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ManBy DON BLANK, . . the songs on this specific record are not so much songs but rather exer eises in tonal breath control . , . the subject matter the something to do with the meaningful as it is—has beautiful strangers, Vivaldis green jacket and the holy slow' train. From notes by Bob DylanDob Dylan's songs become more obscure with each succeed ing album, while his new “sound i.exemplified by electric guitars) seems to have gained him a larger audience (witness the sue cess of “Like a Rolling Slone' i This ironic phenomenon has has prompted charges of “commercialization by many of hisconfused old fans. Some simply don't like his new sound,Nevertheless, Dylan's newest album. Highway 61 Revisited, isjust as worthy as any of his previous ones,Dylan has not sold out, He is still angry. His anger has simply taken new forms and new objects.In his first three albums, Dylan's contention is that man’s enemy is the system He rarely, if ever, sings any of these songs (never his so-called protest songs) in concert now.In his last three albums (be ginning, perhaps ironically, with Another Side of Bob Dylan) aremore concerned with the individ ual He sings of alienation with the guilt on the alienated (“Like a Rolling Stone and Ballad of a Thin Man). He sings of sick people in a sick society (Desola tion Row and “Highway visited), and offers no amnple answer as he did in his earlier protest songs.As for the rest of the album , , there arc two blues, with the traditional mood but mod cm hang ups, This is a tender, perhaps love, song: H Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry,” And there is one lighter song: From a Buick 6.Granted Dylan’s sound is different. The use of accompanists, however, adds a musicianship. which, whether you like it or not, surpasses any tiling Dylan could or can do on solo guitar.The notes, a fine poem by Dylan, are a pleasant change from the typical self con grad u latory type on most albums.Dylan has changed (note even the difference in his mood on his album covers, say between The Times They Are A'Changing and bis latest). And as hard as it might he to some, the change is. at the feast, worth examining.
Newspaper Details
Buffalo Spectrum
Buffalo, New York, US
Fri, Sep 17, 1965
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
GB 23 Feb 2023
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