'Margot At The Wedding' Soundtrack Tracklist Finalized

Ok, so there's not much new here, but "The Margot At The Wedding" soundtrack tracklist has been slightly tweaked.

As we first revealed here, the soundtrack is set for a November 13 release date and features tracks by the Dinosaur Jr., the dB's, Blondie, Karen Dalton and Donovan (and is a rather excellent and tastefully chosen mix of songs.).

There's barely anything different, but one of the notable omissions is Fleetwood Mac's "That's All For Everyone" from the rechampioned Tusk (but we've got it below so you don't miss out, but yes you'll hear it in the film) and the addition of '70s soft-rock singer/songwriter Stephen Bishop's hit "On and On" (yes, it's a bit of a slow day, but we really love this soundtrack and movie).

Note: there is no score music to this film but Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips (whose "Northern Blue" track is featured on the soundtrack) acted as the film's music consultants.

Our friends at Lakeshore records tell us the tracklist at CD Universe is incorrect and have provided us with the final, final tracklist (which like we said is barely different from the one we originally reported). We've written about this Noah Baumbach tragi-comedy too many damn times to count, so for more info, here, here and here. The film is due in theaters November 16.

"Margot At The Wedding" soundtrack tracklist
01. Romeo’s Tune - Steve Forbert
02. Genesis - Jorma Kaukonen
03. One Fine Summer Morning - Evie Sands
04. Goin’ Down to Laurel - Steve Forbert
05. The Wagon - Dinosaur Jr.
06. See How We Are - X
07. Sunday Girl - Blondie
08. Everything Changes - Lesley Duncan
09. Northern Blue - Dean Wareham & Britta Phillips
10. Union City Blue - Blondie
11. You and Me - Alice Cooper
12. Clair - Gilbert O’Sullivan
13. Easy to Be Around - Diane Cluck
14. Nothing is Wrong - the dB’s
15. On and On - Stephen Bishop
16. Teen Angel - Donovan
17. Something on Your Mind - Karen Dalton

The Dalton song that closes out the film is a personal favorite of ours and is pretty damn sad, but beautiful.


"Margot At The Wedding" trailer

'Redacted' Gets Redacted And Then Brian DePalma Gives Up The War

As you may or may not heard, there was a big brouhaha earlier on Wednesday at the "Redacted" press conference - Brian DePalma's new and upcoming controversial Iraq war film - when the director (DePalma) was interrupted by an audience member. DePalma clamied during the conference (moderated by film critic J.Hoberman) that his film had been ironically been redacted (censored) by his financial backers (one outspoken enterpreneur billionaire/Magonlia Pictures owner Mark Cuban).

DePalma blamed the censorship on Cuban by name and told the New York Film Festival audience that Magnolia Pictures forced him to black out the faces in a montage of real photos that runs at the end of the film. A heckler yelled out, "That's not true!" The audience member turned out to be Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. "It's a legal issue," he said.

One that DePalma asserted that he would fight seemingly tooth and nail. I felt like my cut was violated and I am seeking to have my images un-redacted," DePalma said seemingly hinted at taking legal recourse.

"The irony of all this is that even though everyone [in Iraq] has a digital camera and access to the Internet, somehow we don't see any of these images," De Palma said. "Why are things being redacted? My own film was redacted."

Here's a clip of the imbroglio.


Magnolia maintained that since these images were pinched off the Internet from YouTube footage and photos uploaded by soliders DePalma doesn't have the right to use them and or they have to be cleared first (and he has a point).

And now DePalma appears to realize he doesn't have a leg to stand on. "I couldn't get around the legalities. I tried to, I fought a hard case," he told Vulture last night before a screening of the film. "But it was the difference between letting the film go out or just keeping at this."

It doesn't help that U.S. critics are calling the film "clumsy" propaganda and a ham-fisted attempt at creating controversy, despite Though DePalma won the Venice Film Festival prize for Best Director. The IFC blog said, "To take on such a topic and then fumble it so badly reveals in De Palma either profound arrogance or a general contempt for the American people he's apparently looking to inform."

Gothamist called the film " "amateurish and half baked" and right-wing folks like Bill O'Reilly have already been making a loud campaign against the film.

