NDRU said:

I'd agree with NDRU's statement.

When most folks say they don't "get" Dylan, they're generally referring to his lack of vocal prowess (as vainandy so elequently put it ) or the fact that the backing music on most of his well known songs is relatively basic. Don't know if you fit those categories or not.

IMO, great songwriting (lyrically) is very often served better by a simple but strong melody and a performance by someone whose vocal skills are simply adequate. This makes the listener focus on the lyric and not be distracted or overwhelmed by the musical arrangement or an over-the-top vocalist.

This is not to say that you can't have it all.

Take someone who I think is a great songwriter (gets very little attention here) and whose songs also benefit from strong musical arrangements.
It you're unfamiliar with Randy Newman's Louisiana 1927 from his Good Old Boys release (quite an appropriate tune given the situation in New Orleans), give it a listen.
Strong lyrics, musically sophisticated arrangement, but here again you have someone who's not a strong vocalist.
The point here is that he sells the song, much like Dylan does in his own way.
That's really all that matters with lyrics that are actually saying something.

Bottom line here is, if it doesn't touch you, it just doesn't touch you. Nothing wrong with that.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431
[Edited 9/7/06 14:56pm]

skywalker said:[quote]Let me preface by saying this:

I am from Minnesota. I totally respect Bob Dylan as a musician. He is easily one of the best song writers who has ever lived. I also understand his historical importance in terms of music, and American History.

That being said, I've tried really hard to get into Bob Dylan and his music and I just cannot. Again, I respect him, but he does not appeal to me at all. I like many versions of his songs that other people have done, but by in large, I cannot get onto the Dylan train. Why not? What do those of you who love him dig so much? Is it a generational thing? Is it not funky enough for me? Explain to me, why do people like Bob Dylan.

Same here!!I 've been reading those great reviews of his albums and articles about his career 4 more than 20 years now and I know the man must be good but I just don't like his music.Same with Neil Young,though I can listen 2 Rocking in the free world [i]and Needle and the damage done[/i].

My legends just make different kind of music:Stevie!!
[b][Edited 9/7/06 14:59pm]

Graycap23 said:

Prince told me I do.

I recently got more into Dylan - 'Time Out of Mind' album mainly. A truly impressive record. I also sort of like some of early stuff and the 'Oh Mercy' album.

To me, he is definitely in the tradition of American folk music, which I would say is basically blues, which he does brilliantly in his own (sometimes funky-ish)way on 'Time Out of Mind' and country and western music. Being British, I don't hear much difference between American 'folk music' and old style country music.

Anyway, I think Dylan has been immersed in these old traditional blues and country songs most of his life. He loves Hank Williams, Charlie Patten and of course Woody Guthrie. In fact, he has a lot of the same influences as Jimi Hendrix, but instead of channelling them through his guitar in sound paintings, he channels them through his lyrics, which are influenced by loads of different poets, as well as blues and folk/ country songs. He has got to be one of (if not the very) best lyricists, and song story-tellers, of the rock era.

He also apparently had a relationship with Mavis Staples of the Staples Singers, which gives him a genuine Prince connection! .

Hendrix loved Dylan's 'John Wesley Harding' album, from '67-ish, which he is where he got 'All Along the Watchtower' from. I think jimi's version of this is one of the best covers ever done. Truly awesome.

People like an artist for any number of reasons, and nobody 'has' to like an artist 'cos he/ she is very well known and respected. It's down to personal taste. One reason I like Dylan is that he's a repository of American 'roots music', be it blues, country, folk, and beyond, and his many of his lyrics conjure up these old songs in new clothes, from new, more modern angles. Kind of like what Hendrix was trying to do with the guitar blues - new but still ancient.

I think a lot of people have trouble with Dylan's voice, and the often-lack of a 'danceable beat' (though not always). Imo his voice varies in quality through his career, but I personally now love the way he sings on 'Time Out of Mind' - a worn, resigned, lived-in leathery voice. Dylan now seems to be in his 'late period Johnny Cash' era, where he is writing and recording great songs and he can do little wrong with the critics.

And good luck to him.

If "Another Side of Bob Dylan" doesn't do it for you, nothing will. That's the one where his voice and the songwriting all come together for me best. I can see why people are annoyed by some of the bluesier stuff, because it can get pretty grating and rambling (tho, that's kind of the blues for ya right there)

theAudience said:

Not oversinging a song is very refreshing at times. But that doesn't mean Dylan's voice is beautiful or that Stevie Wonder's not as good a singer because he does too much, just that there's room for both.

