Bob Dylan - Slow Train Coming
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Free Music Notes for Slow Train Coming
Free Music Review: (3.5 stars) Could've been much worse
Hit: 4 Stars
Saved is awful, and Shot of Love is only slightly better, but Slow Train Coming isn't bad at all. I mean, the lyrics aren't much to look at - I won't even criticize the spiritual themes, I just think they're a bit simplistic - but this is one of the few Dylan releases where you should tune out to the lyrics for maximum enjoyment. Strange as that may seem. For one, the backing band's one of the best he's ever had, and they really shine on the scorching gospel-blues of "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking" (love the guitar/piano/horn riff!) and my favorite of the bunch, the slow, apocalyptic title track, which has all kinds of cool guitar parts. They're even responsible for saving "Do Right to Me Baby (Do Right to Others)" from the pits that its lyrics may suggest. The all-important groove propels that along, even as Bob embarrasses himself with stunning examples of wordplay that pretty much consist of, "Don't wanna [verb] nobody, don't wanna be [verbed/verbed at]". Theoretically, it should be humiliating, but amazingly, it's not. And as awkward as some of the phrasing on "When You Gonna Wake Up" is, the organ and horn charts help take that one to pretty close to the top as well. And "Precious Angel" is one of his better ballads. Interestingly, my least favorite song is the most famous: I can't stand "Gotta Serve Somebody". It's preachy, the band misses the groove completely, the lyrics are embarrassing, and it's just flat-out boring. No thanks. The reggae on "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" isn't that great either; and I can't get into the boring "I Believe in You", which sadly forecasts Saved. But the melodies rule, and the backup band is solid, so this isn't half as bad as you may have heard. Free Music Review: "For all those who have eyes and ears, it is only He who can reduce me to tears."
Hit: 5 Stars
So Bob Dylan sings in the deeply moving "When He Returns," the closing song of his beautiful inspirational album Slow Train Coming, released in 1979. One of Dylan's greatest albums, Slow Train Coming is a collection of timeless spiritual songs that have continued to inspire and touch listeners for nearly three decades. Indeed, Slow Train Coming may very well prove to be Dylan's masterwork, a strong statement of faith that was sung without fear of what critics would think of him.
The album opens with "Gotta Serve Somebody," which earned Dylan a Grammy award for best vocal performance. "Precious Angel" is one of Slow Train Coming's best songs in which Dylan sings of his newfound faith in Christ and the woman who helped lead him down the narrow path. The only somewhat weak track on this album is "Man Gave Names To All The Animals," which sounds like a children's bible school song. Dylan was attending a bible class at the time and this likely inspired him to write it. The outtake "Ye Shall Be Changed" would have made a better album track.
I cannot recommend Slow Train Coming enough. It deserves all the praise it receives and more. Buy it and you will discover another masterpiece from Bob Dylan.
Free Music Review: Somewhat grim
Hit: 4 Stars
This notorious album opens with Gotta Serve Somebody, a slow edgy number with prominent female vocals in a genuine gospel style, whilst Precious Angel is a tuneful folky track. One of the most moving songs is I Believe In You, a description of the rejection often experienced by those who openly confess their faith, expressed in stirring poetic lyrics over a lovely melody line.
The title track Slow Train is a messy mid-tempo rock excursion infused with gospel backing vocals, certainly not the strongest offering on the album. Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking is a similarly downtempo rock number but with some nice organ flourishes, unfortunately a bit harsh in both sentiment and in sound.
The jerkily rhythmic Do Right To Me Baby is a pleasant enough rumination on the golden rule with some clever lyrical twists, whilst the meandering When You Gonna Wake Up is a call to repentence I suppose, but not particularly tuneful or memorable. The next one, Man Gave Names To All The Animals, is lighter and quite appealing with its gently lilting beat.
The album concludes with the stirring devotional When He Returns. One would have expected more of the Van Morrison type of mystical joyousness, but this album is often grim and uncompromising. Mercifully the aforementioned songs like Precious Angel, I Believe In You and When He Returns are lovely and comforting.
Of Dylan's religious albums, I think Shot of Love with its gems like Every Grain Of Sand and Lenny Bruce, and Infidels with tracks like Neighbourhood Bully and Jokerman are the best. Slow Train Coming is not bad at all but not an album that I often listen to. The thought of how it must have shocked the rock critics when it was released is however cause for mirth.
Saved
Time Out of Mind
Free Music Review: Slow Train CD
Hit: 4 Stars
I've listened to Bob Dylan since he started and I still listen. Great CD, great - great - great.Free Music Review: Rolling Stone's Editor LOVED this album, folks. FWIW.
Hit: 4 Stars
I bought the issue of Rolling Stone with Jann Wenner's review of this album when it first came out. Wenner raved about it, loved it. FWIW. Maybe he didn't have his guard up, I don't know.