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

[PragueBlue]

Can't remember which day the voting closes and only had time for a couple of listens. I have had a lot on and might be able to sneak in another this afternoon but will score it for now as I don't want to let such an interesting selection go unscored.

I'll be honest that this isn't a genre of music that I am particularly familiar with and so I initially listened with a fairly open mind and a great deal of interest. I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised at the overall quality of the album. There weren't any tracks that I would say especially stood out as 'must listens' but rather it was a case that all tracks were pretty strong in their own way and I truly enjoyed both listens.

It has certainly whetted my appetite to explore the genre further (any recommendations welcome!) and I think it is an album that I will give a few more listens. Not an essential album to own but a very decent one.

8/10.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

I have to say, while I thought what I thought of the album itself, and while I can't 'agee' with any of the above, I genuinely did thoroughly enjoy reading your review, and what you made of it all. Without a hint of sarcasm btw, just to be clear.

I appreciate that. Thanks mate.

I read your review too and I can totally see where you are coming from. It probably helps me having a bit of affinity for country/western at pace as I do (fast, and slow and mournful — but not in the middle) and also a lot of familiarity with the places she refers too, and the roads that go between them. I don’t hear Rob’s “grit” so much either, but he picked up a lot of instrumental insertions that I missed (and has has more familiarity with them than I do).

I think for me it really came down to enjoying each song on its own merits, with what I thought was only one soft spot. Records don’t need to be complex musically nor deep lyrically for me to like them — if they’re consistent song-for-song (I.e. they have lotsa hooks) then to me that’s a hell of an accomplishment, and a record I’ll want to hear again.

But plenty of others don’t feel that way (Bill e.g.) and I understand that too.

 

[Coatigan]

I appreciate that. Thanks mate.

I read your review too and I can totally see where you are coming from. It probably helps me having a bit of affinity for country/western at pace as I do (fast, and slow and mournful — but not in the middle) and also a lot of familiarity with the places she refers too, and the roads that go between them. I don’t hear Rob’s “grit” so much either, but he picked up a lot of instrumental insertions that I missed (and has has more familiarity with them than I do).

I think for me it really came down to enjoying each song on its own merits, with what I thought was only one soft spot. Records don’t need to be complex musically nor deep lyrically for me to like them — if they’re consistent song-for-song (I.e. they have lotsa hooks) then to me that’s a hell of an accomplishment, and a record I’ll want to hear again.

But plenty of others don’t feel that way (Bill e.g.) and I understand that too.

I agree wholeheartedly with all that. As a general point. I just can't find any way to apply it to this particular album, myself. But for any album, absolutely, I think that way way too. The affinity for places factor, I totally get btw.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Based on the last few bewilderingly glowing reviews, I gave it another listen. Forced myself to do it in one go as a whole. Thought, I really must be missing something here.

Tell you what, it was borderline painful.

I just hear none of what anyone is talking about, no transcending genres, no 'grit', (which I half thought I got what Rob meant by, now I think otherwise), no hidden vocal qualities, and no groundbreaking song structures. Even the lyrics are plain. Just drawn out two three-chord pop by numbers with a bit of a lazy drawl.

Of all the albums to date, this has the biggest struggle for me. To get through initially, but also to see anything in. With others, even when not for me, I could with a bit of an open mind see things in them. Whether it is the 'concept' behind Heijra, the cultural impact, the instumental skill, the song arrangements, or even just what it meant to someone else. With this one, I just don't get anything at all. Other than utter indifference at best, mild irritation at worst.

I had refrained from scoring it, for that reason. Thought because it would be my lowest yet, it possibly was unnecessary.


An absolute mind blowing mystery for me this, which has thrown the whole thread up into the air a bit. So at least that's one thing I can give it, it has led to some highly surprising reactions that have rocked the predictability on here, and brought a bit of that 'we can't all hear music the same way' to life.

I can only agree with all of this. I struggled to get through one listen but the more I tried the more I got annoyed. I just couldn't do full second listens of any of the songs, I just got nothing. Even some of the lyrics annoy me, "I'm like a fish out of water, a cat in a tree" it makes no sense, fish don't like being out of water but cats like being in trees, so what is it you're saying? I just don't understand the praise being heaped on it.

 

[RobMCFC]

Fantastic review. I love the dobro too! I’ve been getting into more bluegrass as I’ve aged. Banjos are fun as well.

Same for yours. I didn't expect you to score it that highly, but I'm glad that you did. Fantastic that you have some connection with all those places. I haven't, but as I've said before, my first love is music that comes from "the sources" - i.e. blues/folk/bluegrass/whatever and I love albums that mention places in general. Travelogues really work for me - I don't know why, but they do. I have always been interested in maps and geography, maybe that's why.

Banjos - yes, definitely banjos as well.

One of the great things about music is that when you were in school growing up the things you would be chastised and bullied for listening to from your school " buddies " that you secretly enjoyed but wouldn't dare tell them you still played at home alone , become more acceptable to all and sundry with age and wisdom.

