John, we enjoy your content very much here in balmy Florida. Dylan's Rough and Rowdy Ways isn't a perfect record, IMO, but its a masterpiece. As has been oft repeated: Some people just don't "get" Bob Dylan, but to those that do, Dylan cuts very deep indeed. Bob cuts to the core on R&RW. Its quite refreshing and remarkable. Thank you kindly, Bob!
DD I think Dylan was speaking literally when he sang: "You've got to serve somebody, it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you're gonna have to serve somebody."
You are definitely right about music journalism and veteran acts, John... "their best record since Some Girls" - every Rolling Stones album review since 1989!
Album is an instant classic .. his voice is the best I've heard in about 20yrs and some of the tunes are absolutely mesmerizing. Expecting Dylan to write tunes like he did when he was in his 20s or 30s is kind of silly. ps: Dylan at 80, will win the Grammy for Album Of the Year
I had to order the CD, because it was not available at my local record store, due to what has been going on. From what I have heard so far, the songs are quite good. For someone who is 80 next year, it's nice to see new music from Bob Dylan. I saw Bob Dylan live in 1990. The opening act was a Canadian country rock artist, Sue Medley. Bob Dylan is a great poet and songwriter. He does different styles of music so well. This includes folk, blues, country, gospel, jazz influenced music, and rock and roll. Cheers!
There is sheer magic happening on the key tracks of this album... ‘my own version of you’ Key West - Murder most Foul - Wow wee - I hear a different Dylan a more infused Dylan focused Dylan than for 45 years...
Forgot to mention...the backing vocals on I've Made Up My Mind reminded me of the Dixie Humingbirds from Paul Simon's There Goes Rhymin' Simon in particular the track 'Tenderness'
It’s not his best, but not his worst. I’d put it on par with New Morning or any of his work between Oh Mercy and Time Out of Mind. Lyrically he’s very creative, but musically it’s not innovative. Its for mood and background largely. I think it’s because his voice is so shot he needs to be turned up. He whispers now. He doesn’t growl like he did on Together Through Life our Tempest. Both of which are better.
Listened to the new album a couple of times. Early days yet, but like you say, I don't think it's as stellar as the reviews would have you believe. Having said that, still a good listen. Don't know whether you listen to classical music or not, but the melody to I've Made Up My Mind is the Barcarolle from Jacques Offenbach's the Tales of Hoffmann.
@@andrewdevine3344 Thanks Andrew for that...I just listened to Barcarolle and you're right the backing vocal line is very similar!....fascinating. I wonder if Bob himself listens to classical and would be aware of that or whether it's subconscious.
I’d be surprised if he didn’t, but a lot of classical music has transcended into other genres of music and popular culture, and that Barcarolle tune is very famous, and he may have heard it somewhere. The slightly cynical side of me thinks that most classical is free to be sampled or borrowed because the copyright has run out. Doesn’t really matter anyway, as he’s put his own vocal melody to the song and added some good lyrics. All music is borrowed anyway.
John Heaton Mentioning the "Dixie" Humingbirds made me think of the group "The Dixie Chicks" who dropped Dixie from their name as it was deemed an offensive word; they are now The Chicks, however Iv'e heard that some consider "Chick" to also be offensive; perhaps they should be known as "The". I think Dylan's latest is one of his best!
Thanks John - your's is a view always worth listening to. I recently gave Tempest a few plays for the first time in a while in preparation for Rough and Rowdy Ways (I can't get in to his Great American Songbook stuff and consider those as diversions) and there are parallels for me. Most obviously, thematically, these are Tempest's eponymous epic and Murder Most Foul and then Early Roman Kings vs. Crossing The Rubicon. However, and as always with his Bobness, repeated plays will be required for a greater understanding. And surely that's the joy in a new Dylan record.
I went into this having absolutely no expectations for the music. I’m just excited for a lot of new, original lyrics from Bob. I haven’t listened to the album too much but I must say the music positively surprised me!
Not heard it all yet but what little I've heard so far, it's up there with his later albums, I think his older voice sounds great and I just loved the Triplicate album, I will be pre-ordering the vinyl soon, so roll on July !
Wow...great review John! To the point that I listened on Spotify. I enjoyed it immensely and will purchase the CD soon. All the best to you! Cheers Matt
After 5 or so listens, I am left scratching my head raw at RARW and the response to it from critics. It's not even close to a 5* album. Blood on the Tracks is an example of a 5* album, and while I admit that it's probably unfair to compare an artist in their latter years with their peak period, we sometimes have no choice but to do precisely that, especially in the face of high praise. If critics are going to give RARW 5*, then presumably Blood on the Tracks deserves 10*? The way I see it, 5* albums are albums that remain virtually flawless or relevant from beginning to end, and RARW is by no means a flawless album. It starts off strongly enough. I don't hate I Contain Multitudes; though it feels like a throwaway from the American standard sessions. False Prophet is a good tune with a nice vibe. My Own Version of You (possibly my favourite track) is hypnotically brilliant and I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You is like an ode to a Leonard Cohen tune. But with this promising start, the album then starts to take a rapid nosedive and doesn't fully recover until Key West - the 2nd to last track on the album... Though I think his vocal performance on the song is good, Black Rider is weak sauce and my least favourite song on the album by far. It's too much in the style of his Sinatra covers, which I didn't care for. It's so stripped back it might as well have no musical accompaniment at all. Goodbye Jimmy Reed is a bouncy blues number that we've heard all before from Dylan (see the similar and superior Lonesome Day Blues on the Love and Theft album) - the brief return of his iconic harmonica made me smile, however. Mother of Muses is forgettable, and Crossing the Rubicon is competent but outstays its welcome after 3 minutes. So, that's nearly half the songs on this album that don't click for me, and that's why it is not anywhere near a 5* classic. In my view, RARW is not as good as other latter-day Dylan efforts, such as: Love and Theft, Modern Times or Tempest, and I doubt my feelings will change with more listens. It's more on par with the largely ignored, Together Through Life, which was decent but nothing special. In short, half this album is great and half is bland. 3/5
Hi John love all your reviews been working my way through them all. I’m a Beatles fanatic like yourself, massive Dylan fan to. I love this record! My favourite track is key west. My take is he’s talking about heaven. But with Bob you just never know, it’s all open to interpretation.
