The Album Review Club - Christmas Break Until 8th January

I am a hypocrite - I don't like Bob Dylan's voice and prefer his songs when other people sing them.... apart from the ones he sings better than everyone else. And this is album is one where no one else but him can sing it!

What an opening track Rainy Day Woman is. It's just magnificent and part of me wonders what it would sound like if the Stones did it - I think they are the only band that could cover this song with any justice. But in reality, the production, the words, the mood is just spot on.

And so it goes on, every song is brilliant there's no filler here. It's incredible to think this album was made in 1966 - what a year for albums that was: this, Pet Sounds, Revolver and then England won the World Cup! I was born in the wrong decade!

He really is a phenomenal songwriter, an absolute genius and this is certainly one of his best albums, if not the best. Great selection @BlueHammer85 - not heard this for a while!

10/10.
 


I know the Lord of the Rings and Bob Dylan comparison has been made before but I feel it is very apt. When the Peter Jackson LotR trilogy came out I enjoyed them very much and particular reading all about it and how much chainmail they crafted; the clever tricks they did to make the hobbits seem small etc. My favourite moment is when Sean Bean dies and the film goes silent. I've also read the books and enjoyed them. I'd say I like LotR and I'd say I like Bob Dylan. But I just prefer not to watch or read Tolkiens masterpiece nor do I want to listen to Bob Dylan. It's just so much effort.

Rainy Day Woman is a good opener but is roughly twice as long as it needs to be. I do like the little laugh he does in the first verse and in general I am a fan of musicians shouting off mic. Sure seems like it was a fun session but really I think it sounds like he's 14 and trying to say naughty words. But I'm told he's a lyrical genius.

When my kids were growing up they liked to watch a TV series called Jessie. There is one scene where she joins a NYC improv class and they do the Yes And exercise. This exercise involves one person making a statement and the other person expanding on the idea with a "Yes and.....". It's painful and repetitive.

The rag man draws circles up and down the block. Yes and grandpa died last week and was buried in the rocks.

It probably means something but it's just so much effort. It's probably worth the effort though so Bob Dylan is a guilty non pleasure. Liking Bob Dylan is like hating Hitler - it implies you're a good, thoughtful, intelligent person who enjoys fine food and wine. This is who I want to be but really I like crisp butties and vimto. Sorry I'm not sophisticated.

This is obviously good and I'm one of the rare types who actually likes Dylans voice - it's unmistakably his and I like his delivery particularly when he raises up at the end lines like he was in Neighbours. But with millions of songs in the world sometimes i just want to listen to something easier. The Lord of the Rings trilogy are great movies but I'd rather watch Big Trouble in Little China most of the time.

Favourite song is "I Want You" in particular how it doesn't repeat the chorus like it should. It does sound like he's just trying to write rhymes but it feels significant so I'm conflicted. I don't want to appear that I like Hitler so am tempted just to give it a 10 yes and I want to be honest and say this requires much more effort than I'm prepared to give it so the real score is 6 and I am shamed posting in the middle of the night so no one notices.
 
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mrbelfry said:


I know the Lord of the Rings and Bob Dylan comparison has been made before but I feel it is very apt. When the Peter Jackson LotR trilogy came out I enjoyed them very much and particular reading all about it and how much chainmail they crafted; the clever tricks they did to make the hobbits seem small etc. My favourite moment is when Sean Bean dies and the film goes silent. I've also read the books and enjoyed them. I'd say I like LotR and I'd say I like Bob Dylan. But I just prefer not to watch or read Tolkiens masterpiece nor do I want to listen to Bob Dylan. It's just so much effort.

Rainy Day Woman is a good opener but is roughly twice as long as it needs to be. I do like the little laugh he does in the first verse and in general I am a fan of musicians shouting off mic. Sure seems like it was a fun session but really I think it sounds like he's 14 and trying to say naughty words. But I'm told he's a lyrical genius.

When my kids were growing up they liked to watch a TV series called Jessie. There is one scene where she joins a NYC improv class and they do the Yes And exercise. This exercise involves one person making a statement and the other person expanding on the idea with a "Yes and.....". It's painful and repetitive.

