Bob Dylan - Photo by PR Photos
Moody. Melancholy. Worldly wise. Rockin’.
This is not one of Dylan’s master works. He has set the bar so high for himself. It is, however, a solid collection of raw outpourings of the heart.
Picture a dark smokey dance hall with booze flowing and unpretentious blue collar type women in plain dresses polishing the belt buckles of some half drunk unshaven cowboys. No one is actually happy. They are numb from life’s hard knocks. The man singing his heart out is speaking directly to their hearts. He’s been there. Somehow he has survived to sing about it. It is comforting to know that they, the bar patrons, can survive it too.
Beyond Here Lies Nothin’ is the best song on the album. Shake Shake Mama is a close second followed by I Feel a Change Comin’ On, It’s All Good, This Dream of You. The novice Dylan fan should buy just Beyond Here Lies Nothin’ and maybe Dylan’s earlier album, Modern Times, and leave this album to the hard core Dylan follower. That is unless that novice wants to grow his appreciation for great song writing which is made to seem effortless and to listen to songs that portray life as it is.
-Thomas
