A HUNGRY MAN EATS DINNER AND LISTENS TO DYLAN... WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
INTRODUCTION
WELCOME! Here, I will be attempting to review and write about every Bob Dylan record, and rate every song on every Dylan STUDIO album. How could someone do this, you ask? Easy. Very easy. I will also be eating my dinner while I do this, which is ever easier, but harder to type on occasion.
I WILL BE UPDATING THIS WEEKLY (perhaps 2 a week on occasion when the hunger strikes!)
Bob Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman in Duluth, MN and took the world by storm in the early '60s. He continues to write, record, and tour to this day. For additional information on Bob Dylan, please refer to outside sources accessible in under 1 minute or less.
Each song is accompanied with a numerical rating as follows:
5- PERFECT
4- ALMOST PERFECT THERE, ZIMMY
3- I'LL TAKE IT, ZIM!
2- ZIMMERMAN!!! GET IN HERE AND EXPLAIN YOURSELF!
1- GET OUF MY OFFICE, ZIMMY. YOU'RE FIRED!
With that I say, happy travels, safe listening, and MANGIA! (Italian for "chewy your food slowly"... if you do not chew slowly you may choke on your food. If you find yourself in this situation, please refer to the international sign for choking)
Under the Red Sky (1990)
UNDER THE RED SKY
(1990, Columbia Records)
Hello everyone! Welcome back to another edition of Dinner With Dylan. Welcome our central character, one Mr. Robert "Bob Dylan" Zimmerman back as our central character. The last time we saw Robert, he was posing as Bayou Zimmy, smack dab in the midst of righting his wrongs down in the swamps of New Orleans with producer, Daniel Lanois. Yes, Oh Mercy was a minor success in his discography, as well as fan hearts. So, as a follow-up, Dylan went and did what anyone would do; took a hard piss into a strong gust of wind and called it a record!
(original LP cover for Under the Red Sky?)
So Bayou Zim, where are we at here in you're crazy career? This is a newer Dylan record I guess, being that it only came out 28 years ago! JEEEEEESUS. Where does the time go? I don't know, ask my man, Stephen!
("Time is blowin' in the wind. Case closed"- Stephen Hawking, a big Dylan fan)
This is Dylan's first record in the good ol' 90s, and number 27 total! Welcome to the 27 club, Bob. You're not dead yet! A decade that welcomed Toad the Wet Sprocket and Hootie, and also.... BOB DYLAN! Yes, the 90s would be Dylan's triumphant rebuild, reshape, and ultimate return to critical acclaim, accolades, and triumphs.... but not on this record. No, after the success of Oh Mercy, the follow-up was destined for the Nice Price bin nearly upon release.
(the sticker often found on Dylan CDs a week after they came out in the 80s and early 90s)
All of the nuance, ambiance, bayou charm, and poetic waxing that Dylan laid down on his comeback a year before is nowhere to be found here. On this, Dylan's basically throwing in the fucking towel, one track at a time. I mean, look at the Reeboks he's wearing on the back cover! He's not even trying!!! This might have been taken that time he got arrested for sitting outside of a house in the rain while telling the cops he was looking for Bruce Springsteen's house.
(yeah, this is a true story)
(evidence: Bob Dylan looking like he might want to get arrested on the back of Under Red Sky)
Hooking up with producer Don Was (hot off his smash with B52's Cosmic Thing, and a year before Elton John's To Be Continued), Dylan could not tap into that Lanois' assisted magic of a year ago. Some critics and fans liken the sound of this record to adopting elements of the emerging "grunge" sound at the time. Now, I was 5 at the time of this record, and during the initial Seattle grunge boom. BUT, I do know THIS IS NOT A GRUNGE RECORD. No, this record is more known for its nursery rhyme qualities, if anything else. I'm not kidding. This is Dylan by way of Mother Goose. In fact, we shall, from here on out, refer to our songsmith as Mother Zim.
