Sunday, July 05, 2009 | A+E, Music, Reviews
The Wallflowers

“COLLECTED: 1996-2005”
 (UME/INTERSCOPE)

Chapman Baehler

THE WALLFLOWERS
w/ Wild Light
Friday, July 10
8 p.m.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
$35
404-249-6400
www.concertsinthegarden.org

 

The marketing department at Universal probably stayed up late thinking up a name for this overview of the Wallflowers’ music. Since it skips anything from the act’s obscure debut (on a different label) and there weren’t many “hits,” the generic title is appropriate, especially for a nearly anonymous act defined by its frontman.

  That person is Bob Dylan’s son Jakob, who, to his credit, keeps the Wallflowers name, even though as songwriter, singer and frontman, he’s the sole focus. This chronologically arranged, 16-song recap is highlighted by five tunes grabbed from 1996’s T-Bone Burnette-produced “Bringing Down the Horse.” Three subsequent albums—“Breach”  (2000), “Red Letter Days” (2002) and 2005’s “Rebel, Sweetheart”—were commercially DOA despite containing at least as many quality songs.

  Dylan’s hangdog, blue-eyed good looks, butterscotch voice and knack for subtle hooks and sharply observed lyrics create thinking-person’s roots-rock that’s easily accessible yet inspires deeper inspection. Keyboardist Rami Jaffee, the only other Wallflower consistent through these songs, uses his Hammond organ to instill soul into the material, playing a shotgun role similar to that of Benmont Tench in Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers.

  Two previously unreleased tracks may hook hardcore fans, but it’s the accompanying DVD (available from a big box retailer) of eight rare and very cool videos—including one directed by David Fincher—that makes this Wallflowers set too attractive to ignore. 3.5 STARS—Hal Horowitz