Reviews (page 3 of 14)
I was between a 4 and a 5 on this one but f it, 5. Not my all time favorite Bob Dylan album but it's definitely up there. Some fantastic songs that I could listen to over and over.
great album!
This album wasn't for me. I did like the harmonica playing on some songs.
8/10 It’s probably fair to start off by saying that, while I have always appreciated Bob Dylan as a songwriter, I have often found it a slight struggle to get into his work due to his vocal style and propensity to get a bit too untidy with his harmonica playing. But sometimes we need to sink ourselves into something to fully get a grip on it, so I was quite looking forward to this record. The first thing to note is how well balanced this album feels in terms of looking back and striding forward. It’s a melting pot of ideas and styles, bringing in blues, folk, country, rock and roll, and even a touch of rhythm and blues in places, but while there are moments that he allows the music to settle into those comfortable old shoes, the primary direction of travel here is forward. I’m not sure how often this is mentioned of this album, but it sounds very much ahead of its time, with the production sounding clean and coherent while the approach to style and songwriting echoing clearly into the 70s, 80s and beyond. It kind of goes without saying that Dylan is a master songwriter, and his compositions sound as fresh and engaging today as they did 60 years ago. There are some truly beautiful pieces of playing across the track list, with particular highlights from some of the lead guitar, organ and piano work, but every single performer comes together to create an album that shifts through sparse and stripped back moments through to dense, layered arrangements, all the while remaining coherent and well balanced. As previously mentioned, I do sometimes have issues with Dylan’s voice and there were times here, particularly on the cleaner and more melodically sharp tracks, where it did pull me a little out of the moment, however as the record progressed, I did find that, more often than not it did actually blend pretty well with the music, with the more bluesy and rocky numbers probably giving it its best stylistic accompaniment. I also largely got on board with the harmonica, which managed to sound more purposeful than I had been expecting. It was perhaps a touch overused, but I guess that’s just Dylan’s thing. As the album progressed, I did find myself settling deeper and deeper into the sonic world of Dylan’s writing and, certainly when listening in a more focused way, I got a great deal of enjoyment out of my time with it. For me, there are a few moments where things drag on too much, or Dylan’s vocal style jars just a a tiny bit, but those are minor quibbles and, while trimming this down by 1520 minutes might have tightened it up a little, the historical significance of this work and the quality of the songwriting makes it a very worthwhile repeat listen. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 - This track kicks off in quite an erratic way, but settles into the vibe pretty well. It’s very tongue in cheek, and despite being fairly repetitive, there’s enough complexity snuck into the well constructed soundscaping that it actually becomes more than the sum of its parts. It’s got a decent groove, some good melodies and the playing is decent too. The harmonica didn’t actually annoy me either. A pretty good start. Pledging My Time - I’ve never really connected much with Dylan’s voice, but I think it works really well with this kind of slow blues jam. There’s a load of swagger to the playing and there’s actually a bit more nuance to the harmonica than I was expecting. It’s hardly Stevie Wonder, but it pulls through enough emotion to work well. It’s another with good vibe and solid, if unspectacular playing from the band. Visions Of Johanna - The first Dylan epic of the album. The songwriting is excellent, and there’s some really, really lovely playing, particularly from the electric guitar, but the band do a great job all round. The ebb and flow of the dynamic is lovely and, despite being pretty long, he does manage to drag you along with him without any problem. It has the slightly clichéd Dylan issue of the songwriting being of a phenomenal standard while his voice can be a little difficult to engage with and doesn’t provide the melodic clarity that I would prefer. But it’s really lovely work nonetheless. One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later) - The transition into the chorus on this track is excellent, with a solid change in vibe and urgency. The piano part is a highlight and, while this doesn’t feel as focused as the last track, I think there’s still a lot to like about this. The lead vocal isn’t fantastic, with a touch too much of Dylan’s large undulations of pitch, but it’s another well written and executed track. I also think the production up to this point has been full and excellent for an album from 1966. I Want You - You can hear so much influence on bands that would follow in this track, particularly in the 2000s indie scene. It sounds a long way ahead of its time. It’s really well written and executed, and the mix and production are superb. Structurally, there’s nothing complex about it, but the construction of rhythm, melody and harmony are first class. A lovely song. Memphis Blues Again - The swing to the groove here is great. As with Visions Of Johanna, there’s some really deft and well delivered moments of lead electric guitar, bouncing really nicely against the organ. The push and pull of the rhythmic pace is lovely through different sections. There’s so much going on across the instrumentation, but it doesn’t feel over-filled, it just feels perfectly put together. It’s possibly a touch long, but I’m enjoying myself and little bits of instrumental work keep popping out and grabbing me, so I think I’m probably just being churlish. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat - It’s another bluesy effort that again works well with Dylan’s vocal. It’s fairly routine blues fare that leans towards a rock and roll vibe, but it’s very well executed and some of the guitar work is really good. It’s not spectacular, but it’s really well presented and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Just Like A Woman - A very, very well written ballad that does get let down by the Dylan vocal. Sometimes his voice works fine, but on a precise track like this that’s so clean and defined, his slightly aggressive cadence and loose, pulsing pitch butt up against the rest of the track just a little too much. It’s a beautiful composition though, with harmonic richness, a soulful rhythm and a lovely, lilting feel. Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine - There’s great pace and a solid pulse to this one and it’s almost got a bit of a Beatles feel to it. There are some lovely musical choices that take things in a slightly unexpected direction, but still feel really natural. It’s not one of the more complex song structures, but the layering of parts and the well balanced mix more than make up for that and there’s a lot there to enjoy. Temporary Like Achilles - A slower, swinging number now. There’s some beautiful piano and guitar work and the laid back swagger leans a bit more into a style that works with Dylan’s drawl. It’s not the most exciting of tracks, but the instrumental mix and counterpoint across the different parts is still pretty lush. Absolutely Sweet Marie - This is the most 60s sounding track on the album so far, which just makes me think about how ahead of its time this album sounds, with much of it foreshadowing work that would come along in the 70s and later. There are some more really lovely instrumental performances here again and the vibe and rhythmic flow are absorbing and pull the track forward with an infectious momentum. More nice stuff. 4th Time Around - This reminds me a lot of Norwegian Wood. Apparently there may have been some link, with Dylan responding to the Beatles showcasing nods to his work on Rubber Soul. It’s a lovely song and the counterpoint between the guitar lines is really pretty. This one actually works with his voice, probably because everything else is so harmonically rich that he kind of floats through the middle of it all in a dreamy way. A lovely little song. Obviously 5 Believers - This is great. It’s another with a bluesy rock and roll edge and drifts back into that more classic 60s sound. But that groove is so infectious, the layering of parts is delicious and there are loads of great melodic hooks in there that just pop up, do their thing and we roll on. The tempo and drive to this is absolutely bang on and Charlie McCoy’s harmonica part is sparingly used but utterly brilliant. What a great track. Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands - This one takes up the final side of the second record! It’s a slightly meandering stroll of a track, but it drifts so easily through its movements that it’s easy to just sink into the song and let it absorb you. The swells of dynamic are fairly subtle, but really effective as he builds up the instrumentation and drops it back out again. While I’m enjoying this, I think it probably does drag on a touch too much and could do with a bit more musical range for a track of this length. It’s still very pretty and mellow though.
