"Vomitific"(Dylan's term)

I'm not one to get too nostalgic and linger in the past because the present is much to exciting However every now and again I listen to some Dylan. There is something to be said for longevity. This outing from 1995 finds Dylan in a loose mood with a fine nasal vocal tone that ducks and peeks while his strong lyrics jab and punch your sensibilities leaving your brain feeling like silly putty. Created for the superlative accoustic MTV series, Dylan is right at home with his folksy pre-electric roots. His harmonica playing adds luster to the folksy sound. He displays an impassioned vocal range that you will either hate or love but you have to give him his props for his poignant songwritting. Actually he is singing on "Knockin on Heaven's Door"in a very uncharacteristic style that indicates he can actually carry a tune! More at home in his delivery of barely understandable slurring and distorting in his vocal phrasing is more the norm on this disc. This cat was the original white rapper sans urban beats. His poetical lyricism is superb. This collection of songs are timely some 35+ years later. Of particular interest is "John Brown" about the soldier who goes off to war and sees the enemy "whose face looks just like mine" and returns to see his mom after being wounded . In these days that finds our country once again at war the words, reality and horror of war are very relevant. "Desolation Row" is one of those classic Dylan songs that paints surreal imagery with words that still reads like a modern epic tour de force. There are several other songs from the excellent 1965 "Highway 61 Revisted" including the unofficial 60's anthem "Like a Rolling Stone" that begs the question "how does it feel to be without a home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone"? Further along in the song Dylan states, "You said you'd never compromise, with the mystery tramp, but now you realize he's not selling any alibis as you stare into the vacum of his eyes and ask do you want to make deal"? These lyrics might make baby boomers choke on their lattes and cause them to wreck their Lexus suv's now days as they reflect on their rebellious youth. Another "Highway 61" song is the mind blowing "Tombstone Blues" with which he opens the set as he makes reference to the everything from the "commander in chief, John the Baptist, Gaileo, MaRainey, Beethoven, Deliah and the Phiilistines." In these times of world trouble and tension, heightened by terrorism, Dylan's exploration of war is very timely today. He ends his song and set with the words"If God's on our side He'll stop the next war." Even though "The Times TheY Are A-Changin'" some concerns remain the the same. This is as important music today as it was originally in the 60's and when this 1995 MTV version was released. Buy it especially if you don't have any Dylan, it is a nice introduction to the poets music. Every song is a winner.

He Does This On Purpose

Man...this guy's been messing with our heads for 40 years.
Ya gotta love him!

I've seen Bob Dylan 3 times in concert, and only once did he give 100% The other two times, Bob barely played the harmonica...hurried through classic songs and cut verses out of the longer songs.

My point?

This brilliant poet/folkie and pot-head has been putting us on ever since he came along in the early 60's. When he feels like giving you his best, he gives it to you! But when he doesn't feel like giving you his best....he puts on the "too burnt out" act.

Bob knew that this was a concert for MTV and the critics, so he purposely just threw out a bunch of effortless numbers. He's Bob Dylan, and will always do what HE wants...not what others want.

Surprisingly...the critics loved this show. Bet ya Bob was shocked.

Still love ya, Bob!

Unlistenable.

No one would ever have mistaken Bob Dylan for Pavarotti at any point in his career but at least his unique style was listenable up til somewhere around the late 1980's. I am a big Dylan fan, but I think "Empire Burlesque" is really the last album where his voice was tolerable. Beyond that, it's really hard to listen to. By 1994, when this album was recorded, he sounds like a recent tonsilectomy patient with a very bad head cold. At least on new studio albums, he isn't ruining old songs by doing them in his croaky nasal rasp. But on a live album like this, the horrid singing is an injustice to his great old classics. Quite frankly, it's shocking to hear how bad his voice has become on barely recognizable renditions of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" and "All Along the Watchtower". "Dignity" is the only tune on this album where he manages a passable vocal performance. The rest is painful to hear. If you want to hear a great live Dylan album recorded while his voice was still intact, skip this, and get the underrated "Real Live".