Reviews (page 8 of 15)
Unfortunately I think I like the idea of Bob Dylan more than I actually like Bob Dylan
My poor ears ... I'm not a fan.
Already a fan of this album and some other Dylan stuff! I don’t love every song but the ones i do like i really love! Very warm and ‘alive’ production + ADORE a harmonica! Top 3 1. blowin in the win 2. girl from the north country 3. corrina, corrina
6/10 not my preferred style got a bit repetitive for me but I love the narrative style & storytelling & the more political tracks
Some of the most important songs from this era are on this album. Love how his guitar plays in your right ear and his voice in your left.
I appreciate Bob Dylan’s folk music, but this album is probably not something I’ll come back to listen to. I really like one or two songs on the album, the rest are ok.
I throughly enjoyed this album several time over the weekend. For sure my favorite Dylan album so far. For me the strength of this album begins and ends with “A hard rain is gonna fall”. I have heard this song in pieces and in the background over the years and always thought it was creative and had a catchy melody, but I don’t think I really “heard” it until now if that makes sense. A few simple bars of music but lyrics and inflection in his voice say so much. Other notables include “Oxford Town”, “I shall be free”, “Masters of War”, and obviously “Blowin in the wind”. 4.5/5
Definitely the best and most enjoyable of Dylan albums dealt here so far. And I think that’s due to the utter simplicity. Just a dude sitting on a stool strumming away with wavering tempos, string drags, and not perfect at all. Yet, ironically the quality lies in the imperfections. I think I also relate to this album on the strength of hearing so many of the songs being covered by other well respected artists. “Blowin In The Wind” (Peter, Paul and Mary), “Hard Rain…” (Edie Brickell featured in Oliver Stone’s Born on the 4th of July), “Don’t Think Twice (Mike Ness of Social Distortion). A really good listen.
Not only my fave Dylan album but one of my fave albums of all time, so I have to go full points here. This one has lots of Bob’s best tunes and plenty of lesser known tracks that are still great. Have always loved the album cover as well.
Just a boy with his guitar and harmonica singing about the weather. 4.25
I think this is my favorite Dylan album thus far...pretty much on the strength of the opening two tracks and Don't Think Twice, It's Alright. I also had the pleasure of listening to some of this in the car with my Father In-Law and having him mumbling along with most of the songs really enhanced the experience... 3.75/5
First time, I didn't get it. Second time, I also didn't get it. In fact, I also felt way more often that the guitar in some songs feels a bit out of tune, and it is annoying. I'm very picky about singer-songwriter, and Bob Dylan in this album doesn't do anything of my interest, as I find the singing and the guitar playing a bit bland. And I know that a lot of this album comes from the lyrics, but it is just not enough for me.
The fact that Bob Dylan wrote these songs between the ages of 20 and 21 is incomprehensible. He sings and plays everything wonderfully, but his lyrics truly deserve the spotlight. “Blowin’ in the Wind”, “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”, and “Masters of War” are three distinctly different commentaries on the political and societal changes happening around him, and all three are absolute triumphs. He also demonstrates his abilities to tug at our heartstrings with wistful longing (“Girl from the North Country”) and a bitter sendoff (“Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”). Some songwriters go their entire life hoping to write one song as good as any of these five tracks. Bob did it before most kids his age had college degrees. There are quite a few fantastic tracks outside of these giant compositions as well. “Talkin’ World War III Blues” is still one of the funniest songs he’s ever recorded; “Corrina, Corrina” is a lovely take on the blues standard; “Oxford Town” is a great, succinct precursor to The Times They Are A-Changin’; I’ve even grown fonder with each passing year of “Down the Highway”, a perfectly moody tune that feels like a bridge between Bob Dylan and this record. Throughout every song, we hear the earnest voice and guitar playing of the young master, simultaneously extremely confident and unaware of exactly how much this album is about to change everything. The only personal criticism I can levy against Freewheelin’ is that some tunes strike me as filler. Entertaining, well-performed filler, but filler nonetheless. In my opinion, there are six superb songs from these sessions that didn’t make the cut - “Talkin’ Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues”, “Let Me Die in My Footsteps”, “Kingsport Town”, “Walls of Red Wing”, “Rambling, Gambling Willie” and “Quit Your Low Down Ways” - that all would have been deserving of a spot in place of one or two of the weaker tracks. Really, it’s a minor complaint, and with the amount of major material on here, it’s useless to harp too long on minor complaints. I absolutely adore this album. Least favorite track: “Bob Dylan’s Blues”. Totally fine and inoffensive, but ultimately inconsequential. Favorite track: “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”. Sheer perfection across the board: lyrically, melodically, vocally, and instrumentally. For all of the (rightful) love “Positively 4th Street” gets as a classic “fuck you” song, Bob proved he had a penchant for iciness two years prior with: “I ain’t sayin’ you treated me unkind/You could have done better, but I don’t mind/You just kind of wasted my precious time/But don’t think twice, it’s all right.” A top five Dylan track for me. 4.5/5
Had prolly 3 or 4 good songs, the rest were clones and kinda bland
3/10 not fun to listen to and overall just a bad experience. Only 3 songs that were bearable to listen to. Going last on my list Top 3 Songs 1) Don’t Think Twice, It’s all right 2) Corrina, Corrina 3) Blowin’ in the wind
2/10 ngl A couple ok songs but not my cup of tea Respect what he did for music tho Top three songs: 1) don’t think twice it’s all right 2) masters of war 3) Blowin in the Wind
4.5/10 Definition of mid
This is objectively a great album although I appreciate Dylan is a bit marmite (he definitely gets on my nerves on other albums). Not this one though. It wears the anti-war message on its sleeve but somehow you get a sense it is genuine and it didn’t seem cloying. Personal preference but his voice on this one is far better than some other albums where his style is infuriating. A true showcase of his singer-songwriter talents although it’s still not in a style I absolutely love so no 5 for me.
Good background wfh music but just one person's voice for too long wasn't for me (soz as of course he is a musical legend)
Don’t think Bob’s for me - there are a few songs that are so profound and capture an important sentiment, but the rest blur and I found it hard to connect.
Not looking forward to this one, I've gotta say. I used to think I was just sort of indifferent to Bob Dylan but after listening to a few of his albums from this list I can say that I actually quite dislike Bob Dylan. It's just irritating. Lyrically, he's great. Not as good as people who fawn all over him claim him to be, but a better lyricist than musician for sure. And for the love of god not every break in singing needs to be filled with harmonica. His voice is grating but not in a good way. I mean Neil Young can't really sing either but it works for him and I like it. Bob Dylan is just irritating. Part of the problem with this album is that I feel like a lot of the songs could be great if someone else recorded them - Masters of War could be amazing. Sorry Bob, I'm just not a fan. 2/5
2/5 Dude this SUCKS it's so BORING I don't get the hype at all
of a time. we've done better since.
Was pleasantly surprised by this one. Even though I am not a fan of folk music, this one actually had a lot of humor and sadness in it, a lot of depth
Acoustic Folk Singer Songwriter Interesting instrumentals
Can see why Bob's a legend. There's some good tunes on here but didn't love them all but can see why it's good
I know he’s from Minnesota, so I should love him, but Bob Dylan is just not my jam.
Where Bob Dylan, over some admittedly whatever guitars, delivers incredible songwriting and vocal performances. He's an artist I had been meaning to check out but failing to do, but the love is justified. Great vocalist, even better lyricist.
I like it a lot more than I did as a kid. I see it now when, as a child, it just sounded like a nasally whine. But a message; each song a plea. Dylan is a minimalist; every stroke raw but exact. It's still not my album, and listening is work. That's work worth doing—or better yet, let it do work as a backdrop. How much does it cost to license Dylan for our documentary? Wait, really? Nevermind.
🦌
Too wordy and needed more of a best -h.k
Enjoyed and realised I never listened to much bob Dylan before, found I was spacing out for most of the time so wouldn’t be my cup of tea but still enjoyed it.