"Redacted" opens on November 16.
"Redacted" Trailer

Short Cuts: Jay-Z, Control, Michel Gondry, Lou Reed, Simon Pegg; More

- Another track from Jay-Z's American Gangster album has leaked. It's called, "Roc Boys," it was produced by P.Diddy's hitmaker stable (though Diddy likes to take all the credit), and sounds like early J with lots of punctuated horns, and '70s soul inflections and black Jewish toasting. Hov has also regretted announcing his retirement. “I was watching "Fade to Black" on VH1, and I was cringing, because I kept saying, ‘It may be the last album’ — I’ve made two albums already!” [Mixtape Maestro] The video for "Blue Magic" is out too (see below)

- 'The last I heard, the lead singer was dead but I'll give them a ring and see if anything has changed'," Some ignoramus jackass film distributor asked Peter Hook if Joy Division would play the New York premiere of "Control."[Spinner]

- Michel Gondry is going to co-direct an animated film with his 16-year-old son Paul. “We’re translating our relationship into a futuristic story with a dictator and a rebel,” he explained of the film’s rudimentary outline. “He’s the dictator in the story [and] it will be based on [his] art.” Gondry is currently shooting a 30-minute segement for ashort-film vignettes series called, "Toyko."[MTV]

- Lou Reed sullies his career (a meditation record, c'mon! that much by recording with the Killers. To be fair the tune isn't as wretched as we thought it would be. [YouTube]

- J.J. Abrams has cast "Hot Fuzz"'s Simon Pegg as Scotty in the upcoming Star Trek reboot? [Ain't It Cool] Oh the guy from "Harold & Kumar" is also gonna be Sulu, heh.

Hunter S. Thompson's widow is writing a book about her experience of being married to "journalism's" wildest writer. "I don't deny his lifestyle, because his lifestyle was pretty extreme," she said. [AP]

Download: Jay-Z - "Roc Boys"
Jay-Z - "Blue Magic" video

'Southland Tales' Film Features Moby, Radiohead,The Killers, Pixies, Jane's Addiction; Soundtrack Due November 6

Remember Richard Kelly and his cult-favorite directorial debut, "Donnie Darko"?

You'll remember we told you in early September that Moby had composed the score for Kelly's belated follow-up "Southland Tales" (a film that's led a troubled life: including studio coldfeet, pushed back releases and a terrible reception at Cannes 2006. Also to note: Trent Reznor was rumored to be composing the score at one point, but actually has nothing to do with the film). The trailer was unveiled just a few weeks ago.

Well, after at leas a year delay, the film is finally coming (November 9 in limited release) out and it's also got a soundtrack that's due November 6.

As expected Moby tracks are all over the film and on the soundtrack disc which also includes cuts by alterna-rockers Jane's Addiction, The Pixies, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Elbow.

Featured in the movie, but not on the disc are songs by Blur, Radiohead (a live version of "Planet Telex") and The Killers - "All These Things That I've Done" is actually lip-synched by 'Southland' actor Justin Timberlake in a hallucinatory dream sequence that is part music video interlude, part absurdist put-on (JT also chugs beer and dances with 1940s pin-up girls in an arcade during the very-strange scene).

The satirical futuristic film also stars The Rock, Sean Williams Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar and as for its poor Canne's showing? Director Richard Kelly said the version shown at Cannes was a work in progress (they ran out of time and money apparently) and the film has since been re-edited.

As for this soon-to-be infamous Timberlake scene?

"The drug trip is the true fantasy. That Killers song... I actually think that’s the heart and soul of the film. When I heard it I thought, wow, think about that. That song breaks my heart and I don’t even know what they were thinking or talking about when they wrote the lyrics," Kelly told Cinemascope. [ed.'s context: Timberlake plays a disfigured Iraq war vet and the main refrain in the Killers' song is "I got soul, but I'm not a soldier." It will make more when you see the film.]

At one point, Variety called this strange film a "comedy-musical thriller" which might give you a clue as to how weird it is. The Britney Spears' like lampoon number "Teen Horniness is Not a Crime" is sung by Michelle Gellar's pop-tart cum porn star character.