Overall solid but didn’t enjoy it as much as his previous album 3
Nous y voilà enfin, le fameux double album qui a redéfini à lui seul les contours du rock de l'année 1966 et des décennies suivantes. Autant le dire tout de suite, pour moi, c’est le sommet absolu de la discographie de Bob Dylan et c'est aussi un 5 sur 5. Et c'est d'autant plus logique quand je regarde ce qui l'a précédé dans ce long marathon d'écoute : Highway 61 Revisited et Bringing It All Back Home s’en étaient sortis chez moi avec un gros 4, tandis que The Freewheelin’ avait écopé d'un petit 3 un peu laborieux. Mais là, on est dans la cour des grands, celle des disques qui vous retournent le cerveau et qui justifient à eux seuls qu’on ait pu passer des nuits blanches à écouter de la musique depuis son adolescence. Quand j'ai appuyé sur la touche PLAY de mon lecteur, j'ai immédiatement ressenti cette atmosphère si particulière, ce son unique que Dylan cherchait tant à capturer. On oublie la folk acoustique polie et les protestations politiques un peu trop balisées de ses débuts. Ici, le bonhomme est en roue libre, propulsé par l'électricité et l'arrogance rock. C’est le son de New York qui rencontre Nashville, un télescopage improbable entre des musiciens de studio chevronnés et un poète halluciné qui vomit ses lignes à une vitesse que personne ne peut suivre. La pochette originale en dit déjà long : ce portrait de Dylan, flou, pris à la va-vite dans un coin de rue. Ce n'est pas un effet de style de graphiste branché, c'est juste que le mec bougeait beaucoup trop vite pour l'époque, tant sur le plan créatif que personnel. En 1966, Dylan était une comète qui brûlait par les deux bouts, et ce disque est le manifeste de cette combustion spontanée. L'ouverture de l'album, une fanfare de cuivres braillards et ironiques, est presque une blague quand on sais que la véritable baffe se cache dans les moments de pure suspension. Quand Dylan par exemple lâche les chiens sur des morceaux vicieux comme "I Want You", et puis qu'en un claquement de doigts, il nous plonge dans des abîmes de mélancolie pure avec des pièces maîtresses comme "Visions Of Johanna" ou "Just Like A Woman". Sa voix n'a jamais été aussi habitée, ce râle nasal unique devenant ici le vecteur parfait pour exprimer la désillusion, le manque et la défonce. Pour un amateur de structures sombres, de post-punk et de textures denses, il y a dans ce disque une noirceur sous-jacente et une liberté formelle qui résonnent profondément en moi. Ce n'est pas du rock de stade pour amuser la galerie ; c'est une plongée introspective et surréaliste dans les obsessions d'un homme. Ses textes ne cherchent plus à sauver le monde ou à dénoter la guerre de manière scolaire ; ils cartographient les sentiments intimes, la paranoïa urbaine et les déboires amoureux avec une poésie abrasive qui coupe comme du verre pilé. C'est là que le titre de "voix d'une génération" prend tout son sens, loin des clichés de l'époque. Et puis, il y a cette conclusion monumentale : "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands". Plus de onze minutes d'une prière hypnotique, un fleuve de mots et d'accords mineurs dédié aux amoureux éconduits et aux âmes damnées. C'est le genre de morceau qui s'écoute dans le noir, les yeux grands ouverts, et qui justifie pleinement la note maximale. Blonde On Blonde n'est pas seulement le meilleur album de Dylan, c'est la rampe de lancement de tout ce que le rock fera de plus libre et de plus sauvage par la suite. Un chef-d'œuvre total, point barre.
Review - classic electric Dylan album. He's having some good fun and there's a bit more structure to it than his earliest electric albums which have great moments but a lot of under-rehearsed bumf. Some all time classics here, some lesser known bangers, and a few misses to round it out. Score - 8/10 Need to listen? YES
I loved this. Rainy Day Women #12 and #35 is one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs. Just Like a Woman is a beautiful song. Overall a wonderful listen and instrumentally well done.
Einu sinnk þótti mér Bob Dylan afskaplega leiðinlegur tónlistarmaður. Alltaf sama uppleggið. Syngur og síðasta orðið í hverri ljóðlínu er dregin út. Mér fannst hann syngja eins og Megas sem er líka með skrítinn söngstíl. Svo með tímanum lærði ég að fíla þetta og lögin hans. Bestu lögin eru ekki á þessari plötu en ég fíla hana samt
Bob Dylan is weird but good? Strange voice and I dont really get what he is going on about a lot of the time.
Bob Dylan certainly has a unique voice. And I can't explain why I enjoyed this so much, but he apparently gets a pass that I probably wouldn't give a lot of other singers with more unique voices.
I won't pretend I'm the best at listening to the lyrics of songs, but I don't live under a rock. I know Bob Dylan is a lyrical genius, even if it's lost on me. I still loved the album. The blues at the end was so good. Maybe not as much as I should.
Listened Before? N Ahh yeah, more Dylan. He's been pretty consistent over his massive career. I liked this one - especially the first song. Anyway, this list is getting long and I'm over it. Good album. See you tomorrow. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist; Rainy Day Women
# Playlist Track - I want You # Notes - Such a good album to get into Bob Dylan (if that's your thing!) - A Brazilian bank, Skank, which I listened A LOT as a teen recorded a cover of " I want you" that I really liked (called "Tanto"). I have vivid memories of listening to Dylan for the first time and completely blowing up my mind. - Rainy Day Woman and Just Like a Woman are also fantastic tracks
Lovely
Kyllästyin venyttävään laulutyyliin hyvin nopeasti. Sitten aloin toivomaan että oispa levy jo ohi.
Bob Dylan kuulosti taatulta Bobby-sanilta. Varmaan tääkin olis mieltä räjäyttävää jos osais kuunnella lyriikkaa ja parsia jotain merkitystä siitä. Harmi et Bobin saundi on niin luotaantyöntävä niin ei jaksa yhtään sen enempää kuunnella ku mitä levy kestää. Musiikissahan ei sinänsä mitään vikaa, mutta Bobin vokaalinen ulosanti on jotenkin ärsyttävää, ettei istu omaan makuun.
I don't even especially like Dylan that much but dude's a legend for a damn reason.
5 stars for the lyrics, 1 star for the voice and music
This is a great album
I'm sorry but I didn't like this album ONE BIT. It literally made me cringe a little how he sang some songs and, I mean don't get me wrong, the songs weren't that bad but, you may already guess, this is not the genre I would listen to. And when I say he made me cringe, I mean it like slightly okay, I just couldn't stand his voice for some reason LOL. SORRYYYYY
excellent album, incredible songwriting. my only real issue is that there was a noticeable drop in quality on side C. luckily sad eye lady ends the album on such a high note
As I dive into Bob's lyrics I am not sure if he's a genius or so full of it. As part of a radio competition years ago I was trying to find just 2 lines of a song lyric that was the most clever or meaningful or something. I spent hours going through Dylan's lyrics to find just two lines of brilliance. I couldn't do it. Verses of brilliance sure no problem. Dylan uses lots of lyrics to tell a story and paint a scene but concise he isn't. And then there's his voice. Some of his songs have been bigger hits for other artists who can actually sing. Bob's voice is difficult and there are times when I just can't go there. Overall I can't quite give it a 5 despite the highs' being very high. I would like to see the alternative universe where he perhaps sang as well as Paul Simon can, and see how much he was appreciated then. If he sang as well as Art Garfunkel or Freddie Mercury then that might be too much talent in one body and he would probably spontaneously combust.
I like Blonde On Blonde, but I do think it’s overrated. As a more casual Dylan fan, I prefer some of his other albums (Freewheelin’, Highway 61). That said, this is still a good record and it was good to listen to it again. It might overstay its welcome at over an hour, but that is debatable.
There is a five star album in here. Actually there may be two. However, this is just altogether too much Bob Dylan for me in one go.
This album made me like Bob Dylan less. At the end I found him almost insufferable.
pff... another masterpiece by bob dylan. very consistent album, clear style, good lyrics, better music. thats why hes the goat, the goat
Te amo bobby. Seguí sacando temazos
Si hubieran hecho la película sobre este disco la gente se hubiera dormido. No soy hater de bob, entiendo que es algo único, pero no encontré ninguna canción que me haya gustado mucho, I want you pega en el palo.
Un álbum que no me gusta mucho de Bob, tiene buenas canciones y suena lindo pero no me gusta que sea muy Soft (ni un tema muy arriba) Top Picks: 1- Stuck inside of mobile with the Memphis blues again (no conozco una canción tan larga) 2- Leopard Skin Philips Box Hat 3- Obviously five Believers
Bob is Bob
Wieder so ein Album, dass durch den Gesang Punkte verliert. Instrumental zeitweise echt spitze, aber gesanglich ist das alles zu geschwollen und unmelodisch.
Mit Bob Dylan wird es bei mir nichts mehr, ich mag seine Stimme und seinen Gesang nicht
Pretty unbelievable album for the 1960s
Great songwriting, a little long
It was great! Just one of those intimidating albums because of how much respect it receives. Just really good.
A classic by many standards. It’s just weird to me how many critics would rank this as his best album, but the first two songs on the album are terrible.
Yeah, it's good
One of his very best albums.
