Bob Dylan’s new studio album, “Together Through Life” is set for release on April 28, Columbia Records announced today.
Uncut’s Allan Jones:
[quote]
"We now know that the new Bob Dylan album, which unexpectedly will be with us on April 27, is called Together Through Life. We know also that it was written and recorded quickly.
"Dylan had been asked by the French film director Olivier Dahan, who made the Edith Piaf biopic, La Vie En Rose, which Dylan had apparently liked, to write some songs for his new movie, My Own Love Song. Dylan duly came up with a ballad called “Life Is Hard”, and was so inspired the next thing anyone knew he’d written nine more new songs and not long after that - bingo! - here’s Together Through Life in all its rowdy glory.
"What’s it sound like? Well, early reports have hinted at a mix of Dylan’s beloved Chicago blues and the loping border country feel of, say, “Girl From The Red River Shore”, the latter courtesy of Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo, whose accordion features on every track, alongside Dylan’s formidable current touring band and as yet unidentified guest musicians.
"Both musical elements are indeed here, brazenly matched on nearly ever track, Hidalgo either providing lyrical lilting counterpoint to the band’s hard driving blues muscle or flinging himself headlong into the fray with pumping riffs, as on the jumping “If You Ever Go To Houston” (“keep your hands in your pockets and your gun-belts tied”).
"The broad template for much of the album would appear to be, let’s say, “Thunder On the Mountain” and “Rollin’ And Tumblin’” from Modern Times, but in truth these tracks are, overall, much punchier, a raucous edge to everything in sight. Only the noble “Life Is Hard” is in the crooning style of something like “Beyond The Horizon” and even here there’s a ragged edge to things that wasn’t apparent on Modern Times, a rawness - emotional and musical - that separates it from that album and its immediate predecessors, “Love And Theft” and Time Out Of Mind.
"Together In Life gets in your face immediately - with the wallop of the cheerfully-titled “Beyond Here Lies Nothin’”, which is driven by spectacular drumming and massed horns, a trumpet prominently featured - and over the course of its 10 tracks doesn’t back off, doesn’t appear to even think about doing so, Dylan’s voice throughout an unfettered roar, a splendid growl.
"The album broadly is preoccupied with themes of mortality, lost love, grief, the passing of time, memory, waning days and lonely nights. The mood of these songs, however, couldn’t be more different to the mordant reflection of, for instance, “Not Dark Yet”. Together Through Life is a rowdy gut-bucket, by turns angry, funny, sassy, Dylan heading noisily in the direction of that last good night.
"‘My Wife’s Home Town’, “Shake Mama Shake” and the stingingly ironic “It’s All Good” - an hilariously-wrought litany of personal and national woe - are all eventfully robust, heartily defiant.
"‘Forgetful Heart’, meanwhile, is set to a measured stalking beat that recalls “Walkin’, Not Talkin’”, while the cantina drift of “This Dream Of You”, with accordion and fiddle taking lead instrumental spots, is fleetingly reminiscent of the first version of “Mississippi” on last year’s Tell-Tale Signs. Elsewhere, there may be things about “Feel A Change Coming On” that will remind you of “Workingman’s Blues”.
“On first listen, then, a great album that when it comes out and goes on repeat will get better and better.”[/quote]
That’s nothing! The REAL news is that he recently bought a house very close to where my parents live. He’ll probably be doing his daily shopping in the same grocery they use – there’s only one in the village.
Must be why he’s moving. Malibu to Nethybridge seems a long way just to escape a sticky shitter, though. I guess plumbers are expensive over there.
Is this guy ever home ? I believe he tours most of the time.
Anyway, I have tickets for one of his concerts in Europe next month - maybe I can ask him.
Although just released a few days ago, the press’s opinion seems to be that the new CD is fantastic. Fully agree !
[quote]“Latter period Dylan is turning out to be some of his deepest, richest work. Together Through Life is another brilliant, sure-handed outing by one of the few certified greats still living up to his legend.”
- Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle more
“Together Through Life presents the 67-year-old on top of his game and completely aware of it. Throughout the album, the swagger and style present testifies to a life without regret and a voice more alive than ever.”
- Julian Williams, The Ithacan more
“While Dylan’s voice has opened up to become not only an intrinsic part of musical history, he has also adapted the role of living curator of a time and place almost erased by those who care more about the trappings of stardom than the roots of music. He is not trying to prove anything. But, as our world slides towards the brink of chaos, maybe Dylan does have the answer.” 4.5 Near Classic[/quote]
[quote=“It is me again”]Although just released a few days ago, the press’s opinion seems to be that the new CD is fantastic. Fully agree !
[quote]“Latter period Dylan is turning out to be some of his deepest, richest work. Together Through Life is another brilliant, sure-handed outing by one of the few certified greats still living up to his legend.”
- Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle more
“Together Through Life presents the 67-year-old on top of his game and completely aware of it. Throughout the album, the swagger and style present testifies to a life without regret and a voice more alive than ever.”
