The I’m Not There soundtrack paints a vivid portrait of Bob Dylan and his many different personas from director’s Todd Hayne’s viewpoint. The soundtrack accompanied the release of the movie also entitled I’m Not There The soundtrack features 34 covers of Dylan classics from various artists and a supergroup assembled for the album. Some notable artists include Sonic Youth, Willie Nelson, Richie Havens, the Black Keys and Mason Jennings. The supergroup assembled for this gig features guitarist Lee Ranaldo and drummer Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth, Tom Verlaine, Dylan's regular bassist Tony Garnier, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, guitarist Smokey Hormel, and John Medeski plays the keys. The album brilliantly shifts between faithful covers and independent interpretations, and this structure allows the discs to gel nicely.
A total of two discs are packaged inside and the first disc opens with a rendition of I’m Not There by Sonic Youth. This number features a painful yet real story of loneliness. Going to Acapulco by Jim Jones conjures images of fun and love south of the border. The mood shifts with Tombstone Blues by Richie Havens, which invokes the thought of a bird in flight with its rousing and upbeat rythyms. Ballad of a Thin Man, performed by Stephen Malkmus of Pavement, presents the listeners with some haunting blues guitar work. These tones highlight the snide, hipster side of Dylan. The next few songs didn’t really move me and I wasn’t moved until Dark Eyes by Iron and Wine and the supergroup mentioned above began to reach my ears. The last highlight of disc one lies in a number titled The Lonesome Death of Hattie Caroll by Mason Jennings and its strength lies in the songs faithfulness to the Dylan sound. It’s notes ring with the sound of folk guitar and piercing harmonicas.
Disc 2 begins with a number called As I Went Out in the Morning by Mira Billotte and as the song unfolds a love story clearly written by Dylan emerges. Ring Them Bells by Sufjan Stevens shows the spiritual side of Dylan with its lyrics and spiritual themes. A sharp contrast arrives with I Wanna Be Your Lover. This title highlights the swinging sixties side of Dylan and it do so by featuring playful lyrics about love. A well-orchestrated and stripped down song entitled Tom Thumb’s Blues follows. This ode to early sixties Dylan strips the song down to its essence and it is laden with passion and intensity. This intensity resurfaces on The Black Key’s cover of Wicked Messenger. The song rings with gritty delta blues guitar tones and a drum groove. After the listeners get their led out to this song, a darker gothic piece, Cold Iron’s Bound by Tom Verlaine paints an image of lonely sad man pondering life in his rocking chair by a fire. After this number, the classic, The Times They Are a Changin’ by Mason Jennings begins to spin. It is a faithful rendition of a politically charged masterpiece that will always remain relevant. Last but not least the entire collection with a Bob Dylan original playing with The Band. This original is entitled I’m Not There and it is a fitting and soulful conclusion.
I’m Not There covers the many faces of Dylan brilliantly. Give a listen to Dylan’s immortal songwriting, poetic stories and genuine feelings. Dylan will remain immortal and people will always listen to him. People need something real to grasp onto in our synthetic world.
