and reading posts, on the topic:
some of the album is genius, some of the album just is...
I love dylan, love his songwriting, but i have truly always appreciated them best thru  interpretations (a. see previous post on jerry garcia & b. i've been known to be very disappointed after a couple dylan shows....).

but with all that being said, the soundtrack is an extension of the movie.  and this is not a usual biopic by any means. Todd Haynes and his crew took a very artistic approach to a very iconic american performer.  dylan has mystified and so should the biopic (soundtrack and all).  what I find most interesting is the scope of dylan's work represented in the soundtrack.  Todd Haynes is taking a unusual approach to telling dylan's story.  and the soundtrack follows suit on that vision..........

just remember, this is not a covers album or a tribute.  it is a soundtrack to an abstract version of a biopic.  personally, I can't wait the 2 weeks before it opens in Portland for the regular folk (todd haynes lives here part-time and is hosting a viewing this weekend for a sold out benefit...).

[harpua51]

My List

1. The Big Chill
2. Singles
3. Garden State
4. In the Wild (i listened to it once and I loved it!)
5. Top Gun
6. The Crow
7. Easy Rider
8.  Dead Man Walking
9. Sat. Night Fever
10. Pulp Fiction

[rob]

I just found out that Bonnie Prince Billy recorded a cover of 'Goin To Acapulco' about a year ago. It's on his 'Lay And Love' CD single. Sound sample sounds good......ah boy.....that ol' rivalry.

[Bangs Brownwood]

Just listened to this one for the first time... I think it sounds like buttah.... gave me warm fuzzies like only Jim can.  ;)

[getinthevan]

I'll admit, I'm not a huge Dylan fan.  This film has sparked my interest again and actually gotten me to go back and give him another try.  I really enjoy some of his stuff but some of it just hasn't done anything for me.  However, I love this cd.  I've listened to it a few times already and with each listen, I want to listen to the originals more and more.

[DaFunkyPrecedent]

Not to be Debbie Downer...but i've heard Jim sound better.  The song didn't impress me.

[Kory]

Did you guys know this is on vinyl? Picked a copy up today.

[DaFunkyPrecedent]

whaaaa???!!!!??? flying back to the Bay this weekend...cant wait to buy it at Ameoba - along with my Fat Slice pizza and Orange Soda. nothing better.

[sweatboard]

Can someone e-mail me like $30?  I really NEED this on Vinyl.

[tomEisenbraun]

[ That said, I don't have enough Dylan background to truly enjoy listening to this soundtrack. I'm not condemning it one bit, I just understand that I'm probably not a big enough Dylan to get it as much as I could I could. That's a shame, because this sounds like good fun, and being a big Dylan fan probably allows you to have more fun with it and be less critical of the people who put work into the soundtrack.

Interesting post Tom, but this point makes little sense to me.

Why should you even need to be aware of the original to enjoy a good cover?

Look at Wilco's cover of Charles Wright's Comment. I had never heard of Charles Wright before, but just loved it and searched for the original and loved that as well. Likewise, I wasn't familiar with Nashville Skyline before hearing Tweedy's cover of I Threw It All Away and adored that one immediatelly.

On the other hand I was VERY familiar with Blood On The Tracks. It might be my favourite album of all time. Yet Jeff's Simple Twist Of Fate cover does not manage to capture the feeling of Dylan's original. It's partially the performance and partially the choice of song. Can't see anyone doing Idiot Wind as well, that could never work. Those are such unique and personal songs.


PS: Andrew Bird's cover of Oh Sister still rules 'em all!

I totally get what you're saying there. I've had that happen for me a few times, too, though I can't think of any specifics at the moment. I think a lot of the enthusiasm for this project comes from people's love of the original, and seeing the new interpretations of them. I could be wrong, but I'm thinking that that is probably the biggest draw for this album, as it's definitely set up in that manner. I wasn't meaning to state that comment as the rule on enjoying cover songs, but I think that that is probably the case moreso on this soundtrack than in most other situations.

[sweatboard]

This song rules!  What a great choice for Jim to cover.  Although, I could do without the horns.  Jim's voice would have sufficed.   :)

[richardlove]

wow, i didnt know jim actually played in the movie..is there a thread discussing it? i cant find one.