(Grunge Mother Goose)
On to my dinner. Tonight, boy, I've really gone done and fucked up whatever vision was in my head (much like Dylan during the recording of Under the Red Sky. Hey, it's hard being a genius, right Bobby?). As you can see from the picture, this is one lifeless glob of crap. Hopefully, it'll taste out-of-this-world, because I have a whole pot full of it on the stove for seconds, thirds, and then the birds! Come to think of it, that's a great nursery rhyme Mother Zim could have used for this record! Anyway, my dinner is radiatore pasta noodles with white clam sauce and mushroom. Radiatore is pasta that looks like mini radiators but do not give off heat (it is pasta). I mixed some white clam sauce with fresh mushrooms, and added some fresh Pecorino Romano cheese for added thickness and zest. I put two pieces of garlic bread on the edge of the plate to make it look picture perfect. Instead, I'm afraid it looks more like an ass pimple than a gourmet meal.
Lastly, let's discuss the album cover. I have no qualms with it. It's not great. It just sort of exists. Dylan squats, in the desert. Ready to relive himself? Ready to stand up and venture on? Either way, this all certainly seems oddly familiar.
OH YEAH! Bob's friend "It's Always Sunny" Bono had a similarly titled record, and squatted in the left-hand corner some 7 years earlier!
What does it all mean? Who knows? The world is a weird place, but at least we have Bob Dylan records to listen to, and food to eat.... for now! Bon appetit, and bon voyage! (aka, kiss your ass (pimple) goodbye).
SIDE A:
Wiggle Wiggle- 2 Perhaps one of the Literary Nobel Prize winner's most infamous songs, this opener is a bunch of childish mishmash word soup. Supposedly written for his daughter, Gabby Goo Goo (seriously, the LP is dedicated to her... some say it's his granddaughter, Gabby.) May this be the contender for weirdest Bob Dylan song? This is up there with those unreleased Van Morrison contractual obligation songs like "Ring Worm." Just grab the lyrics sheet, and boogie down to this slick white boy blues romp. Vocally, Dylan sounds pretty freakin' cool. Raw. Smoked out. The perfect recipe for entertaining a child. A song you love to hate, and hate to love.
(President Obama giving Bob Dylan a medal for writing "Wiggle Wiggle")
Under the Red Sky- 2 Before we venture on, lets discuss the dinner. I have prepared myself some classic white clam sauce (from the can, baby!), and added some fresh mushrooms. I also added some Pecorino cheese to the mix. Well, this cheese has acted as quite the thickening agent (as science will tell you), and now this sauce is kind of a brown gravy mess. Hmm... what have I done here? Speaking of "what have I done?!!!?"
Two songs in and already we come toe to toe with the title track. Dylan tells a tale over what sounds like over-produced Karaoke background music. Woof, this production!
How many times has Dylan spit the bit with production since Street Legal? Damn, every record but Oh Mercy, it seems. The accordion backbone of this tune kind of rules though. Subtle but effective. This falls into more of the "nursery rhyme" category. It's not a bad song, but comes off as a glob of gunk.
Speaking of gunk... this sauce, I done gone and fucked up. If there's one thing you don't need to add to white clam sauce, it's ANYTHING AT ALL. Just leave it be. Maybe some salt? Added garlic? A little cheese? Now the mushrooms are tasty, but essentially I'm eating a mushroom sauce that I managed to make 83% more fatty from all of this oily clam sauce. Nice job, asshole (I type to me in the past, when I thought I was some wizard chef).
Two songs in and already we come toe to toe with the title track. Dylan tells a tale over what sounds like over-produced Karaoke background music. Woof, this production!
(session photos from "Under the Red Sky")
How many times has Dylan spit the bit with production since Street Legal? Damn, every record but Oh Mercy, it seems. The accordion backbone of this tune kind of rules though. Subtle but effective. This falls into more of the "nursery rhyme" category. It's not a bad song, but comes off as a glob of gunk.
