Bob Dylan - Slow Train Coming
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Free Music Notes for Slow Train Coming
Free Music Review: Jesus as mind-numbing drug
Hit: 3 Stars
I do like the music on this album, but am so glad Dylan is over the Jesus thang.
Musically there are better Dylan albums but this one is a solid 3 stars.
Free Music Review: HEY, AMERICA! "WHEN YOU GONNA WAKE UP?"
Hit: 4 Stars
GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY, the first song on BOB DYLAN's 1979 Gospel offering, SLOW TRAIN COMING, begins with a metronome-like pounding on Pick Wither's drum. This single, regular beat gives the astute listener the impression of a hammer striking a railroad tie. In other words, this is the slowly built, but inexorably advancing train track that, once fully constructed, will make a Way for the arrival of a massive, powerful, and unstoppable Divine Force.
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." (Isaiah 40:3; circa 740 - 701 B.C.)
"Then they said to [John the Baptist] ... What do you say about yourself? He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the Way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said." (John 1:23; circa 80 - 93 A.D.)
Just as John the Baptist was commissioned to prepare the Way for the first incarnation of Jesus - who came as a meek lamb of Salvation - it is "Christians" whose duty it is to prepare the Way for His second coming, which will be anything but meek, and which will come so suddenly, so unexpectedly, and with such force that the many dark-hearted will find their dark hearts fainting with fright. SLOW TRAIN COMING by Bob Dylan is both a warning and a celebration - a locomotive's whistle.
Unlike so much contemporary Christian music which seems to whine n wheeze, this collection includes some real arse-kickin', toe-stompin', and finger-pointing tracks. Buoyed by the unique musical contributions of Mark Knopfler and Pick Withers of Dire Straits, the Muscle Shoals Horns Section, and Barry Beckett with his fiery organ, the arrangements spell trouble for anyone who comes looking for another "Oh, La, La, La" Gospel album. And the lyrics clearly display the familiarity that Ol' Bob had gained with The Word Of God. I recall an interview Zimmy did with some music rag journalist not long after the release of SLOW TRAIN COMING (it was probably Rolling Stoned magazine). The writer asked Bob what his favorite part of The Bible was and he answered "Leviticus." The journalist dutifully recorded it, never realizing that Bob was obviously pulling the old dog's leg. But then Rolling Stoned writers have undoubtedly spent more time in the pages of the Communist Manifesto than they have in The Word Of God. (Despite his almost inestimable influence on modern music, I've never been a big Dylan fan, but I've always loved his smart aleck nature. Gotta love them Mensa-donkeys.)
SLOW TRAIN COMING is not without its weaknesses: I BELIEVE IN YOU has probably the most atrocious singing I have ever heard from a professional singer. If I didn't know better, I'd think that Bob was deliberately making a mockery of the song. The Reggae-influenced MAN GAVE NAMES TO ALL THE ANIMALS is too long a piece to go without any musical break or tempo change. And the lyrics are overworked and sometimes too downright silly ("Great big furry back and furry hair"?!) to make the surprise payoff at the end worth the wait. And the slow closer, WHEN HE RETURNS, despite some heartfelt lyrics, kind of peters out (like Saint Peter at the trial of Jesus) on what is otherwise a really good record.
GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY; PRECIOUS ANGEL; and DO RIGHT TO ME, BABY are all solid, but SLOW TRAIN; GONNA CHANGE MY WAY OF THINKING; and WHEN YOU GONNA WAKE UP? all kick some serious heathen b*tt! These are "Play-em-Loud-And-Disturb-The-Devil" cuts!
And Ol' Zimmy really knew the score:
"Sister, lemme tell you about a vision I saw.
You were drawing water for your husband, you were suffering under the law.
You were telling him about Buddha, you were telling him about Mohammad in the same breath.
You never one time mentioned the Man who came and died a criminal's death."
(~from Precious Angel)
"In the home of the brave, Jefferson's turnin' over in his grave ...
But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency."
(~from Slow Train)
"God don't make no promises that He don't keep.
You got some big dreams, baby, but in order to dream you gotta still be asleep. ...
Counterfeit philosophies have polluted all your thoughts.
Karl Marx has got ya by the throat, Henry Kissinger's got you tied up in knots. ...
You got unrighteous doctors dealing drugs that'll never cure your ills.
When you gonna wake up? ...
Adulterers in churches and pornography in the schools,
You got gangsters in power and lawbreakers making rules. ...
Do you ever wonder just what God requires?
You think He's an errand boy to satisfy your wandering desires."
(~from When You Gonna Wake Up?)