Bob Dylan we meet again... This time in studio form! After having an okay time with the Royal Albert Hall live recording a few months back I'm pleased to say I don't actually mind another Dylan record at this time. I can't recall having listened to this one previously, but I recognize a few of the songs on here so I sort of know what to expect. My general expectations are telling me to that I'll be served something interesting, especially lyrically, though I'm probably not gonna "get" a lot of it. I'd call myself a casual Dylan enjoyer, having periods where I can maybe have a couple of songs of his in my rotation. Perhaps this album will kick off another such period. Blowin' In The Wind As much of a classic this song is I've never really paid it much mind. It's become so universal at this point that it feels like it's almost always existed. One of the first songs you'd think of when hearing the moniker "protest song". A melancholic and wise sounding track with very heavy anti-war/anti greed/anti injustice messaging which sadly still remains relevant to this day. Monumental. 5/5 Girl From The North Country Had to do a quick detour to listen to the song this was apparently inspired by (Scarborough Fair) really curious to hear what the two have in common. First of all I love how pleasant the guitar is. Really contrasts nicely with Bob Dylan's characteristic voice. I can definitely see structural similarities between this and the previously mentioned inspiriation for it. Really inspired implementation. The lyrics are sweet and idealistic, love how vivid they are despite the briefness of the descriptions. Fantastic. 5/5 Masters of War I never knew Dylan "borrowed" *cough* stole *cough* the melody for this song, so I had to look up the original, and wow that was haunting. Genuinely a spooky sounding mysterious folk song. Now for Masters of War. Again, classic protest song with some very direct lyrics calling out the cowards who perpetrate such atrocities. I can see why he chose to use this melody for this topic, it's extremely ominous in its buildup. Brutal. Fantastic. 5/5 Down the Highway Very classic sounding blues track. Sounds genuinely sad. After being provided with context, the song feels a lot more layered. The mournful performance captures some astute loneliness. Great. 4.5/5 Bob Dylan's Blues A perfectly acceptable blues track with some great harmonica playing. Bob Dylan is very charismatic with the delivery here. Feels very animated and hands free. Not exactly the highlight of the album, but a good show none the less. Good. 4/5 A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Another one where I felt I had to look up the inspiration for the song before listening to it. Lord Randall which its chorus is apparently based on was again a pretty interesting piece of literature, which tied itself neatly together with the final verse. Gonna keep this in mind as I'm listening. Even if it's listed as another inspiration I'm not however going to look into symbolist poetry for the sake of this review, as that seems too deep of a rabbit hole for one night. Actual review time. Those lyrics are really evocative, love how Lord Randall is incorporated, feels like sort of a modernization of its structure. Very bleak and apocalyptic in its messaging. Dead ponies, black dogs and burning bodies. Though there seems to be some slight moments of hope underneath all the darkness. Really interesting, deserves repeat listens. Fantastic. 5/5 Don't Think Twice It's Alright Another one where he's borrowed some features of another older song. Made sure to give that one a listen as well, though I could only find Paul Claytons interpolation (Who's Gonna Buy You Ribbons), which I found sweet, reflective and pleasant to listen to. Gonna keep this in mind while listening. This is a very pretty song, and while a lot of elements are lifted from the cited inspiration I find this a lot more compelling. Love his delivery and use of the melody to convey emotion. Feels really genuine. Fantastic. 5/5 Bob Dylan's Dream I quite liked the song this was based on (Lady Franklin's Lament). Can really see how one can be inspired by that, as its melody felt really emotional and mournful, with a slight hint of bargaining coming from its lyrics. Dylan's lyrics are very relatable in their reflectiveness. The sentimentality and sadness that comes with looking back at old days of camraderie really sticks with me after listening to the lyrics. An effective piece of storytelling. Fantastic. 5/5 Oxford Town Harrowing piece of civil rights music, a stark reminder that it wasn't that long ago that injustices like this were commonplace. The song itself is a bit brief and simple, and without looking it up I wouldn't have been able to piece together which events it was refering to. Good. 4/5 Talkin' World War III Blues I'm not really a fan of the rambling style of delivery. While the lyrics have some clever bits of humour to them, they don't really make up for the fact I find it a bit boring. The satire still seems relevant to this day. I enjoy how flawed the narrator figure is, being a bit of a ridiculous character himself. Decent. 3.5/5 Corrina, Corrina This song seems to have a long and complicated history, one which seems to stretch back at least a few decades before this recording. I went ahead and listened to the original recording of this song, as well as the Robert Johnson the melody of this version is apparently lifted from. I think it'll be very interesting to hear these two starkly different songs combined. Dylan's version comes of as very pleasant though lacking some edge. I do quite enjoy his guitar playing on this track. A tasteful rendition which implements parts of both the two songs its based on pretty well. I do however feel something is a bit lost when they've been combined in this way. Great. 4.5/5 Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance The original has a haunting enigmatic quality to it, partially due to the charming roughness of the ancient recording, alongside the very unique sounding vocal delivery. I really like Dylan's choice of changing up the tempo. I enjoy the modernized lyrics quite a bit, though it's probably not a straight upgrade from the original. Good. 4/5 I Shall Be Free It's alright. It's a bit of a more comedic track. Lifts heavily from the original track (We Shall Be Free) when it comes to the melody. I can't help finding it kinda bland. I don't get most of the pop culture references. Succeeds in showing a less serious side of Bob Dylan. Decent. 3.5/5 This turned out to be quite the undertaking. I'm not complaining though. I feel like I got an entire history lesson after reading the Wikipedia article for each song. I also had a blast listening to the traditional folk and blues songs these tracks were based on. It was almost like getting two albums for the price of one! Despite lending a lot from these traditional tunes I feel like Dylan always finds a way of transcending the source material, creating something entirely his own. It never feels egregious, even at times it feels like having these historical melodies backing the track adds an aura of additional atmosphere. Some tracks, especially the protest songs become much more harrowing with the already ominous sounding folk melodies behind them. And I also really like his songwriting on here, using very effective language when describing both beauty and horror. His performances are very emotional and genuine, and his voice adds a lot of down to earth character to many of the tracks. I love how steeped in tradition this thing is, and how through his reworkings, combinations and additions to the material he has somehow modernized the folk sound. A lot of these traditional songs live on through the tracks on this album, as well as versions of these songs covered by various artists throughout the years. A great album experience, even if it's second half is a bit weaker than its first. Would return to. 5/5 Fave track. Don't Think Twice It's Alright
Solid album with some of Dylan's best songs. Notable are Blowin' in the Wind, Masters of War, and A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall. That said, I tend to prefer his electric material, so while this is good, it probably is not my first choice of Dylan album to listen to.
Connected with this one, folksy but authentically so. These are songs that feel monumental despite their simplicity.
I mean, my obvious bias a side, again, it was of it’s time and original, in many ways. Just feels a little repetitive, same kind of melodies and structures. Some good lyrics, songs and melodies, but kinda just felt like once I'd hear 1 song, I’d heard them all. Some clever plays on words and structure/chords, but ultimately, just ended up being minor variations on a theme, throughout.
I was excited for this. I like a bit of Bob Dylan but ultimately it wasn’t great. Like A Rolling Stone is a great start to the album but I felt it got weaker as it went on. I’m not someone who hates Bob’s voice and I still quite enjoyed it on this album, the folksiness of it and the of course his harmonica are all great. I just felt that it didn’t come together as good as I wanted it to.
Good.
I say this in all my reviews of Bob Dylan albums on this list, but he writes the best diss tracks. "Masters of War" is an absolute savage takedown, and I couldn't help but listen to it over and over again. But also how did that song come out in 1963 and is still relevant? I hate it. This album has some of my favorite Dylan songs with "Blowin' in the Wind," "Girl from the North Country," "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right," and "Corrina, Corrina" but there isn't one song on here that feels out of place or that it doesn't deserve its spot. This might be my favorite Dylan album after Blood On The Tracks. Such a good album and so strong and sadly still relevant.
Aaaaaahhhhh azt se tudom, hol kezdjem. Így ezredik hallgatásra az tűnt fel, hogy mivel egy nagyon bizonytalan és nagyon bizarr időszakban íródott ez az album (kubai rakétaválság meg minden), mennyire könnyű rezonálni a politikai/társadalmi témákkal benne. A Masters of War pl extrán nagyot ütött nálam emiatt. Vagy hogy mennyire vicces volt a fiatal Dylan - a Talkin' World War III Blues meg az I Shall Be Free az comedy gold, és az előbbi még olyan vizuális is, hogy látod a filmet közben. Vagy hogy ez ezerévesnek hangzott már akkor is, amikor megjelent, és hogy most már tudjuk, hogy az amerikai zenei hagyományt általában kevés élő ember ismeri úgy, mint Dylan, de ez látszott ezen az albumon már '63-ban is. (Ja, és hogy emiatt, tudatosan énekel úgy, ahogy, nem azért, mert nem tud máshogy.) Vagy hogy a Hard Rain képei megérdemelnének egy külön monográfiát, vagy hogy a Masters of Warnak kb egyenes folytatása a Gimme Some Truth Lennontól. Nem hiszem, hogy el tudjuk képzelni, mi volt ez, amikor új volt, meg hogy hogyan kezdte el bevinni az addig balos értelmiségi témákat a mainstream kultúrába. Meg azt is nehéz felmérni, hogy milyen hatással volt ez mindenkire akkor, és hogy pl se Rubber Soul, se Sympathy for the Devil nem lenne enélkül az album nélkül. Abszolút magic.
