Album features new renditions of Beatles Classics: " Blackbird", by Sarah McClachlan " Two of Us", by Aimee Mann / Michael Penn " I'm Looking Through Yo u", by the Wallflowers " Strawberry Fields", by Ben Harper " Golden Slumbers", by Ben Folds.

Reviews:

It’s the unparalleled glory of The Beatles that they can still sell 10million copies of an LP (1) filled with 32-40-year-old songs we’ve heard10 million times, and probably will again 40 years hence in 2042. But even withoutthe supernatural collision of the fabulous four, whose work together, but certainlynot apart, made them the greatest band in history, their songs still come withenough pixie dust to enliven even the least inspired version. And that’sthe secret of this middling but decent soundtrack of 17 Lennon/McCartney covers.

To be sure, only a few of these versions are lively: Aimee Mann and MichaelPenn’s opening “Two of Us” manages Sir Paul’s genuine, lingering1969 affection for his waning partnership with Lennon. Rufus Wainwright reboundsfrom a dud sophomore LP to take us, with hypnotic vigor, “Across the Universe.”The Vines give “I’m Only Sleeping” a new swing, and BenFolds is a natural for “Golden Slumbers.” The melodies are so indeliblethat the reverent likes of Sarah McLachlan (“Blackbird”) and SherylCrow (“Mother Nature’s Son”) manage ten times more soul thanon their own ho-hum hits. Likewise, there isn’t a Wallflowers disc thatcomes close to this surprisingly pleasant version of “I’m LookingThrough You.”

I suppose nothing could help the overdramatic Eddie Vedder (“You’veGot to Hide Your Love Away”), the wretched Stereophonics (“Don’tLet Me Down”), or the dreary Chocolate Genius (“Julia”). Andsomeone should execute The Black Crowes for going anywhere near “Lucy inthe Sky With Diamonds.” Worse, who’d have thought Paul Westerbergwould come off so uncharacteristically old and beaten, doing a “Here Comesa Regular” style “Nowhere Man?” Or that the torchy Nick Cavewould sound so unexpectedly bored with “Let It Be?” (Where’sLaibach’s when you need them? “Get Baaaaack!”)

In the end, I Am Sam is disposable, but once bought, is hard to partwith. With building blocks like this, it’s hard not to construct at leasta few palaces with a minimum of effort, ability, and veneration.