Reviews (page 2 of 14)
Ik hou niet van zijn manier van zingen, maar ik had het erger verwacht. Best aardig
Blood on the Tracks is a straight-up lyrical masterpiece. When it comes to storytelling and sheer songwriting, this album is easily sitting right at the very top. The way Dylan spins a narrative is unreal, especially on tracks like "Tangled Up In Blue" and "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts," which are hands-down my favorite tracks on the record. If you appreciate incredible lyrics and world-class storytelling, this one is an absolute must-listen.
People find Dylan’s voice polarising and I can understand that but he is such a brilliant story teller. This to me is his finest overall work, influenced by his breakup he crafts a melancholic masterpiece. I’m giving this a 4.5 rating as I could probably go without Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts (I wish he didn’t add the country elements to this one), but that aside this album is almost flawless
Fantastic songwriting and musicality, just not really up my street genrewise
Buddy got us tickets to see Bob for his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour. Wasn't too familiar with all his work, so I went through his backlog. This stood out to me the most! Can't help but scream Idiot Wind along. Love the chilled out ending. Only song I actively don't care about is Rosemary and Jack of Hearts. Other than that, bangers!
This Folk Rock album feels like sitting across from an old man in a quiet bar who keeps telling me stories about people he once loved, places he has been, and things that went wrong, never quite telling me where the story is supposed to lead. The acoustic guitars and gentle rhythm section keep the music moving at an unhurried pace, while Dylan's rough, nasal voice turns every song into another piece of recollection. Sometimes I get drawn into the stories, especially when the melodies suddenly open up, but at other times I find myself drifting away while he keeps talking. The intimacy of the arrangements makes me feel as though I am sitting right there listening to his memories unfold.
My favourite Bob Dylan album, shelter from the storm is in my top two of his songs.
A classic. Probably not my favorite Bob Dylan, but, c'mon.
okay but not really my vibe
I'm not a storytelling fan but these songs were catchy.
Bob is just good
For what it's worth, "The Rolling Stone" magazine has this album ranked the ninth greatest album of all time in their most recent version of "The Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time"(to be honest, that magazine could have a "Top 500 greatest shit breaks in Rock Music history", and Bob Dylan would make the top ten on that list). In this album, we learn about the tragic love life of Bob Dylan. At the very least, it had some good moments, and fine ballads, but there is no way I'm giving this higher than a mid tier rating. Favorite Track: "You're A Big Girl Now".
This is Dylan album 5/7 for me and it’s my favorite one yet. I’d easily put this one on my list of favorite albums. I’m not buying that this isn’t about his divorce because it so obviously is and that context adds a ton of weight to the album for me.
I don't know if I would say it's his best album but it's probably the one I listen to most frequently
Four-leaning-five.
Man, if Meet Me In The Morning was replaced with something else, this would be essentially faultless. As it stands, I think to call this one of the best albums ever released is, I don't think, hyperbole. There's just so much genius here. Tangled Up In Blue is one of my favoruite songs of all time. If You See Her... Shelter From The Storm... pretty much everything here is touched by magic, and some of the best songwriting there ever was.
good classic bob dylan, easy listen
siempre grande
I actually really liked this So far this is exactly what I need to hear rn Definitely the better Bob Dylan album I’ve listened to
Starting off SO strong. I love the whole album with "You're a Big Girl Now" being my favourite.
Bland, repetitive, didn’t like his voice. I know he’s worldwide famous, but maybe for his writing skills. But sorry, maybe his music isn’t for me.
Lots of country, rock, some jazz and a lot of folk. A very Dylan album in the best possible way.
First two songs are classics, then it goes from Idiot Wind (one of his funniest and angriest songs) to the gentle love song You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go. Meet Me in The Morning is a nice blues but nowhere near his most interesting. ‘If you see her say hello’ is a melancholic highlight plus there’s another classic in ‘Shelter from the storm’. Buckets of rain is quite nice but ultimately meh
I will probably revisit this album as I didnt listen to the lyrics too much and thats what Bob Dylan was really know for. However even without that focus, the album was a very nice listen through and I enjoyed. The only this I could do without is the super high pitched harmonica every now and then, but that's personal preference.
I'll have to revisit this album and maybe I'll change my rating then, but honestly it was a nice listen first time around. I feel like I really need to lock in to understand what's happening in Bob Dylan's songs, and while that's not an issue, I was having some trouble today. Hence why I'm going to listen to it again. But until then...
Great album, one of his best -when his voice was at its most poignant
Never going to be sad about a Dylan album on the list
More Dylan - I'm still not sure I get it in the way I'm supposed to, but plenty here to appreciate. Two great songs that I already knew, and one that really knocked my socks off that I'd never heard (Idiot Wind). Those were some pretty substantial burns on his ex - does this qualify as a breakup album? Knocks on this would be that there's just not enough musical diversity to keep things that interesting for me, but I also don't know enough Dylan history to know without some research whether this one represents a "back to basics" record for him and how it was received, but it does seem more akin to his earlier 60s records. Overall, not bad at all, probably one I should spend some more time with though to see if it grows on me.
Tangled up in Blue 5 Sterne, 3 für den Rest
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: ?? For a Bob Dylan album, this body of work was wholly unremarkable. There weren't any singles that I recognized, which made it harder to get into. I think I have something like 6 or 7 more Bob Dylan albums on the List after this, so I expect there will be a bit of everything to come: better albums, albums the same as this, and worse ones.
Bob Dylan really is just nostalgic boomer music
Would have been 1 star, but Tangled Up in Blue is the lead track, and it’s honestly the only Dillon track that I kinda like
Blood on the Tracks was a pretty easy listen for me. I enjoyed the overall sound and the acoustic, laid-back style, and there are some really nice melodies throughout the album. The songwriting is obviously a big part of its appeal, with a lot of the songs dealing with relationships, heartbreak, and personal reflection. That said, I didn’t completely fall in love with it. Dylan’s voice is definitely an acquired taste for me — there’s something slightly strange and rough about the way he sings that sometimes takes me out of the songs. It does fit the emotional and intimate feeling of the album, though. Overall, I’d say it’s a solid album and I can understand why it’s considered one of Dylan’s best, but it didn’t blow me away. It’s relaxed, thoughtful, and easy to listen to, with some great songwriting, even if Dylan’s voice isn’t entirely my thing.
10/10 – Masterpiece
Music is very nice and melodic. I like these love lyrics, sound very truly. Music genre is great! 4/5 (not all the tracks added, not all the tracks are relevant to my heart, also it is the mood music).
Pass.
Sent this to my pal who likes Dylan. Just listened to blood on the tracks as part of that 1001 albums to hear before you die. Far and away the best thing I've ever heard Dylan do. I'll admit that was a low bar to clear but I'd maybe even listen to it again should someone point a gun at me and demand I do so. I've skipped previous Dylan albums on this. I just can't go him. This was good by his standards. Maybe it's the folk Dylan I don't like. He even sounds less like a whining prick on this so that's going to get immediate points.
I like Dylan. I’ve seen him live. But I’m far from the scholar many of my friends have been. For example, I’ve never given this album a hard listen, so let’s get surgical… Tangled - The one that got away but remains. “Rain falling on my shoes” always gets me. Twist - The early, good times, as the cloudshadows of fate move in. Love that sly crescendo at the end of the chorus. Big Girl - I dunno, an uneasy blend of the paternal and romantic, for me. Idiot - I like this slipping deft between autobio and story. I like how the vocal lines swing over the messy riffs and precision clatter of the drums. “Blood on your saddle.” Okay I really like this song. It might be my new favorite Dylan. I know it’s about what it’s about, but it’s also about me and my MAGA cultist mom. Lonesome- The intellectual apprehension of the inevitable end. And crickets talking shit. Meet me - Honky-tonk with Dylan Thomas. This groove is a trench. The kind of slow hard swing that makes you want to grunt. Electric-electric Ernie Isley solo sneaks into the outro. Fire. Lily- Carnival stomp. Revisiting the Jack of Hearts metaphor is badass. Lyrically, Dylan does Deadwood. Really dig these little EQ-spiking yelps all through this album. Bob Dylan, every audio technician’s nightmare. This song reminds me of my Ex, so BD’s traditional subtle sadness gets a boost. Hello - High end moog, low end mood. Bob sounds a little Zevon in the verses. Lyrics get a bit maudlin, but hey, sometimes post-breakup communication gets down to the raw bone, and that shit can look a lot like cliche. “Tell her she can look me up if she’s got the time.” Fuck. Storm - I know this one from charity commercials. Captures the moment another person becomes a home. And the bittersweet reminiscence of it later, when we’re alone. “I bargained for salvation and she gave me a lethal dose.” And I’m thinking about my Ex again. Buckets - Beautiful picking. “Little red wagon, little red bike, I ain’t no monkey baby but I know what I like”. Damn. It doesn’t hurt to be reminded why the classics are classics.
this is Bob Dylan at his finest - still the same provokingly imagistic lyrics but paired with an elevated musical sensibility from his work in the 60s. "you're gonna make me lonesome when you go" is so delightful in its yearning and melancholic joy and it is a true Dylanesque song in that no one can cover it well - it needs the unique grain and timbre of his voice "lily, rosemary, and the jack of hearts" might be one of the greatest examples of storytelling wrapped up in ghazal form "tangled up in blue" has such a strong, pulsing rhythm from the get-go and the color contrast between the song title and the album cover has always been one of my favorite details
I actually really liked this album. The storytelling was incredible and the songs went by fast for being long. Would relisten
All time classic. No notes.