Speaking of gunk... this sauce, I done gone and fucked up. If there's one thing you don't need to add to white clam sauce, it's ANYTHING AT ALL. Just leave it be. Maybe some salt? Added garlic? A little cheese? Now the mushrooms are tasty, but essentially I'm eating a mushroom sauce that I managed to make 83% more fatty from all of this oily clam sauce. Nice job, asshole (I type to me in the past, when I thought I was some wizard chef).
(What I though I was)
(what I actually am)
Unbelievable- 2 ....is what Dylan said when he heard the final cut of this LP. That's not entirely in jest. Apparently Dylan has spoken out against this record. "Yeah this record blows, and I don't know what the hell happened." That's called paraphrasing with quotes, so don't sue me Mother Zim. This is a glittery, roadhouse rockin' track. A little spring in the musician's step on this one. Still, it mostly sounds the way Bill Murray looks in Groundhog Day while playing piano.
(B. Murray playing forced to listen to Under the Red Sky every day of his life, over and over again)
Born in Time- 3 Guys and gals, I'm just gonna have to make peace with my thick sauce. Next time, I'd be happy to just make a light cream sauce with the mushrooms, rather than this oiled-up cheesy mess. I can feel my arteries clogging up. I should have just swallowed a bottle of Elmer's glue, chased it with some mushrooms, and called it a day!
Anyways, this song is a cool, weepier piano lead track, managing to be the least tackiest thing so far on the record. And boy is it tacky! If it weren't for that oogly percussion, and the dated, reverb guitar solo bridge, this might be more passable. Again, Dylan continues to hate percussion. Essentially, this is a perfectly well written ballad, Dylan emoting cooly and confidently. For fans of... I don't know, Billy Joel?
(sums up my feelings... also this is not me)
Anyways, this song is a cool, weepier piano lead track, managing to be the least tackiest thing so far on the record. And boy is it tacky! If it weren't for that oogly percussion, and the dated, reverb guitar solo bridge, this might be more passable. Again, Dylan continues to hate percussion. Essentially, this is a perfectly well written ballad, Dylan emoting cooly and confidently. For fans of... I don't know, Billy Joel?
(Very aggressive songwriter, Billy Joel)
T.V. Talkin' Song- 2 If you missed the gross, soulless boogie while Dylan caught his breath on "Born in Time," then don't worry. This is your chance to get down and dirtier again. Too bad Mark Knopfler isn't on this, because he could have just as well put this on a Dire Straits record himself. Dylan's in middle age protest mode here, but it comes off so soulless, heartless, spineless, and any other missing body related areas you can think of. I can hang with this, but just barely.
SIDE B:
10,000 Men- 3 You know, one thing I haven't talked about, as I go in for my second dish of this thick clam sauce, is my choice of pasta. I love the radiatore style noodles, but mostly for summer salads. I do enjoy with some marinara or what not, but it's tough on this sauce. Basically, I have a plate of mini radiators, that somehow don't manage to hold onto this thick ass sauce. Oh well. Better luck next time.
OK, the title of this humdinger seems to refer to how many people were involved in screwing up this record. By the time you factor in studio musicians, assistant tape operators, the catering company, that college intern from Columbia just sitting in for credit, and the guys who helped get this into a jewel case, you're talking one big screw up. Actually, this song's not half bad. A mid-tempo grooving blues track that's "good" by default. The most organic track of the bunch.
(Radiatore pasta looks like this, but is made with dough instead of metal so people can chew it)
OK, the title of this humdinger seems to refer to how many people were involved in screwing up this record. By the time you factor in studio musicians, assistant tape operators, the catering company, that college intern from Columbia just sitting in for credit, and the guys who helped get this into a jewel case, you're talking one big screw up. Actually, this song's not half bad. A mid-tempo grooving blues track that's "good" by default. The most organic track of the bunch.