John, you say you’re not sure what interest Key West, Florida would hold for Bob Dylan. You mention it is one of the wealthiest places in the United States. I was there for a week in 1990. If it is wealthy, it is not ostentatious about it. It is a bar town famous, when Dylan was just becoming known, as a haven for writers. Ernest Hemingway lived there for years. There is a bar called Papa’s, named for him. There are six-toed cats all over Key West, said to be the descendants of Hemingway’s six-toed cats. Tennessee Williams lived there for decades. I wouldn’t be that surprised if there are pirate radio stations operating on ships outside Key West, because a few hours away by boat is Cuba. Key West is the southernmost point in the continental United States. It is a tourist destination but the tourist will encounter a mix of bikers, homeless, college kids on Spring Break and a very out and proud LGBTQ scene. There is a John Huston movie from 1946 or so called KEY WEST, with Bogart and Edward G. Robinson; a famous movie demonstrating the allure Key West used to have for desperados. It is a literary center still.
A very interesting review and far more objective than those 5 star reviews. You are right, journalists seem to fall all over some of these veteran artists, in their praise. I am enjoying Bob's album, but i do miss the days when he used to make an effort to sing, instead of speaking in husky tones. There is less melody than there used to be in Bob's music. The blues stuff also can get a bit monotonous.
Good to hear your thoughts on it, I respect your opinion and haven't seen any reviews. I downloaded the tracks but haven't heard it yet other than 'Murder Most Foul' which to me sounded like a collection of random lines as he's done before.
I read somewhere that someone was surprised to see a rhyming dictionary in Dylan's possession. He responded, "Well, how else am I supposed to do it?" (This is the gist of it, I don't remember where I read it and the exact wording probably has escaped me.)
The classic country singer Jimmie Rodgers had a song called “My Rough And Rowdy Ways” which is I’m sure where Dylan got the title, which intrigues me, although I haven’t heard the album yet myself... I appreciate you giving your initial thoughts John, which are always worthwhile..
Well, "Rough and Rowdy Ways" is a line from many traditional American (British/Irish probably, too) folksongs. Dylan knows a great many songs from that repertoire and also uses them a lot, always did. Most often it is used in something like: You have to quit your rough and rowdy ways…
10 out of 5 for me dylan is painter he takes words musique , styles , arrangements and creates a picture for each song .sometimes i am not sure what intrument is playing what style it is i just know it fits perfectly . murder most foul and kenedys assassination is a farewell to the integerity enjoyed by our parents generation . the last three cover albums and the never ending tour good preparation for this album my guess is it maybe his last and what a great album fans will be talking about it for a long time .
John, the fact that Bob is writing a love song doesn't mean he's in love...Bob's a songwriter. As for My Own Version of You....its not absurd. I think he's talking metaphorically about how we all want our partners to be like us. I think it's the best track...together with Key West.
I’m with you on the bluesy racks. Not original and boring. The Blues actually grates on me. A lot of die hardDylan fans are so keen for there hero to come up with a great album that they actually end up rating an OK album as 5 stars. I have noticed this with Bowie fans and it probably applies to fans of lots of great performers. Deep down we all know that the last great Dylan album was Oh Mercy and everything else since had one or perhaps two good tracks on it and many were unlistenable to. Rough and Rowdy Ways, at least to me is a good album. If you miss out the bluesy tracks the whole thing has a nice feel to it. Form me the high points are Key West and Dark Rider.
According to Van Morrison's "In the Days Before Rock 'N' Roll" ( a song Bob would be familiar with, being a Van fan), Budapest did have a pirate radio station. "I Contain Multitudes" is the name of a book about microbes that was published a few years ago.
well i’ve lived here in budapest for 24 years and not sure what this would refer to...Hungary was under communism from 1945-1990 and i think a pirate radio station is unlikely to have existed not to mention would have been a dangerous activity
Dont know if bobs a van morrison fan. But morrison name checked radio Luxembourg along with Budapest in his fantastic spocken word track "in the days before rock'n'roll" from my favorite album of his "enlightenment", which had a huge effect on me in the early ninties. Intresting that he also name checked "dumbartons drums" one of my favourite scottish folk ballads and very beautiful, scottish folk duo "the corries" done a very nice version of it. I aggree also, i wish he would lay off the twelve bar blues structure at this point its been done to death. But i guess its a convenient vehechal for his lyrics so......