Many people feel this is his best release and I tend to agree. Great lyrical so gs and content.
I really don't like country music, never been a huge fan. But compared to that shit, even the worst redneck country would sound like a fucking musical masterpiece.
he's stinky unfortunately and the shtick gets old fast.
I find bob dylan annoying sorryyyyyy
Bob Dylan is definitely iconic, and his style is truly one of a kind - he actually sounds a bit like a harmonica. Recently, I randomly got Dolly Parton, and I feel like this is exactly the foundation of American culture, even though I’m from Europe myself. 7/10
I always followed and lived Bob Dylan in my teens and into the Army. My son's middle name is Robert for that reason. When i heard this album it took Dylan to a higher level. One of his best.
Such great collection of notes to open up an album. With it's upbeat strumming, it's hard to imagine "Tangled up in Blue" as a song with a heavy message. But somehow Bob has a wonderful way of to capture how "We just saw it from a different point of view." The melancholy chords continue in "Simple Twist of Fate" with Dylan's grand storytelling that pulls us in. "You're a Big Girl Now" slow things down a little too much and felt like something I'd listen when belly up to the bar reminiscing about yesteryear. The magical organ notes of "Idiot Wind" is a song played in the church of Dylan and feels like a song trying to heal from a long sorrow. Something tells me though he'll never quite be able to let her go as her goes on in "If You See Her, Say Hello." Not a bad album and likely one that helped him process a hard time in his life. We all need a little bit of hope during challenges, such as "Buckets of Rain," and the album feels like it's able to provide "Shelter from the Storm." When pressed into difficult times, many times we return to our roots, and Dylan seems to find his way back with this delightful accoustic journey.
A few years ago, this album came to me at exactly the right time. The understated heartbreak.
Not the biggest Dylan fan, but I could dig on this in the right mood. Not going to seek it out per se, but I'd give it another listen. In all honesty, it sounds like it needs a more attentive listen than what I gave it.
Some good tunes here. Dylan is growing on me.
Another classic album ..this just squeaks in as a four. Some great tunes
far better than i expected
Perfection. Never gets old. Another one I should listen to all the way through more often
I have such a love/hate relationship with Bob Dylan. I normally find him extremely difficult to listen to and find his nasal whine a little off putting. However, everything came together (for me) perfectly in this album and it is a true masterpiece. It is heartfelt and brilliantly written. A tour de force and a very easy 5/5.
28/08/2026 I couldn't get behind this as much. Just didn't stick or stand out for me. Spotify listeners: 14.5 million
Really really liked the opening track
When this popped up as the record of the day, I began to hum the beginning of “Tangled Up in Blue” a song tied to powerful memories from an important time of my youth. I know every word of every song on this album. Bob Dylan at his best
Not a terribly adventurous album in terms of song composition, but then again that's not really Dylan's game at the best of times. What he does excel at here though is painting pictures of love, longing, and loss through his lyrics. The songs here feel very personal, and even raw at times, though Dylan himself always insisted that was not the case and that the album wasn't autobiographical in any way. I guess that speaks to his prowess as a songwriter then, that he's able to invite those kind of assumptions through the stories he told (either that or he's just a big fat liar). At the end of the day though, I'm not the hugest Dylan fan and I don't find his music to be something that I come back to all that often. Although I do appreciate his talents, I must admit he's an artist whose music I need to force myself to pay attention to otherwise I start zoning out. That said, there are tracks on this record that are able to make me sit up and pay attention on their own merits, so credit where it's due for that. Shelter From the Storm in particular I find to be quite a captivating listen. Favourite tracks: Shelter From the Storm, Idiot Wind, If You See Her Say Hello
Listened
Blood Gang
4,0 Highlights: Tangled Up In Blue, Simple Twist OF Fate
Escutar Bob Dylan me faz ter nostalgia de coisas que meu avô viveu. Suas letras e melodias simples me transportam diretamente para uma roda em volta de uma fogueira, onde um homem com apenas um violão em mãos cantarola casos e histórias que presenciou durante sua vida. Muitos dizem que sua voz falha é um defeito, mas na verdade acho que é parte do charme.
Not bad
Country roads, take me home
I sure do like the idea of Bob Dylan.
If this guy learns to sing he's going to be huge.
Love some BD
Listened before? No Familiar with the artist? Yes, this is my second Dylan album of the project. Thoughts: - I should have known I'd be a Bob Dylan fan before I started this project. It's been a musical blind spot that I'm glad to finally fix. 🙂 - I love a good, long story song, lol. I'm sure there are people who hate "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts," but I was enthralled 😅 - I know I'll need a few more listens to fully take in this one, but I can't see my rating changing. Favorite track(s): "Tangled Up in Blue", "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts" Least favorite: Wasn't really into "Meet Me in the Morning," but I don't hate it.
😩BOOOOOOOBBBBBBBBBBBBB
Easy to make a case for this as the greatest album of all time.
5/10… folk / singer-songwriter / *1975
I would wager that if i had read the lyrics while listening to the album, I would have had a different take, but as it stands, this is just another whiney Dylan album.
Album was okay but I don’t think I’m a Bob Dylan fan. They’re probably going to take me out back and shoot me.
Wasn’t fully vibing with the first couple of songs, but thankfully Bob did not disappoint. Love when he began adding more country influence. Top tracks: Meet Me in Morning, Shelter from the Storm, Buckets of Rain
My twin sisters had Blonde On Blonde nonstop in their bedrooms. I grew up listening to Bob Dylan they took me to see him play live open air at the Lorelei on the slow train coming tour which was great. He is without a doubt one of the most important songwriters and poets and Blood On the Tracks is his best album of many.
I listen to Bob Dylan and feel so much angst and I love it. There's a lot of forlorn, downtrodden feeling, heartbreak. Idiot Wind is amazing.
Man can't sing. Don't get the hype.
I’ve never really listened to Bob Dylan properly, but this isn’t half bad 😊 Three stars…
Great album, one of Dylan’s best which is saying a lot. Every single is good, most are smashers. This is required listening for sure.
Kind of enjoyed it
Self indulgent and can’t sing
Bobbing my Dylan to this rn
Undeniably a classic. Half of this album is comprised of some of the best songs ever written. The remainder is just ok. There are songs that you’ll find deeply resonant and incredibly potent, and there are songs you’ll forget even existed until you hear them again. It’s a true dichotomy. Still, the strong material is so monumental that the weaker stuff is easily glossed over. Definitely a track-by-track deal
There are a lot of great break up albums. This is the best break up album. Except for that endless Jack of Hearts song.
Nobel Prize winner, Poet Laureate, Punk. The GOAT on so many levels. Coming out 10+ years into his career this album shows a seemingly disillusioned Dylan resiliently laying down a masterpiece.
This is a masterpiece
It’s a testament to this project that I am not resisting the 4 star rating this album obviously deserves. I am sure for many it’s a 5. But I just can’t. 4 Boolean: True
First Listen; 3.5; Moreso than the other Dylan albums that I've had so far on this list, this feels like one that I would need to listen to a few times to really appreciate. Certainly enjoy the storytelling and relatively sparse instrumentation. Favorite Track: Tangled Up In Blue
Tangled up in blue, shelter from the storm, and a bunch of other bangers in between. Gold.
