Bob Dylan’s vocals only improve as the time passes

The legend of the American rock Bob Dylan has been pleasing the audience with eternal hits for about forty years, but when in 1997 there took place the release of the album Time Out Of Mind, the fans were endlessly happy to have their favorite artist reborn. Four years later Love And Theft followed, and it was given just as warm a wellcome as its predecessor. To complete the trilogy, this summer the new album Modern Times has seen the light of the day, immedeately reaching the highest positions in the world charts, and it is no wonder. Bob Dylan’s new image of a husky-voiced old cowpoke suits him perfectly well, and his vocals only improve as the time passes. More bizzare and enigmatic than both previous albums, Modern Times takes its name from Charlie Chaplin’s silent film of 1936 about all-round automation, and non-randomly the music on it combines the features of the remote past and the present, leaving unforgettable impression. Lyrically the album is centered on such themes as reflections about life, religion and the eternal searching for love. As for the style, Bob Dylan obviously enjoys performing blues, mid-tempo rock ballads and almost jazzy compositions.

Modern Times reveals the way Bob Dylan sees the time we are living in

Modern Times was recorded with Bob Dylan's current touring band, including bassist Tony Garnier, drummer George G Receli, guitarists Stu Kimball and Denny Freeman, and also multi-instrumentalist Donnie Herron. Due to the musicians, on each the tracks the instrumentation deserves a praise, for Dylan’s vocals is given enough space to show all its manliness and irrefutable ñharm. The up-tempo rocking opener Thunder On The Mountain and a rhythmic song Rollin’ And Tumblin’are interesting for their witty lyrics, and on Spirit On The Water the singer persuades the audience that despite all the rumors and guesses he is going to continue performing. Dylan’s ideas concerning the love quest are open on the tracks When the Deal Goes and Beyond the Horizon, whereas on The Levee’s Gonna Break and the album’s final song Ain’t Talkin’ he dwells upon the theme of human mortality and evanescence of everything in life. One of the most memorable songs on Modern Times is Workingman’s Blues #2, on which one can find Dylan’s political views, and the soft ballad Nettie Moore deserves the name of the artist’s most unusual composition for he has borrowed its title and the first line of the chorus from a XIX century tune. Modern Times reveals the way Bob Dylan sees the time we are living in and surprises with its deep philosophy.

The living legend keeps on gladdening us with excellent music

It has been 5 years since the last album, and Modern Times has been an eagerly expected record. From its first sounds it is clear it is equal to the fans’ expectations, and by the end of listening you inevitably come to the conclusion that it is in many respects a better creation. Each track has its own emotional coloring which range from fury and vengeance to calmness and serenity, proving that time has no power over Bob Dylan’s talent. Many were already thinking that it is already long ago when he was on the peak of his fame, but with this wonderful trilogy of new albums everything has changed. At the age of 65 Dylan is still full of ideas and Modern Times is definitely not the last of his works. Actually, without knowing his age, one can tell that the singer is not young only judging by the texts because at some moments the thoughts of mortality seem to be haunting him. Yet in general there are enough other interesting topics, for Bob Dylan’s experience provides him with a solid store of knowledge of life. His voice has acquired a pleasant huskiness and due to the musicians playing it undoubtedly becomes an advantage. The living legend is still with us and keeps on gladdening the audience with excellent music.

01.09.2006