2 X 2- 2 I added the extra 2 after the title, not just for effect, but because this song stinks. This is a nursery rhyme song in the sense that Mother Zim helps us all to better our counting skills. He starts with 1 by 1, and ends with 10 by 10. If you're not a carpenter like Jesus, and didn't know what that X in the title meant, yes it means "by." At any rate, this is a nice breezy little piece held together with that simplistic one note bass grove throughout most of it. Should it be revisited? Not when the man has 34 albums to listen to!
Here's some examples of NUMBERS, but in cake form.
Here's some examples of NUMBERS, but in cake form.
(the original, and loneliest of numbers)
(another classic)
(that's a weird one)
(an action packed number)
(DAMN Grandma! You made it!)
(Tricked you! Those are "letters" and not numbers)
God Knows- 3 For all fans of Dylan's born again phase, you'd be sourly disappointed to hear this is not a return to the gospel rock format. Dylan uses "God" in this more like "God, why did we record this album?" or "God damn, what were we thinking?" When faced with this, and The Beach Boys "God Only Knows," you gotta go with Brian "where is my mind?" Wilson. BUT, if it's any consolation, this might be the best song on the whole record. This is really a dart throwing scenario. Toss it at all the titles and see where it lands, and you'll be like "yeah, I can live with that."
Oh brother, my meal is done. And guess what? I'm not satisfied. Hey, I also realized I didn't talk about the garlic bread? Ehhh, it was bready and it had garlic on it. Big whoop! Better luck next time (a reminder to my future self!)
(Future ME, when I grow gigantic and triumph over wimpy, poorly constructed meals)
Handy Dandy- 3 Oh wait. This is the best song on the record! How could I forget about "Handy Dandy?" Very easily. It's easy to forget about all these songs 12 seconds after they end. This is another of Mother Zim's NRs (Duluth slang for "nursery rhymes"). Essentially, it's "Louie Louie" played as a slow grove in which Zimmy repeats the line "handy dandy" between 68 and 4,000 times. This song is oh-so annoying, but I'll be damned if I won't be whistling it for a full 30 seconds after the album is over.
Cat's In the Well- 3 Totally standard 12 bar blues rock slop here. Again, the accordion freaking rules. You know what else rules? The chorus! It shows a slight pulse, actual emotion, and is empowering. Also, it manages a hook for about 12 seconds. Then it's back to more childish rock boogie. So strange, I think I'm in love! With an album so ho-hum, oddly balanced, this send off feels like walking off the field to "We Are the Champions." Now, time for this champ to clean off his dinner plate.
(Under the Red Sky; a great nursery rhyme album for kids to wash dishes to)
Thanks for taking that trip with Mother Zim and his grungy nursery book full of "wiggly" things and a feline who hangs out in the bottom of a well. God Knows, what happened with this one, but things will get better from here. They have to, right?
Next time, I tackle Good As I Been To You, Dylan's minimalist return to his folksy ways, and back into the hearts of all those who have grown tired of the man and his dumpy lookin' sneakers. Until next time, keep kickin' everyone. Take care.
(Bob Dylan trapped in a pare of sneakers, after receiving a hexing from a witch)
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Oh Mercy (1989)
OH MERCY
(1989, Columbia Records)
MY DINNER
WELCOME BACK my post-Holiday Dinner with Dylan warriors. I call you all warriors because we collectively made it through another holiday season, and you have returned to another showing, after a string of some really, really, REALLY wretched Bob "The Master of Zim"Zimmerman Dylan albums. I barely survived, taking nearly a year to make it from Blood on the Tracks to where we find ourselves now. Ladies and germs, you we have arrived at turn of the decade Dylan; aka THE REDEMPTION of Dylan! Praise the Lawd!
After a string of abysmal throwaways, bad ideas, practically no ideas, and horrid production, Dylan sat down in early 1988 to do something that seemed to evade him in recent times; write a solid batch of songs. Dylan described the songs as "stream-of-consciousness" songs, and MOST come out winners!
As the story goes, Dylan played a bunch of home recorded demos he made in his California painting studio for a guy named Bono. You might remember Bono for being the world ambassador of lame shades, and for fronting the band who famously forced their LP onto all iPhones; U2.