Ugh, fine, I will listen to Dylan. But you can't make me like it. And I really didn't. Yes, he is a fantastic song writer... but so is Dolly, so is Willie, so was Prince. They all can sing. Paul Simon can sing and write. Ed Sherran. Madonna! The Backstreet Boys wrote some of their songs!!! In all seriousness, he's a damn good writer, but his voice sucks.
Should be 6 stars out of 5
pretty chill
I like it, but I hate how bob dylan sings
not my thing at all
Hey he’s good and I like harmonica but also idk
Another Dylan, oh well
Would it be crazy to call this the weakest Bob Dylan album I've heard so far? I feel like I could immediately get into the other four I've heard in a way that I just can't here. Maybe it's how different his voice is compared to how it did on his earlier stuff but something just feels off with this one. a few songs in the middle were okay, I guess.
Very good, but doesn’t have many catchy songs. At least in my opinion…
Gorgeous
- beautiful album - harmonica goes off
parents introduced me to bob dylan when i was 12, lowkey never got to listening to his music much until i turned 18 and damn. no wonder he got the nobel. lyrics hit, music is simple. this is life.
mid
Solid songwriting and tunes. I still can't stand his voice.
Blood on the Tracks almost defies description. Ever since I was a teenager first getting into Dylan, this has been my favorite of all of his works. It's his most vulnerable, his most heartfelt and honest, and in a discography full of records to do such a thing, his most poetic. This album is imprinted on my soul and my heart and I honestly wonder what my life would be like without it. Even for the Dylan non-believers, this is an essential. I get not liking his voice, but to hear "Tangled Up In Blue" or "Simple Twist Of Fate" and miss the emotion and the passion in the words he wrote is to commit a sin. I love this album. I am so thankful to Dylan for baring his soul the way he did to share this one with the world.
Arguably the best album from one of the best songwriters ever. An easy 5.
Favorite song - You’re a Big Girl Now
Would listen to this again. But it's not quite up there in both quality and my style. But definitely better than average.
4/5
I rarely drift back to this one, I guess because its more polished sound isn’t usually what I’m looking for in a Dylan album, but looking at things rationally it’s got to be his most well-realized collection of songs. It starts mellow and melancholy, but with “Idiot Wind” we get one of his most scathing lyrics since “Like a Rolling Stone” before modulating back to a folksy tone for the back half, leading into the monumental “Shelter from the Storm”. I’ve always regarded Dylan for his passion, his anger, and his humor, but hearing him so contemplative, conflicted, and magnanimous on a record he wrote when he was only a bit older than I am now I feel like I’m discovering another side of him, a side I can deeply relate to as I related to his younger self in my own younger days. We’ll see if the trend continues into his Christian phase.
Dylan is a poet. There’s not much complicated about the music, but the lyrics really paint a picture. I love the characters that pop up and his voice. “Simple Twist of Fate” and “Shelter from the Storm” were standouts for me
Husband: where would you rate that Dylan album? Me: 5. Husband: that’s really specific, what are the top 4? Me: I meant 5 stars../ Once that confusion was settled it led to a LONG WINDED response from me on my top 10-ish Dylan albums (desire, blonde on blonde, the EPIC Biograph boxset I got on cassette for Christmas of ‘86 …) because Dylan is one of my most favorite artists. And he asked!! But it also made me realize just how many flawless albums Dylan has made, even with those awful Christian albums of the early 80’s! Blood on the Tracks is less about the individual pieces and more about the whole. But it’s still perfect.
One of the best Dylan albums and some even say that this and it's follow up 'Desire' are his last truly great records. Especially these days it's really enjoyable to listen to the organic band playing and free flowing songs that are not squeezed into 3 minutes radio friendly package. Dylan's song writing is back to top level after few mediocre albums he did on the 1st half of the 70's. This album lasts multiple plays and it only gets better with time.
In Bob Dylan scale this sounds better than other albums doing this 1001 album projects. Still solid 3 star stuff without possibility get higher rating. Many Dylan albums has some vibw/sound that bothers me but this one doesn't hit that irritating nerve. Maybe the irritating factor is folk.
I reviewed my recent Dylan albums from this list, and my ratings have been on a downward curve... And this album continues that trend. So, a solid 2.
#453 / 1089 Heard before? ❌ Revisit? ❌ Yeah, no. Nope. Nein. Nej. Ei. 1/5
Second Bob Dylan album in 2 days…Solid storytelling, and some solid harmonica work. Feels like Dylan’s most accessible album. Likes: Tangled Up in Blue; Simple Twist of Fate; Idiot Wind; Buckets of Rain
tangled up in blue > simple twist of fate opening tracks simple put gets the album a Four
Really good Bob Dylan, never heard this one before now
I have not had a drink from the Bob Dylan Kool Aid pitcher so I’m always leary of listening to most of his music. I went to a concert of his and only stayed for the opening band (The Alarm) because we all agreed he was just mumbling through his set. This album is different to me. He sounds more melodic and there is more emotion in his voice. Even the music is more layered. Yes, I am told it is about his lyrics……but that does not always cut it. Bottom line, I like this album.
"Tangled Up in Blue" seems to present new ground for Bob to cover, as it combines his long-winded lyrical sensibilities with uptempo pop rock instrumentation and a catchy hook. But the rest of the record is ho-hum folk music that does not reel me in at all.
This was a decent Dylan album, but certainly not his best. The songwriting is great, as per usual. Liked Songs Added: Tangled Up In Blue Meet Me In The Morning Shelter From The Storm
This is the SIXTH Bob Dylan album I've gotten on this list... I get it... but also I don't... 1/5
Can’t believe how great this was given that there are some right clangers in there.
Honestly it’s just his voice. I’m not the first and I won’t be the last person to say the sound of his voice and that harmonica make Dylan’s music impenetrable to me. It just sounds like shit.
My favorite Dylan album. This IS folk rock. Shelter From the Storm is amongst my favorites. Bit much else to say other than it’s an easy 5.
I can't, I just can't with this anymore.
(4/5) I'm an early Dylan fan. You know, mid-60s, "Highway 61" Dylan. I don't hate later Dylan by any stretch of the imagination. He's a national treasure and his songwriting is legendary, but his arrangements feel like they're getting (ever so slightly) stale by this point in his very long career. The level of craft he put out before this just didn't seem sustainable and I believe that exhaustion begins to play out here. It's subtle. "Tangled..", "Idiot Wind", & "Shelter.." are all favorites but *WAY* down that very long list from him. Entropy took a while to find Dylan. His star shone so brightly for so long, it was inevitable, and this album -- IMO -- starts showing the cracks. Good, but not great.
I've always liked Dylan in smallish doses, and mostly been exposed to a few of his compilations and greatest hits. So when this one popped up in the queue, my interest was piqued, to say the least, and I can't say that it disappointed. Opening with one of his most well known singles certainly didn't hurt, though there was a noticable lull in the next few tracks before Idiot Wind brought it back to some familiar ground. Jack of Hearts was an absolute gem, and it finished of strong with Shelter From the Storm and Buckets of Rain, finding upticks just hen a few of the B sides started to get monotonous or boring. A pretty solid work that I liked slightly less than his earlier stuff, and rounds up strongly to a 4/5 in my estimation after a pair of listens.
