Bob Dylan Modern Times

[jazzbo]

Hey Mr. New York City, I'm looking forward to the day when you "have nothing to say to me." I need you talking to me like a hole in the head. I don't invite it or want it. I need you schooling me even less.

I know enough about all these guys you're listing there to know what the music is like. Some I like, some I can't stand (Gatemouth for one, Sissy Sahm for the other). I know enough to have A clue. I know the eighties versions.

I'm a fan of Dylan's words to be honest with you. My interest in Dylan sort of went south with "Slow Train" and all that Christian stuff. And I really turned away all through the eighties and I guess the media attention to his comeback albums got me itnerested again, and then Masked and Anonymous and the "No Direction Home" thing got me exploring back a little, and I picked up this new one because I wanted to hear what the controversy was about the song credits and just see what it was like, and Denny was on there, so I knew somewhat what to expect quality wise. I'm no rabid fan of the boy or the genre he seems to be dippin' his toes into. Been there and don't need to be there any longer, I've moved on.

To listen to this album you don't need to have spent time listening to a bunch of yodelers and assorted other past swingers to know that this is Texas blues boogie based, and to either enjoy it or not enjoy it. Jeez, I spent a lot of time in the eighties in Antone.s and other clubs listening to those girls like Lou Ann, Angela, Sara Brown, and to many may acts both Texan and otherwise, steering clear of the country stuff because frankly a lot of it was jive and it didn't float my boat jive or not. I listnened to Will's little bro Charlie when that was all he was. I've got requisite background, I'm not claiming to be an expert or wanting to be or know more. That's your bag and you can have it. Please don't open it around me.

If that shit floats your boat sail on. Please sail on. See ya. Wouldn't want to, etc.

Edited October 1, 2006 by jazzbo

[Soul Stream]

I feel pretty out of my league here. I don't even own a Bob Dylan record. Not even the current one, although I've heard most of it on the radio and at Borders. So, I really can't comment about it other than I think it sounded good and I like the vibe, the production and Dylan's voice and what he was saying.

I don't think you'll be hearing wailing guitar solos from DF in this context. It's not what the music is calling for....and that's one thing DF always keeps in mind. The stuff I heard, DF sounded super tasty to my ears.

[jazzbo]

I really like Gatemouth Brian. Didn't you read my post right? I just don't like Sahm, and Sissy seems to me to be the way his music sounds that's all. I doesn't do anything for me personally. There are so many others that do nothing for you, surely you can connect that the obverse is true for others. I wonder if you really get things somehow.

Texas Instruments, blah blah blah. Heard them. Not so impressed. Been to all kinds of places like Hole in the Wall, Outhouse, etc. When was the last time you were there NYC boy? It doesn't really matter if I like Dylan and have or have not heard TI or whomever. There are gazillions of words out there. I can pick and choose my own, just like you do. Again you're judging me, like you judge so many others on this board, exalting yourself. Don't you see how ridiculous that is?

Your opinion of me or what I could or should say about music means nothing to me.

Walk on by, see ya.

Edited October 1, 2006 by jazzbo

[jazzbo]

You know, I'm coming to the conclusion you are clueless as to how you come off.

Walk on by. See ya.

[John L]

don't think that was same people; not my fave way to access that stuff but certainly worthwhile. i HATE (for most part) '74 Dylan/Band tour, before that was pretty good, no Robbie Robertson love here, sorry.

Interesting. I love Dylan with the Band and love the Basement tapes. I was at the Last Waltz and loved that. I was also at the Before the Flood tour Oakland performance. For some reason, it didn't excite me at all, and the record doesn't either. There is just something too smooth and calculated about it. I can understand why the Band of Gypsies was the next step. Something had to be done to make it raw and real again.

Edited October 2, 2006 by John L

[jazzbo]

I'm just walking by Brian. You don't get it, and I'm not playing your game. See ya, wouldn't want to, etc.

[jazzbo]

don't think that was same people; not my fave way to access that stuff but certainly worthwhile. i HATE (for most part) '74 Dylan/Band tour, before that was pretty good, no Robbie Robertson love here, sorry.

Interesting. I love Dylan with the Band and love the Basement tapes. I was at the Last Waltz and loved that. I was also at the Before the Flood tour Oakland performance. For some reason, it didn't excite me at all, and the record doesn't either. There is just something too smooth and calculated about it. I can understand why the Band of Gypsies was the next step. Something had to be done to make it raw and real again.

Yes, Before the Flood doesn't do much for me either. But a few boots of the tour I've heard do. Makes me wish they would do an official box of some of these or a big "Bootleg Volume." The Band and Bob CAN be very good listening. . . .

[GregK]

Interesting. I love Dylan with the Band and love the Basement tapes. I was at the Last Waltz and loved that. I was also at the Before the Flood tour Oakland performance. For some reason, it didn't excite me at all, and the record doesn't either. There is just something too smooth and calculated about it. I can understand why the Band of Gypsies was the next step. Something had to be done to make it raw and real again.

you were at the Last Waltz? Could you see the snowball hanging out of Neil Young's nose? And was everyone in the Band audible in the theater?

[John L]

Interesting. I love Dylan with the Band and love the Basement tapes. I was at the Last Waltz and loved that. I was also at the Before the Flood tour Oakland performance. For some reason, it didn't excite me at all, and the record doesn't either. There is just something too smooth and calculated about it. I can understand why the Band of Gypsies was the next step. Something had to be done to make it raw and real again.

you were at the Last Waltz? Could you see the snowball hanging out of Neil Young's nose? And was everyone in the Band audible in the theater?

Yes and yes. I was right up near the stage. It was a blast. It was in Winterland, not a great place for acoustics but not a complete disaster either.

[Matthew]

Apparently Chronicles wasn't exempt either.

Chronicles is just typical Bobness: I read it as a comedy because if there's one thing that book is not is revealing anything about the life or thought of Dylan. I thought it was a joke, and misleading to boot.

[Matthew]

I read it as a comedy because if there's one thing that book is not is revealing anything about the life or thought of Dylan.

i hear you Matthew but... but... amid all the well-turned & sometimes goofy bullshit-- re-read the parts abt late '50s, early '60s NYC. it contextualizes in ways that were ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS fuckin' obvious except that latterday Dylan Cultists rarely bothered to learn. (Some Minnesota stuff also.) True 'heads wouldn't be without their Fred Neil records, and at least be intimate w/ Dave Van Ronk, Holy Modal Rounders & the '50s hillbilly music Zimmy heard in Minnesota... also-- ah, well... another time but tho' some people didn't need it-- it was OBVIOUS-- if you or others dunno, go back & listen as Dylan did then. see what happens

c

I can understand all that (well not all but some). It seems that the reason the early section actually had some passion to it is that Dylan still retains that image of himself as a "Folksinger-hobo-on-the-road." After all, isn't that what the NET is accomplishing? It's Dylan living out that image to its fullest; it's just been updated with buses instead of trains. He just keeps coming back to these early days, no matter what he says.