The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

I was told by VFW members with shotguns that I couldn’t rate this lower than a 3, and that my pussy commie opinion didn’t matter.

Pinnacle Bob Dylan album filled with plenty of reasons why he is regarded as one of the greatest American Singer/Songwriters in history. He's a powerful songwriter with a lot of stream-of-conciousness style lyrics, but they always just work. Masters of War is my favorite song on this album. He's a force.

Great musical Talent, awful voice. I recognize the greatness of this album & Dylan in general. But this one felt like a chore...

The greatest, and perfect for this time of year.

Exhibit A in the case for going electric. This is really a quite tedious album despite a few good songs. He demonstrates his knowledge and mastery of the solo guitar-singer folk song format (A+ on your Americana homework, Bob) but also the limits of that genre. Good songs to cover and arrange with more interesting instrumentation, but they feel like demos here. Albums like this are always going to end up on lists like this out of historical significance, but they don't always hold up that well. Favorites: girl from noth country, hard rain, don't think twice, Corrina Corrina

Nice!

Great in places

It was okay, but a little too old for my taste. I still appreciate it enough to tolerate it though.

Great

Classic early Dylan. definitely a good listen - if not every-day.

Good songwriting, less good execution. Gratuitous use of harmonica that feels unnecessary at times.

A handful of recognizable hits as well as a handful of songs that sound like the recognizable hits. He’s less of a singer than a poet soliloquizing his thoughts with a guitar and harmonica. I like when he laughs mid-speak/song.

Poignant, important, timeless whilst being the soundtrack for a generation and change. Some truly iconic songs on here. 4.5/5.

dadrock at its finest, thats why I can't recommend this to anyone except boomers

Full of nice little folk songs. His vocals eventually grow on you.

Stone cold masterpiece and the apex of Bob Dylan's early folk protest singer phase. Any record that has "Blowin' in the Wind", "Girl from the North Country", "Masters of War", "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall", "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right", and "Corrina, Corrina" in its tracklisting MUST be included in a list like this, even if the rest was made out of absolute duds. Luckily, the rest is not made out of duds, so ignore the usual grumblers complaining about Bob's voice and dive in. The words and stories are fascinating. The music is subtle and far more sophisticated than it seems, with some terrific harmonic moments. And once you get that, Dylan's vocal performance becomes perfect as well. I don't have enough time today to elaborate, sadly. But in a way, I *refuse* to elaborate. There's a very clear reason Bob Dylan became a cult figure -- in spite of himself, at first. And this album is exhibit A. for it. A lot of people telling you that he is overrated end up changing their minds at some point. I did. It's just that I didn't know what I was talking about before. So dive in as well if you haven't yet. And for those who may have questions about how I ended up changing my mind... Well indeed, the answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. But if you end up loving this LP, you'll manage to catch said answer before it's out of your grasp. It's all up to you, really. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. 9.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 4.5) (a quick note about that grading: no album in my list of 20 records released in 1963 reaches a perfect mark. *The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan* is the best album of that year for me, followed by releases by Charles Mingus, The Beach Boys and the first two Beatles LPs. Anything beyond isn't really essential as far as albums go. So you have to put your head back then to picture what a shock for the audience this sort of album could be. Which is another good reason to include it here...) Number of albums left to review: 58 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 407 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 234 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 302

I could never claim to be a huge Dylan fan. Most of my knowledge has come from classic rock radio or movies. Unfortunately my first experience with harmonica players was masters like Howlin Wolf or John Popper. Dylan’s harp sounds elementary in comparison. Paired with his nasal drone, nothing historically drew me in. There were a few big surprises on this album. First, I didn’t realize that his album so prominently displayed in the Tom Cruise move Vanilla Sky was totally acoustic and just him. Second, his cover of SecretMachine’s Girl from the North Country is pretty good, considering it was made 30 years before them. And third, so many of his songs are so relevant today. Blowin’ in the Wind, Masters of War, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, Talkin’ WWIII Blues could be played today in a Boulder coffee shop and be considered new. I still dislike his harmonic, but I respect the man and this album.

I'm assuming this will be our first foray into many Dylan albums. Dylan is definitely an acquired taste. I've been exposed to his music my whole life but it gets more interesting the older I get. I've only recently got into the albums and expanded beyond the greatest hits. His catalog is daunting to say the least. "Blowing in the Wind" and "Don't Think Twice" are all-time classics and are undisputed in my opinion. I enjoyed the humor on some of the songs like "I Shall Be Free". "Corrina, Corrina" sounds like 21st century Dylan. Obviously, this acoustic period is pretty awesome and some people wished he would have never plugged in. I'll look forward to some of the 'electric' Dylan albums later on.

It really irks me that I don’t get the Bon Dylan hype. I love how he sounds but to me, classing him as one of the greatest artists ever really surprises me

Klassiker!

His voice infuriates me in an indescribable way

Starts very strongly with all the highlights out of the way in the first few songs. Pretty forgettable after that. Lyricism good at times but album isn’t very diverse and does drag

For my general, initial disposition towards Bob Dylan, refer to my ★☆☆☆☆ review of "Blonde On Blonde" (#56). And, two of his albums later, I still think the world really needs to get over its obsession with that man, jesus christ, this here album's Wikipedia article has Over. 2. Computer. Screens. Of. Footnotes Alone. However. I don't mind fingerpickin' acoustic folk Bob Dylan. At all, I've learned. "Girl From The North Country"? The four songs "Hard Rain" to "Oxford Town"? I mean, there's the world's most grating harmonica, yet... I wanted to end this with "Won't Play Twice, But It's All Right" but I'm playing it again. Huh. Scratchin' a Five here.

Absolute classic, from so long ago. Although a lot of people may not care for his singing voice, or the sometimes suddenly loud harmonica. It's both amazing and disheartening that a lot of the political issues brought up in this 61 year old album are still a problem to this day. Dylan shows some major silliness at times on the album, which I feel is another compelling factor. This album has been so influential, it makes sense why people generally skip his first album and go to this one.

4 - liked this a lot more than the other Dylan track. He’s obviously pandering to a wider audience. I just think his voice doesn’t flow enough for the folk songs he sings, hot take

Absolutely brilliant - so nice to hear the duality Vs. electronic stuff. Great for moving into the coop in LA! Very solid 3.8.

This album sees Dylan moving to stronger songs beyond the basic fold songs of his first album. Some of the songs on this album are stunningly good, though some are not quite so strong. I'm not a huge Dylan fan, but I see this album as on a trajectory toward his first truly great period - from bring It All Back Home through Highway 61 to Blonde on Blonde.

Not too bad, a couple of classic Dylan tracks. He's just not my cup of tea.

I'm a sucker for harmonica.

