I'm Not There (Original Soundtrack) [Bonus Track Version]

The unorthodox Bob Dylan bio-pic, I’m Not There, from director Todd Haynes features a soundrack as odd and audacious as his film. An eclectic mix of recording artists interpret one of the 20th century’s greatest songwriters and turn up new revelations in the process. A pick-up band featuring drummer Steve Shelley, guitarists Lee Ranaldo, Tom Verlaine and Smokey Hormel and keyboardist John Medeski back up Eddie Vedder for a dramatic rendition of “All Along the Watchtower” and Stephen Malkmus for straight up reads of “Ballad of a Thin Man” and “Maggie’s Farm,” while Malkmus offers his finest vocal performance on the gorgeous 1966 Dylan obscurity “Can’t Leave Her Behind” with Ranaldo taking Robbie Robertson’s guitar role. Mark Lanegan invests his death growl in “Man in the Long Black Coat.” Mira Billotte hangs tight to the cryptic story and simple, unadorned melody of “As I Went Out One Morning.” Mason Jennings stays true with flat-footed, dry renditions of “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” and “The Times They Are a Changin’.” Antony and the Johnsons creep out “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.” Bob Forrest hangs on in desperation to the folkie mountain haze of “Moonshiner.” The added bonus is the official release of Bob Dylan’s basement tape of the title track, mind-boggling proof that after four decades the man still has first-rate outtakes in the can.