- Julian Williams, The Ithacan more
“While Dylan’s voice has opened up to become not only an intrinsic part of musical history, he has also adapted the role of living curator of a time and place almost erased by those who care more about the trappings of stardom than the roots of music. He is not trying to prove anything. But, as our world slides towards the brink of chaos, maybe Dylan does have the answer.” 4.5 Near Classic[/quote][/quote]
Are you an agent, or what?
Last Dylan thing I heard i can’t remember anything except one line:
“Tweedly-dum and Tweedly-dee.”
Its fanfuckingtastic. Ring a bell with anyone?I’d like to buy that CD.
You need to check out “Modern Times.”
I’ve had that baby on repeat for two weeks.
Another great piece of work from Mr Zimmerman.If you haven’t seen the Bob bio piece ‘No Direction Home’,you should definitely check it out.
[quote=“sandman”]Last Dylan thing I heard i can’t remember anything except one line:
“Tweedly-dum and Tweedly-dee.”
Its fanfuckingtastic. Ring a bell with anyone?I’d like to buy that CD.[/quote]
The first song on Dylan’s “Love and Theft” CD is titled “Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee” so that might be the CD you want.
Check out the link if you want to see if it’s the song that you remember
youtube.com/watch?v=4ighC8sx5xg
It’s not an actual music video just the song being played with an image of the album cover but it should let you know if it’s the song that you want.
Love and Theft. That’s the one. It resonates in this old codger’s brainbox.
I’ve got the new release “Together Through Time.” It isn’t quite what the promoters say, a bit spotty, slower than you might be led to believe but a good listen regardless. The special package comes with a “theme time radio” segment that dylan does these days. The theme in this one is “friendship” and comes with some blistering good quotes. Dylan’s voice seems a bit forced though and it’s irritating. Like somebody trying to be slick and smooth on the groovy radio. There is also a DVD of an interview with Dylan’s first manager. Poor schmo sold the rights to manage Dylan for USD10,000 forty five years ago and has been picking the wound ever since. Sad, bizzare spectacle.
And, now that you got a month to listen, still same judgment ?
Hey, you are good at this.
This one grows on you definitely.
I described it as slow because somehwere it was described as being somewhere along the lines of thunder on the mountain.
It ain’t that. It’s slower, though slower isn’t necessarily bad.
I love this CD.
[quote=“Dr. McCoy”]http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090814/ap_en_mu/us_people_bob_dylan
He gets stopped by the police. They don’t know him.[/quote]
That’s funny. Understandable, though.
I caught that tour in Norfolk, Virginia, at Harbor Park just the night before he was arrested in Jersey, on a very hot Saturday night (he was arrested [strike]the next day, Sunday,[/strike] Thursday, 23-July). Touring in ball parks is a great idea, btw. Hot dogs, peanuts, shaved ice vendors. ICE cold beer, getcher ICE cold beer here, ICE cold etc. Feet kicked up on the chairbacks in front of us. Pretty comfy. Definitely shittin’ in tall cotton that night.
Dylan was, as usual, backed by a cuh-racking band resplendent all in creme Stetsons and jet black cowboy duds. Rhinestones, laser lights but only a black satin curtain backing the stage. Dylan looked like a constipated old Italian porn star in a purple Roy Rogers jacket (antique, pretty sure), just perfect. Thing about Dylan’s show that night is, only one song, outside of those from Together Through Life, was played straight up. That was sandman’s pick, ‘Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.’ Rocked, totally, just pulled all the stops out. All other songs, though, were rearranged so completely that I had to give it 30 seconds before I knew what he was up to - he always fools me that way. Thirty seconds at least. “Highway 61” rocked in ways that frankly ain’t natural for that song, but I loved it. He finished with “Along The Watchtower,” probably the fourth or fifth time I’ve heard him finish that way and it, too, was rendered nearly unrecognizable. I loved it, totally loved it, but a steady trickle of young folk left muttering throughout (about $75 a pop for tickets, after all). They wanted the CD experience, and that just bores Dylan to tears these days (I guess).
God, what style. Jesus, you just rarely see that anymore. And I hate to admit it of an American audience in old Dixie, but it was pretty much pearls cast before swine. That said, I guess I can understand why the young Jersey cops were all wtf at the name of Bob Dylan.
Edit: woops, I caught that tour on Saturday, 25-July, two days following his experience in Jersey on 23-July. Christ, my birthday is on the 22nd, I shoulda known better.
[quote=“flike”][quote=“Dr. McCoy”]http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090814/ap_en_mu/us_people_bob_dylan
He gets stopped by the police. They don’t know him.[/quote]
Dylan was, as usual, backed by a cuh-racking band resplendent all in creme Stetsons and jet black cowboy duds. Rhinestones, laser lights but only a black satin curtain backing the stage. Dylan looked like a constipated old Italian porn star in a purple Roy Rogers jacket (antique, pretty sure), just perfect. [/quote]
Here is Bob’s outfit:
And for the fans, here is Live at the O2 Arena, London, England, April 25, 2009:
http://bigozine2.com/roio/?p=269
Enjoy !