The rag man draws circles up and down the block. Yes and grandpa died last week and was buried in the rocks.

It probably means something but it's just so much effort. It's probably worth the effort though so Bob Dylan is a guilty non pleasure. Liking Bob Dylan is like hating Hitler - it implies you're a good, thoughtful, intelligent person who enjoys fine food and wine. This is who I want to be but really I like crisp butties and vimto. Sorry I'm not sophisticated.

This is obviously good and I'm one of the rare types who actually likes Dylans voice - it's unmistakably his and I like his delivery particularly when he raises up at the end lines like he was in Neighbours. But with millions of songs in the world sometimes i just want to listen to something easier. The Lord of the Rings trilogy are great movies but I'd rather watch Big Trouble in Little China most of the time.

Favourite song is "I Want You" in particular how it doesn't repeat the chorus like it should. It does sound like he's just trying to write rhymes but it feels significant so I'm conflicted. I don't want to appear that I like Hitler so am tempted just to give it a 10 yes and I want to be honest and say this requires much more effort than I'm prepared to give it so the real score is 6 and I am shamed posting in the middle of the night so no one notices.
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I actually think if Dylan was a Bluemoon poster - you would be him.
You have a cryptic way with words that I cant quite fathom. Anyhow, kudos about Dylan’s voice , it is unique and works perfectly for his lyrics - also think particularly for this Album it’s the best his sounded.

Ps: I’ve never seen Lord of the rings !
 
mrbelfry said:


Favourite song is "I Want You" in particular how it doesn't repeat the chorus like it should. It does sound like he's just trying to write rhymes but it feels significant so I'm conflicted. I don't want to appear that I like Hitler so am tempted just to give it a 10 yes and I want to be honest and say this requires much more effort than I'm prepared to give it so the real score is 6 and I am shamed posting in the middle of the night so no one notices.
Click to expand...

It's still evening somewhere. ;-)

Extra credit for posting the High Fidelity clip. Now I'm trying to figure out which one of you lot is Jack Black/"Barry Judd". ;-) Maybe Rob is just "Rob" too. And extra extra credit for the Echo & the Bunnymen reference. THAT film had it all, I need to see it again.
 
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BlueHammer85 said:
This is probably my favorite genre from the 80's , that kind of dark melodic jangly post punk sound that few bands could pull off - reminded me of a cross between previous nomination Cocteau Twins and The Cure but can also see the influence of The Doors - so quite a winning combo! however not all of it i could warm to as much as i thought i would - for sure the stand out is the biggest hit ' Killing Moon ' , 'Seven Seas' & 'Silver' both very good , also enjoyed 'My Kingdom' and 'Nocturnal Me' - Good lyrics, Production is perfect, love the strings throughout.

7/10
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Recall an interview with McCulloch saying the band spent years trying to shake off all The Doors comparisons - and then went and covered ''People Are Strange''
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
It's still evening somewhere. ;-)

Extra credit for posting the High Fidelity clip. Now I'm trying to figure out which one of you lot is Jack Black/"Barry Judd". ;-) Maybe Rob is just "Rob" too. And extra extra credit for the Echo & the Bunnymen reference. THAT film had it all, I need to see it again.
Click to expand...
Ha yeah I thought the Echo reference was a funny coincidence.

For clarity I'm the girl who asks "is this the new Greenday?"
 
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BlueHammer85 said:
I actually think if Dylan was a Bluemoon poster - you would be him.
You have a cryptic way with words that I cant quite fathom. Anyhow, kudos about Dylan’s voice , it is unique and works perfectly for his lyrics - also think particularly for this Album it’s the best his sounded.

Ps: I’ve never seen Lord of the rings !
Click to expand...
I actually took out a line that read
"If Dylan had written this review people would write dissertations discussing its meaning. But I wrote it so you can dismiss it as a rambling pile of garbage."

Dylan & LotR are great but it feels like homework
 
RobMCFC said:
That's a very astute observation.

I'm still listening and formulating my review, but some of this album is hard work. And I'm a Dylan fan (well, some of his work, anyway).
Click to expand...

Yeh it's not a Album to really get in a day or even a week for sure. Need a lot of time, which i seemed to have pre kids.
 
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