"Southland Tales" soundtrack tracklist
1. Wave of Mutilation [UK Surf Version] (Pixies)
2. Oh My Angel (Bertha Tillman)
3. Howl [Extended Version]* (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)
4. Look Back In (Moby)
5. Me & Bobby McGee (Waylon Jennings)
6. Chord Sounds (Moby)
7. Lucky Me (Roger Webb)
8. 3 Steps* (Moby)
9. Broken Hearted Savior (Big Head Todd & The Monsters)
10. Teen Horniness is Not a Crime (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Abbey McBride, ClarKent)
11. Tiny Elephants* (Moby)
12. Forget Myself (Elbow)
13. The Star Spangled Banner (Rebekah del Rio & The Section Quartet)
14. Three Days [Live Version] (Jane s Addiction)
15. Memory Gospel (Moby)
*previously unreleased

Sone of the songs used in the film, but not included on the soundtrack:
"If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)" - Louis Armstrong
"All These Things That I've Done" - The Killers
"Planet Telex" (Live in San Francisco) - "Radiohead"
"Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, op. 125, Second Movement 'Molto Vivace'" - Ludwig van Beethoven
"Tender" - Blur (this song plays over the closing credits)
"Main Title" [from the 1955 film "Kiss Me Deadly"] - Frank De Vol
"Piano Boogie" [from the 1955 film "Kiss Me Deadly"] - Frank De Vol

According to a potentially very-dubious IMDB post about Moby's score (though maybe not cause they jive with "previously unreleased" mentions)
Unreleased Moby Songs
“Water Pistol”
“It Looks Down”
“Ceanograph”
“3 Steps”
“Tiny Elephants”
"Rose Petals"

Previously Released Moby tracks
"Overland”
“Aerial”
“Blue Paper”
“Look Back In”
“Chord Sounds”
“Hotel Intro”
“Memory Gospel”

Download: The Pixies - "Wave Of Mutilation (UK Surf Version)"

So Contrary To Popular Belief Anton Corbijn Barely Knew Ian Curtis & Other Joy Division Tales

The myth of "rock photographer"Anton Corbijn (he hates that appellation, btw) is that he was tight with Ian Curtis of Joy Division and therefore was the right man for the job when it came to bring Curtis' story to the big screen with "Control" (our review here).

Not that he isn't the man for the job, but as rock stories go, they're generally exaggerated and it turns out Corbijn barely spoke English when he met Ian Curtis, let alone got to know him well. In fact, Corbijn only met Curtis twice briefly for two photo sessions with JD before he offed himself.

"He was somebody who kept a bit to himself, I thought, but very friendly, and the second time I met him he was a bit more distant, but that was very close to his suicide," he told Rolling Stone. "I didn’t speak English very well then and of course I had a bit of an accent, so we didn’t have lots of conversation."

So we're not saying Corbijn has overstated his relationship or anything, we're just saying it seems like - to us at least - that their relationship was overstated by someone (the press likely).

As for Corbijn's supposedly legendary move to England from Holland in 1974 because of Joy Division, well that's been slightly exaggerated as well. "I wanted to move away from Holland for my work because I felt that things would be better for me in England," the Dutch director told Entertainment Weekly. "But when I heard Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures, that pushed me towards making the move and making it real. I met them within 12 days of moving to England."

And at least Corbijn himself won't pretend he was even close with Curtis. "The problem I had was that my English was poor and I was also quite shy, plus they spoke with an accent that was hard for me to understand, so the conversation was very limited. I couldn't really consider myself a friend of Ian's because I couldn't put two lines together," he told EW.

It's also interesting to note that the actors in the movie that portray Joy Division (including lead actor Sam Riley, the singer of 10,000 Things and more briefly with the Horned Owls), couldn't really play a lick of music, but were so committed to their roles that they insisted they learn and play the Joy Division songs in the movie. Corbijn initially resisted their efforts, but eventually acquiesced when they impressed him with their spot-on JD covers. "They couldn't play instruments, [but] they were determined," he told New York magazine. "They pleaded with me to do it live and, of course, they did, and thank God they did, and thank God I gave in because it made the film a lot stronger."

And as for anyone that thinks the director is capitalizing on his old pals and the death of Ian Curtis think again. He hasn't recouped any of the 4-million odd Euros he sank into the movie himself. "I'm selling my house in England at the moment. I'm going to Holland."

