dylan - new album

[fat cherry]

Any dylan fans around these parts? Haven't bought anything post blood on the tracks, no... I lie, I have the single version of is your love in vain. Anyway the new album got 10/10 from mojo, or was it uncut I bought the other day (oh dear, loss of short term memory) which is a fairly infrequent score to give to anyone. This probabl;y means either that the journo in question has insider knowledge that Bob's about to cark it or is hoping to get an audience with the old chap (theres a mildly amusing story in the killing bono book about a bit of a chance meeting with the man himself) and free tickets to a gig, or that it is genuinely brill of course.

Anyway its being streamed on the tinternet should you wish to listen before parting with your cash.

http://www.nme.com/news/bob-dylan/65921

[fat cherry]

so that'll be a no then i guess

[Mr. Brian]

I'm not a huge Dylan fan but I do respect the man and like much of his stuff... and some of it I can't stand. I heard a new one, Duquesne Whistle this morning which I liked. It reminded me of Tom Waits a bit.

One problem with Dylan is that people have this idea of the stereotype of Dylan that gets in the way of the real Bob Dylan which is a bit more complicated. There is that myth that he can't sing but writes great songs. IMO that's not always true. His voice is really spectacular at times especially in his earlier albums. Now as a live performer that is a big mixed bag. You never know what Dylan you might get which is probably why I've never attempted to see him live.

Another problem is the people that heap tons of praise on anything he does and the songwriters that seem to cite him as an influence but likely couldn't name any songs beyond the big ones everyone knows.

I've mentioned it here before but the Scorsese documentary No Direction Home that came out a few years back really turned me around on my misconceptions about Dylan however there were times that his performances were just cringe-worthy in this doc.
Maybe someone else would have risen up to be "a Bob Dylan" but he was in the right place at the right time with the right ideas much like The Beatles or Elvis. His influence is really undeniable and the music world we know would be much different without him.

[Malbert]

I can only tolerate Bob Dylan when he's with The Traveling Wilburys.

[Mr. Brian]

I can only tolerate Bob Dylan when he's with The Traveling Wilburys.

To each her own I suppose but as a fan of Harrison, Dylan, Tom Petty (somewhat), and ELO, I couldn't stand this band!