The Wallflowers

Originality is prized by bands both younger and older than The Wallflowers. But Jakob Dylan, the leader of this classic-rock-inspired quintet and the son of one of rock `n` roll`s most imitated legends, is convinced originality is overrated.

"I think people make a huge mistake by denying tradition," said Dylan, whose famed father continues to salute and extend various stylistic traditions on a nightly basis. "Everything lasting around you is based on tradition, whether it`s architecture, pottery or whatever.

"The idea of inventing something original is pointless, and it`s often unattainable. Being original either happens or it doesn`t. That`s why groups who spend a lot of time when they are young playing cover songs (by other artists) are so powerful. You have to learn what you`re doing first, before you can invent something of your own."

Besides, originality isn`t the point, at least not for this 30-year-old singer, songwriter and somewhat-reluctant rock star.

"The point is to be inspired," said Dylan, who led The Wallflowers in a recent concert in San Diego.

"Early on, people asked me a lot about my inspirations, and I mentioned the Clash. But my point was never to imitate them; I was not a middle-class guy from England. The same could be said of (singer-banjo great) Ralph Stanley, (because) bluegrass doesn`t have relevance to my music. But it`s thrilling for me to hear (him), and part of what`s thrilling is that it (his music) is totally unattainable."

For his part, Dylan and his band`s thoughtful, no-nonsense brand of heartland rock has proven very attainable - and appealing - to a large audience. That despite (or, perhaps, because of) its stylistic debt to such artists as Tom Petty, the Band, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello (who guests on The Wallflowers` new album) and others, including Bob Dylan. The Los Angeles-based group`s second album, 1996`s "Bringing Down the Horse," sold more than 4 million copies and yielded such memorable hits as "One Headlight," "Three Marlenas" and "Sixth Avenue Heartache."

Released recently, The Wallflowers` new album, "Breach," finds Dylan and his band crafting a sound and style of their own. It entered the national Billboard album sales charts at No. 13 with a bullet, buoyed by a media blitz that included a lengthy profile in Rolling Stone. The video for the album`s first single, "Sleepwalker," is in regular airplay on both MTV and VH1, while the song is also on Billboard`s Modern Rock, Mainstream Rock and Adult Top 40 charts.

This feat underscores The Wallflowers` ability to appeal to a broad array of listeners, including a large number of young fans who don`t necessarily care, or know, that the band`s leader is the son of Bob Dylan. But timing is everything in the trend-driven pop music realm, and "Breach" dropped to No. 19 on the Billboard charts in its second week of release.

"We`ve released all our records at the wrong time," Dylan said. "What other people are doing is irrelevant; you can`t allow yourself to pay attention to it. A lot of people have made records compromising themselves in order to be `current.` By their next record they backtrack, and say that they`re `getting back to their roots.` "You have to see who`s been around a long time, and what they have - and haven`t - done."

Dylan knows he need look no farther than his own father to learn what to do to achieve musical longevity.

But his dad has been a taboo subject, both in interviews and in the younger Dylan`s songs, which went out of their way not to mention anything about his personal life in general - or even to write lyrics in the first person.

"I definitely didn`t want to spend much time giving people answers to stuff that wasn`t relevant to what I was trying to do," he explained from Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife and three young children. "It wasn`t that I was avoiding it, as much as I was finding lots of other stuff in my life to write about. (Parents) are one part of a person, and there are many other parts."

"Breach" boasts Dylan`s most straightforward lyrics to date. Directly addressing personal topics in his songs proved liberating, he said.

"While writing the record, I found it a lot more challenging. That was more of what I was attempting to do - to explore areas of songwriting I found interesting that I hadn`t done before. And, oddly, it turned out to be by my being direct and straightforward. But I don`t have a lot of interest in being introspective about myself. I don`t listen to my other records; it`s like looking at old high-school photos."

Dylan`s newfound directness is a large reason why "Breach" is the best of The Wallflowers` three albums. Another is his increasingly assured songwriting, which suggests he has the potential to transcend his well-known influences.

But the song on "Breach" that has attracted the most attention, "Hand Me Down," deals with someone who may be his biggest influence of all (musical and otherwise) - his father.

It finds Dylan facing the challenge of trying to follow in the footsteps of a world-famous parent. Witness such stinging lines as: You could never make us proud ... it`s not your fault you embarrass us all.

"The lyrics have been exaggerated," Dylan admitted. "But I`ve never felt the need to defend them or to deny what people are saying. That`s the point - the songs are supposed to be interpreted by the listeners. I knew people would think this was a coming-out song that had me addressing the obvious, but it`s not the case as much as they imagine."

And what of Bob Dylan? Does Jakob hope to one day get to a musical destination - figuratively or literally - his father has not yet reached?

"If you could find a place he hasn`t been," the younger Dylan replied with the slightest hint of a chuckle, "let me know."

(c) Copley News Service

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Author: George Varga