@@barbarajohnson1442 Hi barbara and thank you for your reply. His enlightenment album is a fantastic collection of work its really quite jazzy in some places and as a whole very under rated
They certainly know each other. Played together many times. Whenever I see a video of them playing van always gives a big hug and squeeze to bob. Otherwise van seems pretty contained . Guess he just couldn’t help himself!
I think your reviews are really special Goodbye Jimmy Reed is great it really swings - a great groove I also love False Prophet - he nicked the tune particularly the guitar riff but that is par for the course. I do strongly agree with your point on his singing.I think the discipline of doing the standards has had a beneficial effect on his singing.
"Thump on a Bible proclaim a creed " -- these lyrics from Goodbye Jimmy Reed left you "baffled" -- I feel that it's not hard to understand as it's coming from one of our most spiritual writers in rock (along with Van Morrison). I feel he's expressing his love for God and encouraging others to show their religious faith in God; and to not hide our faith under a bushel basket (as the Bible says) --- I love the new album, and thanks for your review! Hopefully this will be followed by more new original songs in the future.
I don’t think one needs to analyse Bob just listen and enjoy,I was wondering if we were gonna get another great album from the man so I’m delighted,really cool album,thanks Bob.
Hey John, Let me say first off that I'm stunned at how similar our taste in music is. However you and I are (I suspect) the same age I'm 53. That being said, I give RARW a full 5 stars. It's extremely rare for me to love every single song on an album but for me that was the case with this one. Just an aside, I think discussing the Beatles best work may be a bit of low hanging fruit given the astounding quality of their music. I think if that if you were to comment on your least favorite tracks or albums; you may get a real dust up going!
After three or four listens, I find it a warm and intimate album. I don't find it as epic as Tempest; it's more like Together Through Life---a very pleasant, enjoyable album. Ironically, Murder Most Foul is the most epic of Dylan tracks, but I see that as separate from the rest of the album, as if it were it's own EP (similarly, I think of Sad Eyed Lady as a separate entity to the rest of BOB). I think the five star reviews reflect the reaction to the first original offering since 2012. But then you could make a similar point about the glowing reviews for Bowie's The Next Day. I give the album four stars, and Murder Most Foul five.
From 1962 to 1976 Bob Dylan wrote lyrics like none had ever done and none will ever do. Then he wrote amazing lyrics (jokerman for example is unbelievable) but a bit "less incredible". Then he dropped "oh mercy" and "time out of mind" , they are pretty close to what he did until 1976. In the meantime and after he wrote great things, Tempest was amazing in my opinion. I think we have like 25 albums by Dylan that are incredibly good. At 80 you can't write like at 40/50. It's normal. Natural I'd say. But I think this album is as good as Tempest was. And maybe as good as Oh mercy. Pretty close to time out of mind. The critics are so positive with their rankings because this is a really good album and because the man is Bob Dylan. He's 79. An icon. I think only Paul McCartney did so good records at this age, apart from Dylan
The Key West thing you are confused about is probably referring to the Fountain of Youth. Ponce de Leon searched that area, and was convinced it existed around that area.
I've gone to listening to Paul McCartney and his Wings era after avoiding anything tied to Beatles sounds for over twenty-five years. I went back to those cherished tunes of my youth coz the world is a pretty grim place right now for me. Paul is a sliver of sorely needed sunshine and light heartedness. As for Bob, I've hated his sound (as a teen) until Love and Theft. I've loved his work there going forward coz it's so gritty, raw, provocative and authentic. Yeah, a few cuts on this set are good, but most of it is without cheer-or not any. I guess Bob and Bruce are gonna battle it out for who is the king speaking for all the . . rubbed wrong, down and out, marginalized, dejected, broken souls left out, but looking in out there. There is a need for that too. As a fan, as a listener, as someone who doesn't make music for a living (but enjoys guitar) I would have preferred a couple of tunes far more rowdy with driving shuffles and sweet backing vocals and horns just to change the tempo and let me feel like I've just been to church, feeling refreshed and grounded again. That's what the Blues is-sadness put to cheerful sound (where the hope lies). I think I have a pretty good ear and I give this latest a 3 star. Just one guy's take who really really loves Americana, Blues and Country music . . currently yearning for some upbeat tempo and perspective. Sir Paul is filling that void for me for now. Maybe Bob will followup with songs that are get you up and make you wanna dance . . like in the album cover on this material.
I really like goodbye jimmy Reed... good beat and great lyrics.. yes it's a simple 12 bar blues but then again an awful lot of songs are based on that...
nino benjamin I love Goodbye Jimmy Reed but just wish he would've stretched out on harmonica a bit more! For some reason he is credited as only "guitar and vocals."
I think the lyrics you read from goodbye jimmy reed he’s talking about jimmy reed himself, he mentions his appreciation for jimmy reeds gospel music in his recent interview with the times
Tom Trapmore I believe it was Little Richards Gospel music he was talking about in The NY Times interview; and he expressed his love of Gospel music and the guidance in one's life it provide through the Bible.
