Crossing Dylan.


Ethel the Blog points the way to a remarkable confluence of two of my favorite things: the freewheelin’ Bob Dylan and ADA Claire Kincaid. Apparently, the lovely Jill Hennessy sings “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” on the recently released T-Bone Burnett-produced soundtrack for Crossing Jordan. Other potential standout tracks (not by Hennessy) include covers of VU’s “Pale Blue Eyes”, Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain,” Donovan’s “Season of the Witch,” and The Kinks’ “Days” (Also covered by Elvis Costello for the Until the End of the World soundtrack.) Right now, there’s no sign of any of these tracks on Kazaa, not that I’ve checked or anything. To be honest, I’ve never watched Crossing Jordan – from afar, it looks awful. But that doesn’t speak any less of the late Ms. Kincaid…for two seasons there, Jack McCoy was a lucky, lucky man.

Marat’s Bathing.

Speakin’ in tongues, it’s still worth a broken lip. R.E.M.’s Murmur turns twenty. (Via Looka.) Unlike the cover bands of today (The VU Strokes and Interpol/Joy Division immediately come to mind), these four Athens lads put out a first record (Chronic Town E.P. notwithstanding) that still sounds original and distinctive two decades later, and we’re still reaping the rewards. Up the stairs and to the landing…

Lonesome Shadow.

The tracklisting for Counterfeit 2, Depeche Mode songwriter Martin Gore‘s second solo cover album, has now been released (07.02.03 story.) Longtime DM fans will know that the original Counterfeit EP, following up soon after 1989’s Music for the Masses, was a very worthy pickup. This one, due out April 28, includes more well-known tunes than the first, including songs by Brian Eno (“By this River”), John Lennon (“Oh My Love”), Willie Nelson (“Stardust”), and the Velvet Underground (“Candy Says”). DM frontman David Gahan also has a solo album coming out later in the year, which should be…interesting, I guess.

Pat Garrett II: Lily, Rosemary, and Jack Fate of Hearts.

Sundance premieres Masked and Anonymous, Bob Dylan’s return to the big screen. I’d heard about this project awhile back, but I hadn’t realized it was actually filmed and in the can. I’m very curious…it’s got a stellar cast, and Zimmy, of course. I could see this being really interesting or really embarrassing, but if nothing else comes out of it than introducing me to that Italian hip-hop version of “Like a Rolling Stone” on the first clip (found on Google/Kazaa as “Come una pietra scalciata” by Articolo 31), it’s been worth it.