I am a Dylan fan. However, I find that eveytime he comes out with a new album, post 1990, the critics call it the best since Desire, ect. I listen and usually find a rehash of the same themes and chord structures.
I judge an album by how many times I listen to it. Repeated listening equals good. Wearing it out silly equals great.
I'm sure my taste varies but I barely listen to any of Bob's albums of the 90's and I own them all. As for the 80's, I really liked "Infidels" some songs on "Empire" were great, "Red Sky" was okay and "Oh Mercy" about the same.
As for the his re-doing tired old blues and folk standards, not my cup of tea. And, all these albums were hailed as the best since........ you know when.
"Time out of mind" has some really good takes on it but the mix is so spotty and anoying that I had a difficult time listening to it repeatedly. Also, some seem to find real deep meaning in some simple phrasing, which I attribute to and compare to seeing animals in clouds.
Now, this goes against the grain completely, seeing how this album was highly praised both for composition and sound. To its credit the sound does get better as the album progresses. But, ultimately the chord structure and topics were "overall" too boring for repeated playing. Honestly, how many times did you listen to or when was the last time you listened to this album.
When "Love and Theft" came out I was very skeptical. All the same tired praises were there by the same reviewers, "The best since.........", you know when. But, after it was out for a month I bought it.
Well, sure there are some 12 bar blues, "same old chord progressions" in the typical Dylan fare, ,aybe 3 or so, but in between the ho-hums were some reals gems.
It was like Bob found a new source for inspiration. He reached back to the "Tin pan alley" days added a little "Swing", and some "Dixieland". It was like the spirt of Irvin Berlin had consumed his chord structure and melody making abilities, thus producing immediate classics. These were complete songs. Melody, lyrics and chord changes!!!!!
The sound is very good, too. Bob should produce and engineer more of his recordings. He did a fine job. He is "Jack Frost".
"I was immpressed" And, needless to say it is getting its share of play.
Time will tell if I will consider it "the best since......" But, for now it is very good.
I judge an album by how many times I listen to it. Repeated listening equals good. Wearing it out silly equals great.
I'm sure my taste varies but I barely listen to any of Bob's albums of the 90's and I own them all. As for the 80's, I really liked "Infidels" some songs on "Empire" were great, "Red Sky" was okay and "Oh Mercy" about the same.
As for the his re-doing tired old blues and folk standards, not my cup of tea. And, all these albums were hailed as the best since........ you know when.
"Time out of mind" has some really good takes on it but the mix is so spotty and anoying that I had a difficult time listening to it repeatedly. Also, some seem to find real deep meaning in some simple phrasing, which I attribute to and compare to seeing animals in clouds.
Now, this goes against the grain completely, seeing how this album was highly praised both for composition and sound. To its credit the sound does get better as the album progresses. But, ultimately the chord structure and topics were "overall" too boring for repeated playing. Honestly, how many times did you listen to or when was the last time you listened to this album.
When "Love and Theft" came out I was very skeptical. All the same tired praises were there by the same reviewers, "The best since.........", you know when. But, after it was out for a month I bought it.
Well, sure there are some 12 bar blues, "same old chord progressions" in the typical Dylan fare, ,aybe 3 or so, but in between the ho-hums were some reals gems.
It was like Bob found a new source for inspiration. He reached back to the "Tin pan alley" days added a little "Swing", and some "Dixieland". It was like the spirt of Irvin Berlin had consumed his chord structure and melody making abilities, thus producing immediate classics. These were complete songs. Melody, lyrics and chord changes!!!!!
The sound is very good, too. Bob should produce and engineer more of his recordings. He did a fine job. He is "Jack Frost".
"I was immpressed" And, needless to say it is getting its share of play.
Time will tell if I will consider it "the best since......" But, for now it is very good.