Some of his best work

01) Blowin' in the Wind - 10,0 02) Girl from the North Country - 8,0 03) Masters of War - 7,5 04) Down the Highway - 8,0 05) Bob Dylan's Blues - 7,5 06) A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall - 10,0 07) Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - 7,5 08) Bob Dylan's Dream - 7,5 09) Oxford Town - 8,0 10) Talkin' World War III Blues - 7,5 11) Corrina, Corrina - 8,5 12) Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance - 7,5 13) I Shall Be Free - 7,5 TOTAL: 8,08 (81/100) Current ranking: 98/308

This is the worst 3 star album yet. Favourite Track: Blowin' in the Wind.

第一次认真听folk，可能听不太明白。感受是：旋律单调重复，不好听。歌词有一定深度。

This is my first time listening to Bored Dylan and will likely be the last. I'm sure he's great if you really like folk music though

It's Bob Dylan

Sucks that this stuff is still relevant 60 years later. Kind of pre-proto-punk disguised as "folk." Or just hardcore folk, I'm no expert. The Bob Dylan early stuff is highly respected and highly influential, after hearing this, I can see why. A little self-centered(?). More entertaining than I thought it would be.

Just a man and his guitar. It’s all Bob really ever needed. A couple of songs, it’s the first time I’ve heard the original version. I’ve heard covers, mainly from the Dylan 30th Anniversary Tribute (a must). But the original versions are just as effective, if not more. Definitely recommended. Top tracks: “Blowin’ In The Wind,” “Masters Of War,” “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”

Now this is a great Dylan album. Just so happens it's the one that put him on the map too. His writing is just incredible. Yes Blowin' in the Wind is one that gets a lot of attention, and deservedly so. It is both poignant and beautifully delivered. But listen to Talkin World War III Blues. It is a little odd being a talking piece that delivers a lot of one or two liners. But man if it isn't clever and witty as hell. Masters as War is another great political song, and to me sounds like it directly inspired Lennon's Working Class Hero (at minimum in its musical composition). And as great as it is, it's probably bested by A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall. Oxford Town is no slouch either. And for all the great political songs, he composes some really beautiful love songs. Girl from the North Country and Don't Think Twice, It's All Right are both parts happy and sad, but oh so lovely. If you sit back, you realize it's all Dylan on guitar or harmonica. And he nails it. I guess I understand a little bit more why some people got upset when he went electric on later albums - because man he killed it on this and other albums when it was stripped down.

Bob's Big Breakthrough. Blowin' in the Wind and A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall are absolute classics, deservedly so. Easily two of his best ever. Other songs I really liked included Girl from the North Country and Masters of War. A lot of the songs sound repetitive, but Bob's lyrics usually save the day. In fact, Masters of War is 100% just a repetitive riff, but the lyrics are so stirring it's easy to ignore the repetitive nature of the song. Some of the lyrics are also surprisingly humorous - I always thought he was way too serious, but songs like Talkin' World War III Blues and I Shall Be Free show he's got a sense of humor. Of course, that's more than balanced by powerful lyrics like all the previous mentioned songs (plus Oxford Town). I also liked Corrina, Corrina, possibly just for the fact that it sounded different. I'd call the album a 4.5, dinging it a little for the repetitive sound, but I'll round up for the historical significance.

The most Bob Dylan sounding Bob Dylan album. Not my favorite, but still up there.

Still so accurate

It was nice to listen to, I particularly liked: Blowing in the wind A hard rains a gonna fall Oxford town Corrina corrina Honey just allow me one more chance I shall be free

han har ju nåt. han kan skriva texter. men det blir lite för långt och lite för långtråkigt kanske. man måste nog vara i stämningen och lyssna på texterna för att det här albumet ska ge rätt intryck.

I love Dylan’s uniqueness and authenticity. This is not my favorite album of his but it’s still really good.

Don't mind it, but not my thing really.

Classic

Dynamite. Masters of war always a let down but the others carry this over the line. Guitar is imperfect in a really natural way.

A nice comforting album definitely one of Dylan's best!

This is the 4th!!! Bob Dylan album. Oh boy, it s not good. I get it, he had a big cultural impact, but doesn't mean he was good. As a song writer he is okay, but as a singer... I don't get the obsession with him. I was bored and annoyed. Hopefully this is the last of his albums i have to listen to.

Gotta be one of the most accessible and lyrically logical Bobby albums Along with some great, simple guitar playing Some actually pleasant storytelling that you only need a surface-level grasp of social contexts to get what he’s often talking about Strong 4

Pretty luke warm on this one overall. I like his songwriting and his voice goes well with it, but it just didn't get me going like some of his other work.

These songs are so familiar by now. Hard to believe these were all on one album this so early in his career.

This is the first time I’ve delved into folk music with direct listening intent and the first time I’ve listened to a piece of Bob Dylan’s discography in full. I feel as though ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’ is the perfect amalgamation of easy listening compositions with character, and lyrical content with a potent message. A sigh of things to come down the line with other projects like Highway 61 Revisited and Blood On The Tracks, as well as his collaborative efforts with The Band. A new plateau had definitely opened up for me to venture into.

I like Dylan and his voice. No need to repeat previous reviews here.

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Previously rated: Highway 61 Revisited (4/5) Blood on the Tracks (4/5) Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert) (4/5) ************************************************** Social commentary without being a holier-than-thou woke scolding a-hole. I like that. Some good humor as well. Would have liked to hear more than just acoustic guitar and harmonica though.

This is a great album. I think everyone who has listened to Dylan has tried to sing like Dylan at least once in their life. He's a poet for a generation. Just brilliant.

bad bob dylan

Not bad. Not likely to listen to again. Liked the harmonica solos.

Folksy

Enjoyed this, although not blown away by it

-not the biggest Bob Dylan fan I don’t think, but the songwriting and lyricism is super good. listening to this when it came out in 1963 must have hit different -Favorites are Blowin’ In The Wind, Masters Of War, and Down the Highway

Gut

I certainly respect and appreciate Bob Dylans place in music. I understand his importance as a songwriter and lyricist. I recognize that he has gifted us some of the most impactful music of all time. With that said, for the most part, I really can't stand his voice. I much rather hear his music sung by other artists. One of my favorites is Stevie Wonder's version of "Blowin' in the Wind."

I know the joke about Bob Dylan is that all his songs sound the same but hear me out, they all sound the same. 3/10

Corrina Corrina is one of my favorite songs. Bob Dylan is a legend, songs are timeless

This is the most Bob Dylan-y Bob Dylan I've heard. It's funny how even at the beginning of his career he sounds like he's 73

I actually just heard this for the first time a couple of weeks ago after watching Dogfight! Super super pretty, especially Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right. Bob Dylan was also my first ever concert lol!