What about the piss-poor excuse of using the Killers (a cover of JD's "Shadowplay") over the end-credits of a film about Joy Division? Corbijn just didn't want you to leave the theaters in a suicidal mood. "There’s also the reason why over the credits I put on a poppy version of “Shadow Play” that The Killers had made for the film, because it helps you lift the mood a bit," he told RS (we buy this excuse why else would anyone almost ruin their film with this terrible decision?).

Time Magazine noted that the photographer/filmmaker doesn't see the film as a rock biopic, but rather, "a tragic love story with great music."

"Control" is in limited release as we speak.

Peter Bogdanovich Is Down With The Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down A Dream Trailer

Check the testimonials by Eddie Vedder, George Harrison, Rick Rubin, Johnny Depp, Dave Grohl and Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks who claims if Tom Petty had asked her to leave the Mac and join the Heartbreakers she woulda done it in a... heartbeat.

Oh yeah, and the New York Times wrote something we kind of already knew (otherwise why else would be here?) or rather wrote about our raison d'être. Apparently the film world is looking towards the music world for inspiration these days. Really who knew? And seriously, who knew that cinema's biggest bookworm/most pretentious ascot wearing director - the lovably nerdy Peter Bogdanovich - gave a shit about something as pedestrian as rock n' roll? Doesn't he have an Orson Welles dinner fete to attend? [ed. he actually prefers neck handkerchiefs]

Bogdanovich's 'Runnin' Down A Dream' Tom Petty and co. documentary screens during the currently-happening New York Film Festival and hits limited release next Monday (Oct 15.)

The DVD is available (only at BestBuy of course) on October 16.

For The Dilettante Suckers That Bought Tickets To Jonny Greenwood's Superhet Orchestral Performance

Are you going to be in New York for the [Popcorn Superhet Receiver] performances in January?
Greenwood: I’d love to but I can’t really justify the flight just to come to that. I’d feel a bit weird about it. If I was in America already for touring or something I’d love to go but I can’t really justify it. It’s a shame.

A night of avante transistor radio-inspired orchestral music without your Radiohead savior? Roh roh. [Gothamist]

(And thus the Craigslist gates began to flood...) Hear all of "Popcorn Superhet Receiver" here.

Jay-Z Making His Own 'American Gangster' Hip-Hop Musical?

Jay-Z is so inspired by this "American Gangster" movie that he not only came out of retirement (again) to record an inspired-by album, but he also plans to make his own film (Man, Ridley Scott should really be taking all of this as a huge compliment).

According to Allhip-hop.com Hova wants to make it like a rap musical (is that a first?)

“What I really plan to do is shoot [American Gangster, the album] as a movie. Like a better 'Streets is Watching.' Doing it like a musical. Real stories and get somebody in there that’s [going do to]…real writing. Someone to shoot it like ‘Godfather.’ I know that’s a little ungracious, but that’s how you gotta place it..."

Really Jay? You may be biting off more than you can chew, no? Oh yeah, he also said he wants to star in said film. “Yeah, yeah. I mean, who else gonna do that shi?” J told AllHip-Hop.

'The Assassination of Jesse James' Soundtrack Comes Out October 23

As we previously reported, the "The Assasination of Jesse James By The Coward John Ford" soundtrack's digital release comes out on October 23 (a cd release will hit stores in early 2008).

Composed by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis (Dirty Three, Grinderman) , the beautiful and elegiac score might be the prettiest and moving instrumental music used in a film all year.

Those hoping to hear the songs sung by Cave and actress Zooey Deschanel in the film (she has a small cameo) will be SOL unfortunately, those songs aren't on the disc digital release, but the score is seriously so gorgeous, you really won't care.

If you haven't already heard, Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck are both garnering Oscar buzz for their impressive performances. Our bet is Pitt, Affleck and the score composers all score at least an Oscar nomination each. Cinematographer Roger Deakins is also a shoe-in for his Malick-like graceful photography and director Andrew Dominik has a decent shot as well.