A great folk classic
Fantastic
Look I’ll start this by saying I’m not a Dylan guy, and I’m also not a lyrics guy. But I really did my best to get into this - it’s just not for me. I do think the band is really doing some solid work here, and I was surprised to find a handful of choruses that stuck with me more than I expected for Dylan’s usual style. That being said, I just find the harmonica assaulting, and the songwriting really subpar. I know that sounds like a shocking take, but if you subtract the lyrics (which I personally find pretentious, esoteric, and free-associative) the songs are really just general blues/folk/cowboy chords. I’ve seen the movie. I’ve read the tales. I’ve heard the music. And try as I might I just cannot find the value that everyone else seems to divine from this album.
Where to even begin with this one... There is a piece of Land family lore that I remember for some reason. Bob Land thinks the greatest Bob Dylan record is the back side of Blonde on Blonde. It's tough to make a case against this after re-listening to this record. The harmonica solo on "Absolutely Sweet Marie" might just be the apex of Bob Dylan's career. "Most Likely Go Your Own Way and I'll Go Mine" could also be the greatest breakup song ever written, if "Sooner or Later, One of Us Must Know" didn't come on the first half of this album. I mean, the amount of moments on this record that make you go "holy shit" is astounding. "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" has me stopping and thinking about the lyrics all day. That line about mixing drinks is so funny. I mentioned earlier that "SOLOUMK" is the greatest breakup song ever written, and I stand by it. I remember hearing Mark Maron saying "Visions of Johanna" blew him away. And I looked back on what he actually said about this record. He said, "And by that time... he's built this world where he can do anything. And on Blonde and Blonde, he's moved all the parameters. He's broken down all the fences, and now he's got like a playground to make this giant double record on." That's what this record feels like. A playground. Love songs, breakup songs. But for some reason he's got songs about his girlfriend getting a dumb hat and all sorts of other wild shit mixed in there. It's a blast, but it has you tearing up in moments. It is the perfect completion to the greatest 3 album run in music history. The only thing I would say to Bob Land is go back and listen to the whole thing. I think the front half deserves your love too. 10/10
first of all, "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" is one of the great LP openers of all time, and an incredible way to kick off some stunning songwriting that follows. Dylan's on a crazy run with Blonde On Blonde. so many ways for an album like this to fail, or the band to become overburdened by the overflowing of lyrics and vocals. Dylan and the band avoid all that and crush each moment in each song. a musical moment that never ceases to make me laugh a little is the vocal straining at the kick off of the choruses in "One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)" -- guy is really going for it there. these songs are heavy with repetition, but they never grow stale -- it's always in service of the song. one of the greatest combinations of poetry and music in recorded history.
What can I even try to say about this album? It's perfect. All the songs are of course great, but that run of "Visions of Johanna" --> "One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)" --> "I Want You" --> "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" --> "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" --> "Just Like a Woman" --> Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)" is insane. Bob's knack for melody on this album and the accompaniment of the band makes for beautiful music, in his words, "that thin, that wild mercury sound." Joe alluded to it, but to do 'Bringing It All Back Home,' 'Highway 61 Revisited,' and this in the span of 14 months is one of the craziest accomplishments ever.
I know I should be able to get past his vocal style and appreciate the music and lyrics, but I can't. I tried. But his voice is just aaaarrrgggghhhhhhhhh PS I find I actually can appreciate the lyrics, if I read them in silence. They're very good.
Bob Dylan isn’t for everyone, but his music impacts all of us in one way or another. Exceptional album.
Probably my favourite Dylan album with my favourite Dylan track on. If I'm being critical I'd say the album is too long. A 4.5 for me
Liking hom more as I get older.
GOOD! Voice. Nonsense. Way he ends words. Perfect listen for drive to Vass for reunion, because a drive to Vass is where I first listened to Bob.
he really is a horrible singer isn't he? didn't mind the tunes but wish it was timmy chalamet instead
I’ve known about Bob Dylan only through cultural osmosis and the occasional rainy day woman play on our brewery’s jukebox, so when I was finally prompted to listen to a full album today I really didn’t know what to expect. I’m very impressed by the creativity displayed here. Great storytelling too. I enjoyed this more than I ever thought I would. Fav tracks: Rainy Day Women, Visions of Johanna, Stuck inside mobile, Leopard skin pill box hat, Just like a woman
Good one Bob
The best Bob record? Yeah, probably. I do love “Nashville Skyline” but this is the deeper Nashville record. Bob was like Prince … the music just flowed out of him. A double record that was one of the first double records but doesn’t at all feel bloated or overdone.
I’ve heard this before. I think this was his third electric album and it feels like he was running out of steam, there are good songs in here but they don’t hit as hard as the earlier electric stuff and sound really ordinary. This might just be a case of Ringo syndrome where it sounds complacent because it was influential and so many people copied the sound after it came out, but they don’t really move me. Honestly I do prefer his acoustic stuff over the electric so that’s part of it. The record sounds great, the backing band is great, he’s a terrible singer but he’s a great singer if that makes sense, so it should be a great album but I’m at a solid 3 on this for what I said above.
Not for me
A Dylan classic.
Que gran disco! Como siempre Bob Dylan nunca decepciona! Mis favoritas: - I want you - Just like a woman - Rainy day woman
good.
This is my second Bob Dylan album over the last couple of weeks. If you've followed along with my on this, you know that I really struggle with Dylan. And, of course, this one is a double album, clocking in at over an hour and 10 minutes. I liked some of the songs on this album more because they were a bit more fun and upbeat. You could definitely hear the influence of the session musicians brought in during the recording sessions in Nashville - it had more of a bluesy sound to it. But, there was a lot of harmonica and it was mixed to really dominate over the other music. And Dylan's voice on this one is exactly why I struggle with Dylan. It's just really hard for me to listen to. There was only one song on this album that I knew. Because I'm just not familiar with his catalog, I don't feel qualified to say where this ranks amongst his albums. As usual, it's fine and I appreciate who he is and his talent, but I won't listen again.
Listened to this in the Baker building studying for metabolism back in college. Now, read the lyrics and attempted a proper listen. Visions of joanna and temporary like achilles spoke to me. The last song on the album is good too.
mid
this was decent but no better than any other bob dylan
Lightning in a bottle. He never made another like it…but honestly, who could?!?
Don't even joke lad.
its ok but can he put the damn harmonica down lowkey did not get all the way through this album sorry
A great album from Dylan at the height of his powers. A few sleepers and a few songs that have too much harmonica even by Dylan’s standards. Nonetheless, an enjoyable album that merits its runtime.
Bob Dylan is good at what he does but this felt quite monotone.
Things that this project have taught me that GenX Brits love: new wave/post punk/synth pop, mid-tempo generic pop-rock, Coldplay, prog rock, pompously smashing on American exceptionalism, and mediocrity. Things this project have taught me that GenX Brits hate: Bob Dylan, harmonicas, grunge, rap/hip hop. This arguably Bob Dylan's worst album, peaked at #3 on the UK charts, was certified platinum in the UK, and contains one of Dylan's most famous songs. And these buggars are still bashing it. Good grief, Dylan's a Nobel laureate for fuck's sake.
The voice and harmonica can be annoying at moments but honestly, many of the songs sucked me in and I ended up liking it for the most part.
tiene una puta armonica metida en el culo o como no lo entiendo
Вже настільки було багато Ділана, що, мені здається, я трохи втягнувся. В першу чергу, це стосується вокалу самого Боба та його інтонувань. Багато блюз-року, що теж плюс. Розбавляє фолковість. Як і у більшості подвійних альбомів, тут є пісні, без яких він слухався б простіше. Чесні 3!
Не подобається мені боб ділан, нічого не можу з собою зробити. Прям складно слухати.
Bob Dylan is great! Highly refined this album!
I thought I hadn't heard this album before. I immediately realised I had. It was played at full blast at 3am by a bunch of Swedes that I had the misfortune to be pitched next to on a festival campsite. As Dylan albums go, it's actually decent but one start subtracted for the festival Swedes.
I'm a mild Bob Dylan fan and this was my first full album of his. Overall the music was really good, but I feel like I could like this more on repeat listens by paying more attention to the lyrics. Favorite Track - Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat Least Favorite Track - Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I've always believed that some of the best songs are written by Bob Dylan and performed by others. This album didn't change my mind on that. He just is miserable to listen to.
