Belated album review: "Blood on the Tracks" by Bob Dylan

From Pictures

Can I let you in on a little secret? I've never really liked Bob Dylan all that much. I mean, I can see his importance in the evolution of American songwriting, his influence...but in terms of listening to much of his music, I'm good. I'll pass.

That said, I absolutely love the cliche songs: "Lay Lady Lay," "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"...amazing tracks, of course. That's universally agreed upon. But that dumb "Rainy Day Women" song...'Everybody must get stoned..."

Must we, Bob? Must we really?

So I've had the thought over the years that maybe I'm missing out. Maybe Dylan's a lot like Beck in that I hate the singles the record company chooses to release, but the rest of the album is amazing. Let's hope. This is, after all, the 16th greatest album of all time, according to Rolling Stone.

Let's get down to it, boppers.

"Tangled up in Blue" is kinda nice. The guitar really rings sweetly throughout. And Bob's just rambling on through a story...it's almost literature in a way. Books considered "literature" often don't have much excess...they tell a story in a very concise way. That's kinda how this whole song feels. No frills, just a story being told over numerous verses and choruses. Harmonica solo at the end...I dig it. It's not overwhelmingly awesome, but it's nice.

The second track is "Simple Twist of Fate." It's a mix of country and folk, very simple with just guitar and bass. I keep expecting more instrumentation. Maybe some drums or something...there's the harmonica. Okay. I feel vindicated. By the final verse, Bob's voice affectation is fucking enraging. Just sing, you garble-mouthed fuck. The lyrics are nice. It's like Van Morrison without all the instrumentation. Story and guitar. I'm not a huge fan of this one.

"You're a Big Girl Now" has a spanish feel to it. It's a nice, bittersweet song of longing for a woman who made him play the fool. It's a good song. Probably the best so far. This album would need to be this good for the remainder to warrant my top 50 albums even, though.

"Idiot Wind" is the best song so far. The music is entertaining, the story is interesting...it's a good mix for the first time so far. "You're a Big Girl Now" was a quiet, introspective song. This is actually an angry song told from the point of view of an extremely flawed man. It's a nice transition. Hopefully the album's picking up.

Oh. my. gawd. Are you serious? This fucking song is 8 minutes long? You just had to take a good thing and fuck it up. Let me sit here and "give it a chance." zzzZZZzzz...zzzZZzZZzzZzzz...so monotonous...zzzZzZzzz...let it end...zzzZzZZzzZZZzzz

This is awful. Why would he do this? Seriously. Okay. Way too much of a good thing. Not even a good thing anymore. Finally it's over. Yay!

The country tinge is back for "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go." It's okay. Nothing spectacular. I really feel like I've heard this a million times before, and from artists of the same era. I don't know why Dylan was chosen out of all them to be the "voice of a generation."

Oh! Pimp! Wait. "Meet Me In The Morning" has fucking promise. Wow. This fucking kicks ass. I have Bob's arch right in my rectum right now, and it feels great. This is the first great song from this album. I would've expected the whole album to be this good for it to be number 16 all-time, but I'm officially glad I listened to this album now. Wow, wow, wow. I love pimp country music. This explains Wilco's whole fucking career in one fell swoop.

"Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts" is right back to the fucking formula. Boo! I can't stand this after such an awesome song. Meh. I know he's not going to change it up. I may as well skip to the end. Nine minutes of this shit? Really? Oh my God. Okay, it's country meets polka rhythm, and it sucks, and that's all you really need to know about it. Skiparoo.

"If You See Her, Say Hello" is magnetic. Bob's voice is full of pain, he's telling of a lost love in a way we can all identify with...a damn good song. The minor chords in the middle of each verse are heartbreaking.

"Shelter From the Storm" is a story of losing a love, then seeking the cure for an ailment in a foreign village, but nothing really comes of it. No great point is made...it just rattles on with the same brassy guitar and cadence from start to finish. *yawn*

Last track, "Buckets of Rain." It's a nice love song, with just a little of the unexpected pimp in its step. It's a good closing song for an album. Quiet, thoughtful, but confident with just a little bit of swagger. Not bad.

Final verdict? To me, this isn't a great album. It's a spotty album, with a couple great moments, a lot of okay moments, and a couple unbearable moments. The lyrics are generally amazing, but it really makes me appreciate Van Morrison all the more for actually doing something with the amazing lyrics he wrote, rather than just numbly strumming a guitar.

That said, the best moment on this album, "Meet Me In The Morning," is far better than anything on "Astral Weeks." It's so...fucking...pimp. It's the song Wilco has been trying to write for over a decade. Wow. Just...wow.

This album wouldn't be in my top 100, but I might put "Meet Me In The Morning" in a top 100 songs of all time. Then again...I know a lot of music. God, that would be a challenge. Who knows. Either way, it's a good song, it's a so-so album, and I need to go to bed now. *grin*

I'll see you around.