Bob Dylan - Modern Times
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Free Music Notes for Modern Times
Free Music Review: Dylan in top form
Hit: 5 Stars
This exceptionally melodious album opens with the catchy up-tempo track Thunder On The Mountain with its lilting beat which is followed by Spirit On The Water, a tender love song, also tuneful and engaging with nice touches of harmonica. Rollin' And Tumblin' with its snatches of jangling guitar is a succulent slice of folk rock.
One of the highlights on this impressive work with its outstanding songs is the melancholy When The Deal Goes Down, a philosophical musing on the journey of life, on mortality and loyalty, with a beautiful melody and moving poetic lyrics, like the track Where Teardrops Fall on Oh Mercy.
The tempo picks up again for Someday Baby, a rhythmic pop number, before the mood turns serious for Workingman's Blues, a flowing ballad, and then somber turns to sad on the poignant Beyond The Horizon with its redemptive imagery.
There is another stirring love song in the form of Nettie Moore, a slow soulful number with clever lyrical twists and a spiritual undertone, whilst The Levee's Gonna Break is another rhythmic up-tempo track with a gripping melody, and the album concludes with the bluesy Aint' Talkin', a long atmospheric excursion.
The powerful songs on Modern Times are delivered with guitars, bass, cello, piano, percussion, drums, violin, viola and mandolin for a rich, full sound and Dylan's voice sounds great. I highly recommend this brilliant album which is on a par with his best work of recent years such as Time Out of Mind.
Free Music Review: A masterful record.
Hit: 5 Stars
Bob Dylan has aged wisely and eloquently. His early music reflected a maturity beyond his age; his latter-day music reflects the maturity OF his age. I've never been a huge Dylan fan, though at the same time I respected his artistic talent (specifically, the impact his songwriting had on a generation of artists). I bought this record hesitantly, reading reviews, trying to get beyond the usual "legend" hype. After all, even legends falter.
Bob Dylan hasn't faltered. At least, not with MODERN TIMES.
This is a record even a non-Dylan fan such as myself can enjoy. You see, good music is good music. Now, if you ARE a life-long Dylan fan, then of course you are gonna enjoy this record. But even as a general musical record (that is, taken out of its context as a part of the Dylan catalogue), this album stands as a classic. Why is that? Perhaps because of the lyrical genius, to be expected from such an extraordinary songwriter. Perhaps it's the backing band (plus Dylan's own musical talents). What I think makes this record stand out, however, is that it is at its essence a country record. Yes, all you city-folk: this is a country record, both melodically and lyrically. And yet, it passes itself off as a rock record--and successfully so. But behind the modern sound (ignore the pun) is a country lyric, a country essence.
As for Dylan himself...he sums up this album, its predecessors and successors, in the final track, with a simple, eloquent line: "I'm burnin, still yearnin', walkin' 'til I'm clean out of sight."
Fortunately for everyone concerned, Dylan has a few more miles to go. MODERN TIMES is proof enough of that.
Free Music Review: Dylan's Modern Magic
Hit: 5 Stars
I wasn't so sure about this album before listening to it. Reviewers had been comparing it to Time Out of Mind and Love & Theft. I do like Time Out of Mind despite it lacking the warmth found on the other album Dylan made with producer Daniel Lanois, Oh Mercy (which is among my favorite Dylan albums). Love & Theft was, however, an album that I really do not like. The songs on that album lack cohesion and the production is somewhat muddled.
Although Modern Times does not differ a great deal from Love & Theft, the difference lies first and foremost in the more direct melodies and a crystal clear but yet warm production. From my standpoint, it is as if Love & Theft were from the same recording sessions, simply the songs on it were B-sides with all the worthwhile material making it to Modern Times.
The highlight of this album is Workingman's Blues #2, with subtle passion and emotion throughout. Other highlights include Spirit on the Water, Beyond the Horizon and When the Deals Goes Down. The only track resembling being a filler is Someday Baby.
This album is in mine opinion close to being as good as Oh Mercy. The mystic sound that makes Oh Mercy so special (recorded in New Orleans) is, however, lacking. That layered sound is probably among Lanois major contribution but he is nowhere to be found on Modern Times. Despite the production being crystal clear, the music is so delicately played that it doesn't hinder the album from having a warm feeling. This is Dylan's best record since Oh Mercy and among his best in his career. At 65, he still has some magic left in him.
Free Music Review: Dylan's First #1 Album In 30 Years.
Hit: 5 Stars
On Sept 6th, 2006 it was announced that "Modern Times", by Bob Dylan, was the number one cd in America according to Billboard. Selling 192,000 units in its first week of release. His last number one album goes way back to 1976 when he released "Desire". There is good reason that this cd quickly shot to the top of the charts. The 65 year old Bob Dylan tattered voice and all, has released a gem of a recording that still showcases his talent as the ultimate folk/rock songwriter. Don't let the 10 cut cd fool you into thinking this is skimpy. Unlike the traditional pop recording with its customary three verses per song, "Modern Times", clocks in at over 60 minutes, and the songs are vintage Dylan storytelling with some cuts noted for several verses in length. Some of the highlights include, the rocking "Rumblin and Tumblin", "Thunder On The Mountain"[a song in which Dylan quite possibly is voicing his affection for singer Alicia Keys]. "The Levee's Gonna Break", is an obvious anthem to the struggles of New Orleans after Katrina. "Workingman's Blues #2", is in my mind the best song Bob Dylan has written in the last 25 years. This sad but catchy ballad is all about the common man getting nowhere. The back-up band is phenominal, and Dylan has really made something special here, and people are taking notice. This set of recordings will raise many eyebrows at Grammy time, and it should, because "Modern Times", is a modern classic that will take its rightful place alongside, some of the best recordings Dylan has ever made. A very impressive effort indeed.Free Music Review: Three in a Row!
Hit: 5 Stars
Most songs created for commercial purposes are in the two to three minute range. The first thing I noticed on "Modern Times" is that not a single song is in this range. They are all long. Once again, the quality of the music and the band here is outstanding. The album starts off with the rock number "Thunder on the Mountain" with a great beat, interesting lyrics and Dylan doin' pretty well on vocals. I really like the guitar work. "Spirit on the Water" is a mellow, upbeat number with a country feel and nice melody. "Rollin' and Tumblin'" is a bluesy rock song and cooks. This album is on par with "Love and Theft" and "Time Out of Mind" with the three seeming like a trilogy. The steel guitars kick off "When the Deal Goes Down" and Dylan's voice almost seems like a "Lay, Lady, Lay" copy. Very nice song! Another driven rock tune in "Someday Baby". It appears that Dylan is having a lot of fun on this record. I really like the piano intro on "Workingman's Blues # 2". Here Dylan seems to be in a bar talking to us. "Beyond the Horizon" has the steel guitar and that Nashville Skyline feel. Some think "Nettie Moore" is the best song on "Modern Times" although my favorite is the opening track. "The Levee's Gonna Break" is a blues number making me wonder if Katrina was in Bob's thoughts. This is my second favorite song on the record. I really like the guitar solo. "Ain't Talkin'" with it's minor key and violins makes this quite different than the other songs on "Modern Times". This album is excellent and is quite an addition to his life's work.