MUSIC SCENE
MUSIC REVIEWED BY BOB JONES

I'm Not There - Sony Music

Original Soundtrack

I'm Not There

"Like a rolling stone": Everyone reading this esteemed publication has, at one time or another, done a Bob Dylan imitation either out loud or in their head. If you haven't done so before I'll bet you did when you read the first line just now. Ha, caught ya. I can't say anything more about Dylan than has already been said, but his songs have been recorded by more artists than any living songwriter, and there have been many Dylan tribute records. (For those of you keeping score at home, I reviewed a Bryan Ferry tribute back in the spring.)

This double-disc set filled with 33 Dylan songs covered by various artists is the Dylan tribute to have if you only get to pick one. These are all relevant artists who are at the top of their game, not trying to revive a career that was once great. On this soundtrack, Jeff Tweedy does "Simple Twist Of Fate," Charlotte Gainsbourg & Calexico do "Just Like a Woman," and the list goes on to include Sonic Youth, Eddie Vedder, Cat Power, Yo La Tango, Antony & The Johnsons…and, well, you get the idea. Calexico backs up many artists, including Willie Nelson and Iron and Wine. There is also a house band of sorts called "The Million Dollar Bashers," who back up a half a dozen artists. The Million Dollar Bashers are Sonic Youth's guitarist Lee Ranaldo and drummer Steve Shelley, Television guitarist Tom Verlaine, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, guitarist Smokey Hormel, keyboardist John Medeski and Dylan longest touring band member, bassist Tony Garnier. For the most part the arrangements are close to the original Dylan arrangements, so for those of you who say that you like his songs but not his voice you will be pleased. For Dylan freaks, it is always interesting to hear how other people interpret the great master's work. Even if the movie flops, the soundtrack will always be remembered.

Smoke - Tigerbeat6 Records

White Williams

Smoke

White Williams is the nom de plume for 23-year-old Cleveland, Ohio, native Joe Williams. On his debut record, "Smoke," he has blended the British glam-rock sound from the early '70s with the synth-pop sound of Gary Numan's Tubeway Army, but it comes out sounding fresh and current. I suppose that some may say that Smoke is a downtempo dance record but it's also one that can be enjoyed by those of us who just like to listen. The second track, "In the Club," sounds very much like a T-Rex song, with a cheesy, preset Casio keyboard rhythm track. The creamy, overdriven guitar and delicate vocal style mimic that band's Marc Bolan to a T, and it is a stand-out track. Williams covers the Strangeloves' "I Want Candy," which was also a huge hit for Bow Wow Wow in the '80s. Williams' rendition sounds like it could have been on the Brian Eno record "Before and After Science." On my first listen to the song "Fleetwood Crack," I was thinking that it reminded me a bit of the Soft Cell version of "Tainted Love" when about a minute and a half into the song he gave it a nod saying something about "our tainted love." I kinda missed the synth-pop movement the first time around- it didn't do too much for me- but White Williams' "Smoke" makes me wonder if maybe I missed something. Bob Jones is the founder of Silver Platter CDs EST1998 in Fort Myers. For more info or to suggest music, email recordreviews@comcast.net