Bob Dylan - new album just out on Tidal - Rough and Rowdy Ways


Just a heads up. Bob’s new album is out on Tidal today. Just finished my first listen - I am a big fan of Bob Dylan - I consider him the Poet of my generation - at 79 his lyrics tell beautiful stories - IMO. Enjoy the music.

Happy Listening!
tom8999
Rock music is an amalgamation of blues, country, folk, and even a little jazz sometimes, to keep it simple. A full all-encompassing description of what is rock ’n’ roll or rock would take more time than I have left on this earth. Rock became the term used to describe rock ’n’ roll as it diversified from its 50s roots during the 60s, but either term is still used to describe the music made for young people (and now old people) from the 50s on.

So if the Hawks, later the Band, or any of Bob’s bands since then are not rock bands, what are they? When I used to go record shopping they were always in the Rock section and I’m sure that’s where you’ll find The Band’s and Bob’s music on Amazon or Ebay.  And that’s probably where most people who organize their music collections by genre have them. While that category may not be perfect, it’s the most practical. But, if anyone wants to explain why they are not rock, I’d be happy to read it and learn.
No, this all started from you making the statement, ‘if he (Dylan) wants to be in a rock band....’ and implying his current effort doesn’t meet the classification of a being in a ‘rock band’, so why doesn’t he just quit? Or find another singer?? Seriously? 😳 You seem to be putting Dylan in some box that to you think he should remain. 

I just don’t get that opinion. It just does not reflect all the various kinds and types of music Dylan has done over the years. I’m sure he is most focused on what he is doing today, just as he has always done.....Dylan has always done what he wants to do...... That is a luxury many without his genius and talent cannot afford. Whether I or you like the direction of his current album or not really isn’t important to Bob. Never has been.

I’m sure he will be just fine.

@tomcy6, I don't consider The Band a Rock band for this reason:

If you consider the early-to-mid 1950’s explosion of "teenage" music---Little Richard, Fats Domino, Bill Haley & The Comets, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, the Sun Records Rockabillies (who combined black Rhythm & Blues with white Hillbilly)---Rock ’n’ Roll (which, for the sake of this argument I will accept, though I consider the late-40’s recordings of guys like Big Joe Turner---who did original versions of songs later covered by Bill Haley and Elvis---the true original R & R, though it was at the time called Jump Blues), then what differentiates it from "Rock" music?

The Rock ’n’ Roll of the 1950’s had Blues/Jump Blues/Rhythm & Blues elements, but also that of another predominantly-Southern music: Hillbilly. But after the music business and musical tastes (and the morality and official police forces) killed that original R & R, by the mid-60’s the music that we now consider Rock had taken it’s place. Gone almost completely in Rock music was the Hillbilly element, the Blues element becoming predominant. The Stones, The Yardbirds, The Kinks, The Who, Cream, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Big Brother & The Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin, of course), The Airplane, etc. had ZERO Hillbilly in their music, and the same is true for the bulk of all Rock music that has followed. There are exceptions, but most bands we consider Rock are largely Blues-based. You want a band that had/has it all? Listen to NRBQ and Los Lobos. For solo artists Dave Edmunds and Buddy Miller.

Well, The Band’s music included that Hillbilly/Country element missing in Rock bands, so I consider them a true Rock ’n’ Roll band (though much more than that). I find it humorous that with the Hillbilly/Country element present n Rock ’n’ Roll almost completely removed in Rock, when that same Hillbilly/Country element was added back in by the likes of The Eagles, the resulting music was called Country Rock. Take the Country element out of Rock ’n’ Roll, call it Rock, then when you put the Hillbilly/Country back into Rock, you call it Country Rock? Shouldn’t it once again be Rock ’n’ Roll? In the case of The Eagles, a quick listen to their music will prove the answer to be no. But that’s because they had no Rock ’n’ Roll in them to begin with! The Band did.

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