I love it when it’s just Bob, a guitar, a harmonica and some great words!

for the first time in my life, dylan clicked! I have been a lifetime skeptic of his even though I know I should like him... i like his influences (seeger, guthery ect.) and his politics (at least in the 60s)... but something about him never clicked until today! generally my issues is that he is sorta one of those songwriters that is trying to say a lot in his songs and they come along wordy and almost preachy, for whatever reason today, altho I could feel those things... i was totally charmed! Worried I'm about to go down a deep rabbit hole but let's see lol

Amazing lyricist that should've been born mute

The master of words at work. Not all of this hits but gee it made an impact. Don't Think Twice is nigh on a perfect song.

8/10. Bob Dylan is a master of folk music. Despite the simplicity of this album, it is really enjoyable. :)

This man cannot sing!!

4 pretty good

This is my 2nd least favourite genre (folk) and it shows with this review. 1 star

Don’t think twice, It’s all right is a new fav song of mine. Still think I only like bob dylan when he’s doing something melodic and less lyrical rambling stuff.

It's good, but I don't like it. Dylan mumbles away in his imitable style and toots on his harmonica in a way I find annoying. The album kind of starts and finishes without ceremony, although there are a couple of highlights in there, A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall and Blowin' in the Wind.

You need to be sitting in on the back deck with a drink looking out over nature and then I think you can listen to this fully… ok kidding but really it’s an OK album, clearly original compositions and not his best work

Interesting. Too accoustic for me.

Seminal album in the annals of folk music. Some tunes aren't my favorite, but overall listenable and meaningful. Tragedy that "country" and "folk" get combined into one.

I know people love Dylan. I am not one of them. This album does nothing for me although I can respect the people that enjoy his writing.

3.5

Incredible album. This propelled Dylan to the forefront of the folk movement and influenced countless artists then and for decades after. The album includes some of the best songwriting in the history of Western music. Lesser people can rag on his voice or the simplicity, but it's undeniably smart, provocative, and beautiful. *****

3.5 ish?

Classic

It's OK. I mean, it's pretty good in spots, damn good in others, and a little reductive in others. I was really into it the first half of the album, but it feels like he really leaned into the harmonica and folksiness at times, and it stopped sounding fresh and started sounding very cliche, repetitive, and boring. I think a 3.5 is about right for this one, as the songs that hit are fantastic. But it's really hard to give this a 4 because I just didn't enjoy the last half of the album nearly as much as I did the first half.

Clássico Dylan

I have always avoided Bob Dylan albums because his voice aggravates me somewhat. But, somehow, for the most part I was able to see past that and listen to the music which on the whole I found to be beautiful. I know there is probably other Bob Dylan albums on this list and now I am ok with that as this record has helped me see past the sometimes annoying voice.

Well, well, well, well, well. We meet again, Mr. Dylan. I said well 5 times because this was my 5th album of his, making Bob Dylan the first artist on the list to give me 5 albums. However, the spread of those albums was not very even as my third through fifth albums of his were all in the span of a month. Because of that, I wasn't as passionate about the music my reviews for Time Out of Mind and especially Highway 61 Revisited weren't as positive as they could've been otherwise. I might even have to relisten to the latter to see if it's worthy of being a 5 or not. In that review I "requested" for at least two more months before another Dylan album. And would you like at that? It's been four months without one! I'm okay with that, and I am in the mentality to properly praise Bob Dylan. However, that doesn't mean that what I have to say is entirely new. A lot of what I'm about to say is repeated from other albums of his. His singing is still very love-it-or-hate-it. I myself still feel mostly positive about it though, especially earlier in his career. Speaking of which, this was only his second album ever! And you know what? For being his second album ever and his first one to be mostly comprised of Bob Dylan originals, it's really good! The musical contents are a lot more simple than later albums. All songs but one are just Dylan's voice, guitar, and harmonica. This creates a more personal atmosphere of sorts that allows this album to excel in its simplicity. But as is always the case with Bob Dylan albums, the songwriting is the highlight. I cannot stress enough just how good of a songwriter Bob Dylan is. The album's opener, "Blowin' in the Wind" is probably Dylan's most iconic song, and for good reason. It might just be one of the best songs I've ever heard. I also really like "Masters of War." It's weirdly aggressive but in the best way possible. However, I do still have complaints about this album. It's not perfect. I think that the wonder I had with the first few songs died down a bit near the end and I don't think that's just on me. I do feel like the beginning of the album is stronger than the end. The latter half is still good, but not quite as good. It's not as cohesive of an experience as something like Blood on the Tracks, my current favorite Dylan album. So, overall, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is an impressive, albeit somewhat flawed, album that showcases that Bob Dylan had a lot of talent going into his second album. I'd go so far as to say that this is his true debut, and the beginning of a long and fascinating career. High 4/5.

Fun times

boring, same thing all the time, meh

Loved - in my folk era Reviewed 20/08/2024

Decent, I prefer Nashville skyline though

This album would be perfect if it was a little more energy to it, concerning both instrumentation and vocals. The lyrics and writing are possibly the best of his generation. His unique voice is debuting finely. The production works with no great flare, but the instrumentation was a bit sparse. That being my only complaint, I loved this album and always enjoy listening. 4/5

There's just a whole lot of stuff in this album that gets in the way of the lyrics. The voice. The harmonica. His affectation. Sometimes the guitar is out of tune. Dylan is all about the words, and I really want to (and sometimes do) like the words, but I wish it wasn't so hard. On the bright side, I'm a sucker for songs about longing, regrets, lost loves, etc. "Girl from the North Country" and especially "Bob Dylan's Dream" both did the trick for me. I've always liked "Don't Think Twice It's All Right" aside from the harmonica. Honestly man there's just way too much harmonica.

Wowwwweeee. This album was a trip for me. I am a sucker for a harmonica so I was happy for a lot of it. Ultimately, the entire experience conjured up very specific familial memories. I was transported to sitting on my Papa's apartment patio - listening to him strum on his old out-of-tune guitar with meandering lines that sounded directly from his soul. Something that reflected a life so long ago lived but then also life yet to come. Or sitting with him inside, listening to his Bluegrass collection and learning the some core principles (related to the music, but really about being human). Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance and I Shall Be Free.... oooof... I felt like I was sitting on the old wooden deck outside my uncle's trailer watching my uncles, cousins, and grandparents take their instruments of favor - guitars, harmonicas, things Idk the names of - and just jam together, getting to see it all piece together. Sigh, so specific, but so - not too. Bob Dylan gets to something about life that reminds me we are all just here... living. Of course, it must be mentioned: he reminds us not be aimless travelers while we are here living - we need to be good community members. some notable favorites: - Girl from the North Country - Down the Highway - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall - Corrina, Corrina - I Shall Be Free Despite this long, personal reflection, I don't know if I will revisit this album in totality again. But still quite an enjoyable listen :) I might be biased though lol

Classic album and an all time icon. However, it's not my favorite listen. near 50 minutes of just guitar, harmonica and singing gets a bit repetitive. I also think there's better folk albums from this time and that Bob Dylan went on to do much more interesting things.