One the one hand, Blowin' in the Wind and Don't Think Twice are two of my favorite Dylan songs. On the other hand, there is so much bad blues on the rest of this album. It's pretty obvious this is an early project. All in all, I see how this is an important album historically and there are a lot of high points. On top of the hits, Master of War, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, and Talkin' World War III Blues were all standouts to me. I still like it but Dylan puts out better work over all.
The whole album’s is a reminder of how powerful one voice and a guitar can be. I don't own this one but I loved how political and poetic it is. Its very Dylan (duh). It’s acoustic and stripped-back—just Dylan and his guitar/harmonica, a string of songs that are by turns angry, tender, and razor-sharp. My standouts were “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” – “Masters of War” & Talkin World War III Blues
Tangled up in suede
His voice is surely an acquired taste, but there is no doubt he’s a lyrical master. Some truly exceptional songs are on here - “Masters of War” in particular. I liked it more than I expected. Would I seek it out? Probably not, but I’d add a few tracks to a general playlist.
Day 4 of listening to Bahhhhb Dylan
do I know what rhetorical means?!?
Bob Dylan- I like his voice and the minimal folkyneas of it all. Some really great songs on here: don’t think twice, girl from north country. Corrina Corrina was refreshing after all the solo stuff. Also liked Wolrd war 3. Oxford town. Honey just allow me one chance. I shall be free. The one chord songs can seem tedious like down the high way and Dylan’s blues. I’d like a 35 minute version of this album.
Not much of a bob fan but there are some good songs on here - corina, dont think twice, north country girl. The harmonica playing gets pretty annoying and i dont like his rambling.
I really can’t with him.
This album (and Dylan in general) should be everything I ask for in an album/artist but I just simply cannot stand listening to him. I don't think it's even fair for me to rate it. Yes it's excellent, yes he's a great writer, yes how impressive at the age of 21, and yet...
Now I can see what all the hubbub was about when this dude went electric. The album is a delight, and young Bob is charming as anyone.
Classic. Eternal truths.
Thank god Bob Dylan invented the electric guitar just a couple years after this, because, for all the immortal gems on here, this drags a lot.
Not my favourite Dylan Album but still good 3.9/5
I tried, I really tried, but I just can’t see the attraction. A quintessential folk album of lost love, anti-war and love found. Bob tells his tales, but nothing that keeps my interest. He was good for his time, I guess.
I was looking forward to listening to this album after watching The Complete Unknown a few weeks ago. Fun to see how he got started. I recognized and enjoyed several of the songs, but not so much some others. Hard to not like Bob and his harmonica, though.
Never been a huge fan of super barebones production like this. Timothee Chalamet… I mean Bob Dylan… is clearly a talented guitarist though!
It was just little riffs for 45 minutes. Kinda like elevator folk music.
I can’t believe this guy was 22 when he made this. I appreciate what he did for music but this album was just not my thing.
Greatest yet
Five stars for Masters of War but the other tracks are great as well
I used to be obsessed with Vanilla Sky, so I find the cover very exciting. Other than that, yes, this is Bob Dylan.
Half the album are folk songs written to reflect the politics and events of those times. Dylan chose great mentors. His folk songs are striking in their humanity and empathy. This album contains some classics.
I understand that this was a very influential album it’s just not my personal favourite of Dylan’s
This is the first album I got that I couldn't make it through. I don't mind the acoustic guitar with the singing that much, I just think that kind of music is boring, but I couldn't tolerate the harmonica.
Classic folk. I can’t believe Bob was only 22 when he released this album. He has an old soul and such a mature, gravelly voice. A lot of personality and a good storyteller. Most of the songs sound a bit samey though. And that harmonica is definitely… loud.
Still holds up really well. Makes me want to pull out my guitar and harmonica
Watching ‘a complete unknown’ had me revisiting Dylan’s catalog, so I was glad when this popped up as an album to listen to. I don’t think I’d appreciated this one as much as the couple that followed it, but listening with fresh ears I really enjoyed it and there’s no denying how much talent he had in the early years of his career.
All the iconic songs.
You really need to be in the mood for Dylan.
Amazing in every way
One of my absolute favourites
Good, but certainly not his best work.
1963. This album was actually enjoyable for my ear with Bob Dylan being more folky and speaking his mind about many political topics. Not as droning and annoying as other albums.
This album came out in 1963, and somehow, the harmonica has STILL not been banned and it’s 2025. When the hilariously incongruous nails-on-chalk-board sound of the harmonica first waded blindly into the opening track I burst out laughing. It’s inconceivable that anyone would subject themselves to this sonic torture. I would understand it if there was some sort of attitude behind the music but it’s just lazy lyrical platitudes and half-hearted instrumentals. Addendum: His attempts at playing the blues are a travesty to the genre. 0.5/5.0: Unlistenable
there are certainly worse albums on the list
This was the best Dylan album I have heard so far. Still only getting 2* anyway.
Caught by surprise. This is where I should’ve started with him. Now I get why he was a big deal. Folksy, wonderful story telling. I can handle his voice on this one.
This album is one of Bob Dylan's greatest!! I was interested and intrigued with this album.
Lyrically fantastic
Some cinematic country. Not really my genre and the incredibly high pitch and loud harmonica ruins the end of lots of the songs.
The album starts off great with one of his best songs. Tjen the album continues in the exact same vein, but with lesser songs. Track 6 and 7 are ok, but there is not much variety and the songs just pass one after another, and when you think the album is finished, there are still 3-4 songs left
Okay, I don't get it. There's obviously a lot of emotion and passion in this, but none of it really connects, nothing is just enjoyable as music.I think Bob Dylan's voice is just too much to look past for me, I don't know. The harmonica is also pretty grating. And really. naming two songs after yourself? Really? That's hilarious. I think I do get the appeal, it just doesn't really appeal to me.
It can be hard to respond to albums that are just so out of kilter with modern listening sensibilities; even the social fabric is much changed from when this was released; but the human condition remains, right? It's nicely recorded for such simple instrumentation, and even if the form of each song is largely the same: Bob sets up his picking or strumming pattern, then drawls his melodicised poetry over the top, verse after verse, taking a pause to breath through his mouth organ for a bit, then do a couple more verses and finish abruptly. It's hard for me (even as a 50 year old) to imagine a world into which this was ground breaking, especially insightful or even enjoyable to listen to; but we are standing on the shoulders of giants here, and the impact of this work is undeniable. I know it's significant. His voice is annoying to me, and the phrasing and melody has become almost a parody of itself - but I think that's as much about his unique style combined with its impact; likewise, his guitar playing is basic and workmanlike; there's no flourish, no attempt at artistry here - the honest plain-ness of it is almost refreshing, but it's arguably...boring. And I don't even use TikTok. It's just I choose not to listen to it - it matters, but it doesn't -really- bring me pleasure. Like a visit to a museum; is it something I'll revisit weekly - no, but I'm certainly glad it exists.