From this meeting with Bono, everyone's favorite Irishman, turned Dylan onto producer Daniel Lanois. Dylan meeting with Lanois is thought of in the "Circle Of Dyl" (conversing Dylan fans, who stand in a circle), as something magical like this:
After a string of abysmal throwaways, bad ideas, practically no ideas, and horrid production, Dylan sat down in early 1988 to do something that seemed to evade him in recent times; write a solid batch of songs. Dylan described the songs as "stream-of-consciousness" songs, and MOST come out winners!
As the story goes, Dylan played a bunch of home recorded demos he made in his California painting studio for a guy named Bono. You might remember Bono for being the world ambassador of lame shades, and for fronting the band who famously forced their LP onto all iPhones; U2.
("I'm Always Sunny" Bono with Bob Dylan, circa 1988)
From this meeting with Bono, everyone's favorite Irishman, turned Dylan onto producer Daniel Lanois. Dylan meeting with Lanois is thought of in the "Circle Of Dyl" (conversing Dylan fans, who stand in a circle), as something magical like this:
(Dick and Elv)
(Nelson and Sunny)
(Chaplin and Gandhi)
(Friends)
In other words... very important, and life changing for both men involved.
Producer, Lanois, had just gotten through with "Sunny" Bono and his friend, The Edge, working with them on 1987's The Joshua Tree. Being that the album would eventually go on to sell more copies than The Bible (not yet a title of a U2 album), Dylan thought "Well, hot damn, lemme give this guy a call." Lanois eventually invited Dylan down to his New Orleans recording studio, and a match made in the bayou was formed. Lanois helped Dylan find smatterings of his old self, while adding some bayou charm. Yes, Lanois and Dylan went together like shrimp and a fine sausage gumbo!
(Dylan and Lanois together recording Oh Mercy. Not my dinner.)
The Lanois/Dylan team recaptured some of old Dylan's magic, one swampy moment at a time. Yes, it took Louisiana native Lanois to... wait, what's that? Really? Okay. Copy that.... It took Quebec native, Daniel Lanois, to capture that true swamp blues sound in the grooves of the record, helping resuscitate broken-beaten '80s Zimmy, into Bayou Zimmy.
(Exhibit A (from back cover of Oh Mercy); Bayou Zimmy is 60% sweatier than broken-beaten '80s Zimmy)
So, how good is this COMEBACK record? Being that this is Bayou Zim's 26th studio LP, and his 15th or 16th "comeback" record, the whole affair is pretty damn solid. When compared to his output from the previous 10+ years, it's the fucking HOLY GRAIL!!! It's so important, Bayou Zim even included the making of this record as 1 of 3 chapters in his 2004 memoir Chronicles Volume One. Being that, to this day, Volume Two has yet to surface, this record really means something to Dylan. You don't see him writing about Empire Burlesque now do ya?
NOW, to touch on tonight's dinner. Did I plan myself a homemade feast of Bayou pleasures? Of course not, because I'm bad at planning ahead. Instead, I have some delicious vegetarian friendly Indian take-out from an place called Nirvani's in New Brunswick, NJ. Nirvana was one of the most famous rock bands of all-time, so let's see if this FOOD is worth it. You've got a lot to live up to, naming your restaurant after one of the most famous rock bands of all-time, Nirvani's.
(One of Nirvana's most iconic moments... let's see if the food lives up to the hype!)
As always, lets discuss the record cover before diving into the record. Like such classics as Knocked Out Loaded, this record DOES NOT contain a picture of aging Dylan on the front. Instead, we have a picture of some folks dancing, New Orleans style! A perfect night out on the French Quarter, drinking Hurricanes from a whale bone glass! WRONG!!! In fact, this is some cool NY street art that Bob Dylan found while riding his bike! And I'm talking "bike," as in bicycle.