165. Blood On The Tracks - Bob Dylan (1975) 8.6.26 Variety: 3 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 4 Emotionality: 5 = 4.4 rounded down to a 4 "She was born in spring/ But I was born too late/ Blame it on a simple twist of fate" I'm predisposed to find Bob Dylan annoying, in part because of his veneration by the Rolling Stone subscribing boomers who fawn over his every utterance, and partly because he just seems like a dude who's head has been up his own ass for several decades now. The recent AI bullshittery does not help. But then I actually listen to something he did, and most of the time I find myself admitting he's pretty damned good, and maybe he does deserve his reputation. At least for stuff up to and including this album. I've heard quite a bit of his stuff after this ( though there are numerous holes) and the only thing I can say that I've really liked has been his work with the Traveling Wilburys. I will say I do admire the craftiness with which he built his public persona. I think maybe only Bowie is the only other musician of the same general era who so successfully curated his legend. And it's always good fun to look up clips of young superstar Dylan fucking with music journalists. All that said, I think he starting liking the smell of his own farts too much around the time of this album, and began buying into his own mythmaking. He's one of those guys, like Springsteen who I can readily admit are ( or have been) great at what they do for very obvious reasons, but who I would likely never become obsessed with enough to do a true deep dive. Although I've heard good things, I'll likely never look into the Basement Tapes for example. unless they are on the list. Are they on the list? It just seems like it would feel like work. Aside form the stuff that everyone knows, I've listened to this at least once when I picked it up in a lot of vinyl records I bought. But it was quite a long time ago though, and I didn't like it enough then to keep it. I'm much more patient and forgiving now, but we'll see. THE TRACKS Side one "Tangled Up in Blue" - With the one song you know if you know any of the tracks on this album, we have a very strong opener. Dylan's one of those guys who is generally both an A-level melodicist AND an A-level lyricist. And this is one of the songs where he gets to show both the skills off. Like a lot of his stuff it's dense, but never crowded or clumsy. As expected with a Dylan album, the playing is a treat with a wonderfully rootsy arrangement, and his trademark vocals almost seeming to lean in to self parody as he drives home the end of each verse. Never a stranger to unconventional song structures, we get nothing but verses here, all of them possibly about completely different people, or even from the point of view of different people, and seeming to jump around to different eras even ( both automobiles and slave-traders are mentioned). One thing I do recall reading is that supposedly he had been listening to Joni Mitchell's Blue ( our very last album!) before writing this one, and I wonder if any of that unconventionality rubbed off him. Not that he hadn't been at it for a while already. A great song, catchy as hell, and a worthy addition to his greatest hits compilation. One of the nearly forty (!) or so I think exist. But can anything follow it? "Simple Twist of Fate" - Well, I guess so. Another great one ( one of my favorites of his - though not a big radio hit to my knowledge). We get a kind of beautifully sad little story about two lovers who were just not meant to be, and on top of that a nice conceit that the narrator is maybe presenting this as the story of two other people before finally admitting at the end ( though with at least one prior hint earlier) that he was the poor schmuck who got all used up and left behind. Great stuff, and as well loved as it is, it's telling of the quality of his "deep track" stuff that this one didn't make any of his greatest hits albums until Best of vol.2 in 2000! Cover by Jeff tweedy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Dsr9F9-fU Cover by Jerry Garcia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpVs-QQkBPg "You're a Big Girl Now" - Another breakup song, this one more pained than confused. It was fine enough, though it lacked a lot of the character of the previous two. A lot of good emotional swings vocally though. "Idiot Wind" - Looks like that may have been a blip as we're back to the heavy hitters. And damn... that was cold-blooded, Bob. Mean as this one is, it's also pretty danged hilarious. How can you not love a takedown like "idiot wind/Blowing every time you move your teeth/ You’re an idiot, babe/ It’s a wonder that you still know how to breathe"? A very simply made blade, but one that cuts DEEP. I'd like to officially nominate this as the new anthem of these United States, as it seems like that fortune teller Dylan talks about must have given him a vision of the last 10 years or so. And on top of all that we get some choruses finally. Plus some awesome Hammond organ. "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" - A little more understated, but great little number that is much more on the whimsical side, despite being sort of a pre-breakup song. Dude's gonna enjoy the time he's got but he's fully aware that it's not bult to last, and probably no one to blame but himself. Bob even gets a bit Disney on the bridge. I loved how upbeat and jaunty this was and just had to know if there were any bluegrass covers, as this seems made for it. Holy cow there were a LOT of them. Here are a couple of the better ones: Cover by The Sommers Rosenthal Family Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrBI0Yhzzbg Cover by The Often Herd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofR0yzu40rI Cover by Mike Block Trio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlL7vEXldkI Cover by Bryan Sutton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJmUWvJpNs0 Side two "Meet Me in the Morning" - Things get bluesy for this one, and Bob does his best to add some dirt and grit to his inflection, and it mostly works. It's just nothing amazing. As far as white guy blues rock jams go it's INIFINITELY better the super clean masturbatory electric guitar solo-filled stuff from a lot of the British dudes who had been doing this stuff. "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts" - As far as country western outlaw ballads go, this one is pretty danged good with it's tie-tapping rhythms and complex, but entertaining narrative full of no-good bandits, card sharps, and killers. By far the longest song on the album, it manages to be a fun romp the whole way through and in no way felt like a slog. There are a bunch of solid covers of this one as well: Cover by Tom Russel and Eliza Gilkyson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk4RV474oSA Cover by The Rolling Ramshackle Revue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-1qyHR3E4A "If You See Her, Say Hello" - Another tale of lost love and maybe the prettiest song on the album, with subdued and gentle instrumentation, and some really cool brush drumming and more mandolin. The ending of this was pure ear candy. "Shelter from the Storm" - This one felt much more like earlier Dylan than anything else on here I think, with the simple but effective strumming melody and the harmonica. The echoey vocals add a nice bit of production flavor, and the bass adds a heft to the comparatively simple arrangement. And it still impresses. Even more proof that the dude can spin gold from very basic ingredients. "Buckets of Rain" - Another relatively simple number, this one nice bouncy little love song, with a much more upbeat outlook. Not much to say other than it's catchy and bright and leaves us on a light note which was nice after a couple of albums in a row full of doom and gloom. One thing though - The core vocal melody did remind me a lot of Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime" so had to look it up and turns out others have noticed this, though it seems much more egregiously close to his associate Tom Paxton's "Bottle of Wine" from 1965. You be the judge. Cover by Neko Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzKMp-Eil9k "Bottle of Wine" by Tom Paxton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzq_ZwPQJRA HIGHLIGHTS - "Tangled Up in Blue" - "Simple Twist of Fate" - "Idiot Wind" - "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" - "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts" - "If You See Her, Say Hello" - "Shelter from the Storm" - "Buckets of Rain" MIDLIGHTS - "You're a Big Girl Now" - "Meet Me in the Morning" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS From all of the stuff I've listened to, this is Dylan's last great album in my opinion. There are others I like much more, but it's crazy this is considered a comeback album of sorts when in my opinion he hadn't really left yet. I mentioned before that I always feel a little snooty going into a Dylan album, even one I've heard before, but that feeling almost always falls away under the incredibly strong craftsmanship and performance. Even the two middling tracks on this are still very good. They just don't touch those others. We've got six more Dylan albums to go on the list, and I can vouch for at least four of those. One I have not heard, the other is VASTLY overrated. This was a blast overall, and a very easy high 4. I could see it possibly reaching into a higher 4 and getting rounded up way down the line. I'd have to really get into a Dylan deep dive though and listen to it on repeat a bunch. NOt likely to happen anytime soon though. Maybe that'll be a retirement project. For now it'll have to remain just out of reach of those best of the best ones. Also, its a damn shame that John Wesley Harding is not on here. It definitely should have replaced one of those two. Look it up. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Nah FURTHER LISTENING - John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan - For the Roses by Joni Mitchell - The Late Great Townes Van Zandt by Townes Van Zandt - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight by Richard and Linda Thompson - For Everyman by Jackson Browne - On the Beach by Neil Young - Tunnel of Love by Bruce Springsteen - Sea Change by Beck
Our first encounter with Bob Dylan on this 1001 album journey. Just curious how many other Nobel Prize winners are included on this list. Might get ambitious enough to look that up, but not right now. That is to say Dylan is on a very short list of musicians in terms of accolades. Dylan is an institution, my entire life he has just been there. Steady songwriting and beloved American musician. This is also my first album dive into any of the man's material. I know the hits and all the tracks that have drilled into the psyche of culture over his 7 decades of active recording. And it does not disappoint. I only knew two tracks on this album going in, "Idiot Wind" and "Shelter from the Storm" The others were wonderful discoveries. "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts" could've kept going for double its length and I would've been listening to each verse. I appreciate the folk music sound and a guitar can cover much that might turn me off. Again, I'm not familiar with Dylan on an era or album understanding yet, but this one still has whatever early juice he was working with. A solid 4/5
Mmmm okay.
One of the Holy Grail albums. The third album on The Mount Rushmore of Albums. Nothing before or after will ever compare.
Great album. Gets better with every listen.
Still not a fan.
I like the album. Easy listening.