I loved this album
Lindo album, pero me resulta repetitivo, por la instrumentación y los ritmos de la guitarra. La variedad está en la poesía de la letra, pero no es suficiente para evitar que se sienta repetitivo a la escucha. Mi tema favorito es "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright"
Lots of great classic stuff on here, but he's still really finding himself.
here’s an opinion entirely unrelated to the album itself: can hollywood PLEASE STOP with the biopics of singers/bands who are still alive oh my god. first it was elton john, then queen (rip freddie mercury but queen is still out and about performing with adam lambert last i checked) then it was bob dylan and now it’s the mf beatles???? with barry keoghan as ringo starr???????? stop the madness i can’t take this anymore bob dylan is alive and well nobody needed timothee chalamet crooning for a whole movie and i stand by this opinion so come at me
I came into this thinking “oh no another unbearable Bob Dylan album, might as well get it over with” but this was actually really enjoyable. Fun, poetic and socially conscious. I’m starting to understand the hype of this guy
All meh tbh
I like Blowin' in the Wind. The rest would need more time to grow on me Edit Apr 15 2026: 2 --> 3
I remember when I was younger I really wanted my jeans to fit the way his did on the album cover. didn't like the harmonica so that was kind of an issue
I am sure it was legendary back in the day
Klassiske bra
bob dylan. pretty good. got some hits. others i don't know. will need to listen again.
a pivotal point in american music and culture. this is when he lost the baby fat and woody guthrie impression of the first record, turned inward (“girl from”, “don’t think twice”) and outward (“masters”, “hard rain”) to create a work of genius. there’s also fun (“bd’s blues”, "i shall be free") and a glimpse of the full-blown lyrical expressionism of later albums like blonde on blonde. love him or hate him (so much hate out there; typically from dudes), this album and this raspy little jewish dude from north minnesota have shaped your american cultural experience. i feel like a better person every time i listen to this—when i'm forced to go through the range of emotions it evokes. a cathartic listen. they don't give out the nobel prize for literature to just anybody. i welled up on my way to work listening to girl from north country. imagine someone writing that for you. i sang joyfully along to the yips and yeahs and “right nows” on bd’s blues. masters of war. sneering. disgusted. nakedly pointing a finger where it needed to be pointed. righteous shit. hard rain is the post-apocalyptic sequel to masters framed as a question/answer conversation between man and boy. devastating poetic images, decades before cormac mccarthy put it in novel form. newborn babe with wild wolves all around it. ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard. you're welcome to read them symbolically or metaphorically, but you don't have to. face value will get you there. don’t think twice is one of the best songs in the world. there's a reason everyone has covered it in every possible way. oxford town. the jauntiest lil song about institutional racism and its disastrous effects out there. catchy. too short. i usually listen twice. dude performed "only a pawn in their game" before MLK delivered "i have a dream." talkin world war 3 blues. just out there talking to himself. truthful observations pulled out of thin air. "but all the people can't be all right all the time. i think abraham lincoln said that. i'll let you be in my dream if i can be in yours. i said that." cue corinna. simple, gorgeous, and swaying. who doesn't want to fall in love with corinna? dylan's love songs are never trite. where zep tapped into something primal with pounding drums, heavy riffs, and a particularly shrieky man, bob does it with lyrical images woven together that are profound and universal. and listen to that guitar. honey just allow me is the throwback to the first self titled album. it's fun and wacky and he does fun dylan voice stuff. but by no means the strongest song here. i shall be free is titled like a grand gesture protest song, but instead illustrates in little anecdotes an everyman's journey toward a more simple freedom. bridget bardot. anita ekberg. sophia loren. country will grow. boner joke. this album has it all. speaking of boners, a hard 5.
It’s flows and is untouched by time.
Eigenlijk echt nogal goed. Ik wist dat hij goed nummers kon schrijven, maar er waren ook maar een paar momenten waar hij de hoge tonen niet haalde en dat was het
Great first song. Not a natural Dylan fan. If i was on a long, really long car journey i could see myself listening to this on the night stretch when time has slowed down suitably to listen in. That any use?
3/7 Bob Dylan albums down. I would say this is better than the previous Bob Dylan albums I've had, but it's getting a 2 because I don't like that this project has made the Spotify algorithm think I like Bob Dylan.
Great album. Slow and folky. Excellent for chilling and relaxing
Holy shit I think the harmonica at the end of Girl from the North Country obliterated my ear drums. Look, I get the Bob Dylan hate, the cunt has a jading voice (that I love), he looks like he has a twink variant of Downs Syndrome, and that harmonica could be used as a sonar device by the US Navy. All of that, I get; but, every now and then you need to put those facts aside and consider that this album is simply a masterpiece, both for importance of the overall record, and just the song writing quality & general musicianship. Absolutely outstanding. There's so many classics on this thing; Blowin' in the Wind, Girl from the North Country, Masters of War, and of course Don't Think Twice, It's All Right. All of which are brilliantly written, and the single guitar doesn't dull on me whatsoever. Hate Bob Dylan all you want, give all his other albums on this list that don't belong here (like the bootleg records) a low rating, but this is almost certainly Bob Dylan's best work and I think it's disingenuous to give this anything but the 5 it truly deserves.
I was hoping this would be the Bob Dylan album that finally clicks with me. Sadly, I would say it misses that mark. I am always left feeling the same 'distant admiration' for Dylan that I get with a majority of the Elvis Costello albums on here, I can recognize that they are a talented artist and can see why some people might laud them to the degree they are held to but just can't see myself putting any of this music into my rotation.
BORN TO HARMONICA / VOLUME IS A FUCK / 鬼神 Deafen’ Em All 1963 / I am freewheeling’ man / 410,757,864,530 PIERCED EARDRUMS
I enjoyed the singles on this album quite a bit and it easily has some of my favourites of Dylan's work but as a complete package I enjoy a lot of his other stuff more, even some of the live albums. 8/10
Gotta be the best Bob Dylan album so far, one of those albums I'd toss on if i'm taking the bus or in a walk in the city or something. Don't know why, just seems right. Anyway not alot I gotta say about this one, just liked it really. 3/5
I am sure this would have blown your socks off in 1963, and would have felt like a musical rock to cling to considering how things were going tits up at the time. Unfortunately now it feels very, very dated. There are some good tracks on this carrot-and-stick of an album. My fists clenched during Talkin' World War III Blues between the nonsensical lyrics and the annoying fucking harmonica. I was only able to successfully listen to this song in one of my three listens. Prescient track listing because you can skip right to Corrina, Corrina which is a MUCH better song. It is a unique experience to experience that level of frustration a few songs after nodding happily along to Don't Think Twice, It's All Right. Maybe Bob Dylan was really in Daoism because it appears for every shit song on this album there is an equally brilliant song. This Yin-Yang of an album gets a very generous 7/10 from me for having songs that are not only historically significant both for music and culture in general, but also for those same songs not sounding like complete shit. Part of me is now a bit in awe of Bob Dylan and part of me really wishes he was in an motorcade in Dallas on the 22nd of November 1963 Highlights: Blowin' in the Wind, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, Don't Think Twice, It's All Right, Corrina, Corrina
I didn't even listen to this. Bob Dylan is the devil reincarnated and someone should have cut his vocal chords when they had the chance. Well, he sounds like they were already cut. No way anyone finds this mans music listenable...
not a big bob dylan fan i gotta be real.
..
While this was on, I tried to explain to my eldest why it’s such an important album. The honesty and innocence of her questions put some of the more pretentious reviews to shame. “So nobody made songs like this before him?” - Well not exactly but nobody made them as popular as Dylan did… “This was popular?” Was probably my favourite but she also wanted to know if the standards for singing were lower in the 60s and if it was possible for a harmonica to be out of tune. Look, Bob, I can only defend you so far before I had to admit that it’s an important album but I don’t think most people can really fully explain why. I told her lots of other people had later sung these songs even better than him. “Maybe they should be on the list instead then.” Maybe they should, my dear. Maybe they should.
On this album we see Dylan's songwriting craft blooming. Great stuff and a huge milestone in both his career and in music history.
I much prefer later Dylan. Good thing then that there's 5 of his albums on here, huh
я ненавижу фолк. вот думала, в каких условиях это слушать, чтоб понравилось? когда едешь по природным красотам в путешествии в автомобиле по амэрикан земле? ну как вам сказать...водитель уснет нахер, а пассажирам нужна будет помощь психолога по причине "депрессия из-за скучнейшего альбома". хз я обычная провинциалка, для меня проще сказать "это говно", чем "я это не понимаю".
The album that vaulted Dylan from just a folk singer to a cultural icon. Most of the songs are basically folk poetry laid over basic chords. Effortless simplicity of song mixed with deep, thought-provoking lyrics. I've personally never been a huge fan of Dylan's voice, or his "talk-singing" delivery, but it's hard to find fault in his songwriting.
Perfect, just perfect. Probably 2nd favorite after Blonde on Blonde. The “topical” songs were never really topical, they expressed universal truths that ring just as true today as they did then. This is the quintessential timeless record. It spins like it’s always been and always will be.
The album starts off with one of the greatest songs of all time, Blowin' In The Wind. Throughout the album, Dylan's voice is amazing. The way he blends hopefulness with melancholy, in both his words and the way he delivers them, is just beautiful. The guitar work along with the harmonica popping in occasionally is a treat to listen to. The content of the songs speaks true still today. Other great songs are Girl From The North Country, Masters Of War, Don't Think Twice It's All Right, and Talkin' World War III Blues. Best song: Blowin' In The Wind
I enjoyed it, never listened to Bob Dylan before. Historic album tho
Decent.
