Genre Folk Rock
Evaluation Bob Dylan, to those of you who have never heard of him, is an acquired taste, much like caviar. Dylan’s music can be monotonous and long, with the emphasis on long. Even his hit of the 60’s, ’’Like A Rolling Stone’’ was 6 minutes and during an era where the average airplay for a song was about half of that, well you get the picture. He was certainly ahead of his time and marched to the beat of his own drums. His vocal style as well was also, um how should I say, different. Many would make the following joke over the years, ’’Hey Bob when you find a tune jump on.’’ Dylan indeed at times sung out of tune or at least it seemed as if he did. So right now you’re probably wondering, ’’Does he like this guy or what?’’ The answer is most definitely, yes. One does not listen to Bob Dylan to hear short little pop tunes or some great singing voice. One listens to Bob Dylan to hear some of the greatest stories ever told in pop music. Some of his 8 and 9 minute tunes are so interesting that when I listen to them they seem to fly. Every verse of every song is so carefully crafted that it is almost like reading a novel. You are always left wondering what’s going to happen next. The following songs from this album are the best examples of that and the best songs on the album, though I can honestly say there isn’t a bad tune on it.
1) Tangled Up In Blue This is actually one of Bob’s shorter songs running under 6 minutes. The lyrics in this song that he sings at sometimes breakneck pace flow like wine. This was actually a hit for him in an era where Bob Dylan was not your standard radio fair.
2) Idiot Wind Running about 7 and a half minutes, this song is about his failed marriage and boy does it kick in the lyrics department. You can almost feel his pain in this song. One of his all time best.
3) Lilly Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts One of his most amusing and longest songs. I think it runs about 9 something. I can listen to the story of Lilly Rosemary over and over. The lyrics here are downright flawless. There is not bridge in this song or break. It just keeps going and going and going, pretty much like that Everready bunny. But it is such a fascinating song that it just flies.
Bottom Line: The other songs are also good. Bob Dylan is a master story teller and if you’ve never experienced his stories then you need to get this album as it has some of his best.