Bob Dylan
I consider myself a serious fan of rock'n roll, and of music in general. I may even be a bit obsessive. As a serious fan I've always admired the music of Bob Dylan, particularly his songwriting skills. 'Blood on the Tracks' is one of my favorite albums and has been since I first heard it when it came out in the 70's. However, except for a few songs like 'Hurricane' and 'Like A Rolling Stone', I have always kind of danced around the rest of Dylan's oeuvre. Way back in my freshman year of high school, when music really started to become important to me and I began paying closer attention to lyrics, it was Cat Steven who I listened to intently, who voiced my thoughts and desires, albiet in more of universal sense. Then, with the release of his classic album, 'Late for the Sky', Jackson Browne got my attention in a much more personal way. Joni Mitchell followed, introducing me to real poetry in music and then, ultimately, Bruce Springsteen, who virtually created the soundtrack to my life and who's music continues to inspire and amaze.
Through all of this and more, Bob Dylan's music was alway there, in the background. I was aware of his influence on all of the artists I admired, particularly Springsteen, and It was always my intent to further explore Dylan's catalogue and to learn more about what he had to say. Looking back, however, I think that may have been the problem. No matter how closely I listened, I could never really get a grasp on exactly what Dylan was saying with his music. Though fascinating and definitely inigmatic, his words never really spoke to me personally. Unlike Springsteen's voice of the common man or Jackson Browne's romanticed odes to the human condition, Dylan's lyrics were more cryptic and evasive.
Then, in 1997, with the release of his late-life masterpiece, 'Time Out Of Mind', things began to change between me and Bob. 'Time...', with its dark, bluesy, almost foreboding sound and carefully constructed cycle of songs about life, death, growing older and the acceptance of these things, gave me a fresh appreciation for Bob's music. Maybe it was because I'd hit middle-age and so I could relate more to what these songs were about and who Dylan is at this point in his life. That CD was followed by the almost equally great 'Love and Theft'. Here, Dylan was not only exploring themes of life and death, but also political and social concerns and all in a mode less personal than that conveyed on 'Time Out Of Mind'. With 'Love and Theft', Dylan is the traveling minstral, shuffling across America, meeting common folk and evaluating the state of the nation through songs. Musical styles are more varied on this CD as Dylan and his crack band of Texas session gurus delve into everything from rockabilly to New Orleans Jazz to Folk.
Next for me came Dylan's exquisitly written if still a bit opaque autobiography, 'Chronicles Volume I'. I began finding myself more and more intriqued by not only Dylan's music, but the man himself. The thing that really sent me reeling and out in search of more Dylan music with which to submerge myself was the brilliant documentary, 'No Direction Home' by Martin Scorcese. After viewing this compelling and more than enlightening biography that followed Dylan's life from the beginining until his controversial move away from folk music to rock'n roll in the mid-60's, I felt like I was finally starting to really get it. Like the greatest paintings by Picasso and Pollack, a little background information is needed to fully understand and appreciate what the art is all about. There is no doubt to me now that most of Dylan's music is great art. New found knowledge about what Dylan was conveying in such classic tunes as 'Ballad of a Thin Man' and 'Maggie's Farm' have given them much more resonance when I listen again... and again and again and again. I was hooked and wanted more music, more information about my new hero. I read Greil Marcus', 'Like A Rolling Stone: Dylan at the Crossroads' and gained a new respect for Dylan's creative process. I bought 'Highway 61 Revisited' and have played it so much my wife is threatening to hurl the CD out the window if I spin it one more time. My 4-year old daughter is even running around the house singing the chorus to 'Like A Rolling Stone'.
I have decided upon expanded listening that 'Bringing It All Back Home' may be my favorite Dylan CD after 'Blood on the Tracks' and that 'It's Alright Ma, (I'm only Bleeding)' is one of my favorite songs of all time.
I'm currently pouring through 'The Dylan Interviews' edited by Jonathan Cott and discovering that outside of his music Dylan was/is an articulate, intelligent, opinionated and somewhat arrogant man; all the traits of a true artist! Also, what men in their early 20's think and talk like that now? Where are the idealists, the poets, the voices of todays generation? Lost, no doubt, in front of TV screens playing video games unconcerned about more than the thrill that a joystick brings.
I understand now that Bob Dylan heard the call and answered. He traveled far from his hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota, to learn from his idol,Woodie Guthrie. It was not long after that the pupil became better than his teacher. Dylan reinvented folk and then created folk rock. Like Picasso he evolved, exploring and creating new art forms within his chosen medium of music and he continues to do so today. Listen to 'Time Out of Mind' and honestly tell me if you've ever heard anything like it. It sounds like folk morphing into rock morphing into the Blues all being sung in the gravelly, pained, aged voice that is Bob Dylan now. It is a sound no other artist will ever be able to recreate.
Mostly these days I cannot listen to anything else except Dylan. His music is the only thing that sounds real to me, that sounds truly intimate. Because of what Springsteen's music meant to me as a teen, Dylan will never overshadow him in my pantheon of musical heroes, but at 46 Bob Dylan's music seems right for my age. It's as if his music is calling to me, speaking directly to me. Dylan detractors say they can't get past his voice. I say they are not listening close enough. It's the voice that is the thing; the most original, distinct voice in all of American music. Yes, he is the greatest songwriter of all time, and many others have covered his songs with varying degrees of success, but only Dylan's voice can truly deliver them with the honesty and passion they require. He is a dramatist delivering stories of importance to those willing to listen.