Oh my goodness, another Bob Dylan… please I hope this is over soon. I cannot get behind his music. 😭😭😭
I've recently listened to a couple of later Bob Dylan albums (Love & Theft and Rough & Rowdy Ways) which I did not care for so I didn't have high hopes for this. Imagine my surprise when I actually liked this decently! Tangled Up in Blue was probably my favorite track. Solid.
It sounded like growing up in the late 50s, early 60s.
I listened to "Blonde On Blonde" last week, and I like this one a lot better. The songs are softer and more acoustic, the lyrical stories are richer and more detailed, and the harmonica actually fits in without being excessive.
muy bonito pero no eslo que prefiero de dylan
1.5 STARS*** Respectfully, how is this on the list. Double it and give it to the next person.
Love Dylan love this album its so good, great song writing just a great vibe his band are great the playing is so tight everything about this album is cool
Lyrically and musically I enjoyed this, but I struggle with Bob Dylans tone
singer/songwriter, 1975 -> 3
I rlly liked this one listened two times and was very low cortisol.
The closest I came to liking a song on this album was Meet Me in the Morning. But I did not. Too much harmonica and really dull. I don't like his voice.
Great just because Shelter from the Storm ist one of my all-time favorite Dylan tracks.
I preferred this to Highway 61 Revisited, but still not quite my jam.
really just not for me. i've tried multiple times to listen to bob dylan, and cannot.
All time classic, easy 5
One of my favorites. About as perfectly imperfect as you get
good studying music
This album is such a mixed bag for me. “Tangled up in blue” and “simple twist of fate” are brilliant and I’ve loved them for years. “Idiot Wind” and “Jack of hearts” are repetitive droning garbage. The rest just kinda fades into the background.
Outstanding, a massive return to form for Bob. Very familiar with the album, but another listen couldn't do any harm!
Z dotychczasowych płyt tę jako jedyną dało się nawet normalnie wysłuchać, ale to tylko dlatego, że nie było aż tyle harmonijki w melodiach. Jeśli Bob Dylan przestanie mieć nie-fanów swojej muzyki, to znaczy, że umarłam.
노래는 전체적으로 분위기가 꽤 괜찮았다. Overall, the song had a pretty good atmosphere.
Okayy
pretty good, pretty calm, would've given it a 3.5 if i could've
1) Idiot Wind 2) You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go 3) If You See Her, Say Hello Least Favourite: Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts
I didn't finish. I know Dylan is a legend, but I just couldn't make it through this
Not a big Dylan fan, but I think it's going to grow on me when I give it more listens. 3,5 now on first listen, might change later.
Liked it more than I expected…probably would’ve liked it even more if literally anyone else was in charge of singing.
Wasn't feeling it. 2.5/5
I love Shelter from the storm so much and Tangled up In blue was new to me but it's awesome too. This was folkier than some of the other Dylan we've had, focusing on his guitar and harmonica work. The songwriting got a little dull for me though, some of his other stuff is a teeny more varied. Rounding up to 4 stars
He can obviously write a song, but I’ve never been convinced that sounding like Bob Dylan is necessarily the best way to perform one. This is an uneven album. At its best, it’s outstanding: beautifully written, emotionally sharp and full of songs that justify the reputation that precedes him. But there’s a noticeable dip in the middle, where several tracks feel lazy and repetitive and outstay their welcome. Meanwhile, his mouth organ remains an instrument that often sounds as though it has crashed in from a child’s playroom. But perhaps that’s all part of the point. Bob will be Bob, and by the end I wasn’t merely tolerating him; I was very much enjoying him—and, on at least one occasion (Idiot Wind), even his mouth organ. Maybe we naysayers just have to resign ourselves to the fact that a Bob album wouldn’t be quite the same without that voice, the “harmonica” or the idiosyncratic vocal phrasing he applies to practically every other word.
I liked it a bit but, it gets repetitive.
's alright
I don't think I'm ever going to fully appreciate Bob Dylan, But this was fine, every song was probably a bit too similar for me though. A solid 3*
Consistent. Good poetry and solid music.
pretty great. i’ll never be able to give so much harmonica a five tho. it’s not easy listening and well worth the effort, typical bob. still prefer joan baez’s versions of most of his songs, but giving credit where it’s due.
2/5
Despite growning up alongside friends idolizing Bob Dylan, I never had the courage to dig in his discography systematically. (Also because, in principle, I am not a big fan of the more bluesy/folky aspects of his music.) This project is giving me this opportunity and makes me appreciate him more and more. Here, besides several amazing songs, I was impressed by the range, power of nuances of his vocals (in the face of the idiots who claim he cannot sing)
In 1974 Bob Dylan did a succesful comeback stadiumtour with his old mates of The Band. Half a year later he returned to the studio. The sessions in A&R studio's in New York were a stripped down acoustic affair. Dylan was recently divorced from Sarah, something that left a huge mark on his new songs. Together with a few relative unknown musicians he laid down the groundwork for his new album. After which he returned to Minneapolis and showed the results to his brother who made him rethink the album. He decided to re-record 5 of the songs in Minneapolis which led to the released album. Blood on the tracks is one of the best albums Dylan ever made and that says a lot. Every song is a stone cold classic and he sings the hell out of it. Being the best writer of our lifetime, Dylan never just simply sings about my baby left me and I feel sad but draws his inspiration from the old voices of the blues, Melville, even Shakespeare or in case of Tangled up in blue, Dante. Which also happens to be my favourite Bob Dylan song ever.
What a songwriter. If he didn’t write these songs to represent a failing love, then he’s better than anyone in expressing those feelings of remorse. Plus just for S&Gs he throws in a 9-minute Western ballad. The stripped-down makes his words more pronounced. Great album.
This hit the spot for me yesterday. I’m not always a big Dylan fan, but I really liked this one. Can’t deny his songwriting and storytelling. 4/5
It's good, pretty raw. Dylan's voice is so harsh and modulates a little bit too much up and down the register, it interrupts enjoying the lyrical content (which is beautiful). A bit too grating to be consistently enjoyable on the first listen, looking forward to listening again. Low 4. 4.0/5.0
there is no way you can convince me that a guy lipfucking an harmonica and singing cheesy stories through his nose for way too long is considered one of the greatest musicians in the world
Another Boring Bob Dylan album. I assume a bunch of Bob albums are on this list and out of the 2 I’ve listened to I did not enjoy them. 5/10 at most.
3-/5
I've listened to plenty of Dylan albums but Blood on the Tracks is the only 5 star album for me. His best work.
When music is just beautiful.
Already Listened countless times. Top 3 favorite album
I haven’t explored much of Bob Dylan’s catalog beyond his early work and now this album. His earlier albums didn’t really grab me, but this one stands out. From what I’ve read, he had moved away from his folk-rock roots for a while and came back to them with this record. One thing I picked up on is how much more mature this album feels, probably because a lot of the lyrics revolve around his personal experiences with his divorce. You can really sense the life experience behind his words, which gives the songs more emotional weight. Over all, this was a pretty solid album, and I enjoyed it more than I expected.
My favorite Dylan album - many of the songs feel much more personal than most of his other songs, or maybe they just resonate with me more. Favorite songs: Shelter From The Storm, Meet Me In The Morning, Tangled Up In Blue.
Review - one of the best albums of all time. The songwriting is so good, and the production and performances are so sparse it gives the songs and lyrics space to come through. Dylan's done a lot of albums, but this is one of his best by far. Really puts some of the other Dylan albums featured on this list to shame. Score - 9.5/10 Need to listen? YES
Blood on the Tracks is hands down my favorite Bob Dylan album. Whenever I’m craving Dylan, it’s always my first pick. It was the first one I truly experienced from start to finish, before that, I’d only heard his songs on the radio. As a bonus, you can actually understand every lyric.
I couldn't explain why but this is the best Bob Dylan we have done - I think it's probably as much what I am bringing to it as the actual music because it isn't that different. It just hit the spot this evening for some reason
This was...fine? I think I expected more from Dylan as a whole since I have never heard one of his albums in its entirety before, and considering how lauded he is generally. There were certainly a couple of hits here, but I fear his singing style still irks me the same way it has since I was a little kid. Maybe a different album would be a little more my speed, as I assume this isn't the only one I'll encounter on this list. Sorry, but I'm not Dylan-pilled quite yet... Favorite tracks: Tangled up in Blue, Idiot Wind, Shelter from the Storm
Very good album, I know get the hype. Preferred the opening few songs than the last few
Decidedly non-baby boomer who has gradually come to admire Dylan. Now, as I hear more and more, and to hear this album in full, I get the brilliance. Putting out an effort like this as your 15th album, 15!, is nuts. This is better than most bands entire careers. I knew the classics but a few hidden gems, atleast for a non-Dylan devotee, that found me hanging on every word. An incredible album.
