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Is It Rolling Bob? A Reggae Tribute to Bob Dylan (RAS/Sanctuary, 2004) Like The Beatles and Curtis Mayfield, Bob Dylan is one of those artists whose music has proved to be fruitful fodder for reggae artists to mine for remakes (one of the best being The Heptones' "I Shall Be Released"). Perhaps it’s Dylan’s melodic writing, perhaps it’s his laid-back style, perhaps it's the fact that his first name is Bob; whatever the reason, Dylan's material has been covered by reggae acts for years, culminating in Is It Rolling Bob?, a star-studded album devoted solely to the legendary singer-songwriter. As it would be hard to argue that Bob Dylan is a better singer than songwriter, his music is ripe for remakes by artists with more vocal dexterity. We get just that on this album, with performances by great reggae vocalists like Toots Hibbert, who lends his bluesy edge to "Maggie's Farm," the soulful Beres Hammond, who adapts the perfectly chosen "Just Like a Woman" into his signature lovers rock sound, and Luciano, who tackles the time-tested classic "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," which is to folk rock is what "No Woman No Cry" is to reggae. Perhaps the best adaptation, however, comes from lesser-known Nasio (Fontaine), whose "Gotta Serve Somebody" is an invigorating Marley-esque call to action. Michael Rose's "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Caroll," J.C. Lodge's romantic "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right," and the reggae remix of Dylan's "I and I" also stand out (Although I can't tell what's so "reggae" about the latter, it's nonetheless an atmospheric rock cut.). I'd imagine that there are a significant number of people who enjoy both Dylan and reggae, and this album is right up their alley. For those who aren't Dylan fans (myself included), there's still enough to keep them fairly entertained and perhaps even spur them to learn more about Dylan. Some of the more popular tunes, like "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Blowin in the Wind," and "The Times They Are a-Changin'," though, might feel a bit too familiar -- even for non-fans -- to have much impact (Plus, they're just a bit corny in this day and age, aren't they? They've become caricatures of themselves.). Still, Is It Rolling Bob? overall is a decent tribute to a musical icon that is instantly more satisfying than the Blowin' in the Wind compilation of a couple years ago. |
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