Correcto

Not my favorite Dylan album. Some good tracks but lacking the passion and the songwriting isn't as mature.

Nope. I can't bear an entire album of all-acoustic Dylan. Blonde on Blonde and the Basement Tapes are hard enough, but just him with his guitar and a harmonica going on and on like some lunatic busker? I just can't.

…..i liked it

non me l'aspettavo! molto interessante

As boring as it is iconic

Good album, but everything sounds a bit the same

I think his lyrics are amazing and thought provoking. His music takes a background to his words so the messages shine through. However, between the subject material and his voice it can be difficult listening to an entire album. Better in smaller doses.

Great moment in American music. Dylan is a great songwriter, good instrumentalist, but very poor vocalist.

better than the last dylan one, very good

Enjoyed this far more than I was expecting. More harmonicas please

Loved this album. I definitely need to sit and listen to it again with the lyrics in front of me to appreciate him as a lyricist, but I'm looking forward to it! Highlights were Masters of War, Down the Highway, and Don't Think Twice, Yeah It's Alright.

This is probably the best album I'll never listen to again.

Typical Dylan stuff. Average and hugely overrated.

Really great folk album, this alone made Bob Dylan one of the greatest song writers of all time, and one of the best in the sixties. I used to be a big fan of Bob Dylan, listing to his catalog all the way up to the 00's. Tracks like Blowing in the Wind and Girl From Northern Country are so amazing, but my fave has to be Masters of War. Such an eeri song for the time. This is one of the greats albums of all time and anyone wanting to get out of the hip hop space needs to listen to. Also if you are into music as a career like me then you basically have to listen to it. Just an amazing outstanding album. The only takeaway will have to be that Bob Dylan did better on Highway 61 Revisited.

Meh. It good for pensive chill times. Personally not a fan but it is good at what it does.

Yes yes, political commentary, yes yes, smart guy. Meh.

Nobel winning album, do I really need to say anything else? An album to listen while staring at the horizon, during sunset, with some murmur in the background, pensive, nostalgic but with some optimism.

Made me realize I get triggered by the sound of harmonicas. Maybe I am getting old.

I am surprised by how far you can get with a guitar, voice and harmonica. It gets a bit samey though...

One of the landmark early albums. It’s amazing how good the lyrics are on his first album writing almost all the songs. One of my favorite album covers as well. People have the right to not like Dylan but I also have the right to judge you when you say it. The Dylan haters are always so loud and whiny it’s unbearable. They sound to me like Dylan does to them. Rating: 4.7

Boring but creative

Ah Bob, you nasally voiced troubadour, you write a good song but your music can get kind of irritating

Loved it

4 out of 5. First time listen. Bob Dylan and folk in general aren't really my thing. The rambling way he sings his lyrics can be fun and as a musician he's talented, but this wasn't written for me in mind.

Blowin' In The Wind, The Girl From The North Country, Masters Of War, A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall, Don't Think Twice It's All Right, Corrina Corrina, and I Shall Be Free? Dylan shows the world he has potential.

Never been a fan of Bob Dylan

A classical Bob Dylan.

Blowin' in the Wind might be the weakest song on this album, and that song is so iconic that I learned it in 3rd grade.

Better than the last Dylan

❤️

It just doesn't really do anything for me, wouldn't go out of my way to listen to this again

Oh wow more Bob Dylan. I'm feeling generous as I go through backlog of skipped albums, so I'm giving this a 3, but honestly there's way too much of Bobby boy on this list considering how flat/consistent his music all sounds. I think this is like the third album of his I've listened to and I'm only at like 75 albums so far. I guess it's like "revolutionary" or whatever but I just don't really care much about that aspect.

Not something I’ll listen to on a daily basis, it’s a very classic country and indie one

Giving this a 3 is a little unfair, but I'll do it anyway. Some lovely numbers on here, and his voice was so much fresher back then - so much easier on the ear! But bar one or two hits, there's no real standout material here.

4.1

Meh

There is a lot of historical value to the album and interesting from an American cultural perspective but I did not enjoy listening to the album

ooooh I remember this album cover from Vanilla Sky. I really hate his voice. 2 stars only cause I knew a couple of these because Peter Paul and Mary redid them better 2 stars

Bob Dylan does nothing for me, actually that’s not quite true. Bob Dylan makes me bored. Is it important? Sure I guess, enough people say it is but, no thanks

Already listened to before. A lot of songs sound the same but there are plenty of fresh and notable songs. Very comforting album.

3/10, скучно

Amo este disco

A free spirit singing an hymn that reached millions.

So far on this list I have graded Bob Dylan albums very highly. Some I would consider essential (Blonde on Blonde, for example) not only for Bob fans, but also for any fan of music, while others were just great records (Desire/ Blood on the Tracks). The historical significance and importance of a song such as, Blowing In The Wind is obvious, where the 60's folk movement became interesting and several other songs on, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan are masterworks of brilliant songwriting. For entertainment value, the album falls short. There's only so much voice, guitar and harmonica a person can stand and this goes on the whole record and remember the voice is Dylan's nasally sing/speak style. Admittedly , these vocals are much more tolerable than his later "live concert" mumbling, but it still has me wishing he would go electric sooner.

Mostly forgettable. Mouth organ gets a bit grating at times. A few redeemable tracks.

Lots of harmonica. He a good singer, just not my style.

Well I wondered when something like this would come around. I always thought Dylan was a tremendous writer and a mediocre player/singer. I've managed to hear much of his work over the decades though. This morning when this album was over the wife turned Dylan on the house system and has been listening to him ever since, she's a fan and you guys have gotten her started. 3 stars out of me for his writing, longevity and broad appeal. :-)

I’m a sucker for Bob Dylan, and this album does not disappoint

Solid album- has a couple of my favorite Dylan tunes, though unlike a few of his top-shelf albums it does have some tracks that just don't land for me.

Not my favorite Bob Dylan album so far, but this was pretty good still.

Great. But the harmonica scared me a couple of times

In general, I can't stand his voice and so that makes it really hard to get into this. But it's also amazing how pretty much everything he sings about still rings true today, which is impressive. I adore his guitar playing on this, too. 3/5

There is something so classically American about this album. You can hear how instrumental this is for shaping so many different genres. It's impressive that he is able to do more with less - vocals, a guitar and a harmonica is all it takes to put this together. There is something crisp and clean about the simplicity. My only issue is that a lot of the album sounds pretty similar due to the lack of unique instrumentation. It doesn't feel right to give it a five when there are other albums that can make more novel sounds, use richer production or are more varied.