so i did study some overseas courses about how business is done say in europe which is not united kingdom and subtleties to say spanish work hours or other things learned french spelling german maybe military science but it was that my heart is still there though with censorship i thought it was my dad or someone else seeing later on in this channel the offensive lyrics was pretty bad with some lines so social work is something i thought is useful everyone getting a chance and having fun
the way other countries work something about the sort of country technology or the a word i've used is pretty but the way it all is thinking of when i was at my aunts in munich the top floor room a computer that worked sunlight hours the train but so feeling somewhat confident about my military benefits and very much enjoying english things for a while that one has been there but also seeing lifetime marriages and not getting under foot many great british things currently having some tetley british blend tea or when i was into romantic poets and unbeknowngst to me i think it helped train and domesticate my written formatting though i thought many times people either don't want to hear it or heart it wrong say when i had enough beatles but then coming back to hellogoodbye the music video john's charisma and artistry
some different things getting into mind american immigrants or thoroughly enjoying korean foods in annandale virginia outside the community college and seeing what i can study with the thoughts of the children and caution or even when people have wills dylan some skepticism on that say in my generation under the name whose who conor oberst from bright eyes continuing quitting cigarettes been a long time since i was addicted settled in alexandria and a big portion being influence from a christmas carol fezziwig cratchet my dads doing good so's mom healthcare concern hearing of teeth and blogging my notes mentioning to my parents would we ever vacation overseas though thinking that was shot down due to logistics vehicle? expense time zone purpose etc but hearing how do i sponsor or even my own paranoia and mysteries it can be explained even possession or necromancy
I havnt heard Key West yet but if its the most affluent place per capita then he must be being sarcastic about it being "the place to go"-just a thought
listen to Billy The Kid Emerson b-side from 1954 called 'If Lovin' is Believing " seems Bob Dylan pretty much plagerized his song False Prophet off his new album from this song, song can be found on youtube
Just as well we are all different, I love false prophet. I agree that all critics seem to throw out platitudes on all Dylan albums (“the best album since”)
I think it's inevitable that these songs will sound similar to others. I do prefer the more uptempo tracks on his recent albums, but my favourite track from the new album is I've Made Up My Mind. His voice does sound very good on this new album, much better than Love and Theft for instance, but I prefer that album however as it has more variety in styles. I'm a bit disappointed by Rough and Rowdy Ways.
un excellent album , recharged from the cover albums . he creates a musical mood that is quite original but feels so familiar . an oustanding tribute to president kennedy and all the corruption thats followed .
I’m waiting for the vinyl so “making do” with Spotify at the moment. The only thing I don’t understand is why it’s a double CD? It’s 70 mins long which is well within the capacity of a single disc. Seems a bit of a waste of plastic. It is a terrific album though.
Murder Most Foul is the only song on the 2nd cd. So it gets the merits, it deserves. I am wating for the vinyl myself, just like you and let's enjoi it when it arrives.
‘Murder most foul’ now there’s Bobs 21st century masterpiece right there. ‘False Prophet’ is another classic modern era Dylan as well. Good album overall
the False Prophet artwork was I believe a dig at Gill Bates&Forced Vaccinations,look at e it.I Contain Multitudes references Indiana Jones&Everything Flows-(Teenage Fanclub:)
I will listen to the album repeatedly BUT my opinion at the minute is that MUSICALLY there’s not much on here that he didn’t do on Modern Times. And on Modern Times he did it better.
I'm already skipping tracks! Good lp but overhyped for me - aside from Murder Most Foul which is stone cold classic. Love and Theft is the last 5/5 lp for me 19 years old this year. I think Modern Times was better as well. For me rhis lp is on a par with Tempest and better than Together through life. Nobody like Bobby.
I get the impression Maggie that John is not being totally truthful about his thoughts on 'Rough and Ready'. Over all he's not too keen on it. I'm not keen on it myself. It would have been a better album as a poetry recital because musically it almost grinds to a halt at times. The faster blues tracks sound like caricatures of 'Blonde on Blonde' tracks. Apologies to John if I've misread his thoughts on the album and he genuinely believes it is worth four stars.
The lyrics on this album are _INSANE!_ _Key West_ is my personal fave...
Key west one of all time favourites. Great song up there with his best
John, we enjoy your content very much here in balmy Florida.
Dylan's Rough and Rowdy Ways isn't a perfect record, IMO, but its a masterpiece. As has been oft repeated: Some people just don't "get" Bob Dylan, but to those that do, Dylan cuts very deep indeed. Bob cuts to the core on R&RW. Its quite refreshing and remarkable. Thank you kindly, Bob!
I’ve never tried figuring out Dylan’s lyrics. They’re like a painting. Everyone interprets them based on their subjective experience.
I have come to the same conclusion.
DD
I think Dylan was speaking literally when he sang: "You've got to serve somebody, it may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you're gonna have to serve somebody."
You are definitely right about music journalism and veteran acts, John... "their best record since Some Girls" - every Rolling Stones album review since 1989!
Nice to hear your thoughts John, he's incredible, how the man is still this good at 79, is an inspiration to us all.
Album is an instant classic .. his voice is the best I've heard in about 20yrs and some of the tunes are absolutely mesmerizing. Expecting Dylan to write tunes like he did when he was in his 20s or 30s is kind of silly.
ps: Dylan at 80, will win the Grammy for Album Of the Year
Actually, from a writing standpoint I don't think it's silly to expect Dylan to write lyrics the way he did in his 20s or 30s.
That was very interesting. As Dylan said 'you can't create inspiration'. Thank you for uploading.
I had to order the CD, because it was not available at my local record store, due to what has been going on. From what I have heard so far, the songs are quite good. For someone who is 80 next year, it's nice to see new music from Bob Dylan. I saw Bob Dylan live in 1990. The opening act was a Canadian country rock artist, Sue Medley. Bob Dylan is a great poet and songwriter. He does different styles of music so well. This includes folk, blues, country, gospel, jazz influenced music, and rock and roll. Cheers!
