Love and Theft
A Miracle
When we last left the ever-confounding saga that is Bob Dylans now-
superhuman recording career, hed reunited with producer Daniel Lanois,
with whom he cut 1997s Time Out of Mind, his most coherent and
appealing collection in nearly a decade. Now the still-reigning prince of
musical contrariety and potent wordplay is back with his most focused,
well-played collection since 1989s Oh Mercy, another Lanois production.
One listen to the fade-in of the opener Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum and
its clear that all Dylans roadwork has shaped him and his band (including
guitarist Charlie Sexton) into a mighty musical weapon. And while his
craggy howl continues to resonate, its the songs here that astonish. A
sturdy midtempo melody makes Mississippi the equal of the best numbers
on Time, which it was actually written for. He convincingly puts over the
R&B swing (yes, swing) number Summer Days. Honest with Me (Im not
sorry for nuthin Ive done / Im glad I fight, I only wished wed won) is a
driving rocker that packs a genuine punch. And the light, lounge-like Bye
and Bye and the southland ramble Floater (Too Much to Ask) show
extraordinary confidence. Hes labeled these songs blues-based, but in
typical Dylan fashion what would promise to be the most overtly blues
number here--High Water (for Charlie Patton)--sounds like a banjo-based
gunfighter ballad. But then thats this artists gift: confounding expectations.
--Robert Baird
This album gets kind of lost between the masterful comeback Time Out of
Mind and the recent, magnificent Modern Times, but its just as good as
those two albums, and its a masterpiece on its own terms.
Its probably Dylans most eclectic album musicially. Its all over the place,
with hard guitar driven rock (Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Honest with
Me), hardcore blues (Lonesome Day Blues, Cry a While), swing (Summer
Days), Hoagy Carmicael balladry (Bye and Bye, Moonlight, and Po Boy),
spooky blues (High Water and the closer Sugar Baby), and beautiful,
moving ballads (Mississippi, Floater). Dylans voice is pretty croaky here,
but somehow it suits the material quite well, even on the lovely ballads like
Floater and Mississippi. Mississippi is quite a beautiful song, a leftover
from the Time Out of Mind album, but it fits here quite well. I love Summer
Days. Hearing Dylan do a magnificent swing song (at 61, with his backing
band going full tilt) is wonderful. Dylans band here is arguably the best
hes ever worked with. Theyre incredibly tight and intense throughout,
showing their dexterity by playing in almost any style. The rockers
(especially Honest With Me) really showcase the band at their peak.
Lyrically, the album is quite silly at times, yet Dylans sincerity really carries
over such sentimental songs like Moonlight and Bye and Bye. Floater
(Too Much to Ask) (great title) is one of Dylans most unique and interesting
ballads ever. Its awesome that Dylan keeps surprising himself, as well as
us.
This is amongst my favorite Dylan albums, as I break it out a lot.
Musicially, its his best and most varied, and lyrically, its wonderful.
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