Good lyrics, groundbreaking for the time but too much harmonica for one album

Extremely stripped down compared to the Dylan I'm used to, but it is honestly extremely refreshing, as while melodically I prefer the later era's fuller sound, the lyrics here are so easy to just dig yourself in to, and Dylan's voice is honestly so charming here. People like to say he can't sing, but I feel like this album shows he can subdue his cadence, and make something that is pure, unadulterated folk. It may feel like it checks out too early on the album, with a lot of the B side being filler or just not as good as the A side, but there is a lot to like here, and it's honestly just impressive that Dylan could come into his own only two albums in. In a world full of jazz and classical, this album really put us into a new realm of music, and I think it deserves a lot of credit for that. The British Invasion may have flipped pop and rock on its head, but this flipped songwriting on its head.

Enjoy him

Like a walk through Bob Dylan's life.

да ну его

I don't get it. Bob Dylan definitely has some gems (Blowin' in the Wind and Don't Think Twice, It's All Right on this album I think) but the rest is just a total snoozefest. A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall is lauded too, right? But fuck me, what a dirge.

although i don't think this is necessarily bob dylan at the height of his powers, this is a terrific album and one that shows essentially where he started from. maybe the most pure folk album he ever released (outside of his debut) and there is some terrific stuff on here. this album really showcases him as a pure folk singer, which i think is very important in his history, but in his relation to the evolution of popular music in the 20th century. if i can nitpick, not all of the songs are 10 out of 10 bangers, but most of them are great and there are some all-timers on here. safe to say, it's one of my favorites of his and an overall great album.

No notes a classic 8-9/10 can’t decide.

Great way to start. Obvious life-time icon tracks here. Not something I would listen to every day but very happy to finally hear it in full.

Every male be acting like this album cover come autumn/early winter.

- I was not raised on Dylan, but this album finally makes it clear to me why he is so revered. - The first three tracks are one of the strongest openings I could imagine for an album. (Absolutely adore "Girl from the North Country.) - Incredibly poignant gut-punches with the political messages of many of these. Listened to this the day after the 2024 election and almost broke down crying during "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall." As relevant as ever.

Thoughts before listening: I used to always say this was my favorite Dylan album, but I think I prefer the early electric albums now. Still though it's an amazing record that captures Dylan at his folky best. Review: The amount of generation-defining songs on this album is amazing. "Blowin' in the Wind", "Masters of War", and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" are absolute classics that rose above simply being good songs and have become part of the American songbook. These are political songs speaking directly to what was happening in the country in the 60s but still resonate now 60 years later. Few songs give me chills like "Masters of War", and few writers could create a lyric that speaks to the sentiments of the youthful 60s anti-war protestors quite like this: "How much do I know To talk out of turn You might say that I'm young You might say I'm unlearned But there's one thing I know Though I'm younger than you That even Jesus would never Forgive what you do" Other favorites for me on this album include "Girl From the North Country, "Don't Think Twice Its Alright", and "Oxford Town", but ultimately this is simply one of the best albums of all time. While I do tend to gravitate towards Dylan's later, electric albums, its nice to be reminded of just how special this album is. 5-stars

was thinking 2 or 3. but went with 2 because really why do we need to many bob dylan albums on here

While still great songs, Dylan's political stuff from this era don't really hold up. But his more universal material is all time goat stuff. Girl from the north country and don't think twice it's alright are some of the best compositions ever.

i'm not really feeling this one too much. just a dude, his guitar and his harmonica. singing about the world... nothing interesting i'm afraid. it's not that the songs are bad, certainly better than what i could write but... i dunno it's just not hitting. at all. it's the kind of songwriter guitar music that'll get you bored to tears. and i hate saying that because that sounds mean but... i just didn't enjoy it too much. i know bob dylan has made better.

Bob Dylan is a good songwriter and I love the purpose and message behind many of the tracks on this album. His points are as relevant now as they were then. However, the music itself isn't to my taste, it's a little too folky. Fave Track: Masters Of War Rating: 3

Folk music. I appreciated some of the songs but thought they’ve been covered better by other artists. Just seemed to me that he didn’t sing his songs with any emotion and so it all felt a little flat. Not much to differentiate the songs from each other either.

Another great album

I love songs on this album but there's a lot of just Bob being Bob, singing in his nasal voice and repeating himself. I can't go in for that. Utmost respect for Bob and so much love for so many of his songs but it's just an ok album overall.

More Dylan, and there really isn’t much to it but it does just work. An artist I feared but that is actually pretty good.

Just a fantastic album

I want to be more.into this because I do like folk music. But honestly I can only listen to so much of this asthmatic grandmother going between utter nonsense and "war bad" lyrics.

I know it's a bit random which albums you get each day, but it doesn't seem fair to the artist/band to get one of their albums fairly close to another, and this seems to be the case for me with "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan", sadly. It's a good contrast to "Bringing It All Back Home", thankfully, but still. It's really impressive that most of the lyrics on this album are his own, given how iconic they've become--for him and many, many others--and how his previous album was more of a collection of traditional songs. I hadn't heard many of these songs before, and really enjoyed the lyrics (although I've never really enjoyed his voice/timbre); highlights for me among the previously-unheard are "Masters of War" and "Bob Dylan's Dream" (the latter in part from the 19th-century source tune "Lady Franklin's Lament"). And I think this is the first time I heard his original version of "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall"; very powerful. Sadly, too many of his protest-oriented tunes remain incredibly relevant, a testament to the lasting strength of his songwriting talent.

It was probably around 1978 and I was babysitting. I checked out their record collection and I had to choose between this and Bread's "Baby I'm a-want you." So glad I chose Dylan. What a great album. From "A Hard Rain" to "Don't think twice" to "Blowin in the wind" to "Girl from North Country" to "Masters of War"--blows my mind how good a writer he is.

Mikil áhrif frá tónlist svartra, áhugavert, nennti ekki alveg að klára.

Great listen, super chilled and good lyrics to tune in to

Good vibes loved it

So much to love about this album. Don't Think Twice is one of my favorite songs of all time.

Good but old

I'm not a Dylan fan, mostly because of his voice. I understand and respect his stature, but after a minute or so of his music, I skip to something else. This album has a few classics, so I listened as much as I could. Master of war is amazing.

Really good.

I’ve tried, I just don’t think I like Bob Dylan

I mean it’s a stone cold classic Bob album with some of his best songs (masters of war, don’t think twice, blowin in the wind, girl from the north country, Corrina Corrina). I love bobs acoustic side so much dude. Unfortunately the bluesier cuts on here are kinda missed for me which brings it to a 4 instead of 5. Great classic album.