I never cared for bob Dylan and I have to say after this I still dont.
Amazing folk album, don't think twice and girl from the north country are two of the best love songs ever. Blowin in the wind and masters o war are great protest anthems. Album does drag a little in the back half with the last 6 songs which is why I'll keep this at 4
Yeah pretty strong record.
I am a Bob Dylan admirer, I think he is a really superb songwriter and performer. This is the 1st record I got from him, and I enjoyed it tremendously. Some of these songs have become favorites of mine, "Girl of North Country", "Don't think twice..", "Masters of War". It was also the first record that I heard where there was very little instrumentation, for almost all songs, only guitar, voice and harmonica. So, for me this is the standard for which I measure other folk records. I bought it for "Masters of War". A song that I heard on Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary concert. The lyrics of "Master of War" have been in my head almost from the very first listen, I always remember them, and still surprise me how somebody being so young, could be so capable of putting all those pointing and sensible thoughts together. The cover also felt right to me; he and his girlfriend seemed very approachable. After 60+ years I believe it still carries a lot of wisdom and thought triggering words.
Ah Bob, dude has a voice that shouldn't of sold many albums yet he wrote so many great songs that just worked. This one isn't my favorite Dylan album but it still is a great Dylan album. Its hard to miss on early Bob though.
OK, so there are lots of famous male singers that are really not good singers (lookin' at you Billy Corgan and Dave Matthews), I guess the appeal lies in the music and lyrics? I love this album, but when I think of the songs, I smooth out the vocals, or maybe just sing over them? When I sit to listen, Bob's voice is as grating as his harmonica. I am a study in conflict, because these songs are great. For optimal enjoyment, get the lyrics and sing along (loudly).
Beautiful acoustic music.
Timothee Chalamet could never
Masters of War feels very relevant still.
It did all begin rather modestly, didn't it, and so earnestly, too. The recent movie also sheds light on what he was up to here, though inscrutability remains the overall effect, even as this young and innocent-seeming age. The literary excellence of the lyrics and the innovation of expanding forms are clearly on display here, even if there’s the slightest hint of “eat your vegetables” in hearing it today and even if one is cynical about Dylan’s presentation of himself. This is an undeniable and early manifestation of genius, with five clear lasting hallmarks for folk music.
Boring. Not for me
Couldn’t really get into it much. Some good stuff but not too impressive honestly. 3 stars
Less traditional folksy-ness and more 12 bar blues, and he's better for it... He's not at the Bringing It All Back Home or Highway 61 Revisited level, but he's coming up strong.
2 bob dylans in a row??? 🤣
Classic
Жесть блюза навалил
top 5 of all time. fav track girl from the north country
I don't like his voice, but this was pretty good
Great
"Blowin' in the Wind" is echt verpest door muziekles op de middelbare school. "Girl from the North Country" kende ik niet, echt schitterend. "Corrina, Corrina" is ook een pareltje. Grappig trouwens dat in de afsluiter "I Shall Be Free" wordt verwezen naar Babatunde Olatunji, die dan toch een groter bereik had destijds dan ik zou hebben gedacht. Voor de rest is het wat veel van hetzelfde, maar goed, als je bedenkt dat dit in 1963 uitkwam, snap je wel hoe revolutionair en invloedrijk dit was.
Oh look, Bob Dylan was coherent back in the day.
Liking the talking blues and talk-y style more than I remember, enough already with the harmonica, dont think twice is an incredible song
Classic Dylan. Not my thing.
Magisk
I can’t stand his voice
Really good album! I greatly enjoyed Masters of War in particular, something that I had never heard before since it is not on any Dylan compilation usually.
nao e minha pira
Ok, comfy, mas ainda nao me desce muito folk
C’est parti, on s’attaque à un monument historique. Un truc tellement gravé dans le marbre que j’ai presque peur de l’abîmer rien qu’en posant mes oreilles pleines de larsen dessus. Bon, remettons les pendules à l’heure tout de suite. En 1963, je n’étais même pas un projet. Du coup, ce disque, je ne l'ai pas vécu avec la claque de l'époque, je l'ai découvert bien après, quand j'étais ado, probablement entre deux écoutes de "Pornography" des Cure et un album de Sonic Youth. Autant dire que le choc thermique était violent. Passer du mur de son de la noise new-yorkaise à un mec tout seul avec sa gratte sèche et son harmonica monté sur un rack en métal autour du cou, ça fait tout drôle. On a l'impression d'être passé de la couleur au noir et blanc. Et parlons-en, du noir et blanc. Cette pochette, c’est iconique, je ne peux pas dire le contraire. Dylan qui marche dans la neige à New York avec Suze Rotolo accrochée à son bras. Ils ont l’air d’avoir froid, ils sont jeunes, ils sont beaux, ils sont bohèmes. C’est l’image d’Épinal du folkux new-yorkais de Greenwich Village. Mais est-ce que ça suffit pour me faire grimper aux rideaux aujourd'hui ? Pas sûr. Quand je bossais chez le disquaire à la fin des années 90, on en vendait des pelles de celui-là. C’était le cadeau "valeur sûre" pour le tonton qui voulait se rappeler sa jeunesse révoltée ou pour l'étudiant en fac de lettres qui voulait se donner un genre "je comprends les textes profonds". Et c'est là que le bât blesse un peu pour moi. Ce disque a ce côté "devoir de classe". Il est important, on nous le rabâche sans cesse. C'est le disque du "Mouvement des droits civiques", c'est le disque de la "Guerre Froide", c'est le disque qui a fait de lui la "voix d'une génération". Ouais, super... Mais moi, quand je rentre chez moi après une journée pourrie, est-ce que j'ai envie d'écouter le porte-parole d'une génération qui n'est pas la mienne ? Pas forcément. Dylan lui-même détestait cette étiquette, et pour le coup, je suis d'accord avec lui. Musicalement, c'est minimaliste. Une guitare, une voix, un harmonica. Alors, je sais apprécier le minimalisme. Mais là, c'est un minimalisme... disons, rustique. La voix de Dylan, on en parle ? On dit souvent qu'elle est "brute" et "expressive". C'est une façon polie de dire qu'il chante par le nez comme un canard enrhumé qui aurait avalé du papier de verre. Attention, je ne dis pas que c'est mauvais. C'est unique, ça a du caractère, ça change des crooners à la voix de velours qui inondaient les ondes à l'époque. C’est punk avant l’heure, dans l'attitude. Le mec s'en fout de chanter juste, il veut que tu écoutes ce qu'il raconte. Et ce qu'il raconte, c'est vrai que c'est du lourd. "Masters of War", je valide. C'est une chanson haineuse, froide, implacable. "I hope that you die / And your death’ll come soon". Bim, ça, c’est du niveau de noirceur que je peux respecter. On n’est pas loin de l’agression verbale d’un groupe de post-punk énervé. Mais à côté de ça, on a "Blowin' in the Wind", franchement... je n'en peux plus, je l'ai trop entendue. C'est devenu l'hymne des feux de camp, chanté par des types en sandales qui ne connaissent que trois accords. La chanson a été tellement lessivée, tellement reprise, tellement parodiée qu'elle en a perdu toute sa substance subversive, elle est devenue inoffensive. Et c'est un peu le problème de tout l'album pour moi : il est devenu un meuble. Un beau meuble ancien, bien verni, qu'on respecte, mais sur lequel on ne s'assoit pas souvent. Il y a de la tendresse aussi, ne soyons pas des brutes. "Girl from the North Country" ou "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right". C'est joli, c'est mélancolique, ça montre que le Zim (comme l'appellent les fans hardcore un peu pénibles) savait écrire des chansons d'amour sans tomber dans la guimauve totale. Mais bon, moi, l'amour à la guitare sèche, ça va cinq minutes. J'ai besoin de plus de texture, de plus de danger. J'ai besoin que ça déraille. Ici, tout est très "propre" dans la saleté, très cadré dans le format folk. Alors pourquoi je ne mets que 3 sur 5 ? Parce que je connais la suite. Je sais ce qui va se passer deux ans plus tard. Je sais qu'en 1965, Dylan va brancher la prise et qu'il va sortir "Highway 61 Revisited". Et là, mes amis, on change de dimension. Sur "Highway 61", il devient méchant, il devient cynique, il devient surréaliste. Il y a de l'orgue, il y a de l'électricité, il y a du rock'n'roll. C'est là que Dylan devient vraiment intouchable pour moi. C'est là qu'il rejoint le panthéon des artistes que je vénère, ceux qui n'ont pas peur de faire du bruit et de choquer leur public. "The Freewheelin'", en comparaison, c'est le brouillon. C'est l'album de la chrysalide, c'est le jeune Robert Zimmerman qui essaie très fort d'être Woody Guthrie. C'est touchant, c'est historiquement crucial, c'est bourré de talent, mais ça manque de ce venin électrique qui me fait vibrer. C'est un peu trop sage, malgré les textes engagés. C'est de la musique pour manifester, pas pour faire imploser son cerveau. Et moi, j'aime quand mon cerveau implose. Quand j'étais à la radio, je passais rarement du "Freewheelin'". Si je voulais mettre du Dylan, je mettais "Ballad of a Thin Man" ou "Subterranean Homesick Blues". Des trucs qui ont du groove, du flow, de l'attitude. "Freewheelin'", c'est pour le dimanche matin pluvieux, quand tu as la gueule de bois et que tu veux un truc qui ne t'agresse pas trop les neurones tout en te donnant l'impression d'être cultivé. Donc voilà, c'est un grand disque, je ne suis pas fou, je ne vais pas nier l'évidence. Il a ouvert la porte à tellement de choses. Sans lui, pas de folk-rock, pas de singer-songwriter moderne. Mais est-ce que je prends mon pied en l'écoutant aujourd'hui, en 2026, avec mes oreilles nourries au post-rock apocalyptique et à l'indus ? Moyen. C'est un peu sec, c'est un peu daté, c'est un peu "cours d'histoire". Je lui mets la moyenne supérieure avec un bon 3/5. C'est honnête, c'est respectueux. Mais ne me demandez pas de crier au génie absolu alors que "Highway 61 Revisited" existe et le regarde de haut avec ses lunettes noires et sa Fender Stratocaster. L'histoire a retenu celui-là comme le début de la légende. Moi je dis que la légende commence vraiment quand il a arrêté d'essayer d'être un chanteur de folk traditionnel pour devenir l'alien qu'on connaît.
