Someone called John Jurgensen, writing in the Wall Street Journal, has declared that it is time for Dylan to retire.
He rolls out the usual stuff - Bob is too old, his voice is shot, and "casual fans, especially, are vexed by Mr. Dylan's ongoing habit of mutating his most familiar songs".
Well, Bob is 70 next May, so he's certainly too old to die young. But anyone who has seen him live recently will know that he is looking younger and fresher, interacting more vigorously with his audience, and clearly enjoying his music-making. (My personal theory is that the return of Charlie Sexton has a great deal to do with this.)
The voice. Sure it's croaky. But Bob knows how to use it in this form. He is not trying to re-create the sound of fifty years ago, or even five years ago. Things have changed. Bob is acting his age.
Which is why the third point is so frustrating.
Bob has always re-interpreted his songs. From Newport onwards, he has changed lyrics, arrangements, moods. Each time we see him, we hear something new.
If you want hear it like the album, listen to the album. But bear in mind that the version released was merely one version of many and Bob has been famously contrary in his choices of songs and takes.
Me? I'll continue to listen to the albums, and the out-takes and the shows.
Today's listening: Bob obviously, 2004-06-27, Pearse Stadium, Galway. A great show, the highlight of a great weekend in the west of Ireland.
He rolls out the usual stuff - Bob is too old, his voice is shot, and "casual fans, especially, are vexed by Mr. Dylan's ongoing habit of mutating his most familiar songs".
Well, Bob is 70 next May, so he's certainly too old to die young. But anyone who has seen him live recently will know that he is looking younger and fresher, interacting more vigorously with his audience, and clearly enjoying his music-making. (My personal theory is that the return of Charlie Sexton has a great deal to do with this.)
The voice. Sure it's croaky. But Bob knows how to use it in this form. He is not trying to re-create the sound of fifty years ago, or even five years ago. Things have changed. Bob is acting his age.
Which is why the third point is so frustrating.
Bob has always re-interpreted his songs. From Newport onwards, he has changed lyrics, arrangements, moods. Each time we see him, we hear something new.
If you want hear it like the album, listen to the album. But bear in mind that the version released was merely one version of many and Bob has been famously contrary in his choices of songs and takes.
Me? I'll continue to listen to the albums, and the out-takes and the shows.
Today's listening: Bob obviously, 2004-06-27, Pearse Stadium, Galway. A great show, the highlight of a great weekend in the west of Ireland.
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