Got totally lost in this album. In the most brilliant way. It almost carried me along without me realising! Lovely stuff. 4.8

Complete genius. Pretty much the easiest 5* ever.

Pure vibe. Loved it.

There’s only one Bob Dylan. Some amazing songs on this album

Good album but sonically very dated. When you listen to JH or Paul McCartney, yes they don’t sound like modern artists, but they don’t sound so obviously of the past - they still hold up today.

B-A-N-G-E-R 🗣️

Classic, massively influential album.

Yeah fine, good.

Count me among those that just don't 'get it' with Dylan. But hey, if nasal droning is your thing, you're in for a nice ride.

המפוחית שורטת לי את המח הכתיבה טובה, השירה לא אבל בסדר שירים ארוכים מדי, מרגישים כאילו נמשכים לנצח וממש רפטטיביים. אין חשיבה על לחן. כמו אודיובוק

I enjoyed it, I can't deny that. However, I don't think it's amazing. Musically, it's very sparse, just a guitar and a voice on most tracks. I think those are very complementary instruments anyway (as an aside, I don't think his singing voice is very good). I think you could find many singer\songwriters and buskers churning out equally good material.

Eh

Light 5/10 I don't hate it but it doesn't arouse any strong emotions in me. I think this is one of those albums whose impact nowadays is more about legacy because having listened to music from the 60 years coming after it, there's not much here I haven't heard in some capacity before.

Yes yes coherent Bob :) some cracking tunes on this one

I always took Dylan as folky guitar, mouth organ and mumbled “singing”. This however shows he was at one point capable of making every syllable crystal clear. This allows you to hear the one thing he did better than anyone - lyrics. There’s a reason his songs get covered by so many artists. Did it convert me to a fan - probably not but I have a better appreciation of the man.

Gosh I love bob. He’s one of the best poets among all American musicians. He’s got some good chops too, but his sound does take some getting used to

Bob Dylan at his peak folk. What else to say?

I like half of the songs on here but nothing was bad

Just Bob Dylan being Bob Dylan. Nice for a change of pace.

Don't Think twice It's All Right really got me. Some tracks were less memorable, but I immediately replayed half of this

To me, this is Bob Dylan at his finest, but I can understand why it's not everyone's cup of tea; this isn't exactly in my regular rotation, as it's not "fun" to listen to. Still, there are some all-timers on this album, including "Blowin' in the Wind" and "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall."

Its a chill album, makes me sad always that i hear it, but a personal fav of mine. Its a very young Dylan album, very minimalistic but powerful lyrics. Fav Songs: Blowing In The Wind, Girl from the North Country, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Least Fav Song: Down the Highway

It seems that Dylan's early work was not nearly as verbose as his later stuff.

good mix of anti-war/protest and "help me girl, i'm so horny" songs that's a lot of harmonica

10/10 harmonica solo but not my music genre

Yucky, every song sounded the same tbh. I know it's Bob Dylan but overrated as fuck in my opinion. Bob Vylan's the better Bob. Would be 2.5 but alas no half stars:(

I mean... It's Bob Dylan. I've heard him do much better. This is basically just his voice, an acoustic guitar, and a harmonica. If you like his voice, it's a solid album. I'm not a big fan of his singing cadence so when the album is centered on that, it's not my favorite.

A rock classic

Goated

Not a fan of Bob Dylan.

Unmitigated classic.

This album alone earned Dylan a Nobel Prize in Literature. It helps that I'm a sucker for '60s folk, but the way Dylan plays is also so unique, unlike anything else from the era. His lyrics are truly timeless poetry, covering everything from protest to philosophy to young love lost, found, and lost again. Sometimes he’s serious, sometimes he’s taking the piss, but either way, his pen is strong, and the fact that it’s backed by great acoustic playing makes it even more compelling. And I’ll be brave and say it: the way he plays a harmonica makes me think it’s actually a beautiful instrument!! Like, the end of “Girl from the North Country”?! “Bob Dylan’s Blues”?! “I Shall Be Free”?!?! I think I prefer other folk artists from this era overall, but to me, Freewheelin’ is the peak of that sound. It’s a timeless sentiment with timeless songs, and while I think there’s maybe a couple Dylan albums that come close (and a lot that stray very far from this album’s vision, to their detriment), he’s never done anything as important as this record. It’d be my pick on a Top 100 Albums To Hear Before You Die list, that’s how essential this to pop culture.

I feel like a fraud for not liking this more - I really enjoyed most of the songs and he's undeniably a lyric genius. However, as an album I found it heavy and hard to listen to in one sitting. Also some very shrill harmonica playing that just wasn't very pleasant and not very musically interesting in my opinion.

Oh boy... Dylan. Dylan holds an iconic place in American culture and legendary status for so many whose political, musical, and ethical consciousness formed during an age of personal transformation from innocent to awake. How can someone much later in their lives and far removed from that moment truly receive this without a sense of overwhelm and subsequently fortification against that? I don't know, but I'll try. Here we go.

Bob Dylan still approaches singing in key like a drunk man pissing from a height into a beer bottle. Occasionally he is on target and we all get to feel good about that. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, he increases volume for a second and sprays everywhere. At least there are some decent and recognisable songs here, the guitar playing is interesting, but I still think this is emperor's new clothes territory.

There are too many Bob Dylan albums on this list, but Bob Dylan - without question - belongs on this list. Dylan had something about him that was pretty incredible that shines through even though this style of music is not my cup of tea. If you don’t want to engage with his music enough to hear the thing that so many people have found compelling for so many decades because he doesn’t make your style of music, that’s fine, but it’s also pretty lazy. Because it’s there if you are willing to listen for it. I am not crazy about folk-era Dylan but I can still hear that thing he had. I don’t really ever put this album on, but I think it’s worth hearing.

The album titles screams “hey, I wanna hold your hand” Beatles type music from Bob Dylan. Then you press play and you are lightly socked in the mouth with protest music. I couldn’t get through this one. I’m all for slow, acoustic driven music but there is no change in the delivery of each song as it passes by. That’s probably just Bob Dylan at this time of his life but that life isn’t for me

His talent is undeniable. Hard Rain and Blowing in the Wind are all timers. The harmonica and droning voice make listening to too much Dylan irritating. This is way better than his later mumbling droning tho.

This one is tough to rate. I think there are some of the best songs every written on this album. Don't Think Twice, Blowin in the Wind, Masters of War, A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall. Incredible. But there are just enough filler tracks like Bob Dylan's Blues that I have a hard time saying is a perfect 5.

Blowin' in the Wind A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Don't Think Twice It's All Right Oxford Town It's a great album with so many standout songs. I'm not the biggest harmonica fan, but Dylan's songwriting more than makes up for it.