Classic, although I don't like his blues tracks as much
Bleeeeehhhh
Classic Bob. Pretentious, sure, but I love this era of his music.
God he’s annoying
What an incredible album. I knew several of the songs, but this was the first time listening to the entire album. I'm not going to tap into the universe to come up with a spectacular review of this, because all one needs to do is listen to understand it's brilliance.
Preferred it to the other Dylan albums that have cropped up. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.
Pass
This would be an enjoyable listen in a specific mood. Tentatively, though, I don't think I am in said mood.
I got this on a day that I had a lengthy drive. Which was okay because this is a long-assed album and the drive gave me time to listen to it; on the other hand this album is tedious and only reinforces how long it is. I understand that Blonde On Blonde is widely considered one of these all time great albums, and Dylan is widely considered one of the all time great singer-songwriters, but I just don’t get it. I suppose if I imagine myself hearing this in 1966 I can intellectually grasp the appeal of this rambling, free associating folk(-y) singer because I can’t think of anything preceding Dylan that does the same kind of thing. And maybe it speaks of his influence, how much he changed the trajectory of music, but it just doesn’t feel revolutionary at all in 2026. Sixty years is a long time though, probably more reasonable to think this is a moldy old record than something that still retains some of the shock of the new. Mostly though, while listening to the nearly hour and a quarter running length of this album, I thought about how much I hate how this album sounds. His vocals, the harmonica, the organ, the guitar, even the drums, all seem to sit around the same frequency range, and it’s just way to long to listen to listen to something with no sonic range. It’s just fucking boring.
Okay, but not my favorite Dylan-period
4.4/5
Strong 7 to a light 8. I enjoyed this quite a bit despite the rough start.
The best Bob Dylan record if you ask me. Beautiful music, beautiful lyrics, it's all there. Favorite track: Visions of Johana
2
This album is wonderfully surprising. Not because I doubt of Dylan's capacity to make great music (who, for sure, is such a great artist – even if he is not always much of my like), but because of how enjoyable and interesting it is, added to how eclectic and pleasant it feels. It's a sweet and funny album at both times with some fantastic songs. I've loved listening to it, how it flows through different sounds, more paused ones and other very uplifting ones, with such cohesiveness and subtlety. For sure, it's one album worth listening to, one lovely one.
Someone take his harmonica. 3/5
0/10
God he goes on ! Too long
About the List: To me, the whole point is to expand one's musical worldview. It NEEDS a two-albums-per-artist limit. Sorry, Dylan fans, but it's true. Heard Before? Yes, but I wasn't paying close attention. Notes: - as with most Dylan albums, the mix is atrocious. thin, trebly, too many instruments given too little space in the back of the mix, while the harmonica cuts swathes of destruction in front. - but of course this is a lyrics album. song structure gets subsumed beneath the desire to get all the words in. for poetry, there's very little compression of thought. - even with these severe limitations, there is brilliance here that rewards close listening. although i personally find it difficult or even exhausting to pay close attention when the instrumentals are so secondary. - "I Want You" is a pop gem which left me very much wanting more of the same. Verdict: A goldmine for people who care about what Dylan has to say and don't mind nodding along to the ho-hum ebb-and-flow tunes for an hour. Listen Again? Meh. I'm really happy to hear all these Dylan songs once, but I prefer music with more going on musically.
I love the songwriting, but... his voice, man. How is it so annoying
En del fina instrumentala delar men på det hela inte min grej
Kommer nog aldrig bli ett fan av Dylans röst och framförallt inte hans munspel.
Velade mellan betygen men blev tyvärr alldeles för trött på detta innan albumet var över.
Tråkigt som fan
Ännu ett till riktigt bra Dylan-album!
Not interested
not a big fan
I've listened to this album a million times...it's a sure fire five star...but, I'm going through the process. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, bad title, great song. After all the heavy, political folk music he must have just wanted to be a goofball. I love his blues songs. Visions of Johanna is one of the best songs ever written. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the harmonica sounds like crap in 99% of music...it's basically Dylan and Neil Young who can do it right. His lyrics are like a beautiful puzzle that you can put together a different way every time you hear them. In another life, I'm listening to the complete Dylan recordings and it's interesting to hear all the different version of these songs he worked through to get to what is on the album. I could write a novel on this album. One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) is an incredible song. It's almost impossible to pick a favorite song off any of his albums...on his best albums it's impossible. Truly great albums, not just collections of songs. I Want You is the most listened to song on the album per Spotify and I'd argue it is nowhere near as good as at least half the album. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again is one of those better songs...amazing song. This album is insane. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat! This is the greatest double album of all time possibly. It's not just that there are no bad songs on the album...it's that every song is good and some (most?) of them are great. I love this album and even then, taking a minute to really listen to every song, it is mind blowing. It's crazy the songs that basically no one listens to off this album...Temporary Like Achilles is another great Dylan song and it is one of the least streamed songs off the album. Fourth Time Around is like a throw away track on this album and it's amazing! Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands is the best 11 minute song I've ever heard. They should have a sixth star for this album.
Excellent. Probably a 4.5, but I put it at a 4 just because it's rare that I will actually want to put it on.
this review marks my first foray into the Bob Dylan conversation. (I'd guess there's no less than billions of words which have been written about his work before.) I struggle to think of another artist in the world of popular music who elicits such divisive reactions as Dylan. for some, he's one of the great modern folk singers, and there's no doubt that he provided a major bridge from the world of folk to that of rock, a crossroads which Blonde on Blonde finds itself right in the middle of as the end of a sort of rock trilogy in his discography. famously, the move to performing his songs with a band, especially an electric band, was a cause for consternation among the folk set. but, by the time this album came out, enough people began to recognize that this wasn't Dylan selling out; this was truly how he wanted to make his music! for me, these are the exact right musical backdrops for Dylan's lyricism. a whole range of human emotions is depicted through his words, and his band (whether it's *the* Band or the Nashville session players) matches him so perfectly. the drunken romp of "Rainy Day Women", the spellbinding mystery of "Visions of Johanna", the detached despondence of "One of Us Must Know", the bitter sarcasm of "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat". the guitars (both acoustic and electric) shimmer gloriously, the piano even moreso! the way they build into the choruses of these songs is expertly done, every single time. yeah, Dylan's singing isn't great, nor is his dim view of women, but if you can stomach both, the high points are more than worth the trip. decent 8/10.
I really liked this, my favourite song was "Just like a woman"
Okayy ni slabo
Blonde on Blonde es una obra de arte atemporal y un punto de inflexión en la historia de la música popular que ha envejecido bien, conservando intacta su naturaleza revolucionaria. La escucha se convierte en un viaje que trae paz pero también algo de desasosiego, una travesía psicológica donde la belleza melódica convive con la densidad poética. La genialidad de las sesiones de Nashville se hace evidente en la instrumentación: se entretejen muy bien el órgano, el piano, las guitarras y la armónica, dejando ver a un ensamble de músicos apasionados y profundamente conectados con el torbellino creativo del autor. El alma del álbum descansa en el fraseo inconfundible de Dylan; su estilo interpretativo, cargado de una fuerza y autoridad superior, es el elemento definitivo que le da calidad a la obra. Lejos de ser un mero entretenimiento, tracks monumentales como "Visions of Johanna" o "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" se perciben como un llamado a la conciencia y una profunda reflexión solitaria sobre la condición humana. Un trabajo conmovedor, crudo y real que ofrece una variedad muy rica de matices y texturas, consolidándose como una pieza imprescindible para perderse en ella.
i HATE harmonica
The harmonica pierces into my skull Favorite song: one of us must know (sooner or later)
intstruments (hamonica) are awesome
"а вЫ тОже вОт так вОт рАзговАриваете". Я не выкупаю прикола, мерзкий вокал, примитивный текст, такой же инструментал с бесящей губной гармошкой. 2/5
I appreciate Bob's songwriting skill but cannot get past his awful vocal qualities.
This was my first time ever sitting down and listening to a full Bob Dylan album! (This is a 9/10 for me btw)
His singing voice is annoying, but there’s about two songs I fw. Don’t agree that it needs to be on the list tho
coming from limp bizkit to this is quite the pivot. but i love this album and i love this era of bob dylan.