3/5. Some songs go on too long
This is #day233 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... once again, I find myself listening late into the night—just like I did with Air's Moon Safari a couple of weeks ago. It’s been a tough (but also great) day, so I didn’t have much time to do it earlier. After rating Blood On The Tracks a 2, I was rather skeptical when I saw Freewheelin’ on today’s list... But listening to the album, it turned out I might not mind some early Dylan, or maybe it’s just that nighttime suits this record. Blowin' In The Wind is beautiful—I really like it. It's an anthemic tune. The rest of it? Some fine folk-rock, but nothing that stands out. Should it, actually? This a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day234.
Traditional, stripped-down folk (mostly just voice, guitar, and harmonica) Highlights: "Girl from the North Country" (nice fingerpicked guitar), "Masters of War" (that last verse...phew!), "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright"
2.5
Luistert lekker weg met indrukwekkend schrijfwerk. Het slagwerk op de gitaar brengt me in beweging. Sommige nummers zijn wat lang.
Klassiker, otroligt snyggt omslag. Det är det bästa från folkeran, men min Dylan är elektrisk och peakar på blonde on blonde
Some poignant lyrics throughout, but the style and delivery is best in small doses.
на любителя. (Стаса Гасилина)
I might have been made biased because I quite liked the recent movie, but this was a great example of folk which I don’t normally give much shrift, I can see why he crossed over and quite quickly grew his fandom. Probably will revisit.
The more I hear the more I love. This dude is a fucking bad ass. Love it. But not 5 stars love it. 4 folky stars.
An average Dylan.
Coming into this review, I didn't know a ton about Bob Dylan. Other than the fact that he is a musician and that one short guy from that YouTube video walked him up on stage apparently in 1969. I'm also generally not a big fan of folk music as it usually just doesn't have a ton of instrumentation to keep me interested...but I'll keep an open mind! I had heard a handful of his hits and the only song I was familiar with coming into this release was "Blowin' in the Wind". Upon first listen, one of the things that stands out to me is the sincerity I can hear in Bob Dylan's voice when he sings these songs. The use of harmonica on the record is also tastefully done - a very under sung instrument! I'm also kind of amazed at how straightforward musically a lot of these songs are - It literally is just a man, guitar, and harmonica...that's it! It kind of blows me my mind how "big" these songs feel despite only having those 2 instruments and vocals. Despite the album also coming out in the midst of the Cold War, I didn't expect there to be multiple songs about nuclear war and the military industrial complex in the early 1960's. Overall, I think I appreciate this album a lot and the message it's sending to me. I don't think it's an album I would listen to front-to-back again but the standout tracks are recently worth revisiting. This was a great crash course in the legendary Bob Dylan! Standout tracks were "Blowin' in the Wind", "Masters of War", "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall", "Oxford Town", and "Corrina, Corrina".
Wow
Not bad as background music, the further back the better.
I don't want any more Bob Dylan. Please.
Actually liked this which surprised me
It’s the best album I’ve ever heard. Moved me and grooved me. Felt like a fond memory, reminded me of my grandfather. Don’t skip anything
One of the greatest of all time. In my Top 10, maybe even Top 5. Just so many great songs, stories. Masters of War remains one of the great protest songs and ever relevant. Don't think twice is another all timer. 5 isn't enough.
I am not a significant folk fan so do have an immediate bias against this more folk leaning example from his many albums. I dont know loads of Bob songs but what I do know I think we have better to come from him for my taste. Bring on the rock and blues fusion I know there will be an album of his in this list later. Sadly while his lyrics are clearly amazing its a style and delivery which doesnt resonnate with me personally. I get the historical context etc and his voice is part of the story telling but cant go high on this one based on my musical taste rather than my view of how impactful it was to the music industry etc.
I often think Dylan is overrated, particularly if you let recent performances cloud your appraisal of him. Listening to this album has been a great reminder of why he deserves his acclaim. It's raw, soulful, politically challenging, simple but beautiful. Like all good folk music, it somehow makes me feel nostalgia for a place I've never visited in a time 30 years before I was born. My advice to skeptical listeners is to try to listen to this album in isolation, putting aside preconceptions of Dylan and ignoring the subsequent hero worship. It's a truly great album and probably his best.
Great
I cannot reiterate this enough. I do not like Bob Dylan's voice. I greatly appreciate his guitar playing and his song writing, but the way he ends each line is like nails on a chalkboard. He refuses to hold a note until it actually ends and is singling like he's shouting. This album does have two of my favorite songs from this era of folk (see below). I also recognize the cultural and musical importance of Bob Dylan. I just don't want to hear him sing his own songs. Favorite Song(s): Blowin' in the Wind, Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
This was the album that turned me into a Dylan-head, so I have nothing but good things to say. In an increasingly difficult to rationalize world, Dylan’s ability to make the strange sound simple provides some solace.
Bob Dylan as stripped back as possible, and it works. I think his strength has always been in songwriting, and that's what I tend to pay attention to most. This is just really good folk music that doesn't do much more, but don't think twice, it's alright. 8/10
I liked this one. Better than the last Dylan this list gave me, anyway.
Surprisingly hard to rate this one. By my count, 5 or the 13 songs here are among the greatest written in the past sixty years or so. But (not surprisingly, I guess) there's a pretty big drop-off from the best of those to the filler. Still, this is an essential album for everyone to listen to if they care at all about popular music is the second half of the 20th century.
Bob please I'm so bored
Stupendous album. Iconic.
The worlds best iron sandwich player, with 30 second one note harp solos
I love this Robert Zimmerman album. Good stuff, but it ain’t JOHNNYSINTHEBASEMENTMIXINGUPTHEMEDICINEIMONTHEPAVEMENTTINKINGABOUTTHEGOVERNMENT
Once upon a time…
-Blowin' in the Wind: classic +++ -Girl from the North Country: i forget -Masters of War: whoa +++ -Bob Dylan's Blues: ++ -A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall: long but good + -Don't Think Twice, It's Alright: ++ -Bob Dylan's Dream i forget -Oxford Town: really cheeky melody, racist ass town tho +++ -Talkin' World War III Blues: based af +++ -Corrina, Corrina: i forget -Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance: ++ -I Shall Be Free: cheeky lyrics +++
Just not for me
Not much to say, know well. Love the melodies in the lyrics. 5 Star
Just never been a huge fan of his voice. Some decent songs though
better than blonde on blonde but still not great
Agh, MORE Dylan? Some of it’s nice, some is boring, can’t do his voice for a whole album in one go
The most important Folk artist of all time, arguably the most important musical artist ever.
