Together Through Life

[poliphilo]

The new Dylan came in the post this morning. I've listened to a couple of tracks. Bright horns, the voice all croony and beat up- like someone tied Bing Crosby to the tail of a Ford and dragged him along a dirt road for a couple of hours.

Dylan is a great artist in what Kenneth Clarke called the "old age" phase of his career- where he's doing what he chooses to do and doesn't give a fuck about fashion or what anybody thinks of him (not that Dylan ever did). Some of what he comes up with may be little more than hawking and spitting and scratching around in the dust, but- rough with the smooth- you're hearing what a free man sounds like- and there aren't too many of them in any generation.

Comments

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

Yes - I like it when someone makes the album they want to make rather than the one their public might prefer. Mark Knopfler's Kill To Get Crimson is a case in point.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Dylan has always done exactly what he wanted to do. It's resulted in some wayward behaviour and some wayward art- but this refusal to conform to other people's expectations (combined with talent of course) is what makes his career so fascinating.