("Beep beep. Move out of the way, children. Looking for album cover art"- Bob Dylan, 1989)
Yes, the cover is a mural painted by NYC street artist known only as Trotsky. If you look really, really hard... you might be able to see it in the distance as you pedal your own bike up 9th Ave...
There it is... getting closer now... WOW!
But today, thankfully, this has been wiped away, and cleaned up so future generations can just "forget about it already, and move on from this unsightly street art"- probably something former Mayor Rudy Giuliani said.
(As it appears today, at Georgio's Country Grill)
Enough reminiscing about the way things used to be, and on with the music! AND THE MEAL!!!
Side A:
Political World- 4 Not to get all political or anything, but Bob Dylan is BACK, with a song called "Political World"! Yes, for the 26th time in his studio career, but more importanltly, with a little piss and vinegar, and less Jesus, running through his veins. It's like Ol' Zim was all like, "Hey, I'm only gettin' older. Let me take this horrid '80s gold ring out of my ear, and give it a shot here." With a warm Crawfish Po Boy bubbling in his bowels, Zim Orleans kicks things off with some fire on this one. Percussive, driving, a bit dissonant, undeniable twang, and straight up pissed. What is Dylan really saying here though? "We live in a political world," he sings. Yes, this has been true since the first amoeba first ran for president of the petri dish. Still, this song is got some Cajun fire by way of NYC, or wherever the hell Zim Orleans was calling home in '89.
Where Teardrops Fall- 3 A slide guitar moment to die for. Yes, that sure is teardrop inducing. The whole song shuffles about in a standard upbeat waltz, but with melancholy heavy heartedness. A bit dated, but Lanois makes this work production wise (sans those wimpy drums). If on, say, Knocked Out and Loaded, this song would be a literally pile of puke dribbling out of ones speaker. Here, it's a platter of schmaltz you'll gladly grab a spoon for and grab a second helping of!
Speaking of second helping, I haven't even had a FIRST helping of my delight. Okay, I lied. During this song I went heavily into my appetizer; the bhel puri. Bhel puri is an Indian delight of puffed rice, tamarind sauce, and some other crispy goodness and various chutneys. Originating as a street cart snack, this has become one of my favorite delights at local Indian restaurants. This is my first time indulging in Nirvani's take on it. It's up there, but lacks something? Is it the sweetness? It certainly is crunchy, with a nice medium spice that makes the nostril a bit weepy. Not bad, but I've had better. Now on to my main course; the Malai Kofta. Nice try Nirvani's.
Speaking of second helping, I haven't even had a FIRST helping of my delight. Okay, I lied. During this song I went heavily into my appetizer; the bhel puri. Bhel puri is an Indian delight of puffed rice, tamarind sauce, and some other crispy goodness and various chutneys. Originating as a street cart snack, this has become one of my favorite delights at local Indian restaurants. This is my first time indulging in Nirvani's take on it. It's up there, but lacks something? Is it the sweetness? It certainly is crunchy, with a nice medium spice that makes the nostril a bit weepy. Not bad, but I've had better. Now on to my main course; the Malai Kofta. Nice try Nirvani's.
(another unforgettable moment from Nirvana)
Everything is Broken- 3 Bayou Zimmy practically hits us with sweat drops flying out of the speakers, introducing the first of the late night, sweaty blues bar rockers with this number. A spy-tinged (thanks to that sneaky bass) blues romp fit for a beer commercial. Luckily, this songs feels almost a bit tongue-in-cheek, even if unintentional. I mean, the rhyme scheme alone, c'mon!? Fun enough, if not somewhat forgettable.
Ring Them Bells- 5 Piano lead lushly and patiently opens up into a gospel-type/folk protest song. Only thing missing is that classic Dylan protest-folk acoustic guitar. Dylan's vocals sound raw, emotion-braised. WOW, Dylan is awake from his coma known as the '80s. Arise!!! Simply stated, this is the most affecting track of the whole LP, the truest return to form, even if it's got Billy-Joel-80's piano in place of Dylan guitar work. Empowering! Take the ride. MERCY! Take the ride.
