I Am Sam (Soundtrack)

Beatles covers are a tricky business. You can be true to the original, and then what's the point. Or you can make remake it into your own song and risk offending purists. Or you can try to walk the line between the two, which most artists try to do and fail miserably at. Obviously, a sizable budget helps. The I Am Sam soundtrack (music from and inspired by, not the score) is a collection of covers by a variety of artists (most name, though some relatively obscure). There are only a few that don't work well surprisingly.

• Aimee Mann and Michael Penn kick it off with a nice poppy rendition of Two of Us which is quiet enjoyable.
• Sarah McLachlan renders Blackbird in her own trademark style and there are few who could do it as well as she does.
• Rufus Wainwright (of whom I know little) does Across The Universe. I wasn't to sure about this one, but after a listen or two it really catches on nicely.
• The Wallflowers do an odd interpretation of I'm Looking Through You, making it almost like The Wallflowers covering the Monkees covering the Beatles.
• I am no fan of Eddie Vedder but he does a nice job of You've Got To Hide Your Love Away.
• Ben Harper does a very traditional take on Strawberry Fields. I've never heard him before, and his vocal style is a little disconcerting but it's a nice take anyway.
• I was expecting to hate Sheryl Crow doing Mother Nature's Son, but she really has a great feel for the song and doesn't engage in any unsightly histrionics.
• Being a big fan of Ben Folds, I was quite pleased with his very true to the original riff on Golden Slumbers.
• The Vines, of whom I know nothing, do such a conservative take I wasn't sure if it was actually a cover or if it was the Beatles.
• Don't Let Me Down is up next, with the Stereophonics taking a stab at it. This is an OK take, though if you're a fan of theirs you'll probably love it.
• The Black Crowes are back with Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds in their own inimitable style, interesting to hear their southern influenced blues-rock overlayed with a psychedelic flavor under any circumstances, but with a great song to begin with it's a perfect combo.
• I've never heard of Chocolate Genius, but if this is indicative of their style then I hope to hear more of them. A little heavy on the 'verb, but it works with their sound.
• I'd forgotten all about Heather Nova, but she pops up with We Can Work It Out. It sounds the way I'd expected Sheryl Crow to, overly dramatic and ultimately kind of silly.
• Howie Day does possibly the most radical take on Help ever, making it sort of a psychedelic alternative rock anthem. Interesting and strong, I will be on the lookout for more by him.
• Paul Westerberg is an acquired taste. Judging by his take on Nowhere Man, I haven't acquired that taste yet. He simply whines too much for me.
• Revolution is tackled by Grandaddy. A risky song to tackle, though they have a nice Sparks-y delivery and while it isn't as strong as it could've been it shows a lot of promise.
• Let It Be, another tough one to take on. Nick Cave is certainly a fine choice to assign this to, but he doesn't live up to the music, in my opinion.