I'm hooked now. I'm sold. I'm also happy that it took me this long to fully realize the importance of Dylan, the genius of Dylan. If not for his music at this moment in my life, what other music would I have? There are no great artists - musical or visual, left to discover. From what I know, there are none on the horizon either, even though in this turbulent time we truly need great artists to speak, sing or visualize our fears, concerns and desires. Dylan's voice will have to do. His music is still relevant and I imagine will be so 100 years from now. He is indeed an artist for the ages.
Through all of this and more, Bob Dylan's music was alway there, in the background. I was aware of his influence on all of the artists I admired, particularly Springsteen, and It was always my intent to further explore Dylan's catalogue and to learn more about what he had to say. Looking back, however, I think that may have been the problem. No matter how closely I listened, I could never really get a grasp on exactly what Dylan was saying with his music. Though fascinating and definitely inigmatic, his words never really spoke to me personally. Unlike Springsteen's voice of the common man or Jackson Browne's romanticed odes to the human condition, Dylan's lyrics were more cryptic and evasive.
Then, in 1997, with the release of his late-life masterpiece, 'Time Out Of Mind', things began to change between me and Bob. 'Time...', with its dark, bluesy, almost foreboding sound and carefully constructed cycle of songs about life, death, growing older and the acceptance of these things, gave me a fresh appreciation for Bob's music. Maybe it was because I'd hit middle-age and so I could relate more to what these songs were about and who Dylan is at this point in his life. That CD was followed by the almost equally great 'Love and Theft'. Here, Dylan was not only exploring themes of life and death, but also political and social concerns and all in a mode less personal than that conveyed on 'Time Out Of Mind'. With 'Love and Theft', Dylan is the traveling minstral, shuffling across America, meeting common folk and evaluating the state of the nation through songs. Musical styles are more varied on this CD as Dylan and his crack band of Texas session gurus delve into everything from rockabilly to New Orleans Jazz to Folk.
Next for me came Dylan's exquisitly written if still a bit opaque autobiography, 'Chronicles Volume I'. I began finding myself more and more intriqued by not only Dylan's music, but the man himself. The thing that really sent me reeling and out in search of more Dylan music with which to submerge myself was the brilliant documentary, 'No Direction Home' by Martin Scorcese. After viewing this compelling and more than enlightening biography that followed Dylan's life from the beginining until his controversial move away from folk music to rock'n roll in the mid-60's, I felt like I was finally starting to really get it. Like the greatest paintings by Picasso and Pollack, a little background information is needed to fully understand and appreciate what the art is all about. There is no doubt to me now that most of Dylan's music is great art. New found knowledge about what Dylan was conveying in such classic tunes as 'Ballad of a Thin Man' and 'Maggie's Farm' have given them much more resonance when I listen again... and again and again and again. I was hooked and wanted more music, more information about my new hero. I read Greil Marcus', 'Like A Rolling Stone: Dylan at the Crossroads' and gained a new respect for Dylan's creative process. I bought 'Highway 61 Revisited' and have played it so much my wife is threatening to hurl the CD out the window if I spin it one more time. My 4-year old daughter is even running around the house singing the chorus to 'Like A Rolling Stone'.
I have decided upon expanded listening that 'Bringing It All Back Home' may be my favorite Dylan CD after 'Blood on the Tracks' and that 'It's Alright Ma, (I'm only Bleeding)' is one of my favorite songs of all time.
I'm currently pouring through 'The Dylan Interviews' edited by Jonathan Cott and discovering that outside of his music Dylan was/is an articulate, intelligent, opinionated and somewhat arrogant man; all the traits of a true artist! Also, what men in their early 20's think and talk like that now? Where are the idealists, the poets, the voices of todays generation? Lost, no doubt, in front of TV screens playing video games unconcerned about more than the thrill that a joystick brings.
I understand now that Bob Dylan heard the call and answered. He traveled far from his hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota, to learn from his idol,Woodie Guthrie. It was not long after that the pupil became better than his teacher. Dylan reinvented folk and then created folk rock. Like Picasso he evolved, exploring and creating new art forms within his chosen medium of music and he continues to do so today. Listen to 'Time Out of Mind' and honestly tell me if you've ever heard anything like it. It sounds like folk morphing into rock morphing into the Blues all being sung in the gravelly, pained, aged voice that is Bob Dylan now. It is a sound no other artist will ever be able to recreate.
Mostly these days I cannot listen to anything else except Dylan. His music is the only thing that sounds real to me, that sounds truly intimate. Because of what Springsteen's music meant to me as a teen, Dylan will never overshadow him in my pantheon of musical heroes, but at 46 Bob Dylan's music seems right for my age. It's as if his music is calling to me, speaking directly to me. Dylan detractors say they can't get past his voice. I say they are not listening close enough. It's the voice that is the thing; the most original, distinct voice in all of American music. Yes, he is the greatest songwriter of all time, and many others have covered his songs with varying degrees of success, but only Dylan's voice can truly deliver them with the honesty and passion they require. He is a dramatist delivering stories of importance to those willing to listen.
I'm hooked now. I'm sold. I'm also happy that it took me this long to fully realize the importance of Dylan, the genius of Dylan. If not for his music at this moment in my life, what other music would I have? There are no great artists - musical or visual, left to discover. From what I know, there are none on the horizon either, even though in this turbulent time we truly need great artists to speak, sing or visualize our fears, concerns and desires. Dylan's voice will have to do. His music is still relevant and I imagine will be so 100 years from now. He is indeed an artist for the ages.
posted by Jerry Kirk at 8:33 PM
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