Zu viel harmonica
mittelgut find ich. die Mundharmonika wird relativ schnell zu viel.
Bob Dylan ist einfach auf einer anderen Welle. Man muss wirklich ein wesentlichen Teil seines Gehirns abschalten, um diese Musik durch und durch gut zu finden, aber wenn man das erstmal schafft, dann sorgt Dylans Stimme, sein Songwriting und die Instrumente, die er gezielt einsetzt, dafür, dass man emotional einfach richtig von seinen Songs mitgenommen ist. Es ist, als würden sie mehrere Schichten vom menschlichen Grundwesen zurückziehen und das Nervensystem stimulieren. Beispielsweise in songs wie 'Stuck Inside of Mobile's, wenn Dylans Stimme lauter wird und er fast anfängt zu schreien. Das ist einfach crazy gut. Trotzdem kann ich dem album keine 5 Sterne geben, weil eben Dinge wie die teilweise unausstehliche Mundharmonika Kopfschmerzen verursachen können.
Chef-d'oeuvre.
Ben là! C'est la première fois que je réalise que la 1ère lettre de chaque mot forme le mot BOB. J'ai l'air peut-être niaiseur, ça tombe sous le sens maintenant que je le vois, et j'avais jamais compris quessé c'était là ce nom d'album là. j'adore l'histoire de 4th time around (voir ma critique de Rubber Soul et Norwegian Wood). Obviously 5 believers est dans mes tops aussi. Sides B et C all the way. Le D c'est un chef d'oeuvre en soi, mais c'est un peu plus calé, faut être un vrai fan de Dylan je pense pour apprécier Sad-eyed lady
Maudit album double. Je devrai y retourner, je ne suis pas 100% convaincu, désolé félix. Je pense que Freewhelin' m'avait plus accroché. 5 étroiles qaund même.
This is such a good album musically that I just stopped caring about the lyrics so dense that they just sound like nonsense and the titles that had no relation to the track.
Still unlikely to ever be a fan of his voice, but I enjoyed the more bluesy swing to a lot of this.
Anfang Juli 2026 ~Ein Durcheinander ~ Mehrfach versucht reinzukommen - erfolglos. Vielleicht hätte mir die Timothee Chalamet Version besser gefallen.
Dienstag, 07.07.2026 Hauptsächlich im dritten Stock der philologischen Bibliothek beim schreiben der Hausarbeit über den Blick bei Jean-Paul Sartre
4 1/2
Though im not a fan of Dylan's voice, his songwriting and structure is incredible. Definitely can see why this audio story is one of the greatest albums of all time
De los tres q me escuché de él el q menos me gustó. Se va asomando el viejo verde
actually like this more than the other album i listened to by him that’s more famous. it sounds more like bruce springsteen’s nebraska. more singing than talking and not so drawn out.
Who would have guessed Rainy Day Women is one of the worst tracks on this album.
this was a strruuuuuuuuuuuggggle
Fuck yeah. I've recently identified "rowdy" as one of my favorite qualities in music, and this is rowdy as hell. Still, my favorite song is "Visions of Johanna," which is delightfully un-rowdy. That's how good this album is.
A classic, love this album
That was a seriously long album. Which was unexpected! Especially for 1966! Some wonderful songs. Song beautiful story telling and some songs a little too long lol Type of album you would want as a record to through on and get lost in it for an hour and 15 mins
Loose and fun. Not his best for me, but still very good.
It is utterly boring, imo, although I do respect his work, but beside meaningful texts (to him personally), I find his voice awfully flat and it's like songs are all the same, continuation of one to another; the only positive side is the harmonica, to be honest :)
Meh.
I like bob dylan but not this album so much
album #50 sick to bastard death of bob dylan. ꩜ album rating: ★☆☆☆☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 1,039 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 29 ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 11 ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 39
So I had Highway 61 Revisited about a month or so back, and I absolutely loved that record. One of the things I loved about H61 was how it seemed like Dylan pulled all these genres and pieces of music and glued them together with his charm and songwriting. Now I was ecstatic to see this record, but after listening it this just feels not like a melding of different sounds but just Bob Dylan as a genre for over an hour; which I guess proves you can have too much of a good thing. I certainly was not annoyed by any of it including the voice and the harmonica which many seem to complain about, but it does become a bit overbearing over the course of a double LP. This album also didn't really have any stand out tracks either compared to H61, at least to me personally.
so much harmonica I don't like it. Visions of Johanna is fun, the harmonica isn't driving me insane in this one. Ok the harmonica is kinda growing on me. I Want You without Dylan's vocals sounds like some shit you'd hear in a kid's dental ad. Fourth Time Around is the only standout that I could find for a while, because the guitar pairs really nicely with his voice. It's kinda like the Beatles to me. Altogether, solid album, just not my thing. I don't like the harmonica all that much, I could definitely enjoy the album more if the harmonica was more subtle. Current rating: 2/5
Didn't know this in many ways was considered Bob Dylan's Magnum Opus, but sheesh you're gonna be sitting for a while. Sure there were some good songs sprinkled throughout, but if it doesn't grab it it is dragging you through some Bob Dylan sludge for over an hour. Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands is almost like a parody Bob Dylan song but probably a prime example as to why he has the joke impression that he does. It's fine, and the musicians on it are fabulous, just a lot to listen to
My biggest takeaway so far from doing this is how much I've ended up liking Bob Dylan. My fourth one and another solid record. Favorites: Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again, Absolutely Sweet Marie Would I listen to it again: Yes
One of the better Dylan albums. Bluesy.
2,3/5
I dont like the harmonic on the first two tracks. General rule of thumb is dont hsve a harmonica solo. It was kind of mid. Sorry to all the bob Dylan heads out there 😭✌️
Enjoyed. Can’t take him everyday but his poetry is phenomenal.
3.5
Never made it through a whole Dylan album before. Wanna put it through a couple more listens to focus on the lyrics, but great instrumentation and pretty seamless album given the length.
All timer for me. Life affirming.
Not his best work...
No me gustó, me estresó un poco las modulaciones de voz que hace
DA GOAT
I did a project on this album. I am gonna give it a 3. gonna take a nap during this its sooooo slow. ughhhhh
Pre Listen: Despite knowing how influential Bob Dylan is, and despite my affinity for music out of the 60's and 70's, I've never really given any of Bob's album work a good thorough listen. I'm looking forward to giving it a try, resultingly my expectations are higher than usual. Notable Tracks: Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again - Just like the title, this song goes on for wayyyyy too long. Easily my least favorite on song on the album. It's repetitive in a bad way. Fourth Time Around - Reminded me of the Beatles' Norwegian Wood. Would be a great track and playlist worthy if it didn't go on for too long. Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands - My favorite track on the album, good enough that I'm adding it to my playlist. The piano is a nice touch. It's repetitive in a good way. Post Listen: What an interesting album. I had a lot of comments for a lot of tracks I felt were notable, but they all essentially boiled down to a few key feelings I had about the album; Bob Dylan's lengthy drawn-our pronunciation of words, intentionally slurred lyrics, random harmonica breaks, and jumbled verses works in small doses, but becomes grating after back-to-back tracks. The actual content of the lyrics, especially in his songs relating to women or relationships, make him come off as a creep. Whether that's intentional or not I'm uncertain, but it's unpleasant regardless. That being said I did enjoy a few of the songs, but I won't be listening to this album in it's entirety again. It's too long and Bob got on my nerves after the 4th or so song. I give it a 2/5.
Its bob dylan and he sounds about how you would expect. this album does has some good tracks on it but overall not really my thing.
I don’t listen to much Bob Dylan but I swear I’ve heard much better from him. It was a bit repetitive. I went into this one with some excitement as I’ve been meaning to try out his music because I’ve heard songs from him that I really enjoyed. Nothing really stuck out here but it wasn’t terrible. Edit: You know what I KNOW Bob Dylan can do better than this and now I’m just pissed off with this album. Stupid.
Nice album
Que puta pesada con la armónica. Está bjeno Qcyo
I really liked it. I learned that Bob Dylan worked with The Band and that's who played a lot of the music with him on this album. I also often don't love Bob's singing voice, but it worked on this album. Overall, I liked it way more than I thought I would.
