Bob Dylan's Modern Times, a new Masterpiece?

I agree with Ben that it is a real stretch to to interpret any of Dylan's comments as a personal attack on Lanois.

Frankly, I like quite a bit of the performance on MT, but I'm not so sure that it is a "masterpiece". This, of course, is entirely subjective and we can argue this until the cows come home.

What is not subjective, in my opinion, is the sound quality, and, as far as I'm concerned (I have the vinyl), that's fair game both within the context of this thread and Dylan's recent comments about sound quality. When someone states that the "production" is masterful, that's simply a load of crap. It's a mediocre to slightly above mediocre sounding recording at best as much as I might like the performance; it doesn't mean I can't appreciate the performance (I've got lots of great music that's not particularly well recorded). But if Bob is going to complain that most recent music sounds crappy, he's going to be fair game when it comes to criticism of the sound quality, particularly if he's producing it himself. I don't see that as an audiophile pissing match, but maybe Ben is just pulling our legs.

There's no doubt in my mind that if Joe Harley at Audioquest had done this record it would have sounded a ton better. If that makes me a Diana Krall or Holly Cole lover, so be it.

Hdm and Ben,

I agree with your criticisms, no doubt my guess went way too far. A better wording might be "An verbal attack on the way modern music sounds and at the same time to take control of the sound production suggests a certain dissatisfaction with what was done previously."

Anyone feel that the sound on the MT album is in anyway similar to the Johnny Cash sound? (not the voice just the way the instruments are mixed with the vocals...just a thought)

Pretty much Dylan's whole output since John Wesley Harding has probably disapointed him to some extent with regards what he was able to capture in the studio.

He hates the studio and nearly always struggles there.
Indeed even Blood On The Tracks was recorded twice.

It's never been his thing....he even hated Sgt. Pepper for being overproduced.

MMDV.  I consider it a masterpiece.  For certain.