Music From The Motion Picture The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford tracklist
01. Rather Lovely Thing 3:13
02. Moving On 2:32
03. Song For Jesse 2:35
04. Falling 2:54
05. Cowgirl 4:05
06. The Money Train 2:38
07. What Must Be Done 1:57
08. Another Rather Lovely Thing 3:28
09. Carnival 2:52
10. Last Ride Back To KC 5:24
11. What Happens Next 2:08
12. Destined For Great Things 2:26
13. Counting The Stars 1:19
14. Song For Bob

Fans Who Receive, Trade And Steal Free Music Outraged That Radiohead Has The Audacity To Deliver 160Kps MP3s

"I usually steal my sandwiches for free and then this one time? I pre-ordered my sandwich and then when I recieved the fucking thing? It didn't have mayonaise on it! And they told me I could pay as little as I wanted for the fucking sandwich! The NERVE!!" [Vulture]

The prettiest song on the album... (not that everyone and their mother isn't already over this record)
Download: Radiohead - "Videotape"

Exclusive: 'There Will Be Blood' Tracklist; Album Hits December 18 On Nonesuch

If you're one of those super keener Radiohead fans, you'll be happy to know that eight days before it's released in theaters, you'll be able to buy Jonny Greenwood's score to Paul Thomas Anderson's new oil baron film, "There Will Be Blood" on December 18 via Nonesuch Records (that label that fired that guy that Pitchfork were inclined to write a whole story about ; for those without arithmetic skills, TWBB hits theaters Dec 26).

While we haven't heard the soundtrack or seen the movie yet, we've all seen the trailer and the music in the film sounds like it's going to be as chilling and ominous as the film appears to be.

Variety said Greenwood's orchestral arrangements are "essential" to the film's success and called his score "haunting." There's this insistent string motif that sounds like the buzzing of an insect inside one's head, a sound that grows louder and more unavoidably distressing whenever soulless events are about to occur," they wrote.

If we rehash what TWBB is one more time we'll snap, so here's what we said in our Fall Preview:

After a long-awaited five year absence, Paul Thomas Anderson takes a decidedly unhip left turn with the 1920's oil drama "There Will Be Blood." Based on the Upton Sinclair Novel, "Oil!," PTA's return features Daniel Day-Lewis as a ravenous and misanthropic oil baron who gives not a flying fuck about all humanity, save for his young son. Paul Dano co-stars as a young priest (the only other "name" actor) trying to dispel Day Lewis' greedy scrooge from ruining their California town. Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood scores, but expect bleak drama and file under: not for fans who count, "Punch Drunk Love," "Eternal Sunshine" and "I Heart Huckabees" as their favorite films.

There Will Be Blood Soundtrack tracklist
01. Open Spaces (4:00)
02. Future Markets (2:44)
03. Prospectors Arrive (4:40)
04. Eat Him By His Own Light (3:36)
05. Henry Plainview (4:14)
06. There Will Be Blood (2:08)
07. Oil (3:04)
08. Proven Lands (4:49)
09. HW / Hope of New Fields (2:29)
10. Stranded the Line (2:20)
11. Prospectors Quartet (2:56)
(*Original tracklist had "10. Smear (9:58)" and no 11th track)
Watch: Jonny Greenwood, Thom Yorke and & Nazareth Orchestra - "Arpeggi"

Abel Ferrara Planning "King Of New York' Prequel; 'Go Go Tales' Premieres At NY Film Festival

Remember the gangster magnum opus "The King of New York" starring Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne and Wesley Snipes? Turns out sweaty, cantankerous cretin Abel Ferrara is planning a prequel to his 1990 ahead-of-its-time classic.

Ok, this isn't exactly new, we admit. The low-life malcontent director announced his intentions on making this film ages ago, but like any good Ferrara film, financing usually takes a couple of years.

Titled, "The Last Crew," (or "Pericle il Nero" depending on which online source you trust) and set in the '70s Ferrara - who is promoting his new stripper T&A film, "Go Go Tales" - talked about the film recently to Paper Magazine (according to IMDB Michael Pitt is one of the actors attached).

Ok, he didn't say much other than indicating that it typically doesn't have money behind it yet, "I can't wait to get started. When the money starts coming faster we'll start envisioning it more clearly," he told Paper mag succinctly.

And it's the first he's said of it in a while. As for recording commentary for his own films like 'King,' he said, "Those things are a joke but the pay is good sometimes. It's like watching home movies -- there's Nicky, Uncle Victor, that kind of thing."