"Jesus said, Be ready,
For you know not the hour in which I come.
Jesus said, Be ready,
For you know not the hour in which I come.
He said, He who is not for Me is against me.
Just so you know where He's coming from."
(~from Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking)
Hey, America, it's time to turn off your television and study The Book, because there's a Train coming; it may seem slow, but it IS coming ..... and sooner than you know.
Free Music Review: dylans real revolutonary cd
Hit: 4 Stars
Slowtraincoming is a dylan cd with emotion and conviction. whenyougonna wakeup changemywayofthinking ibelieveinyou and thetitle track rock. when he returns is justbob onpiano and vocal. preciousangel is beautiful. man gavenamestoalltheanimals is funny. one of dylans best cds with a focus on god and its warnings truth and spirit slowtraincoming is powerful and inspiring Free Music Review: Very good religious rock album
Hit: 4 Stars
Bob Dylan accepted Christ as his Savior in 1978, and right away, his newborn faith became evident in his music. Slow Train Coming has a slick rock sound, with intoxicating guitar work, pretty melodies, and good female background singers.
The record kicks off with the warning that it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you "Gotta Serve Somebody." The second song is the pretty, but long winded "Precious Angel," a tribute to Mary Alice Artes, the woman who introduced Dylan to the Savior (and to the Vineyard Christian Fellowship).
The next song is the poignant, passionate "I Believe in You," where Dylan wears his faith on his sleeve, singing, "I believe in you, even through the tears and the laughter, even though I be outnumbered." He still performs this number in concerts once in a while.
The title track follows after this, and the Slow Train Coming is about the Kingdom of God and the time of the end inexorably approaching, even as Dylan's own loved ones are "turning into puppets," following the beat of this world system rather than following Christ.
The next tune is the resolute blues rock number "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking," complete with a beautiful horn section reminiscent of the Stones' Exile in Main Street sound. The song itself is about taking on the mind of Christ, thinking the thoughts of a Christian rather than the thoughts of the world.
There are also songs about the Golden Rule (Do Right to Me Baby), and the Garden of Eden story (Man Gave Names to all the Animals, a good children's song), and the closing number "When He Returns," probably the greatest song on the album, a stirring gospel tune that looks forward to the return of Jesus Christ.
I also like the song "When You Gonna Wake Up," a blues rock song where Dylan challenges us to wake up and accept Jesus.
Dylan's singing is a little strained at times, maybe because he was caught up in the emotion of the songs. It's hard to say. You especially notice it on "I Believe in You" and "When He Returns."
This record was recently recognized by CCM Magazine as one of the top ten Christian rock records of all time. In 1978, the idea of a major rock icon putting out an overtly born again Christian record seemed unlikely, and so this album breaks new ground. I highly recommend it.
Note: if you already own an older copy of this disc, buy this new remastered version, because the sound quality is much superior to the original release. You will notice greater clarity and certain instruments will be easier to detect than with the original release.
Free Music Review: A powerfully gentle album...
Hit: 5 Stars
Honestly, I too went through the "born again" thing just prior to Dylan's adventure there...The aging hippies of the 60's faced a choice in the mid to late 70's: cocaine or Jesus--I chose the later. Saved some money; saved a few thousand brain cells; gained a few extra pounds(Christians like to eat)! But anyhow, I was very relieved when Bob Dylan came out with this album which, in my mind, told me I had chosen correctly---It was ok. But, like many others, including Dylan, a couple years of piotic living was enough to say, "I tried it." Odd, how once you've tried something, it increases your tolerance for that behavior or belief. So, now, many years later and far removed from the born again experience, I can still enjoy this album and not be "offended" by its subject. And for that alone, I'm very happy I chose Jesus over cocaine! Back then though, this album was literally a God send for me. I could listen to this; enjoy my old ways; hear great music; and still be pious. Complicated beats, smooth-powerful guitar (some of the best you'll hear on any Dylan album),and calming, yet powerful lyrics and vocals. Dylan was at peace during this time and it comes across in the music...anyone who won't give this album a chance misses out on a part of Dylan that can only be found in these "Messianic-period" albums. It's too bad; his music during this time in his life was pretty special. And the best part for me was that I could actually be "in tuned" with what Dylan was singing about and not have to pretend he was singing to a girl :-)...His lyrics, regardless of subject matter, have always been brilliant and these lyrics were no less powerful to those who would listen. But that aside, notice how many 5 star reviews there are here from people who are reviewing this album for the music's sake only and not buying into the spiritual subject matter...it speaks loudly for the musical quality of this album.