I'm Not There Original Soundtrack

These songs were written by music’s most gifted songsmith and are reinterpreted here by a selection of today’s most talented artists. This sounds like a winning formula, but actually produces a shapeless batch that rouses as much infuriation as inspiration.

Luminaries such as Sonic Youth, Antony & The Johnsons and Jack Johnson attempt the impossible in covering Bob Dylan for the soundtrack to his upcoming experimental biopic. His voice is so distinctive that hearing the likes of ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ in anything except his absorbing, hoarse hum generally sounds alien and ineffective.

However, many people find Dylan’s tone more excruciating than exhilarating, so this album is a chance to experience his songs with more acceptable audibility. Cat Power brings a simmering charm to ‘Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again’ that is alluring and effortless, while Sufjan Stevens conjures a sweet, marauding spell with ‘Ring Them Bells.’

In a 34-track collection misfires are acceptable, but their regularity is disappointing. While Yo La Tengo’s performance of ‘Fourth Time Around’ is perfectly adequate, it sounds so similar to Dylan’s version you merely yearn for that. Eddie Vedder, Stephen Malkmus and Jeff Tweedy’s efforts all border on karaoke impressions.

The most effective renditions are those that alter the originals significantly. Karen O blends Dylan’s gravel-tinted elusiveness with her own kooky, feline snarl to muster an atmosphere of agitated fun on ‘Highway 61 Revisited.’ Willie Mason adds country grandeur on ‘Senor’, The Black Keys bring their deliciously filthy sound to ‘Wicked Messenger’ and suddenly the scope of Dylan’s versatility is partly found.

Nevertheless, the brilliance and ambiguousness of his character is never captured, as Sonic Youth’s cover of ‘I’m Not There’ shows. It’s moody, heartfelt and professional. But the album ends with Dylan singing the same track. It’s haunting, memorable - and superior. This soundtrack can serve as an introduction to his music, an antidote for his voice’s critics and an interesting portrayal of various artists being challenged. But by the end, you’ll be reaching for Blonde On Blonde, or The Freewheelin’, or Blood On The Tracks, or…..