As for "Go Go Tales," you'll remember that naked cliche/provocatress Asia Argento makes out with a Rottweiler in the film. Other film highlights include Matthew Modine banging on a toy piano and scat-singing while his miniature fox terrier straddles a pole and Pras from the Fugees microwaving "free range hot dogs."

The film starts out with "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell and the Drells and Grace Jones is all over the soundtrack as well. During the NY Film Fest's screening last week Abel stepped on stage during the credits, tried to address the crowd through a turned-off mic, then threw a beer bottle and stormed off. Earlier on Ferrara was in fine form looking a mess, yelling at the audience from the wings and sweating profusely onstage. Ah, gotta love him.

Abel Ferrara Talks Strippers At the NY Film Fest Press Conference

Thanks to Doug Mosurock for contributing to this report.

Short Cuts: Wristcutters,Tom Waits, Santoalalla, Biggie, We Own The Night, Sondre Lerche

Remember the "Wristcutters: A Love Story" film and soundstrack we told you about a few weeks back (it features songs by Gogol Bordello, Tom Waits, Joy Division and Gram Parsons among others)? Well, the soundtrack disc is now due October 16. The film stars Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon with a minor role for Waits.

The "We Own The Night" features tracks by Blondie, David Bowie, The Specials, Tito Puente, Jackie Gleason and original score from Polish composer Wojciech Kilar. The disc is out now (came out on Tuesday, apparently we were sleeping).

Another soundtrack we mentioned in brief, "Things We Lost in The Fire" which features an original score by the mighty Gustavo Santoalalla & Johan Soderqvist is due October 30. The film features Halle Barry and Benicio Del Toro who really likes the Rolling Stones, the National and Bob Dylan.

We got our hands on the Sondre Lerche collaboration with Regina Spektor that the duo wrote for the "Dan In Real Life" soundtrack. Too bad Dane Cook is in that film.

"The Reservation Road" soundtrack is being composed by Mark Isham and hits stores October 16.

Everyone and their mother came out for the New York edition of the Notorious B.I.G. open-call casting sessions.

The "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" soundtrack has been composed by Craig Armstrong and hits stores tomorrow. The film comes out this Friday.

And lastly, the soundtrack to the blow-up doll festish c0medy, "Lars & The Real Girl" has been composed by notable organic blending/electronic texturalist David Torn and is scheduled for an October 23 release.

Download: Sondre Lerche and Regina Spektor - "Hell No"

Arcade Fire Schmire... At Least They Have Good Taste (Frances Gall)

So the Arcade Fire played a show this weekend, made their fans weep when they said they were taking an extended absence, played a Violent Femmes cover and launched a new viral website that does nothing.

All the noise and buzz makes us want to stick our hands in the sand, but we did remember that the AF finally have released (or leaked) their longstanding live cover of France Gall's "Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son." It might be her "Satisfaction," and an obvious choice, but a fantastic song nonetheless. Witness.

France Gall's "Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son"

Download: The Arcade Fire - Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son (France Gall)

I'm Not There: The Soundtrack CD Preview

Just when we thought we were running out of things to say, we've gotten our hands on the much-talked about 2-disc "I'm Not There" soundtrack that features rockers new and old (everyone from indie rocker Sufjan Stevens to Woody Guthrie acolyte Ramblin' Jack Elliott) covering Bob Dylan songs. 34 of them to be exact. Below are highlights from the two disc set. The tracklist is here in case you missed it (Oh yeah, and there's lots more: our initial musical preview, the specific music used in the film post and director Todd Haynes' NY Film Festival appearance).

Cold Iron Bound - Tom Verlaine & The Million Dollar Bashers
The original - a 1996 original from the late-classic Time Out Of Mind - is a rambling blues track with spectral dark lyrics. In Verlaine's hand the song becomes an haunting, storm's gonna come portent of death and impending misery. Haynes liked this version so much, he essentially made it the film's foreboding thematic motif. It's opening strains are used in the trailer and it can be heard in the film almost a half a dozen times.

When The Ship Comes In - Marcus Carl Franklin
During the New York Film Festival press conference, director Todd Haynes said he tried many of the Dylan songs with the actual actors singing (and pointed out Christian Bale's impressive attempts), but ultimately chose to have them lip synch cover versions - except for 14-year-old Franklin. Haynes said he had the voice of an angel. He was right.

Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Antony & The Johnsons
Antony's stripped-down piano version is exactly as you might think it would be - fragile, late-night and mournful with shades of pillowy tenderness.

Ring Them Bells - Sufjan Stevens
When you tackle a cover you've got one of two choices: a faithful rendition or veer off into open interpretation with a unique stamp. Stevens unsuccessfully tries both and we're not sure which one fails more miserably. His ultra-wussy voice is ill-equipped to take on the gravitas of this Oh Mercy track and his sped-up, jubilant, horns and churchy ending is just Sufjan doing Sufjan. Stevens is out of his league here, but the Stereogum crowd will eat this up regardless.

Goin' To Acapulco - Jim James & Calexico
The My Morning Jacket singer's golden voice with Calexico's brassy arrangements transforms this track into a sad, but somewhat celebratory funeral march. It's weepy and gorgeous, but all is not lost.

Just Like A Woman - Charlotte Gainsbourg & Calexico
Leave it to Charlotte Gainsbourg to take back the night. In her hands, the song that has been severely maligned as sexist and dismissive sounds tender and understanding. Calexico wisely stay out of the song's way.

Highway '61 Revisited - Karen O And The Million Dollar Bashers
A kazoo, a transistor radio sounding vocal and an whimsical, not taking itself too serious approach; O is this group's Cate Blanchett.

All Along The Watchtower - Eddie Vedder & The Million Dollar Bashers
What can we say, we're not really fans of Eddie Vedder. The Million Dollar Bashers do a crack job of approximating Dylan's backing band, but this rendition is otherwise unremarkable.

Ballad Of A Thin Man - Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers
Malkmus and company are note perfect here. A faithful adaptation and an inspired choice as Malkmus evasive wordplay fits perfectly as a petulant Dylan with a chip on his shoulder. The rendition simmers, but never brims over. Malkmus' take on "Maggie Farm" is fine too, but it's the unreleased bootleg track with himself and Lee Ranaldo ("Can't Leave Her Behind") that's the other winner here.

Simple Twist of Fate - Jeff Tweedy
As you can imagine, Tweedy's whiskey-soaked voice is extremely Dylan-friendly and with the help of some lugubrious strings, he takes a Blood On The Tracks song and gives it a Desire-era sheen. Simple, but effective.

I'm Not There - Sonic Youth
Think SY's take on The Carpenters' "Superstar." While Thurston and co.'s version isn't as sublime, noisy or heavenly as that near-perfect cover, the echoed, ghostly vocals, the fractured, near-broken stumbling rhythm and Moore's cracked voice give this obscure b-side a wounded new afterlife.

Dark Eyes - Iron & Wine & Calexico
I&W's Sam Beam recently told Paste that his collaboration with Calexico was all about playing with space and arrangements and the spirit of that idea is alive and well on their rendition of Empire Burlesque's "Dark Eyes." If one song on this collection sounds drastically different immediately it's their take on the straightforward vocals, guitar and harmonica original. In this groups hands, it's an almost funky, albiet dark and morose, exploration. Even the melody is twisted and minor-keyed. You'd barely recognize it, if you didn't have the title and lyrics at hand.

Pressin' On - John Doe
There's a reason why only certain covers are used for the actors to sing in the film: it's easy, they're simply the best ones (they include the Malkmus covers and interpretations by Jim James and Calexico, Mason Jennings and John Doe). Doe brings hope, and tempered religious fervor to Dylan's Saved Christian era. It's mannered, bold without going over-the-top. Salvation is found and it's no surprise this version finds its way into the film.

Fourth Time Around - Yo La Tengo
YLT are masters at the '60s and '70s era covers (see Fakebook and their many, many classic-era covers) and the idea of them taking on one of our all-time Dylan songs was exciting, but Georgia Hubley is horribly miscast as the vocal lead. Her stilted delivery kills this song on arrival. Shame.

Mason Jennings - "The Times They Are A Changin' '" & "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll"
Could soundtrack supervisors Randall Poster and Jim Dunbar and "I'm Not There" director Todd Haynes give Jennings a more difficult task then covering such daunting and significant songs? The "topical" songs from Dylan's seminal 1964 album The Times They Are A Changin' are obviously more than a little well-known, and Jennings wisely doesn't attempt to adorn then with anything extra; playing them straight and his soulful voice does a remarkable job of infusing a timeless song with contemporary energy. Christian Bale's character sings Jennings' 'Hattie Carroll' in the film.