There is sheer magic happening on the key tracks of this album... ‘my own version of you’ Key West - Murder most Foul - Wow wee - I hear a different Dylan a more infused Dylan focused Dylan than for 45 years...
My Own Version Of You is brilliant.
In my humble opinin, I think is is one of Dylan's best albums.
Forgot to mention...the backing vocals on I've Made Up My Mind reminded me of the Dixie Humingbirds from Paul Simon's There Goes Rhymin' Simon in particular the track 'Tenderness'
It’s not his best, but not his worst. I’d put it on par with New Morning or any of his work between Oh Mercy and Time Out of Mind. Lyrically he’s very creative, but musically it’s not innovative. Its for mood and background largely. I think it’s because his voice is so shot he needs to be turned up. He whispers now. He doesn’t growl like he did on Together Through Life our Tempest. Both of which are better.
Listened to the new album a couple of times. Early days yet, but like you say, I don't think it's as stellar as the reviews would have you believe. Having said that, still a good listen. Don't know whether you listen to classical music or not, but the melody to I've Made Up My Mind is the Barcarolle from Jacques Offenbach's the Tales of Hoffmann.
@@andrewdevine3344 Thanks Andrew for that...I just listened to Barcarolle and you're right the backing vocal line is very similar!....fascinating. I wonder if Bob himself listens to classical and would be aware of that or whether it's subconscious.
I’d be surprised if he didn’t, but a lot of classical music has transcended into other genres of music and popular culture, and that Barcarolle tune is very famous, and he may have heard it somewhere. The slightly cynical side of me thinks that most classical is free to be sampled or borrowed because the copyright has run out. Doesn’t really matter anyway, as he’s put his own vocal melody to the song and added some good lyrics. All music is borrowed anyway.
John Heaton
Mentioning the "Dixie" Humingbirds made me think of the group "The Dixie Chicks" who dropped Dixie from their name as it was deemed an offensive word; they are now The Chicks, however Iv'e heard that some consider "Chick" to also be offensive; perhaps they should be known as "The". I think Dylan's latest is one of his best!
Folks are parched for substance....Something that challenges Mind Body Spirit. Haven’t heard it yet, but soon, very soon. Always a pleasure John.
Any new music from a 79 year old legend is welcomed
Fantastic video as always. I have not listened to it yet, but I look forward to it even more.
Thanks John - your's is a view always worth listening to. I recently gave Tempest a few plays for the first time in a while in preparation for Rough and Rowdy Ways (I can't get in to his Great American Songbook stuff and consider those as diversions) and there are parallels for me. Most obviously, thematically, these are Tempest's eponymous epic and Murder Most Foul and then Early Roman Kings vs. Crossing The Rubicon. However, and as always with his Bobness, repeated plays will be required for a greater understanding. And surely that's the joy in a new Dylan record.
I went into this having absolutely no expectations for the music. I’m just excited for a lot of new, original lyrics from Bob. I haven’t listened to the album too much but I must say the music positively surprised me!
I think after a few more listens you may re-evaluate a few tracks. Key West, for me, is his most personal song since BOTT.
Not heard it all yet but what little I've heard so far, it's up there with his later albums, I think his older voice sounds great and I just loved the Triplicate album, I will be pre-ordering the vinyl soon, so roll on July !
Wow...great review John! To the point that I listened on Spotify. I enjoyed it immensely and will purchase the CD soon. All the best to you! Cheers Matt
After 5 or so listens, I am left scratching my head raw at RARW and the response to it from critics. It's not even close to a 5* album. Blood on the Tracks is an example of a 5* album, and while I admit that it's probably unfair to compare an artist in their latter years with their peak period, we sometimes have no choice but to do precisely that, especially in the face of high praise. If critics are going to give RARW 5*, then presumably Blood on the Tracks deserves 10*? The way I see it, 5* albums are albums that remain virtually flawless or relevant from beginning to end, and RARW is by no means a flawless album.
It starts off strongly enough. I don't hate I Contain Multitudes; though it feels like a throwaway from the American standard sessions. False Prophet is a good tune with a nice vibe. My Own Version of You (possibly my favourite track) is hypnotically brilliant and I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You is like an ode to a Leonard Cohen tune. But with this promising start, the album then starts to take a rapid nosedive and doesn't fully recover until Key West - the 2nd to last track on the album...
Though I think his vocal performance on the song is good, Black Rider is weak sauce and my least favourite song on the album by far. It's too much in the style of his Sinatra covers, which I didn't care for. It's so stripped back it might as well have no musical accompaniment at all. Goodbye Jimmy Reed is a bouncy blues number that we've heard all before from Dylan (see the similar and superior Lonesome Day Blues on the Love and Theft album) - the brief return of his iconic harmonica made me smile, however. Mother of Muses is forgettable, and Crossing the Rubicon is competent but outstays its welcome after 3 minutes. So, that's nearly half the songs on this album that don't click for me, and that's why it is not anywhere near a 5* classic.
In my view, RARW is not as good as other latter-day Dylan efforts, such as: Love and Theft, Modern Times or Tempest, and I doubt my feelings will change with more listens. It's more on par with the largely ignored, Together Through Life, which was decent but nothing special. In short, half this album is great and half is bland. 3/5
I think I've watched the accidental opening head thump at least 10 times. Great stuff! Just bought this CD myself.