I just can’t get into this man. Someone’s review mentioned really listening to the lyrics and absorbing them into your own experiences. Sounds like a good idea. But it’s just not musically great so with all the will in the world I just can’t stay focused and it blurs into the background and I end up counting pigeons on my drive to work. Maybe another day
This album is absolutely not for me. It's primary quality is "confessional," which I find to be a pretty boring artistic mode. I have lots of friends who are Dylan enthusiasts, and they all love Blood on the Tracks. But they also acknowledge it's really a lyrics-first style of music and that, if you want the richest possible experience, you need a near-parasocial relationship with Dylan.
wasnt for me
Arguably peak Dylan. Serious treatise on life and love and all the related confusion and tribulations.
Dylan’s marriage is failing so he writes an absolute masterpiece of an album. A lot of folks can’t stand his voice, but Dylan has always been about the poetry, and he writes much more intimately here.
hey i didnt hate this one, maybe im one of those people who'd freak out over the electric guitar or whatever
#192/1001 🇺🇸 One of the best albums of all time. Hands Down. I generally prefer Dylan's earlier work but this album stands out amongst everything that he recorded over 6 decades. Its been good to listen twice today and also for completenesd to the "Original New York Test Pressing" of the record which was released on Record Store Day last year. Best Tracks: Tangled Up In Blue, Idiot Wind, You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome, Lilly, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts, If You See Her Say Hello, Shelter from the Storm.
Awesomeness
In a nutshell: "you do what you must, and you do it well" Before the generator project, I've wondered why people think Dylan and Cohen are GOAT balladeers. I think I get it now. Not as much harmonica on this album. Dylan's voice is less nasally. A small backing band on some tracks, even a mandolin makes an appearance. The only complaint I can think of is that it ran out of steam towards the end of Side B for me. It was a special first listen to me, and it all happened on an ordinary winter morning. Overall: 9/10
Heard before?:❌️/✔️(not entirely) Will listen again?:❌️ Dylans songs are best when someone else sings them
My theory on why he's so polarizing: If you can listen to recordings and focus on the lyrics, follow the narrative, then he's brilliant. But if, like me, you are incapable of focusing on language when music is playing (because your attention is constantly and uncontrollably drawn back into the song and its elements) then he comes across as, at best, indifferent and, at worst, cynical; and you resent him for it. He has a real gift for melody. But, given that fact, the carefully affected apathy in his atonal bleating and whining, the simplistic rhyming schemes (e.g. fly, cry, dry), the sheer volume of stanzas turning his often beautiful but always simple melodies into monotonous slogs, and the lack of attention to arrangement and orchestration, combine to give the impression that he is either genuinely apathetic about the music or deeply (musically) insecure and trying to hide it in arrogance. Either way, it does not make listening a positive experience.
Tangled and Shelter are both really great tunes. Probably one of the last Dylan albums you can understand him singing.
fav dog is lily,rosemary and jack of hearts
Js finished. Ts is not for me :/
This album is such a raw, vulnerable look at a relationship falling apart. It’s peak Dylan storytelling for me, especially "Tangled Up In Blue" and "Idiot Wind" thats show just how brilliant his writing is when it's all stripped back. The lyrics feel like deep, painful stories that really drag you into all that regret and bitterness. It’s a total breakup masterpiece that feels just as heavy and personal today as it did back then. I know the nasal vocals and screechy harmonica aren't everyone's cup of tea, they can be a lot if you're not used to them. But if you can look past that and really listen to the lyrics, it’s easily one of the best breakup records ever made. It’s an emotional gut-punch that proves why he’s arguably the greatest songwriter of all time.
The thing that I really loved about this album was how each song was told like a story. I lowkey was so invested in the Jack of Hearts song, I was listening to that shit like an audiobook LOL. Also the harmonica was so cool but it had me cracking up thinking about the meme where it was like “when bob dylan plays that f*ck ass harmonica” and the baby’s head is exploding and tbh I needed a good laugh today and it helped so I appreciated it hahaha. But overall though I enjoyed the album and think it’s definitely enjoyable cookout music.
BANJO MOMENT <333 Not my usual listening but it reminds me of Dad and friends from high school Love the banjo and harmonica moments
Bob Dylan is a song writing genius, but I cannot stand his voice
Favorite songs: Tangled Up in Blue, Simple Twist of Fate, Idiot Wind, Meet Me in the Morning, Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts, Shelter from the Storm, Buckets of Rain
This is a pretty good album, even not understanding the full history of Bob Dylan. I wasn't able to fully appreciate it on first listen, and I don't have a great interest in revisiting it right now, but in the future I anticipate myself really digging into this and loving it. Bob Dylan does not fit a lot of moods for me right now, which makes it hard for me to jump at the bit to listen to him.
First Dylan record from the generator, and one im somewhat disappointed with. You see, there's 2 different versions of this album, the released album in 74'/the one in the book, and the original New York Sessions version. And sorry to say, but the original recordings tower over the re-recordings immensely. I dunno the new vibe just doesn't work with most of these songs for me. The only ones I can think of that do work are Tangled Up In Blue and Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts. The others feel like they were watered down and don't carry any of the same weight as they did before, If You See Her, Say Hello especially. For the unchanged songs, those are good, except for the fact they're sped up a little. Did they think slower songs were too much for people to handle? In terms of the songs on their own merits, most are pretty good, even if I dislike how most sound. The only one I'm low on is Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts as that one drags on too long, this goes for both versions. Overall, the album could've been stellar if they hadn't fucked with it. Its definitely not awful, but it should have been left as it was. Im in the minority on this, a lot of people prefer the finished/released version, more power to them. Id recommend listening to both versions and seeing which you prefer, I know which one I do. Highlights-Tangled Up in Blue, Simple Twist of Fate, Shelter from The Storm, and Buckets of Rain.
Very good. Not Dylan's best but certainly a worthy listen. If you're into the American folk revival from the mid-20th century, he was of the best of them (Joni Mitchell -- a Canadian, I'll have you know -- could be in the same category). It's not The Freewheelin' or The Times They Are A-Changin', but it does mark a great return to his acoustic roots (eleven years after "going electric"). Not a lot to analyze and decompose. 'Tangled Up In Blue' and 'Shelter From The Storm' are the standouts for me. The rest are still songs that 95% of songwriters ought to be very proud to have written. 4/5, Zimmerman. Bonus note: The Basement Tapes, from the same year, was the better release (because The Band were fabulous)
O disco parece muito sensível, quase um desabafo amoroso. gostei muito.
I really enjoyed this album but its very melancholic so i wish i had gotten a different album while I'm off my meds but such is life. i enjoy the guitar work on this album it feels light and airy even in the darkest parts of the album. it focuses on light strumming shelter from the storm is a fantastic example. 5/5 but that could just be that i miss my girlfriend
It’s not bad. I just have trouble getting into Bob Dylan. I know tons of people love him. I just struggle with him. I can’t really put my finger on what it is that I don’t like.
Good stuff.
It was pretty good, I liked his lyrics allot and it felt relatable, some of the lyrics touched me, but some of it was pretty forgettable, and idk how I feel about Dylan’s vocal performance, it was good but not my thing, I appreciate this music but prolly something I’d skip if I put it in a playlist
I couldn't get into the way bob dylan sings
I decided that I need to control myself when talking about Dylan, in contrast to my downright logorrheic reviews of the past three albums I've had on the generator. In short, this album defines perfection. Every single second of it, every chord struck, every spoken word. It's one of those pieces of art that makes me appreciate my own existence. Imagine never being able to hear Idiot Wind. The funny thing is, it's not even my favourite Dylan album. The man actually made something better than this. Favourite track: Simple Twist of Fate
The Good: At least we know there’s murder happening… The Bad: We don’t know who, or what, got murdered… The Ugly: Where there’s blood there’re guts… and stuff… Mr Dylan… what is there to say about this album? It was a nice listen. I am glad I listened to it… I just can’t recall the experience a couple of days later. Maybe I will listen to it again today… maybe not. That last song, that was the big one though… always nice when an album ends on the big one. Thanks Mr Dylan. 4*
Dylan is somewhat mercurial for me, sporadically excellent but often underwhelming. blood on tbe tracks is one of his better outings. I must say though I do t know how Jimi Hendrix’s estate did not sue him for lifting pretty much a note for note copy of Redhouse for meet me in the morning. This is album is good even if, like me you are not a Dylan worshiper. 3.9
Excellent. One of my favourite Dylan albums.
