Bob Dylan – I’m Not There Review

I’m Not There is a stroke of genius. How best to present an elusive figure of music than with multiple actors? The soundtrack had the same idea. With covers from Sonic Youth, Cat Power and Karen O, the variety of Dylan and his work was laid out well. These are not just the hits of his heyday but the depths of his discography, a well-intended additional piece of understanding a prolific artist still penning his thoughts on the world. Boisterous workings of all those classic tracks from the safe hands of the modern music world. All Along the Watchtower with Eddie Vedder and The Million Dollar Bashers you say? Fantastic. I’m Not There is as tastefully and sharply assembled as those drafted in to play the elusive, ever-changing musician. Smart work from those at hand, and a boastful number of greats within. 

A title track from Sonic Youth and the greats keep on coming. What comes through the bulk of these songs is an understanding of their tone – and how to keep this intact in adaptation. There is a tinge of Lou Reed to its tempo and the vocal fits a seedy moment. Sonic Youth may have the best track on the album. It is a skill not lost on the greats within, with the likes of Willie Nelson applying their intimate knowledge of Dylan just as well as more abstract offerings from Sufjan Stevens. Not all are incredible but those which adapt their material well bring on a staggering experience. Stephen Malkmus puts a few electronic charms to the test with his balladeer-made voice on Ballad of a Thin Man. Wonderful stuff overall and there is no getting away from the charms of the vocoder prattling away in the background. An essential version of Ballad of a Thin Man, up there with the Richard Hawley cover. 

You get what you get with collaborative covers. Not all of these are hits. Some are passable suggestions of Dylan. Like bumping into a stranger on a night out, a nod at them for spilling their drink and it is back to the comfort of friends. Bump into Dark Nights, find powerful, loving experiences on One More Cup of Coffee. Roger McGuinn brings on a Scott 4-like charm and sounds truly terrified of the task at hand. With a nice bit of trumpet backing it and a collaboration with Calexico holding it together, I’m Not There has the rises and falls expected of a wide variety of covers.  There is enough variety throughout I’m Not There to feel for what you like and to stick with it. Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) finally paid its dues with Willie Nelson, and it marks a welcome turn for both the song and the artist.  

Ultimately a more than satisfying compilation of Dylan covers. A welcome change of pace for those often-played songs and a few underrated gems are kicked around, given the mighty vocal or tempo change they need. With extraordinary additions made by Stevens, it should be no surprise the highs of I’m Not There come from those wanting to challenge the instrumentals. To push further on from what Dylan brought before. They do not all work but the insistence in creating something new is admirable. Plenty to admire in this soundtrack, and what a way to spend a sunny afternoon it is.