Bob Dylan is an amazing songwriter but he's not always a great listen. This album was pretty up and down for me. Rainy Day Women was far from my favorite, even if it is one of his bigger hits, mainly because I found it repetitive. It's funny because I thought this sounded like a bad carnival song and I guess the intent was to make this sound like a demented marching band. So I guess they hit the mark, I just didn't find it pleasing at all. To me, I Want You was a much better tune from this record. The interesting characters made this a more fun listen for me. Visions of Johanna was excellent as well with some very cool bass work. Just Like a Woman was a very good track as well. Overall, though, I just didn't think this was amazing. 3 stars
I have this album and played it to death so im bias maybe but an album everyone should listen to 5 stars all the way !
kinda had to turn off after a couple tracks idk bob dylan is a 1-3 track listen then turn off kinda guy for me
Bob and I are not friends and will never be friends unless I hear him actually hit whatever note he’s attempting to sing. Credit where it’s due for his poetic prowess, but I have no interest in hearing his voice or harmonica at this point.
High quality harmonica
Enjoyable stuff and classic Bob Dylan, but a bit too long
Full of Dylan magic but even Bob shouldn’t break the 1 hour rule
Not my favourite of Bob's outings. And it would make a stellar single album. But it's still endlessly engaging and something any other artist would aspire to. A picky 4*
Too much classic Bob. I tried listening in the car. Big mistake.
So much shrill harmonica. So much bad singing. I'm out.
It’s good. Good vibe nice melody clean voice. Nothing to complain about.
probably my favorite Dylan album. this one didn't feel as "ramble-y" as other ones, even though i know that is kinda his thing.
This is where every impression of Bob Dylan's singing voice comes from. Wasn't the best, but I'm probably just burnt out on Dylan albums on this list.
I have you given my thoughts about Bob Dylan in other reviews. What I want to know is why this album is so highly regarded? It doesn't seem like anything special of his. There's no hit songs on it. His other albums have just as deep of meaning. It's too long. I feel like I must be missing something.
3.5
"Everybody must get stoned" Also wow that's quite the accent
I like this but as usual the shrillness of the harmonica brings it down for me. Like would it kill them to mix it a little lower !! And also I just don't feel like it's his best. It's doing a lot but not much at the same time
this is too much for me
I love da funny voice
I love the harmonica!!!!!!!!
yeah bob dylan rocks what else do i say
Album #141 Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde My fifth Bob Dylan album, I am definitely not complaining, as they are obviously some of the best on the list (in fact, this is the first great album I’ve received since getting Highway 61 twelve albums ago); however, I am certainly running out of words to describe how great he is. Many people point to Blonde on Blonde as Dylan’s finest lyrical work, but I personally am partial to the absurdity of Highway 61’s stories; there is no denying that Blonde on Blonde may possess Dylan’s most beautiful imagery. When I was younger and just getting into Bob Dylan, I attempted a listen to Blonde on Blonde, and after the audible onslaught, which is the first two tracks, I wrote the album off. Sure, Highway 61 also possessed a great deal of harmonica, but it was never too far away from melody; for whatever reason, Rainy Day Women and Pledging My Time were just too much for my virgin ears. It wasn’t until hearing Visions of Johanna that I realized Blonde on Blonde had some true beauty beneath its rugged exterior. After Visions of Johanna kicks in, you are met with some of the most enchanting songs ever penned; if it wasn’t for the final track, that four-track run of Visions of Johanna to Memphis Blues Again would be my favourite four songs on the album. Nowadays, I can appreciate the opening tracks for what they are, a sort of false start. Dylan makes you believe you are getting some harmonica-led rockers like on Highway 61, but afterwards, you are met with an hour of poetry and ballads. To be honest, the album would likely be a 10 for me if it started at Visions of Johanna, or perhaps I just don’t want to award Dylan like five different 10s (which he probably deserves). But I may end up changing it, who knows. Edit: I was just yapping and trying to find a flaw, this album is miraculous, definite 10. Best Songs: Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, Visions of Johanna, One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) Worst Song: None Score out of 10: 10
I can't get past his voice most of the time, but he was certainly a poet. Best when its closest to the blues influence and when the music hits a good rhythm. Never really listened to more than one song of his at a time because his voice grates, but I can see why he's so beloved.
As always I love my Bobby Dylan he’s just great
My Rating 3.3
It’s been great to hear quite a few albums by Bob Dylan during this project as I’ve finally gotten around to liking his music but being confronted with this double album might be a bit much to take in for now. Definitely some classics on here but a lot of these songs are going to need a few spins for me to fully understand. One thing I’m beginning to understand is what a fantastic harmonica player he is! Some of these phrases take a long breath to play not just on the inhale but also on the exhale so controlling that would take aome talent and the notes are quite well in tune. Anyways I’m still enjoying his music but starting to question how many more albums we really need by him on this list.
Nice at times, other times really grating.
Okay lyrics, but I’m afraid this is as far as this album’s redeeming qualities go. Barely any singing, he just rambles with music on the background. Goddamn harmonica is so annoying. This is not a 1 only because I have respect for Bob Dylan.
A game changer. Brilliant from start to finish. 5 stars. Fave track - sad eyed lady…
Just a cool vibe that just oozes with character. I know nothing about Dylan but this feels like if someone else tried to sing these songs it jiat wouldn't be as good
Not for me. Typical tedious Dylan. A couple of tracks on side 3 were ok but maybe I had been beaten into submission by that point.
..
I have this album. My favorite song on it is Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands.
1. rainy - 1 2. time - 2 3. vizionz - 1 4. knouu - 1 5. uuant - 1 6. memphiz - 0 7. Skin - 1 8. Woman - 2 9. Go - 1 10. Achilles - 1 11. Marie - 1 12. Fourth - 0 13. Five - 1 14. Lady -1
Mumble, mumble, mumble - harmonica. Mumble, mumble, mumble - harmonica. Mumble, mumble, mumble - harmonica.
Sorry this sucks, Dr Seuss level rhyming every song with the same Dylan bob at the end of every sentence, annoying.
Not really my thing
Ni fu ni fa, Bob
This album is diverse, artistically risky, and gorgeous. Everything pays off.
Bob Dylan is an astonishing artist: all the covers of his songs I've heard seem better than the originals to me. Dylan's lyrics are paramount, with the music coming second. But firstly, even native speakers don't always understand the lyrics, and secondly, are we listening to music here? It's incredibly monotonous: a semi-acoustic verse, a chorus, a harmonica solo, and we repeat. Blonde on Blonde is considered Dylan's best album (the more devout consider it one of the best albums of all time). Why? How does it differ from his other works? Nothing, really, except that it's a double album. And I'd give it a three if it weren't for the last song, which features the artist reading his poem for eleven minutes and then fading out. Now let's wait for the ∞-minute AI version, where Dylan's nasal voice simply combines all the existing words.
Only the Boomers could make this guy the voice of a generation. Somehow only my second Dylan album and I’m almost through a third of the list. This one was better than The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, which I forced onto the fence with a 2.5/5; it’s more polished and a couple of the songs are actually good. Still hate his voice though! A more accurate title for this album would be Assault by Harmonica, Suites 1-14. This will garner a 3/5, and I doubt any Dylan album will score higher than that for me
Oddly enough, the only way I felt like this album was the feeling of when you’re winding down at home. It was mellow and calming, it was enjoyable to listen to!
Very nice album, "I Want You" and "Most Likely You Go Your Way" were pretty good.
This is the most Bob Dylan of all Bob Dylan albums. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up to the listener. For me, it's mostly good with some of his very best songs and his typical mastery of cryptic but awe-inspiring lyricism. But this album feels endless and the preponderance of harmonica and samey blues-type songs gets old. "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" is a good song but did it need to be 11 plus minutes? Yes, he's got a great band on this. I just wish it was tighter, leaner, and just one album instead of a double.
Of Bob's insane 60s output, this has gotta be his most chaotic record, all over the place stylistically, kinda like his White Album. I love it. Has two of my favorite Dylan songs - Visions of Johanna, where he's at his best lyrically, pure poetry, and I Want You, one of the best melodies he ever wrote. Also love the one two punch of Stuck Inside of Mobile and the snarky Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat. Great deep cuts too. Absolutely Sweet Marie is catchy, and I enjoy his taunt of Lennon for ripping his style on the Norwegian Wood-esque Fourth Time Around. Essential listening for even casual Dylan fans.