This reminds me of something I think shows Quincy Jones' genius--matching Bruce Springsteen, Dylan, Stevie, & Ray Charles at the end of We Are the World. He could hear their individual talents and he mixed them perfectly, despite their differences.

theAudience said:

That pretty much says all I want to say, I'll concur with your last sentence by saying that there's no law against not loving Bob or the Beatles or whoever. Bob Dylan's music is one of the most important things in my life, I think, but if he doesn't lift your skirt, that's your prerogative.

But I do have to comment on the Dylan voice, because I absolutely believe that Dylan, at his peak from Another Side of... through John Wesley Harding, was the finest vocalist rock music has ever known. Of course, it's an ugly voice, but rock music is often at its finest when it's at its ugliest, and Bob Dylan possessed a sense of rhythm and timing that has never been equaled in my estimation. Examples: the way he says 'tax deductible charity organization' in Ballad of a Thin Man and makes it sound like the most relaxed, musical line you could imagine. The casual way he delivers the punch-lines in Leopard-Skin Pill-box Hat - any comedian would be happy to have that sense of time.

I suppose Dylan's greatest contribution will be his songs and lyrics, but it's his performances that I love the most.
[Edited 9/7/06 18:15pm]

Dylan is one of those artists you either get or don't, there is no in between. Much like Prince, you need to GET INTO his songs to really appreciate them. Neil Young is very much in this vein as are Joni Mitchell and Bruce Springsteen. I was never a big fan of Dylan until one day my buddy and I were at this pub playing pool and someone played the entire Blood on the Tracks album on the jukebox...and for some reason, with the beer, smoke, and just all out mood of the day the album just jumped out of the speakers and punched me right in the gut. From then on I got it and now think Dylan is one of the most brilliant artists out there. His songs, and not just his lyrics, are beautiful and soulful.

Dylan's songwriting skills are top-notch and his instrumental skills (fairly diverse on guitar, banjo, mandolin and harmonica) are serviceable for his own needs, though he often employs better players in his band.

Over the years his voice has gotten more hoarse and his enunciation unintelligble. Rock fans are more tolerant of hoarse out-of-tune vocals, but r&b fans will find a greater appreciation for Dylan in covers by artists with greater voices like "All Along the Watchtower" (Jimi Hendrix) "Lay Lady Lay" (Isleys) "Blowing In the Wind" (Stevie WOnder).
[Edited 9/7/06 19:28pm]

I FUCKING LOVE BOB DYLAN!!!



I love his lyrics and the way his songs often of have a sad (albeit somewhat vague) longing.

Knocking on Heaven's door, Shelter from the storm, All along the watchtower--just to name a few.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE BOB.

Graycap23 said:

that's a little narrow. bob's music speaks in a language that my ears are not accustomed to. maybe someone will one day put his music in the proper perspective for me and i'll love him. it's happened for me with other artists. but it hasn't happened for me yet with dylan. still, i'd rather listen to him than any of the bubblegum/mall brat punk crapola on the charts today. gladly.

Well, vainandy, I like to broaden my horizons and try new things. Unlike some people, I don't want to just stay in the box of safe things I know I like. You might call it "moving past 1985". I like to taste a bit of every different food on the table. I was thinking that Dylan was a bit like coffee--an aquired taste. Fact is, I still don't like Dylan's music--unless Jimi plays it.

Well, I have been into many things since 1985. When Shitney Houston killed funk and influenced everyone to do adult contemporary R&B, I got heavy into the house music scene. When house music died down and shit hop completely took over R&B, I got into rock. When rock started being stripped down and everyone started doing this boring folk sounding "unplugged" accoustical stuff, then I threw my hands in the air and said the hell with anything mainstream.

I have started considering other types of music I never considered before such as jazz, reggae, and latin music. However, I've noticed that shit hop is invading and starting to take over a lot of these types of music also. I move on to the next thing but I never lower my standards and shit hop is about as low as you can possibly go.

I see now that if you want something good, you have to go back and buy the old music. I bought most of my funk when it was new (since that's what I grew up on). I've been working on my rock collection now. When I get tired of that, I'm thinking about getting into a little swingin' type jazz (but only some rhythmic type jazz, nothing depressing). Hell, maybe I'll start with The Andrew Sisters' "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Of Company B". I could really get into some stuff like that.

See, there's more to me than meets the eye when you venture out past the "Prince: Music and More" section. If I wasn't open to different things, I would have just dropped Prince altogether in 1985. I do have my favorites and preferences though and will never deny that.
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[Edited 9/8/06 7:02am]

vainandy said:

I hear exactly what u are saying. Lucky 4 me, I'm a musician and I can create my own music. I've been listening 2 my lastest batch of goodies more than anything that u can buy.

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No need to defend yourself to me dude. I am sorry if I insinuated something ill towards you.