Dylan’s Modern Times
I’ve had it playing for over a week now, so I thought I’d weigh in. I love how punchy and immediate it sounds. Much more old-timey than the other recent records he’s done.
The lyrics are always the focus for a lot of people, and I like the modern day troubador feel his lyrics have taken on. Throughout his career, he’s had a folksinger’s tendency to tell a complete story, to create his own world inside the song. Here, he’s content to let context speak for itself, and concentrate on touching the vein of common experience rather than inventing it all from scratch.
I’ve seen several reviews point out what a great vocal performance he turns in on this record. If I tended to bitterness, I would be angered that people are only now catching on to what I’ve been saying for almost 20 years about his clever phrasing and his expert command of a less-than-perfect voice.
Also, I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s glad to hear those unmistakable two-note guitar lines again after listening to him pound the piano for so long on the road (for the non-obsessed, The Poet hung up the guitar in favor of the keyboard in 2003, and hasn’t played guitar on stage since). It’s no indication that he’s going back to the guitar on the road again, but a guy can hope.
September 7th, 2006 - Posted in Music | |