Not in the mood for this one today. The harmonica is going through me. Its good but not in my top 5 Dylan albums. Bit samey, bit out of time, bit boring, but good. Don't think twice in excellent

GREAT!

I think I’m starting to get what’s so great about Bob Dylan. It’s a mood.

Can't deny that this is powerful shit. Masters of War still hits harder than just about anything I've heard from modern artists. There's a couple of goofy songs at the end though, and it's clear that he hadn't perfected the goofy side of his lyric writing quite yet.

Bob Dylan just doesn't do it for me. There's some good individual tracks here but the whole album was a bit of a slog to get through.

A great Dylan. It drags at times but has two of the all time great songs in “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” and “Girl From the North Country”.

Nice bit of Dylan

Several superclassic Bob Dylan songs, but also a bit too much filler which could have been avoided if the album was cut to 35-40 minutes.

Some great and classic songs, the singing remains problematic.

How many roads must a man walk down?

the mixing on the current spotify version is incredible, the harmonica resonates through my head, and Bob's performance is exceptionnally captivating. I'm in love

Early, folksy Dylan. Blowin in the Wind and Masters of War feel like timeless protest songs, right alongside the haunting Hard Rain, broken up with some sort of silly and fun tracks and put over the top with some of the most epic breakup songs (North Country and Don’t Think Twice). Pretty much everything you’d want from a folk album.

This is an acoustic masterpiece. “I shall be free” is amazing.

Bobs Dealin’

Enjoyed this one more than his other albums. There is a simplicity in the music that works.

Good country blues album

One of those albums that could get 10 stars if it was possible. I'd put this in my top ten of all time. I'm intimately familiar with every chord and word here. Without going song by song and eulogising: the simplicity and delicateness of the songs is balanced by the lyrics that sound as angry and relevant now as they did then. I'd suggest this may be Bob at his most accessible where his voice hasn't disappeared into a rasp and the tunes are just beautiful.

Country isn’t my thing, but I could see how Bob Dylan could ring-ish

5/10

Awesome Dylan is awesome

A little bit of Dylan in my life A little bit of Dylan by my side A little bit of Dylan's all I need A little bit of Dylan's what I see A little bit of Dylan in the sun A little bit of Dylan all night long A little bit of Dylan, here I am

Can you imagine living in 1963 and a singer-songwriter drops this? Opening with Blowin' In The Wind? I mean, it must have created a shift in the head of every songwriters. "Oh shit, we can actually write great, engaged, poetic and philosophical songs! With one guitar only? Damn!" This album is undoubtedly a game changer in the history of music and fully deserves its place on a list like this.

Dear Lord did I really need to hear this? I skipped the first track because I've heard it enough, the second song was solid and gave me hope. The third and fourth songs? What the actual f. It really sounds like some dude who is half in the bag that decided bringing his guitar to the party would be super cool. It's not.

Ainda bem que esse foi o primeiro do Dylan que apareceu para mim, porque é inacreditável que ele tem 7 álbuns nessa lista. Para esse 4 estrelas por ser o primeiro de músicas autorais, pela relevância histórica e porque acho que ainda era inovador, para os próximos com certeza 3 estrelas no máximo e olhe lá.

Great

Almost seems the very definition of a classic folk album to me, against which almost every other the folk lyric is measured.

Guess I’m a bob Dylan hater, doesn’t have as much nonsensical lyrics but I still don’t like his voice

Fine. Little too chill for my morning.

Classic songs Blowin in the Wind and a Hard Rains a-Gonna Fall do make this album required listening. The remainder of the album is observational, protest and what one would expect to hear from Bob Dylan.

A solid Bob Dylan album. Not his best or his worst. Pretty average for Dylan standards. 4/5

"The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" marks a pivotal moment in Bob Dylan's career, showcasing his emergence as a leading voice in the folk music scene of the early 1960s. Released in 1963, this album captures Dylan's raw talent and lyrical prowess, solidifying his status as a profound songwriter and social commentator. With timeless classics like "Blowin' in the Wind" and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," Dylan addresses pressing social issues and personal reflections, blending poetic imagery with compelling melodies. The acoustic simplicity of the arrangements highlights Dylan's distinctive voice and guitar work, allowing the powerful messages in his lyrics to shine through. The album's mix of poignant protest songs and introspective ballads creates a dynamic listening experience, reflecting the turbulence and optimism of the era. While some tracks may feel repetitive, the overall impact and historical significance of "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" cannot be overstated. "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" stands as a testament to Dylan's influence and artistry, earning it a solid 4 out of 5 rating.

I usually hate Dylan, but that wasn't terrible. He kept his warbling to a minimum at least

So much better than that live album of Dylan's I had last week (Live 1966). This album is awesome! Favourite songs: Blowin' in the Wind, Girl from the North Country, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright", "Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance" Least favourite songs: Down the Highway, Oxford Town 4/5

Dylan again... still can't wrap my head around why people love him so much. I don't get swooned much by lyrics, so if you take that away, what is left here for me then, really? Dylan's labored wheezing of a singing, or the fairly boring guitar playing? Decent, but not to my taste at all. And it's not that I don't enjoy folk music or guitar songwriters, it's just that I don't like Dylan. Weak 3.

This was a hard album to review. In my mid teens this was one of my favourite albums and I was a big Dylan-fan. I still think this is a very good album, it is by far my favourite of Dylan's acoustic albums and "Girl from the Northcountry" if probably one of my favourite songs. There are many other great songs on this album "Don't Think Twice It's Alright", "Master of War" to name a few more. The second half fizzles a bit though and many of the songs are a bit forgettable. Still for what this album has meant to me, the impact of this album, and the highs of its good songs it deserves a 5 for me. Although a 4 might be more fair to be honest.

Dylan has good songs, even great... when someone else is covering them.

Contemporary folk, singer-songwriter. Another singer I'm not a huge fan of. I've always enjoyed the instrumentals for Bob Dylan, good acoustic and harmonica playing all around. But his singing voice just never really clicked for me, it's like he's straining to hit notes or something, I don't know. I was surprised while listening to this album to find that I had no problems at all with it. Super solid blues, very mellow vibes with great lyrics. Very strong performances with. Vivid, direct, passionate. Great length, not too much fat. Overall a great album, was very impressed. Might revisit, I quite enjoyed this one. 4/5

A perfectly enjoyable Bob Dylan album

Good Bob Dylan album

dylan jak dylan

Sicherlich ein Album das am gehört haben sollte. Schon allein aus historischen Gründen. Ja und vieles hat man auch schon häufig gehört ... und zum Teil besser gecovert. Folk und nicht meins: drei Sterne

7/10

"Blowin' in the wind" and "A Hard Rain's a gonna fall" a legitimately great songs. There's way too much harmonica on this record. I do like Dylan as a songwriter. I like him as a performer in small doses, listening to an entire album of him, well, the vocal style and aggressive harmonica does get tedious.