Given the professional reviews, I have high expectations. And those expectations are met... sort of. Sonically, very predictable (like most of Dylan's records), with mainly acoustic guitar accompanying the brash, questionable vocal delivery. And harmonica jumping in at the end of every song. As with all Dylan albums, you have to focus on the lyrics to really appreciate the songs. But sometimes his poetry is a bit hard to parse for a listener like me who almost never cares about lyricism. There's definitely some star power that skews my rating upward, but what can you do? (It's Bob, bitch.) Man... that opener. Sonically, Tangled up in Blue blends in with the crowd as a jaunty country-folk song. But look at the lyrics, squint a little, and you realise this is a story – a tragedy – of lost causes, of putting all your passion into somebody and then messing up and dealing with the consequences. Context is everything here. It helps knowing Dylan was going through a heavy breakup at the time this was recorded. The lyrics at the beginning and are bright, hopeful, naïve. Then the narrator breaks up with his girlfriend, goes solo, and the tone turns regretful but still hopeful. The two meet again. They get back together. But then something breaks, and this time it's irreparable. "Then he started into dealing with slaves / And something inside of him died / She had to sell everything she owned / And froze up inside." Heart-wrenching. Much worse for Dylan though, I imagine, if this is as autobiographical as people seem to believe. (Dylan denies it, though.) Simple Twist of Fate plays with perspective. The narrator watches a man abandoned by his wife, left to the streets, left to wander. I have to imagine this one's autobiographical too – after all, why write the song at all, unless the man you're watching is just (a microcosm of) you? Cool storytelling method to separate yourself from the tragic figure you're observing using third-person language. Dylan did it in the previous song, too. You're a Big Girl Now is the most musically and harmonically interesting song so far, boasting a pretty mixture of piano, fluttery acoustic guitar, and light percussion. Not really sure what the song is about, but ah, well. Same goes for the next song, Idiot Wind, but fortunately Dylan planned ahead for this and gave us a 700-word essay (and almost 8 minutes of runtime) to work with. We end side 1 with the relatively peppy mouthful You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go. I didn't realise how much I'd missed a familiar, groovy chord progression until the 12-bar blues track Meet Me in the Morning. But dang, this guy can pull off the blues. Great use of bass and electric guitar. Great solo. Great all around. Next, if you thought Bobby-Boy was done with writing dissertations, prepare to have your mind blown by Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts. At 900 words, you'd better get your reading brain ready. If You See Her, Say Hello – pretty damn sad. I can't relate, being that I haven't loved and lost like Dylan has, but I can try to empathise. At least Dylan had his galactic success to help with anything money-related. But that won't heal wounds of love. Shelter from the Storm is pretty great – I love the refrain and the fact that it makes sense every time it's uttered, even as the story progresses. We end with the solid Buckets of Rain, which boasts the strongest guitar line so far and a depressing loss-of-love lyric. 4/5 Key tracks: Tangled up in Blue, Meet Me in the Morning, Shelter from the Storm
poetic, honest, raw folk rock blues. favorite songs: simple twist of fate, meet me in the morning.
Shelter from the Storm has been on at least one playlist of mine for several years, but I'd never listened to the album it came from. Glad I finally have.
it's bob
First time listening to an album of his that I could understand most of it.
Meh. Not great. Annoying rhytyms, annoying vocals, and his wheezing voice are all frustratingly difficult to enjoy.
A great album. The vibe is very different from the other Dylan album I’ve had on this list, Highway 61 Revisited, but still excellent in its execution. Despite his denials, it’s pretty clearly shaped by the breakdown of his marriage with some special articulations of the breakdown of a relationship. Tangled Up in Blue and Idiot Wind are probably my highlights- long songs from the ‘70s normally have alarm bells ringing for me, but the emotional intensity certainly made them exceptions to that rule. The return to a more stripped back arrangement really suits the mood, so this is a great showcase of Dylan’s stylistic range.
Quite possibly my favourite Bob Dylan album. He denied that anything here is autobiographical, but it’s hard not to see this album as being influenced by the breakdown of his marriage, with most songs focused on the ends of relationships. I find it more emotionally engaging than most of Dylan’s other albums, as great as many of them are, with songs like ‘Tangled Up in Blue’, ‘Simple Twist of Fate’, ‘You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go’, ‘If You See Her, Say Hello’ and ‘Shelter from the Storm’ (to name my highlights) being particularly notable. 5 stars without doubt.
Don't even need to listen to this one to rate it but love the fact that it is on the list. Not sure there is a better songwriter in the world than Mr. Dylan. The legend lives up to all expectations everytime.
BANGER, should be close to 5 stars imo, 4.5
Not a big fan...
top folk albums ever no se si se pone mejor que esto 9/10
Solid
Не дуже його люблю, але моє ставлення може бути упередженим. Цікаво послухати. Поки що добре слухається. Вокал трохи відштовхує, але в загальному окей. Idiot Wind класний трек. Meet Me in the Morning дуже схожк на Black Keys навіть вокалом. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts теж класний, веселий трек. Коротше зайшло, 4 точно заслуговує, я б послухав ще.
This is probably my favourite Bob Dylan album we’ve listened to so far. Really enjoyed your a big girl now thought it was a real change from his usual country influenced stuff. I would listen to this again.
I've listened to this before and I really like it, it's a great collection of stories that stand up as tunes as well. Maybe Dylan at his best?
Possibly the best Dylan so far…
Didn’t grab me like Highway 61, but an enjoyable, calming Dylan-y listen.
This is borderline. Just don't think it does enough for a 5.
Renascent
Taas Dylanin levy. Kyllä ymmärrän, miksi on listalle päässyt. Vahvuus on tekstissä, muuten nyt ei mitenkään ihmeellistä.
5/10 No es malo pero meh. No me termina de llamar o gustar
Man loves that damn harmonica
Vocals and everything were good. Spaced off a bit during this day, so don’t remember much, but still good.
so good
Die Stimme...
bob
My first contact with Bob Dylan wasn't the best, but I've heard plenty of good things about this album for years, so I'm carefully excited. Love the cover. Okay, so apparently I don't mind Bob Dylan's vocals when they are surrounded by more instruments than just the guitar. Tangled up in Blues is great. Simples Twist of Fate is good too, although I'll need more times with the lyrics. I swear the real love story in his whole career is Bob Dylan and the harmonica. Idiot Wind is great! Next track's short and sweet, but doesn't leave a big mark. Meet Me In The Morning executes the blues folk sound wonderfully, and the guitar solo at the end is to kill for. Lily, Rosemary, and Whomever the fuck else is way too long and too interesting. Seriously, why is the worst song in the album also the longest? If You See Her, Say Hello is unremarkable. The strings are nice though. Shelter From The Storm seems sweet, but not much of a mark. Buckets of Rain, the closer, is instrumentally much simpler than the rest of the album. It serves as a nice sweet note to end on. This was nice! I disliked only one song, and while there weren't as many stand-outs as I wished for, most songs were at least pleasent. Rating is tough, as for me it stands somewhere between a 3 and a 4. Oh well
An absolute classic, really in a league of its own when it comes to songwriting and lyricism. Some people cannot handle Dylan’s voice, those people are soft and I am not one of them. Once you listen to Dylan enough you realize that his voice is an essential part of his music, if he had a rich tone like Johnny Cash for example, it would not be the same music, his nasally, even whiny voice is an essential part of the music. The recordings on this album are among his best in terms of production, guitars are glistening, especially on Tangled Up in Blue. I’d say only Desire has this album beat in terms of production. But that’s another perfect album for another time. If there’s one critique id have for this album, it’s that Buckets of Rain is a bit of a weak spot, but it may seem that way because every other song is unbelievable. I was going to say that the opening songs were incredible, but I ended up thinking of 9 of the 10 songs on this album as opening songs. An utter masterpiece that everyone should, actually NEEDS to listen to, preferably with a lyric sheet by their side.