Man In The Long Black Coat - Mark Lanegan
Lanegan was practically born to cover these types of shadowy, storm's a brewin' Dylan tumbleweed numbers. He sounds like a dusty outlaw, cigarrio in mouth, six guns fully loaded and his gravely voice is better suited to late-era Dylan than anyone else here. He sounds like he's about to commit a grevious sin and then walk straight to his own funeral.

Music supervisors Jim Dunbar and Randall Poster recently talked to the Fader about their work on the soundtrack album and movie. The duo worked on the film's music for the last two years and Dunbar unearthed the "I'm Not There" Dylan original at Neil Young's ranch where it was accidentally stored for years without anyone's knowledge. The two music partners, Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo and Todd Haynes were the group that settled upon Malkmus for Blanchett and Jennings for Bale in the film. "It's always scary when you commit to something like that," Dubar told the Fader (the piece is not online). "When you're going to get on set and shoot these things, you don't know until it actually starts unfolding in front of you if it's going to work."

Jay-Z Switching Up Gangster Tracklist Or Did Itunes Jump The Gun?

Remember when ITunes unveiled Jay-Z's American Gangster tracklist and album cover?

Well either Itunes jumped the gun, Def Jam fed them bogus information, or Jay just keeps switching things up. A bunch of music journalists, including people from Vibe and Entertainment Weekly got a taste of the new inspired-by the-soundtrack disc and it appears either Hova has changed song titles or is still tinkering with the album and adding new tracks.

Titles that are different or have been renamed from the original tracklist include "Pray," "Roc Boys" "I Know," "Success," "Say Hello To The Bad Guy" (a DJ Toomp beat) and "When The Money Is Gone," according to EW's blog preview.

Keep in mind one song was originally called, "Untitled," and Jay put together in a quick three weeks, so maybe he's just finally filling in the blanks?

"It plays like a cautionary tale," Jay told the reporters in the room of the album. "But it's not me. I made it. I'm a bad motherfucker."

"Ignorant Shit," is apparently a holdover from 2003's Black Album with a new verse by Beanie Sigel and new rhymes that eviscerate ousted racialist Don Imus. Producers on the album include Diddy's Hitmen, Jermaine Dupri and longtime collaborator Just Blaze, but other than that, guest spots on the album are scarce. According to Vibe'e report, Gangster is "lush with a live band sound that echoes the deep soul and funk sounds of the film."

EW said the single "Blue Magic" (which features Pharell/Neptunes) was conspicuously gone from the evening's playlist and it might now end up as a unlisted bonus track on the album - further evidence to support the idea that Jay-Z is still (or was) tinkering with the album. Another track that may or may not make the album is "This Shit Right Here," which is led by a tricky Marvin Gaye sample.

Wong Kar Wai Makes Another Confusing Yet Goregous Ad; Challenges Even David Lynch For Pretentiousness

If you're going to hire Hong Kong artisan Wong Kar Wai to direct your commercial, be forewarned: you're never going to get anything resembling straightforward or linear. Generally, you're going to get an evocative, enigmatic and lush short film that's probably as confusing as it is visually stunning; probably the type of commercial that after it's done screening the befuddled company man turns to the ad exec who commissioned the spot and says, "Was that our ad?"

And the ad exec generally goes, (cue sad, squeaky and perplexed voice), "I don't know."

The director of "In The Mood For Love," and next year's "My Blueberry Nights" starring Norah Jones, Kar Wai's latest ad for Phillips Aurea (Flatscreen HD TV sets), is naturally pretentiously titled, "There's Only One Sun," and is typically oblique, expensive, and sumptuously shot. What does it all mean? Who fucking knows, but one things for sure: it probably looks like million dollar sex on your flatscreen. Oh yeah, of course they're all shot with Kar Wai's right-hand man cinematographer Christopher Doyle, probably one of the greatest living DOP's (director of photography) working today (if there's not shrines made for this man yet, just you wait).

Wong Kar Wai - "There's only One Sun"


Wong Kar Wai - "Midnight Poison by Dior"


Wong Kar Wai - Motorola Commercial