Bob Dylan Modern Times
It's positively astonishing how good this album is. Outside of Johnny Cash, I can't think of an artist (at least in recent times) that has managed to not only maintain a prominent position in music, but also continuously release some of the most important music that can be heard for years to come.
For anyone that might've even had a passing thought that Bob Dylan has fallen off as of late, I dare you to listen to this record and not thoroughly enjoy every waking second of it. The voice may not be the same, but from the minute "Thunder on the Mountain" begins, you know this is Dylan at his very best. His lyrics are as poignant and clever as ever, and his band sounds just as inspired. Uptempo numbers like the aforementioned opener, "Rollin' and Tumblin'" and "Someday Baby" are all as good as ever. "Spirit on the Water" is another great love song that Dylan can add to his collection. Its bouncy beat matched with the airy electric guitar blend perfectly with Bob Dylan's sweetly sincere lyrics. While all of these songs are semi-familiar territory for Dylan (with somewhat of an exception going to "Spirit on the Water") it's on the slower songs and ballads where Dylan truly impresses. His dark, smoky vocals match his equally dark yet often-inspirational lyrics now more than ever, and songs like "Workingman's Blues #2" show just how pertinent Dylan can be for not just his followers but all audiences even today. This is a complete masterpiece from start to finish, and is an album that stacks up well to some of Dylan's finest early accomplishments and is superior to his last acclaimed album, Love and Theft. The real surprise is that Dylan is able to maintain focus for the entirety of the album, despite each song being over five minutes long. Finally, when you factor in his age, and how few artists are able to overwhelm expectations every time as their career goes on, this album should stand as a true testament to not only his ability but also his drive. Highly recommended.
Overall Rating: 100
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