Speaking of bells... let's talk about balls for a minute. I'm talking Malai Kofta balls baby! Quick lesson, Malai Kofta is one of my favorite Indian dishes. A creamy, mild sauce complete with vegetable balls. The balls themselves vary from place to place, ranging from tasteless rubber to savory and delectable beyond belief. WELL, this malai kofta ranks up there with some of the best I've had! OMG... Nice job NIRVANI!!!
(Another classic Nirvana moment... who can forget the time Prince came out and played "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, threw his guitar up in the air...)
Speaking of bells... let's talk about balls for a minute. I'm talking Malai Kofta balls baby! Quick lesson, Malai Kofta is one of my favorite Indian dishes. A creamy, mild sauce complete with vegetable balls. The balls themselves vary from place to place, ranging from tasteless rubber to savory and delectable beyond belief. WELL, this malai kofta ranks up there with some of the best I've had! OMG... Nice job NIRVANI!!!
(... and it landed on Krist Novoselic's forehead 19 years earlier. Classic)
Man in a Long Black Coat- 4 Yes, this Malai Kofta is fantastic. Now, for all of you New Year's resolution health seekers, eating buttery, creamy rich sauce over piping hot buttery basmati rice, and casing it with naan bread is NOT the way to achieve that perfect body you want. But, when you're sitting around reviewing Dylan records, it's not a bad meal to eat for the rest of your life. You WON'T regret it!
The song? This is a humid trudge track. Sparse and dusty. A little twang in music and voice, as a Dylan finds himself in sweaty preaching storyteller mode . The Crawfish Po Boy is rumbling in his soul here.... Haunting. If Johnny Cash did this on one of his 16 Rick Rubin comeback albums, this would with a Grammy AND a Golden Globe award because people like to give trophies to old white guys who don't really deserve them.
The song? This is a humid trudge track. Sparse and dusty. A little twang in music and voice, as a Dylan finds himself in sweaty preaching storyteller mode . The Crawfish Po Boy is rumbling in his soul here.... Haunting. If Johnny Cash did this on one of his 16 Rick Rubin comeback albums, this would with a Grammy AND a Golden Globe award because people like to give trophies to old white guys who don't really deserve them.
(Johnny Cash, accepting his Oscar for Walk the Line... another stunning moment by Nirvana)
SIDE B:
Most of the Time- 5 Musically, this is somewhere between "dated" and "the direction of future Dylan." On one hand, it's sounds slightly laughable, too precious. But, listening in, the song takes hold. It evolves slightly past the somewhat dated sound, past the initial reaction of "is this cheesy?," and the song hooks you in. Dylan would later perfect this sound with Lanois on Time Out of Mind. Here, we get an early glimpse of this suave tag-team at work. Dylan's vocals are raw, smokey, and cool. I find myself coming back to this one more and more. Also, wisely used during the movie High Fidelity, so bonus points to that.
I myself, and quite full on my Malai Kofta. While I often find myself done with my food at this point in the record, this food is proving almost TOO rich for me. Again, the vegetable balls in this are really delicious. Also, they're quite filling. Add the sauce in and DAMN! Filling. I rank this a solid Malai Kofta showing from Nirvani's in New Brunswick, NJ. Nice!
I myself, and quite full on my Malai Kofta. While I often find myself done with my food at this point in the record, this food is proving almost TOO rich for me. Again, the vegetable balls in this are really delicious. Also, they're quite filling. Add the sauce in and DAMN! Filling. I rank this a solid Malai Kofta showing from Nirvani's in New Brunswick, NJ. Nice!
(Some people say THIS is a "solid showing" from Nirvana)
What Good Am I?- 4 Was it the humidity? Did a raven sized mosquito inject some West Nile into Zim Orleans? One too many cocktails from Pat O'Brien's? Another "slower" number from Dylan. Yes, Side 2 is starting to give me the impression that a middle aged man fell asleep in the sun underneath a weeping willow and remembered he had 5 more tunes to write. Regardless, this prickly ballad is so chill, I'm feeling it run up my spine. This album got some flak for not delivering on the "groundbreaking" goods, but sometimes, you just gotta ride that sunburnt, middle age vibe and let it take you away.