Mooie country nummer op z’n kleinkunst maar dan int Engels
Soft-revolution music from one of the most influential musicians in the history of the United States. Poetry at its core with music added after the fact. My favorites from this album: "Blowin' in the wind" "Masters of War" "Girl from the north country" "Don't think twice it's alright"
I mean. I'm fine with it. It's a beat poet time capsule of late 60's New York, which is really cool, but it's also not the music I'd put on just to listen to. I'd put it on because I'm supposed to and because it's important - but obligation doesn't make me fall head over heels for it beyond the couple of songs that I already knew.
Pretty good, he just be yappin sometimes though. Likes: Blowin' in the Wind,
Great album
I don't know if I'm just getting used to his sound, but this is the most listenable Bob Dylan album I've heard on this list so far.
i don't get it
Folk music has never been my taste, and I can't say this changed my mind on it. Don't get me wrong...I understand the historical and cultural significance of this album, and I respect that. Dylan proves over and over what a gifted lyricist he is, which went a long way to propelling him into stardom. "Masters of War" is easily in my top 5 of his songs, and the more humorous songs like "I Shall Be Free" keep things moving along. Musically it fails to sustain my interest though, as the acoustic guitar and blasts of harmonica feel repetitive after a while. I would probably like it more if it was all mixed in with his electric work, but as it is I think it's fine.
Not the biggest Dylan fan.
Love the early era Dylan harmonica, really ties the album together
The train of brutal ratings continues unabated. Fuckin’ Bob Dylan, man.
Yes!!!! Absolutely brilliant!!!
Not even seen the film yet but love Bobby D
Enjoyed this a lot. "I shall be free" is a funny song lol
One or two good songs, the rest, typical Dylan 🥱
I think I tend to go into Bob Dylan’s albums expecting it to be bad because I find him voice really jarring. However, this was much less so here. To be honest, I had higher hopes for this album after seeing Blowin’ In The Wind as the opening track because I know this was in the era of him singing in a much less weird manner. Voice aside, this is a really pleasant folk album. The guitar playing could easily be mistaken as Paul Simon which is definitely not a bad thing (and probably not a coincidence as Girl From North Country has many references to Scarborough Fair). This is the type of folk music I love, and the story telling was great throughout this.
Possibly the most Dylan of all
A classic album from an artist in his ascent to greatness.
Perfection.
Never listened to much Bob Dylan, always knew he made some great songs, but something about him just didn't click with me, or so I thought, and boy was I wrong. You can hardly find a purest form of music than this, a guy with a guitar and harmonica, singing about real world problems, spreading love and joy, instead of war and miss fortune. The lyrics and themes are excellent, they sometimes have a humorous note to them, but they are always down to earth and talk about the problems and struggles we are facing as a society. The album is infinitely fun to listen to and is really easy going. This album was a nice breath of fresh air, looking forward to more of Bob Dylan.
Bob Dylan is certainly a significant figure in popular culture—I cannot deny his influence on folk music. However, is his music refreshing to listen to or easily accessible? No.
Have always appreciated Dylan more than I’ve liked him. Recent events have had me listen a bit more and this album has probably risen in my rankings more than in the past. Not something I’m going to pull up and listen to regularly. But still a nice work.
I mean one of my faves
Whilst I prefer Dylan when he goes electric, I can't deny that this is a really fantastic album.
It's not bad, the lyrics are really creative. The only thing is it seems to repeat a delivery style that gets kind of old. To listen to every once in a while it's probably pretty good. I guess I'm just not a Bob Dylan fan.
I don't care. I love Bob Dylan.
What a fine young folk musician. Certainly he’ll never plug those instruments into electrical implication devices.
Is this peak Dylan?
I grew up avoiding Bob Dylan, hating his nasal twang, his surly reputation, and folk in general. But damn, you gotta give it up for this album. Really exemplary storytelling, accompanied just so by the guitar and harmonica. I look forward to repeated listens to enjoy the writing and the mid century characters he evokes. I appreciate the political consciousness too.
Bob’s playing back then was so loose. It’s a wonder that when he final did go electric that he could find people to follow what he was playing. This album though sounds sonically fantastic for being 60 years old. It’s so bare and simply unproduced. The songs do all start sounding similar to each other as a result of this. But, I do realize it was a game changer of an album.
It's ok. Still don't quite get the hype behind bob
真难听
Great album, slightly dated
Not a fan of this kind of music anyway, and Dylan’s voice is grating.
oh jane is going to be so excited for this one
classic
First time I had sat through an entire Dylan album and I really thought I’d labor through it. I was wrong. I enjoyed the folk music and contemplative lyrics. Top 3 Tracks: 1. Masters of War 2. Blowin’ in the Wind 3. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall 6.5/10
Not as good as some of his other ones for me. Little drab. You probably had to be there
1963!!! Ahead of its time
I know there are lots of people who don’t care for Dylan’s style, or the way his voice fluctuates in pitch as he sings, but not me. I dug this album, it just clicked with me. I found the lyrics to be the right kind of humorous, and the instruments to just feel right. It just fits perfectly with the type of folk music I really enjoy. I would definitely go back and give this another listen.
Never really listened to much Dylan. Liked it. Particularly Masters Of War
Dylan's Blonde on Blonde was my 1st album here and it did spark a major re-appraisal of him by myself. I don't think this is *quite* top tier throughout but there are more than enough glimpses - Girl from the North Country is a fav even though I prefer the Secret Machines version of it...! It's pretty great for a 21 year old - as far as the 60s song writing goes I think he pretty much catapulted himself to the top of the pile with this and would stay there for another 2-3 years. Iconic cover, too...
Ok, so firstly the caveat that I appreciate how influential this album was, how it helped define a generations social movement etc. I also know that without Freewheelin’ there’d be none of the later seminal works. That said, the full on folk sound of this album doesn’t appeal to me in the way that Dylan’s more eclectic later works do. I prefer his more bluesy, more rock-infused, less vocally whiny output, and despite there being some fine tracks on this album, it’s not one I ever found myself frequently revisiting. Good, but not great.
Pretty good. 3.5 stars
I bet this sounds really good to people who love loud-ass harmonica solos.
A great album. Excellent lyrics and harmonica playing of course. Not too many things wrong with this. 8/10 (4/5)
I don’t get it and it’s not for me. I suppose we will have many more attempts to see if there’s a Bob album I become fond of. 5/10
I think I've found a nuanced and novel critique for Mr. Dylan. My most original thought. I don't like his voice. Don't go gay Bob Rating:5/10 (Full points for writing, -5 for the voice) Favorite Song:
Bob Dylan 6/10 I know this will be one of many Dylan albums. I don’t really like this one but I recognize the turning point it was for folk music. Other Dylan hits better for me but not much Dylan works for me the way it does for the Dylan followers. Favorite Song: Don’t think twice it’s alright
‘Girl from the North Country’ is one of the most beautiful folks songs ever. So many great songs on this album.
Masters of War feels very relevant still.
After having watched A Complete Unknown recently, it’s somewhat serendipitous that this record comes up. I hadn’t listened to much of Dylan before seeing that movie but appreciated what he’s done. This record is a Dylan classic with many tracks that characterize him. Melancholy tone, easy melodies and rhythms, very impressionable lyrics. Really enjoyed this one.
I love this. Feels like a good indie film from early 2000s
Good
BOB FUCKING DYLAN
I hadn't really listened to Dylan, I missed my window during my formative years.i obviously knew much of his stuff, it's everywhere. But with some distance, it was great to come to this fresh, this is simply one of the greatest albums of all time, 3 chords and the truth.
Someone take away that man's harmonica this instant! Unless one were drunk and had given up entirely on life, I can't imagine another reason to willfully select this off the shelf when there are SOOO many other things to listen to in this world. But to prove I'm not a monster (or a bot programed to lower the global scores of this challenge), I'll give it a 2 because there are moments of good song writing here - just zero moments of good song performing.
This was rather boring. I will give him a little bit of credit, as he seems to be a good songwriter. But Bob does need to put down the harmonica. It was borderline violent to listen to him blow into that death whistle the entire time.