Hi John love all your reviews been working my way through them all. I’m a Beatles fanatic like yourself, massive Dylan fan to. I love this record! My favourite track is key west. My take is he’s talking about heaven. But with Bob you just never know, it’s all open to interpretation.
John, you say you’re not sure what interest Key West, Florida would hold for Bob Dylan. You mention it is one of the wealthiest places in the United States. I was there for a week in 1990. If it is wealthy, it is not ostentatious about it. It is a bar town famous, when Dylan was just becoming known, as a haven for writers. Ernest Hemingway lived there for years. There is a bar called Papa’s, named for him. There are six-toed cats all over Key West, said to be the descendants of Hemingway’s six-toed cats. Tennessee Williams lived there for decades. I wouldn’t be that surprised if there are pirate radio stations operating on ships outside Key West, because a few hours away by boat is Cuba. Key West is the southernmost point in the continental United States. It is a tourist destination but the tourist will encounter a mix of bikers, homeless, college kids on Spring Break and a very out and proud LGBTQ scene. There is a John Huston movie from 1946 or so called KEY WEST, with Bogart and Edward G. Robinson; a famous movie demonstrating the allure Key West used to have for desperados. It is a literary center still.
🌞 I have never been a fan of the ecclectic BoB Dylan, BUT this release did the trick ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ .
00:05 John , how you kept from screaming "F**K!" tells me a lot about you LOL
A very interesting review and far more objective than those 5 star reviews. You are right, journalists seem to fall all over some of these veteran artists, in their praise. I am enjoying Bob's album, but i do miss the days when he used to make an effort to sing, instead of speaking in husky tones. There is less melody than there used to be in Bob's music. The blues stuff also can get a bit monotonous.
Good to hear your thoughts on it, I respect your opinion and haven't seen any reviews. I downloaded the tracks but haven't heard it yet other than 'Murder Most Foul' which to me sounded like a collection of random lines as he's done before.
I read somewhere that someone was surprised to see a rhyming dictionary in Dylan's possession. He responded, "Well, how else am I supposed to do it?" (This is the gist of it, I don't remember where I read it and the exact wording probably has escaped me.)
The classic country singer Jimmie Rodgers had a song called “My Rough And Rowdy Ways” which is I’m sure where Dylan got the title, which intrigues me, although I haven’t heard the album yet myself... I appreciate you giving your initial thoughts John, which are always worthwhile..
Well, "Rough and Rowdy Ways" is a line from many traditional American (British/Irish probably, too) folksongs. Dylan knows a great many songs from that repertoire and also uses them a lot, always did. Most often it is used in something like: You have to quit your rough and rowdy ways…
10 out of 5 for me dylan is painter he takes words musique , styles , arrangements and creates a picture for each song .sometimes i am not sure what intrument is playing what style it is i just know it fits perfectly . murder most foul and kenedys assassination is a farewell to the integerity enjoyed by our parents generation . the last three cover albums and the never ending tour good preparation for this album
my guess is it maybe his last and what a great album fans will be talking about it for a long time .
His first album was blues
Great album.
John, the fact that Bob is writing a love song doesn't mean he's in love...Bob's a songwriter. As for My Own Version of You....its not absurd. I think he's talking metaphorically about how we all want our partners to be like us. I think it's the best track...together with Key West.
Thank you for your critique
I’m with you on the bluesy racks. Not original and boring. The Blues actually grates on me.
A lot of die hardDylan fans are so keen for there hero to come up with a great album that they actually end up rating an OK album as 5 stars. I have noticed this with Bowie fans and it probably applies to fans of lots of great performers.
Deep down we all know that the last great Dylan album was Oh Mercy and everything else since had one or perhaps two good tracks on it and many were unlistenable to. Rough and Rowdy Ways, at least to me is a good album. If you miss out the bluesy tracks the whole thing has a nice feel to it. Form me the high points are Key West and Dark Rider.
great review. i think giving myself to you is about giving your heart to god. peace and love.
According to Van Morrison's "In the Days Before Rock 'N' Roll" ( a song Bob would be familiar with, being a Van fan), Budapest did have a pirate radio station. "I Contain Multitudes" is the name of a book about microbes that was published a few years ago.
well i’ve lived here in budapest for 24 years and not sure what this would refer to...Hungary was under communism from 1945-1990 and i think a pirate radio station is unlikely to have existed not to mention would have been a dangerous activity
Dont know if bobs a van morrison fan. But morrison name checked radio Luxembourg along with Budapest in his fantastic spocken word track "in the days before rock'n'roll" from my favorite album of his "enlightenment", which had a huge effect on me in the early ninties. Intresting that he also name checked "dumbartons drums" one of my favourite scottish folk ballads and very beautiful, scottish folk duo "the corries" done a very nice version of it. I aggree also, i wish he would lay off the twelve bar blues structure at this point its been done to death. But i guess its a convenient vehechal for his lyrics so......
Will get to that, thank you. I have been enchanted by Morrison's, Born to Sing, No Plan B album. Consoles me.
@@barbarajohnson1442
Hi barbara and thank you for your reply. His enlightenment album is a fantastic collection of work its really quite jazzy in some places and as a whole very under rated
They certainly know each other. Played together many times. Whenever I see a video of them playing van always gives a big hug and squeeze to bob. Otherwise van seems pretty contained . Guess he just couldn’t help himself!
