DYLAN DOES DULUTH
Compilation - Various Artists
Spinout Records
www.spinoutrecords.com/duluth

I receive a lot of tribute compilations loaded up with everyone's uncle just because of their management or label.  Most of them are spotty, with three for four good songs and maybe one outstanding one, but every once in a while something like Duluth Does Dylan enters my various CD players.  As most people know, Bob Dylan was raised in Duluth Minnesota, leaving town for the Big Apple while still a teenager, so it makes sense for Duluth area musicians to pay tribute to him.

Mayfly (It Ain't Me Babe), Father Hennepin (Girl of The North Country) and Both (A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall) play it close to the originals, just like Bob.  Gild turns Don't Think Twice, It's All Right, into an easy going Hip Hop song, while The First Ladies and The Black Eyed Snakes tear new holes into Father of Night and Tombstone Blues.  But the absolute best song on Duluth Does Dylan is The Black Labels doing a stoned out reggae version (complete with bong intro) of Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (you know, Everybody Must Get Stoned?) I wish more tribute compilations were like Duluth Does Dylan.
David A. Kulczyk