I mean, it's Bob Dylan, of course a double-album collection of his songs was gonna be awesome. Once again his songwriting and storytelling chops are on full display, this time for two LPs worth of material, including the wonderful 11-minute closer "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands".
Actually pretty fun music behind him! However… OH MY GOD WHY DOES HE DO THAT WITH HIS VOICE??? JUST HAVE NORMAL INFLECTIONS ON YOUR VOICE AND I WOULD NOT HATE YOU!!!
Bob, brother, your picture's out of focus!! As someone who enjoys Bob Dylan's music almost purely on vibes -- I can't seem to keep up with the stories without the lyrics up but can definitely feel the emotion behind them -- this has been my favorite album of his by far. Just a blast to listen to, his delivery is unique and the musicianship consistently impressive. As usual, I feel like I'm missing half the appeal by not delving deeper into the lyrics. I definitely plan to at some point in the future. Even then, this was thoroughly enjoyable and fully deserving of a 4! Standouts: Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 • One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) • I Want You • Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues • Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) • Fourth Time Around
Fucking hell what an album. When I was younger I didn't like this one because I thought it was too long. look at the track list!!! Rainy Day Women. Absolutely Sweet Marie. Just Like a Woman. Pledging My Time. Visions of Johanna. SAD EYED LADY OF THE LOWLANDS!!!!! This is anybody else's greatest hits, but for Bob Dylan this was just him casually popularizing the double album.
The most difficult/impenetrable Dylan album for me (that’s actually good aka not including albums like Self-Portrait) but when it clicks it clicks
If I never hear another harmonica again, it’ll be too soon.
Undeniably brilliant lyrically and with song variety that benefits from the sensitivity of the Nashville vibe. For me it’s a little overhyped though - versus say the more ground breaking Highway 61 - and it doesn’t quite work its way into the pantheon. Impressive but a little overlong, and the often absurdist lyrics are starting to grate a little bit by this point.
Classic
This was just fine. I really liked Just Like a Woman and there were a few other great lines in there. Idk, it just didn't grab me as much as some of his other stuff. Felt less cohesive in a way.
mid bob
erittäin keskinkertainen bob dylan albumi
oh i’ve heard this before too. went through a whole bob dylan deep dive a couple years ago. that was a LOT. i liked this one though. should not have started this with a headache. oh my god. taking another hour until my head goes back. i’m back. this is a genuinely insane way to open an album. i do like it, it’s just nuts. pledging my time is fine. visions of johanna is pretty. a little long, but i’m enjoying it. i want you is my favorite song so far. think it was when i listened to it the first time. never mind it’s definitely stuck inside of mobile. this song is awesome. i like just like a woman too. it’s very pretty. “absolutely sweet marie” and “obviously five believers” are such bob dylan titles. both are great songs too. weird. doesn’t feel over at the end. i liked this a lot. yayy. i don’t currently think it’s perfect, but i might at some point in my life.
love love love
BD of Minnesota. Active in music since the 50s. Blonde on Blonde the 7th album by Dylan, released when he was 25. Lots of instrumentation with forward movement, that I like. Pleasant throughout and impronted on culture. But not moving for me
I've never liked Blonde on Blonde, he drank too much of his own bathwater by this point.
Bob kinda sucks tbh
I know for a fact that I am the biggest Dylan head in this group so it might be shocking when I say that this is not one of my favorite Dylan albums. For me, this album consists of some of his greatest and least memorable songs. Still pretty fucking great though. The music also tends to get a little repetitive at times. In my opinion, Visions of Johanna has some of the greatest lyrics of all time. “The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face”. Come on…. One thing I love about these albums is the imperfections. The feeling like, yup, let’s just do one take boys. Good enough lol. It adds a real charm to these albums that todays musical world is lacking.
This record has 2 of my least fav Dylan tracks: rainy day women (second worst track on the forest gump soundtrack after sloop John b imo) and just like a woman but also a couple favs. The bluesy album.
It's tooooo looooong. And there's just so much harmonica and it's all realllllly high in the mix.
Bob looking at the photos from the shoot and picking the out-of-focus one for the cover.. what a power move. Ok so Bob is going through it a bit here. But almost every song here is a classic. And opening up with Rainy Day Women, another power move.
- Boycotting this misogynist Zio domestic abuser. - I'd never listened to this album before, and I enjoyed a lot of the songs. (This version of "Visions of Johanna" is so much better than on the live album on this list.) - Some of the songs are better than others - I liked the first half a lot better than the second half. - "4th Time Around" seems like Dylan's answer to Norwegian Wood... - A lot of the melodies are enjoyable, and I really liked the keys throughout. And, especially on "One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)". - The lyrics are always well written and feel bittersweet. There's also a lot of casual misogyny. - Each song kind of feels like it goes on too long... and the album, as well.
Another Dylan album, just five days after getting my last (and noting in that review that it was already #3 from him in 348 suggestions). And this one is a double album lasting 72 and a half minutes?! I can easily admit I was completely prepared to be as unimpressed/annoyed by this one as I was by the others. But, finishing it now, I actually liked it a lot. I think the biggest positive for me on this album was the backing band/the music they made for the songs. Dylan is credited as the writer for all the tracks, but they really shined in bringing them to life. I think it was the energy they had and their bluesy sound that really drew me in. I was less distracted by Dylan's vocal performance and instead engaged by each track as a whole. It made the album a good listen that I never got annoyed by, which sets it apart from the other Dylan albums I've gotten (Blood on the Tracks, Time Out of Mind and Freewheelin' Bob Dylan). Of course, they could only do so much given the runtime. I don't think there's any way that I could listen to Dylan for 72+ minutes and not have him grate on me a little bit. There were definitely some weaker points on here. It also didn't help that the last track was an 11 minute epic that didn't have as lively of a feel as many of the others on the album. Even so, this one caught me by surprise. I enjoyed it a lot. Not sure what it says when the actual artist is my least favorite aspect of the album, but it still worked pretty well. I wouldn't call it great, but it was definitely very good. Overall: 4/5
Listening to harmonica is as pleasing as listening to a chalk scratching over blackboard. Maybe the lyrics are worth listening, although I CAN'T HEAR THEM OVER THIS DEVILISH TOOL
Talented songwriter. Just can't handle the voice, sing as if he has a cold
The quintessential Dylan album. Enough said.
3.5
This is a strange one. Probably my least favorite of the folk rock trio, but still so fundamentally different from anything else being recorded around this time. Simultaneously contains some of the best, and worst, tracks of his career. On a side note, I have listened to the live acoustic version of these songs so much at this point that the recorded versions feels weird. Funny that.
Sadly, I am back to my old feeling about Bob not really affecting me emotionally. Perhaps because this is such a blues fuelled album and that is not my favourite genre, perhaps he is cockier here. This confidence works well with Rainy Day Women with a play on words rail against the Man but the rest, hmm. At the end though it started to go back to Bob’s singer songwriting roots with Fourth Time Around and the beautiful Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, those were worth the listen.
The songs themselves are fine - I didn't even mind the harmonica that much - but the eccentricities of Dylan's voice were a real killer for me. It started to feel like he was singing like that just to annoy me personally.
Day 20 Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan I’m a big Dylan fan, and I think with his records you really need a few listens to fully appreciate them. Especially the 70s stuff. I honestly think if I hadn’t heard this a few times before, I’d probably rate it lower. His harmonica can be a bit much at times, and his voice is about as nasal as it gets, but then again… you’re also getting some of the best songwriting of the 60s. That kind of balances everything out. It’s not my favourite Dylan album, but it’s still a damn good one. Wine pairing? A classic, slightly dusty red like a Bordeaux or an aged Rioja. Something traditional and a bit rough around the edges, but full of character. Food pairing? Slow-cooked comfort food. Beef stew, roast, something warm and old-school that takes time, just like the album. Favourite song? “I Want You”. Vinyl? Yeah, I’d want this one. Overall 4 out of 5.
Too much harmonica
I hate to admit it... But I guess I like Bob Dylan from now on? Rainy Day Women is a banger
yeah i don't think I'm a bob dylan fan and that's totally okay. i just can't seem to get into it that much. it really felt like the songs had too many verses i'm not gonna lie. there's some good instrumentation on there but that damn harmonica pained me. solid 2.