I think your reviews are really special
Goodbye Jimmy Reed is great it really swings - a great groove
I also love False Prophet - he nicked the tune particularly the guitar riff but that is par for the course. I do strongly agree with your point on his singing.I think the discipline of doing the standards has had a beneficial effect on his singing.
I am large, I contain multitudes ~ Walt Whitman
Joh love your reviews. Wondered if you would get around to reviewing Beyond here lies Nothing - a Dylan album I think that is underrated
"Thump on a Bible proclaim a creed " -- these lyrics from Goodbye Jimmy Reed left you "baffled" -- I feel that it's not hard to understand as it's coming from one of our most spiritual writers in rock (along with Van Morrison). I feel he's expressing his love for God and encouraging others to show their religious faith in God; and to not hide our faith under a bushel basket (as the Bible says) --- I love the new album, and thanks for your review! Hopefully this will be followed by more new original songs in the future.
It should have read --- a bit baffled --- not just "baffled" at least there is a slight difference.
I don’t think one needs to analyse Bob just listen and enjoy,I was wondering if we were gonna get another great album from the man so I’m delighted,really cool album,thanks Bob.
I've bought it on record and CD. Have done the same with the Neil Young. I've rarely done this in the past.
Of course it all depends what you listen to. If you listen to the music it’s o star.
Congratulations from useful girl
Hey John,
Let me say first off that I'm stunned at how similar our taste in music is. However you and I are (I suspect) the same age I'm 53.
That being said, I give RARW a full 5 stars. It's extremely rare for me to love every single song on an album but for me that was the case with this one.
Just an aside, I think discussing the Beatles best work may be a bit of low hanging fruit given the astounding quality of their music. I think if that if you were to comment on your least favorite tracks or albums; you may get a real dust up going!
After three or four listens, I find it a warm and intimate album. I don't find it as epic as Tempest; it's more like Together Through Life---a very pleasant, enjoyable album. Ironically, Murder Most Foul is the most epic of Dylan tracks, but I see that as separate from the rest of the album, as if it were it's own EP (similarly, I think of Sad Eyed Lady as a separate entity to the rest of BOB). I think the five star reviews reflect the reaction to the first original offering since 2012. But then you could make a similar point about the glowing reviews for Bowie's The Next Day.
I give the album four stars, and Murder Most Foul five.
From 1962 to 1976 Bob Dylan wrote lyrics like none had ever done and none will ever do. Then he wrote amazing lyrics (jokerman for example is unbelievable) but a bit "less incredible". Then he dropped "oh mercy" and "time out of mind" , they are pretty close to what he did until 1976. In the meantime and after he wrote great things, Tempest was amazing in my opinion. I think we have like 25 albums by Dylan that are incredibly good. At 80 you can't write like at 40/50. It's normal. Natural I'd say. But I think this album is as good as Tempest was. And maybe as good as Oh mercy. Pretty close to time out of mind.
The critics are so positive with their rankings because this is a really good album and because the man is Bob Dylan. He's 79. An icon. I think only Paul McCartney did so good records at this age, apart from Dylan
Hi john, would like to here your opinions on Neil young and his latest album he released from his archives
The Key West thing you are confused about is probably referring to the Fountain of Youth. Ponce de Leon searched that area, and was convinced it existed around that area.
I've gone to listening to Paul McCartney and his Wings era after avoiding anything tied to Beatles sounds for over twenty-five years. I went back to those cherished tunes of my youth coz the world is a pretty grim place right now for me. Paul is a sliver of sorely needed sunshine and light heartedness. As for Bob, I've hated his sound (as a teen) until Love and Theft. I've loved his work there going forward coz it's so gritty, raw, provocative and authentic. Yeah, a few cuts on this set are good, but most of it is without cheer-or not any. I guess Bob and Bruce are gonna battle it out for who is the king speaking for all the . . rubbed wrong, down and out, marginalized, dejected, broken souls left out, but looking in out there. There is a need for that too. As a fan, as a listener, as someone who doesn't make music for a living (but enjoys guitar) I would have preferred a couple of tunes far more rowdy with driving shuffles and sweet backing vocals and horns just to change the tempo and let me feel like I've just been to church, feeling refreshed and grounded again. That's what the Blues is-sadness put to cheerful sound (where the hope lies).
I think I have a pretty good ear and I give this latest a 3 star. Just one guy's take who really really loves Americana, Blues and Country music . . currently yearning for some upbeat tempo and perspective. Sir Paul is filling that void for me for now. Maybe Bob will followup with songs that are get you up and make you wanna dance . . like in the album cover on this material.
I really like goodbye jimmy Reed... good beat and great lyrics.. yes it's a simple 12 bar blues but then again an awful lot of songs are based on that...
nino benjamin
I love Goodbye Jimmy Reed but just wish he would've stretched out on harmonica a bit more! For some reason he is credited as only "guitar and vocals."
