The Album Review Club - Week #147 - (page 1942) - Blonde On Blonde - Bob Dylan

I'm partly hoping that, in the way Hammer's Smiths nomination brought a few drop-in guests, this one might see a side contribution or two from the likes of @Magicpole, @Mr. Wednesday etc.
That’s a fantastic post, mate. I’m snowed under at the moment and going away for the weekend but when I get the chance I’ll respond when I can give it the time it deserves.

I’ve not actually listened to their last album all that much so will need to get on that. Suffice to say it will probably be a hard listen.

I don’t think I’ve ever been affected by the death of someone I’d never personally met quite as much as Scott’s. He laid bare his soul in his lyrics and it’s still so sad after the time passed. I have a friend who doesn’t think he‘ll ever be able to listen to Floating in the Forth again.
 
I’ve had two listens already, on a loop.
The fact I put it on second time directly after the first is a good sign to start with.
I was reading the lyrics first time around and yes they are dark, particularly after @Coatigan giving us the back story, but they are very poignant and personal and easily understood. Quite sad, and yet the music isn’t.
Very good background music that I will have no trouble listening to for the week and yes….. They definitely reminded me of The Maccabees.

Think you are right with some of the music being both sad and not. There is a 'songs that are both happy and sad' thread somewhere that I thought quite a few of their songs could feature on.
 
Think you are right with some of the music being both sad and not. There is a 'songs that are both happy and sad' thread somewhere that I thought quite a few of their songs could feature on.
Found myself singing along to “An Otherwise Disappointing Life” then remembering the back story and getting all conflicted. There are some very good songs on this album.

I read that Aaron Dessner’s production of the album wasn’t universally popular. Having nothing to compare it to of their earlier stuff I like that there were hints of the National’s sound in there but not overwhelmingly so.
 
That’s a fantastic post, mate. I’m snowed under at the moment and going away for the weekend but when I get the chance I’ll respond when I can give it the time it deserves.

I’ve not actually listened to their last album all that much so will need to get on that. Suffice to say it will probably be a hard listen.

I don’t think I’ve ever been affected by the death of someone I’d never personally met quite as much as Scott’s. He laid bare his soul in his lyrics and it’s still so sad after the time passed. I have a friend who doesn’t think he‘ll ever be able to listen to Floating in the Forth again.

Same, regarding being so affected by the death of someone I never met. Although I maybe felt like I did, through the songs and gigs. I was totally gutted. A big loss to the Scottish music scene too, I think they were at their prime.

Re floating, not that I was a huge fan of the song in particular on that album, I know what you mean. A fair few have since covered it, trying to remove the stigma of it being effectively a suicide note. And as his brother keeps reminding us, it is at the end of the day, a love song first and foremost.
 
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Found myself singing along to “An Otherwise Disappointing Life” then remembering the back story and getting all conflicted.

Also primarily a love song ;)



'In the hollow chapel of suffering in silence, you're the choir,
That sings this otherwise disappointing life back to life'

As I said before, the song is often in the final lines
 
I read that Aaron Dessner’s production of the album wasn’t universally popular. Having nothing to compare it to of their earlier stuff I like that there were hints of the National’s sound in there but not overwhelmingly so.

Think you are right, it had to grow on me as a sound, and I quite like it. I think it works well on this album and adds to the tone. But it certainly wasn't universally popular, many prefer their typical stripped back sound of midnight organ. There is an EP following this album called Recorded Songs that suggests they would probably have gone back to that.

I also think their album prior to this, had hints of more focus on production, the song Backyard Skulls (another where the imagery is so strong, I can't listen to it without seeing a cross section through a typical suburban home and below it) and Oil Slick veering towards the 'National' sound.

That said, I'd absolutely love to hear 400 Bones without the background sounds, in the fashion of Poke or Good Arms.

Did hear Get Out performed like that at a gig, and while it was great, I have to admit, I think the album version and sound works better for it.

edit. not the one I heard, but it was similar at the gig I was at, if you want to compare with the album sound.





And a wee bonus, while in the mood.
 
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I'm afraid once was enough for me but I played ...Panic Attack twice to be sure.

The music is ok but did grab me much - aside from Get Out - at best it did remind me of The War on Drugs but not as good.

The lyrics not thank you. I understand it strikes a chord for some but for me it's the wrong one. One of my brother in laws lived in Scotland and committed suicide there. I do not listen to music to be remined of such things.

I'll give it a 5/10.
 
I'm afraid once was enough for me but I played ...Panic Attack twice to be sure.

The music is ok but did grab me much - aside from Get Out - at best it did remind me of The War on Drugs but not as good.

The lyrics not thank you. I understand it strikes a chord for some but for me it's the wrong one. One of my brother in laws lived in Scotland and committed suicide there. I do not listen to music to be remined of such things.

I'll give it a 5/10.
I kind of get what you are saying. My best mate’s younger brother killed himself years ago and when I was recommending that he give this a listen I had to check myself on giving the back story.
The thing is the music is something I feel would be up his alley, but I myself have read the lyrics just the once and just went with the feel of the music since.

It’s a very pleasant listen on in the background while pottering about, probably due to the production style. This however has its downsides too. It does make it all feel the same and nothing in particular stands out. This makes it lose some of the emotion or feeling, which given the nature of the songs mightn’t be such a bad thing, depending on your point of view.
It is a dark album and you can hear it if you stop everything else you are doing and sit down and listen, but the music itself doesn’t convey only that. It can be light and uplifting if you just have it on in the background.

I have no problem playing this one all week but it’s a difficult one to score without being invested in the back story.

I’ll hold off for a day or two.
 
I'm afraid once was enough for me but I played ...Panic Attack twice to be sure.

The music is ok but did grab me much - aside from Get Out - at best it did remind me of The War on Drugs but not as good.

The lyrics not thank you. I understand it strikes a chord for some but for me it's the wrong one. One of my brother in laws lived in Scotland and committed suicide there. I do not listen to music to be remined of such things.

I'll give it a 5/10.

I get it, and that's all totally understandable. There is a lot more about love on it, in reality, which is easily missed. Fair play for giving it a go and the honest response.
 
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