8.5/10
Lo siento, sé que es un gran artistia pero no es de mi gusto
It was good and all like a fine thing to listen too, but genuinely all of his songs sound the same and you cant convince me that his voice isn't so painful sometimes
Definitely not my favourite Dylan album.
No notes.
Quite good. I hadn’t heard much by Dylan before.
ta bom aprobado 3/5
Dylan's best album. A couple of tracks are annoying, sure. When this is at its best, though, it is as good as music can get. Visions, I Want You, Stuck inside of Mobile, Just Like a Woman, Sad-Eyed Lady. I mean, c'mon. On the short list for best albums ever made.
I'm not a huge Dylan fan, but this is some of his best work. A lot of classic songs and this was his around his peak as a songwriter. A few tracks meander a little too much, but this was an enjoyable album to listen to. 4/5 Will listen again
I don't really like Bob Dylan's voice here, but the songs are silly enough to make up for that. They're probably deeper than I recognize right now, but eh. Not a bad album
This album has mesmerized me since I was a kid and yet I haven't heard in over half a decade. Dylan's first double album (sometimes considered the first in rock music, although I have no idea if that's true) is also potentially my favorite of his early-mid 60s run. I still remember the first time I heard "Visions of Johanna"; the level of awe that coursed through me in those 7 minutes were an experience I'd like to have again just so I can remember what it felt like.
An inconsistent effort that features the best and the boringest of Bob Dylan. But The line "The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face" is enough to lock this in at a four for me.
This was fine. I lump Dylan in with the Stones as a guy who has some priceless gems mixed in with a lot of stuff about which I care not a whit.
The run from Visions of Johanna through Stuck Inside of Mobile is unbelievably good. The band sounds great. I've listened to this one a lot.
This is about 2/3 great songs and about 1/3 kinda middling ones, plus Fourth Time Around, which just annoys me because it (I think?) is a snarky response to Norwegian Wood while being not nearly as good a song as NW is. Thus the 4. My favorites are Most Likely, One of Us Must Know, Stuck Inside of Mobile, and I Want You.
4/5 - It must have been something else to be in the orbit of Dylan and his music at this time. I'd be scared I'd end up a target in one of his songs. Look at him stare at you out of focus, unamused. I've probably listened to this album too many times at this point, so the shine has worn slightly. This time, I really listened closely to the backing band, and I just love the arrangements -- the stomping blue, the ragtime-y sound.
Couldn’t finish. All the songs sound the same. He has an annoying cadence and nonsensical lyrics.
Not my thing
good album, not something that I have listened to before. An ok album, one that I might listen to again but probably won't go out of my to find. Won't buy it either. Again, not bad but just not my cup of tea
Still don't like ol Bobby
So when I say, "masterpiece", I really do mean it this time. Like man, talk about an opus here. The absolute pinnacle of 60s Dylan bar-none. My Arabian drums beats once and then relaxes within the grooves of these lines. Real love, real life, real everything. Things are looking up (10/10, 5/5 on this scale)
Coming into this after the live album is interesting. I always thought Bob Dylan was more Folk and less Blues which was only exacerbated by my introduction being that live album. At any rate, I'm just not as interested in the band accompaniment with him. I listened to some older stuff as well and found it's more solo and Folk-oriented. This one is still Dylan, so there are definitely highlights, but in my opinion it's just not as good as him on his own.
Bobby Dazzler
I cannot stand bob Dylan’s voice
After like 5 songs it was enough
It was okay, not really my thing tbh. I did enjoy reading along to the lyrics.
Sorry Bob this wasn’t for me. The over use of the harmonica was slightly jarring and the country was just hard to listen to. I do, however, like Dylan’s voice and his way of story telling. I found it charming, but just find it hard to look past the genre. Sorry.
Enjoyed this, but not as much as I’ve enjoyed other Bob Dylan previously. Some of the wailing was a bit of a tough listen. Might just be tired listening to this on a Sunday night but the country tinge is not to my taste really.
5/5 best dylan
If this is a masterpiece, then I think I should give up doing the generator now. All the reviews bleating on about what a wonderful lyricist the Bob is, I just don't really see it based on this collection. Sure, he can write a nice story that brings you inside a narrative, but bloody hell, the delivery is criminally bad at times - the music is mostly borderline boring, and listening to Bob's nasal whine get really grating after about 3 songs, and then you've got 10 or more to go..... Having said that, I can appreciate 'Just Like A Woman', and 'Stuck inside of Mobile.....' was worth a listen. I'm surprised so many people rate 'Rainy Day Women #12 and #35' as such a masterpiece, it sounds like something they chucked out at rehearsal, and the lyrics are bollocks. 'Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands' is a good way to finish the album, although it probably goes on for too long to be honest. I dunno, it's not a masterpiece in my book, but I can see why it is seen as important in the grand scheme of rock 'n' roll history, it's just not something I can see myself listening to again any time soon. Thanks, Bob, but no thanks.
Add one star for harmonica Bob Dylan is like the opposite of what I like in an artist. I don’t really listen to lyrics, and I’d rather not listen to his singing either
Bob is niet mn favoriet maar het album luistert prima weg
i'm sure there will be more dylan on here. BOB is a pretty great bob record, and i think it's at its best when it's not just boring blues appropriation (i'm looking right at you, "pledging my time"). but then "visions of johanna" hits and all is forgiven. great, great stuff
Love it.
Za długie
ok.
I loved this album!
I have never been a big Dylan fan, so I was surprised by how much I liked this album. His vocal style still isn’t my thing, but I still really enjoyed these songs. I am giving it four surprising stars.
Why does Dylan need to rev up into every syllable? It’s like someone taught a lawnmower to sing. He may be a great lyricist… it’s just a shame that his lyrics are trapped behind the paywall of his voice. I don’t find the music very compelling, which is another barrier to my appreciation. I can appreciate that this album was significant for its time. It was influential, which perhaps is going to buoy its rating, and I have no doubt it would have hit my ears differently had I been alive 60 years ago. I just don’t find myself liking it.
I'm sure this was revolutionary for the lobotomized housewives of 1965 but I can't stand this guy's voice
everybody must get stoned! 5/5
I’m so sick of bob dylan please stop recommending him *harmonica solo*
A masterpiece.
Look this is far and away my favorite Dylan album. No skips. My favorite song in Memphis Blues Again. Pinnacle of folk rock. I could write paragraphs about why I adore this record, but I’ll keep it simple and just give it a 5.
i do not like this vibe
harmonica ensemble
Going to go lower than most on this one too. This is all the worst parts of Bob Dylan imo. I don't like the frumpiness of Circus Music Dylan or the intestinal heaves of his voice going UPPP and doooooown. I'll take 'Freewheelin' Dylan' any day of the week over 'Blonde on Blonde.'
Not a fan
You go Your Way (I'll Go Mine) is very tough.
Bobby d
The music itself isn't bad but the way Dylan sings annoys me. It's like hes adjusting his volume based on a sine wave, and every sentence trails off into the void.
The album grew on me more and more with every song, the honkey tonk sound of the harmonica, the rock n roll drums, the guitars floating from something beachy to more classic British rock... it was all just very fun in the end, with Dylan's vocal style making the most progress in terms of that "growing on me".
That’s a lot of harmonica. I’m not a big fan of his voice, a bit too whiny. Some very long songs as well made it a bit of a difficult listen at points
No es mi estilo
OK so it's a classic bob dylan album so it's good, but I did not personally love it. Rainy Day Women was kind of annoying, Just Like a Woman is sort of patronizing, imo, so is One of Us Must Know. I added Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again to the top 10 list tho.
Hmm…the longest, densest, probably greatest album from the greatest singer-songwriter of the past 60+ years…what rating should I give it…Yes, this is a lot to digest on the first listen, or even the tenth, but man oh man is it rewarding. I could probably listen to this every day for the rest of my life and still discover new things. Best track: “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands”
Apparently a storyteller but I didn't hear it
I do not like his voice or "singing style". Perhaps he should have been a poet rather than a singer.
I wish I liked Bob Dylan but I just don't think I do, I like his version of knockin on heaven's door but so far I haven't found another song I like that he sang, he just sings/says things in an odd, extended way and I don't really like it, but his music isn't bad? I thought Bob Dylan was some kind of beautifully poetic singer but it doesn't really sound like that?