I think the lyrics you read from goodbye jimmy reed he’s talking about jimmy reed himself, he mentions his appreciation for jimmy reeds gospel music in his recent interview with the times
Tom Trapmore
I believe it was Little Richards Gospel music he was talking about in The NY Times interview; and he expressed his love of Gospel music and the guidance in one's life it provide through the Bible.
thank you
so i did study some overseas courses about how business is done say in europe which is not united kingdom and subtleties to say spanish work hours or other things learned french spelling german maybe military science but it was that my heart is still there though with censorship i thought it was my dad or someone else seeing later on in this channel the offensive lyrics was pretty bad with some lines so social work is something i thought is useful everyone getting a chance and having fun
the way other countries work something about the sort of country technology or the a word i've used is pretty but the way it all is thinking of when i was at my aunts in munich the top floor room a computer that worked sunlight hours the train but so feeling somewhat confident about my military benefits and very much enjoying english things for a while that one has been there but also seeing lifetime marriages and not getting under foot many great british things currently having some tetley british blend tea or when i was into romantic poets and unbeknowngst to me i think it helped train and domesticate my written formatting though i thought many times people either don't want to hear it or heart it wrong say when i had enough beatles but then coming back to hellogoodbye the music video john's charisma and artistry
some different things getting into mind american immigrants or thoroughly enjoying korean foods in annandale virginia outside the community college and seeing what i can study with the thoughts of the children and caution or even when people have wills dylan some skepticism on that say in my generation under the name whose who conor oberst from bright eyes continuing quitting cigarettes been a long time since i was addicted settled in alexandria and a big portion being influence from a christmas carol fezziwig cratchet my dads doing good so's mom healthcare concern hearing of teeth and blogging my notes mentioning to my parents would we ever vacation overseas though thinking that was shot down due to logistics vehicle? expense time zone purpose etc but hearing how do i sponsor or even my own paranoia and mysteries it can be explained even possession or necromancy
watched harry potter year 1 the other day on dvd
I havnt heard Key West yet but if its the most affluent place per capita then he must be being sarcastic about it being "the place to go"-just a thought
I once had full eye contact with Bob Dylan. If anyone is interested in my story I will tell it
jon smith
Yes please tell your Dylan story about when u met him.
Key West. Hemingway lived there for many years, but died in Idaho. Something there perhaps.
its about KEY WEST,,, KANYE WEST is about KEY WEST,,,,
listen to Billy The Kid Emerson b-side from 1954 called 'If Lovin' is Believing " seems Bob Dylan pretty much plagerized his song False Prophet off his new album from this song, song can be found on youtube
Just as well we are all different, I love false prophet. I agree that all critics seem to throw out platitudes on all Dylan albums (“the best album since”)
I think it's inevitable that these songs will sound similar to others. I do prefer the more uptempo tracks on his recent albums, but my favourite track from the new album is I've Made Up My Mind. His voice does sound very good on this new album, much better than Love and Theft for instance, but I prefer that album however as it has more variety in styles. I'm a bit disappointed by Rough and Rowdy Ways.
New Bob is better than new Neil!
un excellent album , recharged from the cover albums . he creates a musical mood that is quite original but feels so familiar .
an oustanding tribute to president kennedy and all the corruption thats followed .
What is that in the bottom right hand corner of the screen?
A white chair :- )
I’m waiting for the vinyl so “making do” with Spotify at the moment. The only thing I don’t understand is why it’s a double CD? It’s 70 mins long which is well within the capacity of a single disc. Seems a bit of a waste of plastic. It is a terrific album though.
Murder Most Foul is the only song on the 2nd cd.
So it gets the merits, it deserves.
I am wating for the vinyl myself, just like you and let's enjoi it when it arrives.
‘Murder most foul’ now there’s Bobs 21st century masterpiece right there. ‘False Prophet’ is another classic modern era Dylan as well. Good album overall
Initial thoughts can be misleading on an album of this depth that becomes richer with each listen
Hungary? Is that where you are or live? That's where my dad is from.
the False Prophet artwork was I believe a dig at Gill Bates&Forced Vaccinations,look at e it.I Contain Multitudes references Indiana Jones&Everything Flows-(Teenage Fanclub:)
I will listen to the album repeatedly BUT my opinion at the minute is that MUSICALLY there’s not much on here that he didn’t do on Modern Times. And on Modern Times he did it better.
Knocked out and loaded
Yes, he used his touring band for the most part, but the secret weapon is Blake Mills. He plays guitar on most of the tracks
Martin Olesen
How do you know he plays guitar so much when the details of each track are not given?
Key West is hypnotic. Blues tracks - the best since L&T. Lenny Bruce is absolute doggerel.
in your opinion...i would beg to differ
"lenny bruce" is in actuality wonderful!!@@johnheaton5667
Reduced to doing videos from the closet ?? I have a copy on order from Amazon and have high expectations.
You'd do well to pray for wisdom and discernment before listening.
I'm already skipping tracks!
Good lp but overhyped for me - aside from Murder Most Foul which is stone cold classic.
Love and Theft is the last 5/5 lp for me 19 years old this year.
I think Modern Times was better as well.
For me rhis lp is on a par with Tempest and better than Together through life.
Nobody like Bobby.
I really like the album but I've never been a fan of Dylan's blues tracks
I like the new album you sound very down
oh really? i’m not honest :- )
I get the impression Maggie that John is not being totally truthful about his thoughts on 'Rough and Ready'. Over all he's not too keen on it. I'm not keen on it myself. It would have been a better album as a poetry recital because musically it almost grinds to a halt at times. The faster blues tracks sound like caricatures of 'Blonde on Blonde' tracks. Apologies to John if I've misread his thoughts on the album and he genuinely believes it is worth four stars.
I tried to listen to it twice but fell asleep both times. It reminds me of the last three albums he put out. Not for me.
Pretty close? Just stop touching your face, scratchin your nose, picking at your lips, please; I just thank you for all the stuff
I you share
Oh come on, this album is not 5 stars?!? 😂 Get lost buddy, with all my loving