(how it feels just succumbing to those Oh Mercy vibes)
Disease of Conceit- 3 Alright, someone wake Zim UP!!! Another slower schmaltzy piece that feels like the sendoff music from Saturday Night Live. GE Smith, this ones for you!
In fact, Mr. Smith WAS touring with Dylan at this time. Perhaps a little SNL vibe did sneak its way onto the record after all! Very sparse, piano heavy, as Bayou Zimmy crams too many words into the mix. Feels too garbled, like a mouthful of Crawfish. Still, a harmless piano track with some brittle, echo slathered leads of guitar pain reverberating in the far distance. Also, bonus points for Dylan naming this song after the greatest hardcore punk band that never was.
("SURPRISE. It's ME!"- GE Smith)
In fact, Mr. Smith WAS touring with Dylan at this time. Perhaps a little SNL vibe did sneak its way onto the record after all! Very sparse, piano heavy, as Bayou Zimmy crams too many words into the mix. Feels too garbled, like a mouthful of Crawfish. Still, a harmless piano track with some brittle, echo slathered leads of guitar pain reverberating in the far distance. Also, bonus points for Dylan naming this song after the greatest hardcore punk band that never was.
(the vocal technique used on "Disease of Conceit")
What Was It You Wanted- 3 This songs got some cool, slick southern attitude to it. Minimal drum stomp, bass bending, brittle guitar. The whole song is a bit subdued, but it works! The harmonica sounds like southern sin, for jumping Jesus sake! Zimmy said he fired this one off fast when writing it. Sounds that way, but has enough to sink your teeth into.
Shooting Star- 4 Speaking of "Shooting Star," I'm going to down the rest of my Malai Kofta. Again, sometimes loading up on the creamy carbs of these deletable Indian sauces takes some preparation. For all you Indian food newbies, there are PLENTY of healthy, tasty dishes out there for you to try. This particular evening, I chose to punish myself, as I often do. Yes, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Zim Orleans takes one last bite out of New Orleans and says goodnight. Reminiscing on a "Shooting Star' that he sees, this feels like a wedding song one could dance to in '91. In reality, Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" had decades earlier blocked any chance of that happening. WHAT A DICK! Dylan said he wrote this one while riding on his motorcycle along Mississippi when he... WAIT! Zimmy is STILL on that suicide machine, nearly 20 years AFTER breaking his dang neck!?Well, Dilly, that's downright silly!
YUM!
Zim Orleans takes one last bite out of New Orleans and says goodnight. Reminiscing on a "Shooting Star' that he sees, this feels like a wedding song one could dance to in '91. In reality, Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" had decades earlier blocked any chance of that happening. WHAT A DICK! Dylan said he wrote this one while riding on his motorcycle along Mississippi when he... WAIT! Zimmy is STILL on that suicide machine, nearly 20 years AFTER breaking his dang neck!?Well, Dilly, that's downright silly!
(It's the responsibility of the fans to stop this man)
Anyway, if Dylan was out risking his neck, I guess this little balad of a biblical (?) closer would never have existed. A perfect note to finish up on, leaving us all wanting more!
Thankfully, Bayou Bob wouldn't take long to release his next one. Thank goodness, he's back yet again, awaiting to release the unforgettable... Oh fuck. Oh CHRIST NO!!!! Not another one of these lead balloon farts of an album!?
Yes! Another one of those lead balloon farts of an album!
Alright all you math fans; Here's a simple equation to help us transition to our next Dinner With Dylan adventure. Ready?
+
=
So for all you math and Dylan fans alike, join me next time as I take a bite out of yet another clunker in the catalog, Under the Red Sky. Until next time, I'M OFF...to start my hardcore band: Disease of Conceit. See ya!
NYXHC
YUM!
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