I’m Not There: Music from the Motion Picture

I’m not usually the one to rave over soundtracks to movies, but this one has to have some glimmer of amazing-ness: a movie using Bob Dylan as a metaphor, while apparently not being autobiographical, has only one song actually by the guy the movie’s about anyway. And an added bonus: Of all the many different playing Dylan in the same film, the only one of them who looks anything like the real thing is Cate Blanchett, famous for playing Queen Elizabeth in that one movie.

Nevertheless, there’s something that puts you in a great mood in hearing Eddie Vedder yell out “All Along the Watchtower” with Wilco’s Nels Cline (as a part of the Million Dollar Bashers, a continuous presence on the record) spinning Hendrix-rivaling solos nonstop. Or letting Craig Finn and the Hold Steady slurr out “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window” with an extra side of Springsteen.  Or letting Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy go solo on “A Simple Twist of Fate”, where you can finally notice the similarities with Dylan and his voices. And even Karen O, someone who Iíve still got a bit of a grudge against for sucking so much at last year’s Download Festival, sounds great with her art-metal screech over “Highway 61 Revisited.”

And those are just the highlights by artists I’ve been previously aware of. Mark Lanegan’s rendition of “Man In the Long Black Coat” is dark and moody and epic on many levels. Stephan Malkmus’s “Ballad of a Thin Man” is an air-keyboard marathon.

Calexico, the Million Dollar Bashers, and Stephen Malkmus have continuous appearances throughout, and they fail to disappoint on many or most of their slots.

There are some weaker points on the record, like Yo La Tengo’s freak-fuck-up “Fourth Time Around,” and Marcus Carl Franklin’s boring cut of “When the Ship Comes In”, Anthony & The Johnsons completely butcher “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” and there are a few other skippable portions, but for the most part itís a solid CD.

This being the second Dylan Covers album does take some of the effect off the thing, but that doesn’t mean that itís not fun to hear. When the artist who’s playing the song knows what they’re doing, everything goes well, even if you didnít expect it would.

Listen here

Words by Evan Greenwald

This Monday at the Knockout

Way up in the rural New Hampshire town of Alton, miles from any state highway that carry vacationers to the nearby lakes and ski areas, are the workshops of Smile Laboratories. There’s no sign on the highway alerting you to its presence, and the vast building complex is set back too far to be seen from the road. If you do somehow manage to beat the odds and find the place, it’s likely that you’ll never forget the experience. You’ll be greeted at the door by our attractive receptionist, the ever ebullient LaShaundra, who will be only too happy to give you a tour of the grounds. She will explain all that it takes to put on Smile, and will answer any questions you might have. Fresh pastries and coffee are on the house, as well as a lavishly printed map of the grounds.

It is here that all the music you hear at Smile is invented by the most experienced and adept people in the field. All the bands that play at Smile are designed and fabricated here as well, and are shipped to San Francisco where they can perform for your enjoyment. The dj/host Neil is constantly being refined, repaired, and periodically replaced, so as to better serve your needs.

How far ahead does the work stretch? LaShaundra picks up a yellow legal pad, and runs her finger down the list of projects: “Honey, this is a complete restoration here, this band’s just come out of the chicken coop. Honest to god, these kids required several recalls and we been working round the clock for weeks … We ended up having to do the whole thing over, but I think we got it right!”

No doubt, she is referring to Monday night’s headliners, the amazing Brian Glaze and the Night Shift. The lifelike features and fully movable parts on each figure are a sight to behold! When you hear the music they play, you’ll be in no doubt that you’re in the hands of true professionals. Other projects have had to wait their turn, in order that this one could be perfected, but the technicians and engineers at Smile are really on the ball. Just take a look around the shop!

Brian Glaze : Rainsplitter

Over there, we have the prototype of Fun Machine, side project of Angelina Moysov, lovely vocalist and keyboard player of the critically acclaimed Persephone’s Bees. Ready just in time to appear second on the bill Monday night, fresh out of the plastic wrapping and glistening serenely in the moonlight: a row of identical replicas, each one as beautiful and luscious as the next. You don’t really think her busy schedule allows her to singlehandedly pull off such a startling solo act, do you? The costume changes alone require several separate units! All in a day’s work at the Smile Labs…

Starting off the show will be our latest creation, The Trade. As delightful a group of young men as we’ve ever assembled, I think you’ll enjoy their program of songs. LaChaundra explains with a wry smile: “They were supposed to appear at an earlier date, but the thing was jammed sideways in a box van, and we were doing work on one of the other bands when the time came to ship them off. But after a few minor adjustments, they are better than new!”

http://www.myspace.com/oaklandtrade

The people at Smile Labs have a straightforward approach to their work. “We try to do it the way we’ve always done it,” LaChaundra explains. “Look at the way we do something, and invariably it’s the most efficient way–we’re in the business to make money. And, simply stated, Smile is the best. We have no competition.”

How do they choose the program of music that plays between and after the bands? “They’re just cool songs,” LaChaundra asserts. “When we started working on them in the Sixties and Seventies, you’d listen to them and think, man, these tunes are kind of awful. But they grow on you, they’ve really got some nice melodies, and they’re really well-produced for the time.” The dj/host Neil is programmed to keep an eye on the crowd and see what people are responding to. They’ve even set him up for a few flubs for that extra touch of realism!

So, next time you’re planning a vacation, look into Alton, New Hampshire, and seek out the Smile Laboratories. In the meantime, just jump on the Muni bus and head over to the Knockout — this Monday, December 3, around 9:30pm. It’s at 3223 Mission near 29th Street. The gears are waiting for you to set them in motion!

Words by DJ Neil