Very personally conflicted by the amazing counter-culture lyrics and his vocal style and the abundance of harmonica. I feel like this is what people think white music sounds like. I still think I overall enjoy it because his voice goes well with his style, and those fucking lyrics carry so much meaning! 4.0

Always love me some Dylan they’re all fives for me

“Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right” save this album for me. Some drums or a piano (or something!) would have gone a long way in elevating Dylan’s poetic lyrics, but there is only so much I can take of his guitar-harmonica style in one sitting.

Even though this is his second album this is the beginning of a run of amazing albums that span the 60s. So many great songs with just Dylan his guitar and harmonica

So many great songs. An amazing counterculture icon.

Another classic I grew up to. Very old now

Heard it many times before it's an all right album

Bob Dylan’s big breakthrough deserves to be labeled as such. To have songs like “Don’t Think Twice…”, “Blowin’ In The Wind,” “Girl From North County,” and the massive “A Hard Rain’s…” all on the SAME ALBUM is pretty ridiculous.

not for me. I can see why he was important to music history but it is just not my cup of tea

First dance with Bob on this quest, this is a doozy with what I think is his best song, A Hard Rain‘s Gonna Fall. Buuuuut the blues songs don’t really do much for me, it’s not his best work. I honestly think he’s one of those artists best served by a greatest hits.

I know this album really well. It was a gift to have this assigned listening.

I never really got Bob Dylan

This is a remarkable album by any standard, containing three of the greatest protest songs ever written and setting the radical agenda for the sixties and beyond. For it to be just the second album from a little known 22 year old singer songwriter lifts it even further. This album also contains some self deprecating humour and lovelorn ballads, as well as a lovely, downbeat cover of Corina, Corina which was a highlight for me. Simply essential listening.

This is objectively a monument. And compared to other Dylan's albums I've listen to, there is not too much harmonica to spoil the songs.

I lik Bobs music

Really liked the folk music

✨✨✨

I found a neat inverse correlation between how much harmonica is in a song and how good it is. His songwriting is good don’t get me wrong, but lay off the harmonica.

Christ almighty, how many Dylan albums do we have to hear on this list. I guess if you are a Dylan fan you must be thrilled. But I'm also guessing you did way too much acid in the 60's and have since moved on the meth. Between his voice and way too much harmonica, I was over this album around song #2. I attempted a second listen just in case my personal hatred of all this dude's music impacted my first listen, but after coming close to ripping out my eardrums, it was just best to move on. Pretty confident the only time you get excited for a Cindy Lauper album is when you are currently listening to anything Dylan or Neil Young for that matter. NO MORE DYLAN. Negative score

3 Baby Dylan. While he’s not quite rocking the rosy-cheeked young boy look here like he is on the cover of his debut, this is still very much an album of the man still finding his voice - quite literally. This is probably the most normal I’ve heard him sing across any of his work, but I find that to be to the album’s detriment - where’s that iconic nasally inflection we all know and love?? (Okay, maybe not all of us). I also can’t help but feel that his songwriting here was still in its early stages as well. I don’t mean that to diminish - I think putting out an album like this at the age of 21 feels incredibly mature and insightful beyond his years - but the Woody Guthrie influence is heavily felt, and there just isn’t much that spoke to me on a personal level… which you really kind of need with Dylan’s lyrics given the simplicity of a lot of his accompanying music. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated the reflection of 1960’s America captured, especially as it pertains towards the fears of nuclear war that lingered at the time, but ultimately, the only song that really stuck with me here was the opener, Blowin’ in the Wind - which honestly, is truly a great tune, and quite possibly among Dylan’s best. Other than that, the only song I kind of dug was the closer, I Shall Be Free, which I thought did the best job of capturing the era - but I gotta say, out of the all the advice you could have given JFK, Bob, why did go with Brigitte Bardot and NOT avoiding Dallas in November? Jokes aside, I do have to say the song did resonate with me what with the name drops of JFK and MLK as contemporary societal figures - given how this dude is still touring as of 2024, it’s an important reminder how close we really are to some of the ugliest chapters in American history (though Lord knows it’s far from over). Side note - Mike Ness of Social Distortion has a really solid rockabilly cover of Don’t Think Twice. Would recommend giving it a listen if you’re a fan of his style, or if you’re just looking for something faster-paced after finishing this.

Bien, pero no es de mis favoritos.

Some absolutely classic songs. The arrangements are super simple but it shows the strength of the songwriting, when Dylan can be so compelling and thought provoking with just an acoustic guitar and harmonica on most of the tracks.

Meh. Not my thing

Bob Dylan's got all the right words, and has left me with none to write here.

I think I’ll probably say the same thing for all the Bob Dylan we get. Love the songs, not a big fan of his voice/perfomance.

Folk hero

Can't tell how much I actually enjoy Bob Dylan's music. Might be one of the blandest but most earnest albums I've ever heard.

Bob Dylan is no doubt a musical genius and will be regarded as such forever. I understand why younger generations might not see it that way at present as they are living too close to his time and they quite rightly have their own favourites and may disregard any music which is a million miles away from what they like. But future generations will talk about Dylan in the same breath as all the musical greats. Dylan in particular will be looked upon as being in the first wave of 60’s popular music and responsible for its development so this album will be highly regarded whenever Dylan is talked about. So it really is an album you need to listen to. You might not like it and there are tracks on it I don’t but it is musical history. Personally despite what I have just said I didn’t like Dylan at the start. That’s why I say you need to mature to appreciate his musical value. His later albums, which no doubt will be on this list, have greater depth and substance. This is just simple and straightforward folk music with a political kick towards the protest movement of the 60’s. As a musical historical document it is worth a 5/5 but as I must judge it on my musical tastes and enjoyment goes to a 4/5.

Parts of this are beautiful, and parts of this are smug as hell. A lot of the protest stuff probably hit a lot harder in 1963. But it’s still a good listen out in nature, and you can’t deny that it’s revolutionary.

Sorry Bob I just cannot do it

This was a good album. I know Dylan is an iconic artist and supposed to be on this pedestal of songwriting but it clearly took time for him to get to that level. This album shows that in his second rendition. There are a few songs that are great and really show his abilities. However there are others on this album that fall flat and aren’t great. It’s a guy really trying to find his niche which comes later. Overall this is still good just not as good as the album cover makes it out to be. 7.0/10

This one was more of a miss for me. I didn't think the music itself was all that complex or interesting. A few different guitar chords on each song. I think its mostly the lyrics that are supposed to be so great, but it just kind of droned on and on. I get they are powerful like "Masters of War", but I got bored.