Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan. ‘Time Out of Mind’, 1997. The album that saved El Zimmo. Bob had been drifting for a decade or so, playing gigs with diminishing returns. A near fatal illness kicked him into shape. This album is intense, focused, real. Daniel Lanois, who’d worked with U2 and Eno, played on, and produced, this set of songs. It sounds live and stripped back with Bob’s voice up front, close and personal. OK, his sandpaper-and-glue voice hurts some ears, but on this album, it adds depth and ballast. This is a 57-year-old man who’s done stuff. He sounds like an old Bluesman, not some mincing Jagger, on a great sounding record. The production and atmosphere created make this one of Dylan’s best albums.
‘Love Sick’ is slow with an almost reggae lurch to it. Like most of the album, it’s all about the words. Stories whispered in your ear. This one’s about love and regret. ‘Dirt Road Blues’ is a blues shuffle with keyboard and echo on the voice. Done got old but can still tap a toe. ‘Standing In The Door’ is slow and weary with gentle guitar and Bob reminiscing again. The past has always been close behind for our Bob. This tune makes it more melancholy than usual. ‘Million Miles’ is slow, bluesy shuffle with organ chords, slow tap cymbals and guitar breaks. ‘Trying To Get to Heaven’ another tale of regrets and heartbreak and sighs. ‘Til I Fell in Love With You’ a slow blues with stinging guitar and regrets. ‘Not Dark Yet’ slow, sombre, soft drums, gorgeous guitar on a beautiful tune. Bob facing Death. It’ll give you chills. ‘Cold Irons Bound’ eerie slide and bass, echo and dread, tight licks and swinging drums. ‘Make You Feel My Love’ a love song with piano on a pretty melody. ‘Can’t Wait’ a ‘Nawlins style groove. ‘Highlands’ slide guitar drifting after hours.
I could listen to this album as an audiobook, without the music: just Bob’s voice leading me through his tales of Life. A classic.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan. ‘Time Out of Mind’, 1997. The album that saved El Zimmo. Bob had been drifting for a decade or so, playing gigs with diminishing returns. A near fatal illness kicked him into shape. This album is intense, focused, real. Daniel Lanois, who’d worked with U2 and Eno, played on, and produced, this set of songs. It sounds live and stripped back with Bob’s voice up front, close and personal. OK, his sandpaper-and-glue voice hurts some ears, but on this album, it adds depth and ballast. This is a 57-year-old man who’s done stuff. He sounds like an old Bluesman, not some mincing Jagger, on a great sounding record. The production and atmosphere created make this one of Dylan’s best albums.
‘Love Sick’ is slow with an almost reggae lurch to it. Like most of the album, it’s all about the words. Stories whispered in your ear. This one’s about love and regret. ‘Dirt Road Blues’ is a blues shuffle with keyboard and echo on the voice. Done got old but can still tap a toe. ‘Standing In The Door’ is slow and weary with gentle guitar and Bob reminiscing again. The past has always been close behind for our Bob. This tune makes it more melancholy than usual. ‘Million Miles’ is slow, bluesy shuffle with organ chords, slow tap cymbals and guitar breaks. ‘Trying To Get to Heaven’ another tale of regrets and heartbreak and sighs. ‘Til I Fell in Love With You’ a slow blues with stinging guitar and regrets. ‘Not Dark Yet’ slow, sombre, soft drums, gorgeous guitar on a beautiful tune. Bob facing Death. It’ll give you chills. ‘Cold Irons Bound’ eerie slide and bass, echo and dread, tight licks and swinging drums. ‘Make You Feel My Love’ a love song with piano on a pretty melody. ‘Can’t Wait’ a ‘Nawlins style groove. ‘Highlands’ slide guitar drifting after hours.
I could listen to this album as an audiobook, without the music: just Bob’s voice leading me through his tales of Life. A classic.