Back in March,  Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford (Mumford & Sons), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), and Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops) gathered in Capitol Studios to write and create music for a few dozen Bob Dylan unfinished song lyrics (circa 1967) for an album Lost On The River: The New Basement Tapes.

The album has a release date of November 11, 2014 and they’re taking preorders now.   If you’re like me and wondering what this collaboration might sound like, you’re in luck because they just shared the the first track “Nothing To It”, which you can listen to below.

I’ll admit, at first listen - I wasn’t very impressed.  Jim James seems to be the prominent vocal on this track, which sort of has a John Lennon-esque sound to it.  Personally. I don’t think the backing vocals harmonize well and the guitar solo (I’m guessing Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes) seems a bit forced.

However, after subsequent listens, it’s slowly starting to grow on me.  I’m still not in love with this track, I just appreciate it a bit more.  This is just one song out of twenty, so we’ll just have to wait and see what the other songs bring and how the other members of this project interpret Mr. Dylan’s lyrics.

Track list for the deluxe edition of Lost on the River:

1. Down on the Bottom
2. Married to My Hack
3. Kansas City
4. Spanish Mary
5. Liberty Street
6. Nothing to It
7. Golden Tom – Silver Judas
8. When I Get My Hands on You
9. Duncan and Jimmy
10. Florida Key
11. Hidee Hidee Ho #11
12. Lost On The River #12
13. Stranger
14. Card Shark
15. Quick Like A Flash
16. Hidee Hidee Ho #16
17. Diamond Ring
18. The Whistle Is Blowing
19. Six Months in Kansas City (Liberty Street)
20. Lost on the River #20