I came in with not so high expectations, and the album honestly surprised me. This album is timeless. Still holds up today. The harmonica is a bit much at times, but overall, a solid album. 3.5 for me Favorite Songs: Blowin' in the Wind, Down the Highway, Corrina, Corrina Least Favorite: A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
Excellent album
This is my second Bob Dylan album, and I gave it a lot of shit for the obnoxiously blaring harmonica and his god awful vocals. Both of which are much more pleasant in this album, but still pretty underwhelming. He's a great storyteller obviously, but the voice of said storyteller isn't for me. It was quite beautiful and calming at times, but, like most albums on this list, got repetitive.
One of the best from Bob. This is his early stuff at it's best. I might even say this is his best album period but I know most people would disagree with me on that. 9/10
Pretty good.
He undoubtedly wrote some fantastic songs and many acts covered them but Bob just can't sing and his nasal twang is awful. I've never understood his popularity.
Folk, strumming on the porch at a ranch house - Nice harmonica and guitar - Quite boring
Noioso, confermo che Bob Dylan non fa per me
Of course I'm an acolyte of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan: why else would I have I seen A Complete Unknown on Christmas Eve, opening day!! It would be one of the more laughable Best Picture winners of recent memory, if that upset indeed comes to pass. But what that movie gets right is that it does not attempt to crack the enigma of Dylan — the unknowability is the point, and that permeates the songs here, particularly the protest songs that define the record. A hard rain's gonna fall, and there's nothing any of us can do to understand it, let along influence it. "The executioner's face is always well-hidden," Dylan wrote when he was, stunningly, 21. "I'll know my song well before I start singing." I love the photo of Dylan and Suze Rotolo on the cover, such a stark image of him as this real, physical being. What an out-of-body experience it must have been for her to hear Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right for the first time. It always makes me think of Alvvays' Pharmacist: "You know it happens all the time/it's alright." I mean, the influence is everywhere. The Adam and Eve bit of Talkin' World War III Blues echoes through The Hold Steady's Cattle and the Creeping Things. You seen what happened last time they started? I heard things ain't been the same since. It's a bit frontloaded, and I lean towards the Highway 61/Blonde on Blonde sound. This record is still a miracle.
Not typically a Dylan fan. I'm still not, but this is the best version of himself I think. How can I think I don't like this album if I love John Prince so much?
Can't stand the vocal style not for me, never seen the attraction and knew this one would be a struggle. Didn't change my opinion
I tried SO hard to like this. The guitar is great. The lyrics are thoughtful and interesting. Why spoil things by singing and playing that fucking mouth organ? As the album went on I got more used to his voice and by the end it was ok. Almost like a pastiche of himself. The mouth organ was a bit more difficult to love. You got lulled into a false sense of security and then... oh shit here it comes again! But a bit like a screeching child a you do kinda get numbed to it in the end. How old was he when he made this? 22? He sounds sounds like an old man. I tried so hard to like this and I think in the end I did.
This is very new for me, have to listen more to see what I feel.
I had to admit to myself when listening to this that I don't really love Bob Dylan. This was a highly unpopular take with my friends. I will say that I've never listened to much other than hit hits. And from the start of the album to the end of the album I had a greater appreciation. So I'm giving this a 3 in recognition of the importance of the album. But, still, not something that I would pick up and listen to without a prompt to do so.
Admittedly I don’t love Bob Dylan’s voice though I acknowledge his talent as a songwriter and his role in the development and growth of folk music. This album had some great songs but a lot I will probably never seek out again.
I didn't like this one as much as Highway 61 Revisited
everyone needs a bob dylan phase but i am no longer 19 so... it's meandering in a kinda annoying way that i probably once thought was super ~profound~ or experimental or something, but now reads as ADHD ramblings. its not bad just doesn't wow me. there are much better dylan records. there are dylan records that shifted culture more significantly. he sounds like he smells. needs more harmonica tbh
good but maybe too much harmonica and a bit repetitive
No more Bob Dylan please . 5 out of 100
2.12
This is my second Bob Dylan album that I’ve actually listened to front to back. And it wasn’t as grading as I thought it would be, but it also didn’t blow me away. Like I can appreciate the political commentary being made on the album but sonically the album is a lot of the same. The tone changes throughout the album but the sound doesn’t. My favorite song on the album is the biggest departure in sound out of the whole album, honey just allow me one more chance. I really liked how this song seemed whimsical and silly while the rest of the album was somber and pointed. This seemed to be the only song that was almost aimless, and I appreciate that. Sadly I can’t rate the album off of one song alone.
I think this simpler, minimal folk era of Dylan's clicks with me wayyyyy more than Bringing It All Back Home which while it had some okay moments, it just did not sound good to me (or maybe I was in a bad mood which also happens). Maybe I'll have to relisten to the previous one to really get to why I wasn't interested in it, but here it somehow doesn't feel like that much of a shift and yet it works. the simplicity and direct delivery, the chill tone and how well Bob tells a story is all here and it makes total sense to me. Just a good album really
you gotta love blowing in the wind but i don't know about a whole album full of songs like that
can't stand bob dylan
Realmente se merece un Nobel solo por la primera canción de este disco. Me guardo «Blowin' in the Wind», «Girl from the North Country», «A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall» y «Don't Think Twice, It's All Right».
Another album that is extremely important but isn't necessarily as impactful today. Blowin' in the Wind and Don't Think Twice It's All Right are both phenomenal and Oxford Town is great. But the rest of the album didn't really click with me.
Helt bra, är inte helt övertygad dock. Allt låter ganska lika. Säkert fina lyrics men det är något jag har svårt att koncentrera mig på. Bästa låten: Blowin in the wind
I liked some of the songs on it, but not all.
Not Bob’s best, but certainly highlighted by one of his best songs. Unfortunately that’s all it is
Not even his best yet, but damn. Dylan is my number one. The songwriting, playing, and feel are second to none. He wrote multiple songs on this album that stand the test of time and cut to the core right at the time of release. Some people tap into the core of the American experience and can live in that place reflecting back to us the experience. Dylan is that. Best living American songwriter.
[2/10] Lord deliver me from this tedious little fellow
Look, I know it's a highly rated album, and of course there are some great songs, but on the whole it's a little rambly and shambly.
Unauffällig, unaufgeregt, man kauft den Namen mit.
They are really putting you Dylan/Band haters through the paces. This is a classic I never come back to bc who needs to hear “Blowin’” ever again? It is laden and lugubrious with folk reverence and watching Bob develop his shtick in real time, but “A Hard Rain” and “Don’t Think Twice” are total bangers.
Oh right, THIS is the Dylan I was wary of when I saw Blonde on Blonde come up earlier.
Uh, okay
oh shit, I honestly never knew Bob Dylan wrote Blowin' in the Wind. We used to sing that song at church when I was young. Fine album but Blonde on Blonde was better.
I'm surprised by how much more I liked the younger folkier Dylan than Blonde on Blonde Dylan (which was on my list quite recently). I was aware that his fans felt betrayed when "Dylan went electric" but I'm surprised to learn how few years passed between this album and Bringing It All Back Home—less time than a kid spends in high school!
Still don't understand dylan veneration.
My favorite Bob Dylan Album...cover artwork. I just really like that photo.
There’s so much bad going on in the world today. Being forced to listen to this made it all somehow worse. It is better than the others of his thus far, but a better Bob Dylan album is still a fucking Bob Dylan album.
Timothée chalamet sounds so different
why does he look like Timothee Chalamet
4.5
Overall a nice album, even if it was a little too simple for my tastes. I really can't stand harmonica though so that held it back. Girl from the North Country was my favorite of the bunch.
I cried.
Yeah, that one was alright. Not a lot else to say, rn.
Impeccable songwriting as always from Bob, but just not that pleasant to listen to him perform
I enjoyed Bob's voice on this one as opposed to some of the later albums of his. Lyrics were soulful, somber, dare I say historic
Includes the classics Blowin in the Wind and Don't Think Twice, It's All Right. Very classic Dylan, but still while he was intelligible. I've never quite understood the allure of Dylan's speak-sing style, but the lyrics are powerful and harmonica is on point.
I think I may be a hippie
i’m sorry, i’m really not the demographic for this. maybe i’ll come to appreciate bob dylan’s music when i’m in the right mood. for now, it just sounds really indistinct to me. folk music just isn’t for me i guess. DNFed this one :/
An all timer. The first time Dylan found his voice (the first version of it). The great songs are great, the smaller songs are enjoyable and lesser known songs like Oxford Town hold up.
3.5
Tekrar dinle, dylan full hikaye anlatıyor
Beautiful album and very easy background music. Especially whilst being beat 3 times in a row at chess 😘