There's definitely some truth in that. However, the first year I started buying music, I bought Bruce Hornsby's The Way It Is, which is generally a pop album, but it does feature some interesting instruments such as the hammered dulcimer and mandolin. A year later, I bought John Mellencamp's The Lonesome Jubilee (my first selection on here and my favourite album of all time), which features an incredible array of Appalachian instrumentation.

So at the age of 19, whilst I started buying music for pop and rock like all other youngsters, I was very quickly into the Americana genre and in MOST cases, this sound works better for me than slick keyboards and OTT production. (Although i do like Rush, Van Halen, INXS and a few others!)

Based on the last few bewilderingly glowing reviews, I gave it another listen. Forced myself to do it in one go as a whole. Thought, I really must be missing something here.

Tell you what, it was borderline painful.

I just hear none of what anyone is talking about, no transcending genres, no 'grit', (which I half thought I got what Rob meant by, now I think otherwise), no hidden vocal qualities, and no groundbreaking song structures. Even the lyrics are plain. Just drawn out two three-chord pop by numbers with a bit of a lazy drawl.

The bottom line is we can't all like the same thing. I could see why Lucinda Williams voice would put some people off. Is it just the voice you don't like or all the instruments as well? As noted in my review, I found thee delivery of some of the songs a bit slow and ponderous, but there was so much going on with the dobro, accordion and guitar that there was always something worth listening to on every track.

But, if you don't like those rustic/country instruments, you probably aren't going to like this sort of album.

 

[RobMCFC]

I can only agree with all of this. I struggled to get through one listen but the more I tried the more I got annoyed. I just couldn't do full second listens of any of the songs, I just got nothing. Even some of the lyrics annoy me, "I'm like a fish out of water, a cat in a tree" it makes no sense, fish don't like being out of water but cats like being in trees, so what is it you're saying? I just don't understand the praise being heaped on it.

Don't worry - somebody will come along and nominate a punk/new wave/Manchester band and everybody will be fawning over it, and I won't see what you're all raving about :)

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Don't worry - somebody will come along and nominate a punk/new wave/Manchester band and everybody will be fawning over it, and I won't see what you're all raving about :)

I'd be with you there as well.

 

[mancity1]

Same for yours. I didn't expect you to score it that highly, but I'm glad that you did. Fantastic that you have some connection with all those places. I haven't, but as I've said before, my first love is music that comes from "the sources" - i.e. blues/folk/bluegrass/whatever and I love albums that mention places in general. Travelogues really work for me - I don't know why, but they do. I have always been interested in maps and geography, maybe that's why.

Banjos - yes, definitely banjos as well.

There's definitely some truth in that. However, the first year I started buying music, I bought Bruce Hornsby's The Way It Is, which is generally a pop album, but it does feature some interesting instruments such as the hammered dulcimer and mandolin. A year later, I bought John Mellencamp's The Lonesome Jubilee (my first selection on here and my favourite album of all time), which features an incredible array of Appalachian instrumentation.

So at the age of 19, whilst I started buying music for pop and rock like all other youngsters, I was very quickly into the Americana genre and in MOST cases, this sound works better for me than slick keyboards and OTT production. (Although i do like Rush, Van Halen, INXS and a few others!)


The bottom line is we can't all like the same thing. I could see why Lucinda Williams voice would put some people off. Is it just the voice you don't like or all the instruments as well? As noted in my review, I found thee delivery of some of the songs a bit slow and ponderous, but there was so much going on with the dobro, accordion and guitar that there was always something worth listening to on every track.

But, if you don't like those rustic/country instruments, you probably aren't going to like this sort of album.

I must agree with you that the mandolin is an instrument I like hearing and noticed early how quick the notes diminish to silence much quicker than most other plucked instruments which is a part of the appeal.

My favourite part of Tubular Bells one of the first albums I purchased and still in my favourite 20 albums of all time was when Mike Oldfield introduces the mandolin on side one.

LW voice is well suited to the instruments used on the album IMO I could see why it wouldn't work on records with the emphasis on production.

 

[mancity1]

I appreciate that. Thanks mate.

I read your review too and I can totally see where you are coming from. It probably helps me having a bit of affinity for country/western at pace as I do (fast, and slow and mournful — but not in the middle) and also a lot of familiarity with the places she refers too, and the roads that go between them. I don’t hear Rob’s “grit” so much either, but he picked up a lot of instrumental insertions that I missed (and has has more familiarity with them than I do).

I think for me it really came down to enjoying each song on its own merits, with what I thought was only one soft spot. Records don’t need to be complex musically nor deep lyrically for me to like them — if they’re consistent song-for-song (I.e. they have lotsa hooks) then to me that’s a hell of an accomplishment, and a record I’ll want to hear again.

But plenty of others don’t feel that way (Bill e.g.) and I understand that too.

I have to agree with you regarding the hooks or dare I say on this album the riffs in sync with the lyric its structured well and I noticed it straight away on each song.

I think it was Keith Richards who once said its the hooks that make the song what it is , great hooks make for a great song. The more the merrier.

 

[bennyboy]

I use to have the Austin City Limits concert on DVD.
Great show.Good old YouTube