Har börjat spela massa munspel de senaste veckorna, så lite inspo från Bob tackar jag inte nej till. Sjyst musik dessutom!
Aldrig riktigt dykt ner i Dylan och katalogen har alltid känns för stor för att börja, så kul att få upp den här! Det tar några vändor innan jag börjar uppskatta att han låter som en estradpoet som spelar munspel som ett barn. När jag till slut börjar koncentrera mig på att följa med i texterna och inte lyssnar i väntan på en stark refräng eller nåt kommer jag ytterligare ett steg mot att börja fatta grejen med Dylan. Men behöver nog fler skivor för att fatta grejen helt! Får bli stark 3a, till alla dylanfantasters fasa.
Stark Dylan-platta enligt en Dylan-tvivlaré.
Om inte världens bästa album så världens bästa breakup album och hur som helst Dylans bästa. Bara hur han går från bitter , lack och ledsen till tillbakablickande, ångerfull och förlåtande, allt sjunget med sån jävla feeling, är värd en femma. Fan vad förkrossad han låter i You're a big girl now och sen spydigt tokarg i Idiot Wind. Öppna ackorden (nästan samma genom hela skivan) på gitarr stämd i DADGAF ger nån sorts känsla av att det bara rullar på som en brun bil i 70-talets amerika. Även om det blir stökigt ibland är även det, perfekt. Det är det sladdriga som gör det. Inga jävla klipp i rullbanden här. Man ska höra hur han fuktar läpparna innan munspelet gör entré. I grunden är det väl ändå kanske texterna som är kärnan. Det romantiska världsbyggandet som det är svårt att klandra Håkan för att efterapa. Det är ju trots allt Nobelklass. Och så kan vi ju inte glömma diskussionen om dessa eller de tidigare versionerna från New York är bättre? Sen kan jag väl åtminstone försöka förstå att det inte går rätt in hos alla. Eller? Efterföljs av Bob Dylans bästa liveperiod då han i ursinne fräser ur sig varje stavelse och sjunger ballader med en aldrig skådad närvaro.
My favorite Dylan albums where it all comes together - terrific poetic lyricism, great melodies, tight performances, and consistency throughout. There are other great Dylan albums in his impressive catalog, but none that seeme to hit all the high notes simultaneously. A stone cloud classic.
Tangled Up in Blue - 7/10 parce qu'elle est groovy mais je l'écouterais pas anyway Le reste c'est vraiment le genre de musiques qui m'ennuient, même si je sais que c'est du songwriting de qualité donc difficile à noter. Le subjectif rencontre (relativement) l'objectif
7/10
I love the story of Bob Dylan. It is undeniably true that he is a great songwriter. Here his lyrics shine throughout as well. There are some great songs on the album along with some hiccups. The Harmonica caught me off-guard although that probably shouldn't come as a surprise. If we try to identify the album's central theme, it has to be heartbreak and the fallout of a relationship. You can even feel this in Dylan's vocal delivery on several tracks. I am keen to explore more of Bob Dylan's discography and in time I can see some of these songs growing on me with time. I liked "Tangled up in Blue" and "If You See Her, Say Hello".
Очень интересные текста, их интересно читать и анализировать. Музыка хороша, звук слегка однообразен, разрываюсь между 4 и 5, думаю что ещё вернусь к этому альбому
I would give it ten stars if possible. Dylan st his very best.
Classic. Love it. Own it.
Perfectly fine.
I like the music his voice is just so moany its jarring
An all timer. Just insanely good
Good Dylan, but not great Dylan in my opinion.
I might not be a fan of Bob Dylan or music with lots of harmonica but I did really like this album! It just has something I can't explain that pulled me in.
All I can say is enough with Dylan. Hes fine but not all that enjoyable.
Mildly depressing and lacking energy
Bueno pero casi no son mis gustos, Bob Dylan tiene más albumes buenos
not for me.
One of the greatest albums of all time bar none. This is without even relistening yet. Tragic heartbreak and incredible whimsy. I would love a short film based on Lily Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts and I've thought about making it before
One of his strongest both in terms of songwriting and sound
Idiot Wind is my favorite Bob Dylan song. Spiteful Bob is a powerful man. Every song is really good, it's a classic Dylan record, iconic album etc
Not really my vibe. I guess the lyrics are carrying this record, and they’re a little too chewy for me.
Easiest one to rate yet.
난 왜 밥 딜런이 흑인인 줄 알고 있었지. 밥 말리랑 헷갈린 듯.
Das mal han i chli meh uf passt
Well what do you do about this. “Tangled up in Blue” is a top 100 ever for me. “Simple Twist of Fate” is pretty high as well. The rest of the album, meh. So two fives and a bunch of threes. Might as well split the difference, 4/5.
Lots of writing, lots of thoughts, very sad album with many emotions and thoughts. Beautiful guitar work and harmonica playing, Its felt relaxing but upsetting its difficult to understand, just lots of music that makes you think and I dont mind it at all, best Dylan album Ive listened to yet
Another Dylan record that opens with probably my favorite Dylan song, Tangled Up in the Blue. The rest of the album is not as good as the opening track, but none of it made me lose interest, plus I usually like Dylan songs the more I hear them as I can get a better grasp of the lyrics which is where Dylan really shines. Favorite Track - Tangled Up in Blue Least Favorite Track - You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dylan at his best for me. Narrative lyrics hook you in, and nothing twee about the folk music
where mornings begin with a 6 AM run into an open field
A little slower than I like, but for my first Bob Dylan album, I liked!!
5/10 My thoughts on this album might get me disowned - Bob Dylan is one of my mom's favorite musicians. But to speak my truth: I appreciate the lyrics; Dylan is undoubtedly a singer-songwriter, with a HEAVY emphasis on the "songwriter." his singing is, uh. Not my kind of thing. But I don't hate it, and I think it works in the context of the album/music. I think my main issue is that every song is a solid 3-4 minutes too long, and musically the songs don't really go anywhere. They kind of stay at the same tempo, with no real climaxes or interesting uses of instruments. The album centers Bob Dylan, which makes sense, but again, not a fan of his voice. I'll chalk this album up as being "not for me." Can't wait for the next 576 Bob Dylan albums on this list, for which I'll probably have the same critique...
People lied to me about Bob Dylan. I think I had heard a few very unflattering examples of his music, eg. Desolation Row, and just assumed that he only wrote hippie drivel nonsense that rock critics passed off as deep. But this is really good! I loved this album! The lyrics actually have meaning, straightforward enough that they can paint a very evocative picture but not so much that Dylan feels like he's bashing you over the head with a specific theme or message. People trash his singing but there was so much emotion and soul in tracks like Simple Twist of Fate that I don't think a lot of other people could pull off.
4,5
I thought this album was fun, full of good storytelling, lyricism, and Bob Dylan's grating voice. An amazing song writer but not a very good singer. Worth a listen for the lyrics, 3 stars.
Absolutely love "Tangled Up in Blue". The rest of this is typical Dylan. Good writing (mostly), but not great performance. As with all the Dylan albums, nothing I would go back and listen to again.
It's just another onslaught of verses by Bob.
Robert Zimmerman has gave us a good piece of art, and there is a lot to say about the album but I can't really say more than I enjoyed it quite a lot after only one spin. "Tangled up in Blue" is a great start and I actually enjoy the length of the songs, which is not that prevalent in modern country/singer song writer songs.
If anything positive has come out of listening to the list it’s that I get Dylan now.
Great album. Definite relisten to give more of my thoughts. Actually, I listened to it 6 times over the weekend and still feel like I have not explored it enough. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing.
First record from Bobby in a while after a lull. He probably deserves at least one 5 and it's gonna be this one. Tangled Up In Blue kicks it off strong and has always been my favorite Dylan song as someone who has never done a deep dive. Simple Twist of Fate; Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts; Buckets of Rain are my highlights, but this is about as close to perfect as you can get.
Un gran disco de Dylan en los 70s.
I respect bib dylan but really this isn’t my thing
Epic guitars and harmonica. The stories told in the lyrics are just awesome. This album is amazing.
I don't really like Bob Dylan. I find his music quite boring, and I struggle to find any meaning in it. That said, this was decent.
time to go listen to "Bob" by Weird Al Yankovic again...