08-07-2006, 10:03 AM
Fair enough.
Jimi's version is certainly more impressive, both in terms of instrumental execution and vision, but it is essentially an adaptation that could one might consider to fit into a different genre (in terms of style) from that of the original (folk-acoustic rock to electric blues-rock). Often, when a solid song is covered so masterfully that it then becomes legendary, like Jimi did with "Watchtower", subsequent covers tend to work off that adaptation -- in other words, they "cover" the cover itself, becoming a sort of 2nd-generation cover.
DMB's version is less inventive, for sure, and less interpretive; though it seems to be intended to stay more true to Dylan's composition, injecting a little more passion and fervor to the original without straying so far from the conceptual and stylistic premise. I respect and admire that effort, and furthermore, I appreciate the improvement in the overall execution / performance of the work, as DMB, as a collective, is a more accomplished group of musicians (from an instrumental standpoint) than Dylan himself and those working with him on the original.
Just my 2ยข
Jimi's version is certainly more impressive, both in terms of instrumental execution and vision, but it is essentially an adaptation that could one might consider to fit into a different genre (in terms of style) from that of the original (folk-acoustic rock to electric blues-rock). Often, when a solid song is covered so masterfully that it then becomes legendary, like Jimi did with "Watchtower", subsequent covers tend to work off that adaptation -- in other words, they "cover" the cover itself, becoming a sort of 2nd-generation cover.
DMB's version is less inventive, for sure, and less interpretive; though it seems to be intended to stay more true to Dylan's composition, injecting a little more passion and fervor to the original without straying so far from the conceptual and stylistic premise. I respect and admire that effort, and furthermore, I appreciate the improvement in the overall execution / performance of the work, as DMB, as a collective, is a more accomplished group of musicians (from an instrumental standpoint) than Dylan himself and those working with him on the original.
Just my 2ยข