What do you think of Bob Dylan

[krtek a houby]

Possibly. No opinion on Chomsky (disagree with his dislike of post modern philosophy though) but have opinions on calling Dylan the perfect produce of the capitalist pr machine, especially through one likely wonked out interview, like I would many artist labelled the same.

Ach, it's mild enough - and he's been called far worse over the years and probably didn't/doesn't give a shite.

As a long time listener, there's been a couple of times had to take a break from his music for various reasons. Liked what I heard of Rough and Rowdy Ways. Perhaps will give him more time when he shuffles off. In the meantime, will watch the film when that gets a release over here.

 

[BigMoaner]

It’s weird cos he always (sometimes annoyingly) released things that would not sell as well as just rehashes of the pst. Maybe infinite protest songs was the true capitalist path afterall.

 

[BigMoaner]

As for breaks you wouldn’t think it from this thread but I rarely listen to him. Seminal in my youth tho. He’s great to revisit now and then obv

 

[krtek a houby]

It’s weird cos he always (sometimes annoyingly) released things that would not sell as well as just rehashes of the pst. Maybe infinite protest songs was the true capitalist path afterall.

Yep. Protest becomes product. It's an old tale.

 

[Humberto]

From what he talks about he's just a musician. Same as a bartender or taxi driver.

 

[BigMoaner]

The superb (whether you're a dylan fan or not imo) 60s Dylan doc, Dont Look Back - in colour!

 

[Hollis]

As for breaks you wouldn’t think it from this thread but I rarely listen to him. Seminal in my youth tho. He’s great to revisit now and then obv

Same here.. played him to death when i was younger... give his stuff the occasional listen. Chomsky seems to be putting something on Dylan that perhaps he didn't want to be. Anyway - I don't give a shite about musicians politics.. .it's not why I listen to them.

 

[BigMoaner]

The superb (whether you're a dylan fan or not imo) 60s Dylan doc, Dont Look Back - in colour!

how did they do that with the colour? it was originally in black and white. amazing.

 

[BigMoaner]

stll don't know who threw the fucking glass

 

[krtek a houby]

Same here.. played him to death when i was younger... give his stuff the occasional listen. Chomsky seems to be putting something on Dylan that perhaps he didn't want to be. Anyway - I don't give a shite about musicians politics.. .it's not why I listen to them.

I get that, however, when some musicians are revealed as nonce, rapist, fash, alt right or full conspiracy theorist it makes it very difficult to listen. If at all.

 

[Hollis]

I dunno.. I fully respect why someone may not want to listen to someone because of what they've done, and that's their choice. However in my head there's quite a difference between being a nonce, rapist or murderer and being a conspiracy theorist or alt right.

Van Morrison came out with a load of anti-vax stuff.. but it ain't gonna stop me listening to Astral Weeks of Veedon Fleece.. Actually his anti-vax songs were in there own way quite amusing.

 

[krtek a houby]

I dunno.. I fully respect why someone may not want to listen to someone because of what they've done, and that's their choice. However in my head there's quite a difference between being a nonce, rapist or murderer and being a conspiracy theorist or alt right.

Van Morrison came out with a load of anti-vax stuff.. but it ain't gonna stop me listening to Astral Weeks of Veedon Fleece.. Actually his anti-vax songs were in there own way quite amusing.

Van has a great back catalogue, for sure. But certain incidents in Dublin in the 90s put me off him and then the antivax tilt really didn't help.

I could just about deal with his legendary grumpiness because of said legacy but now I avoid anything new...

 

[PTK]

Anyone who has listened to "My Back Pages" on the album "Another Side of Bob Dylan" would know that Bob Dylan repudiated the struggle for equallity on his fourth album, in 1964.

There is no excuse to him writing a song in praise of the State of Israel in the 1980s. ("Neighbourhood Bully" on the album "Infidels."

I must say that I used to love much of Dylan's music, and still do. There was/is something about his voice. Someone noted that particular quality of his voice and coined the term "Dylanise".

 

[PTK]

Same here.. played him to death when i was younger... give his stuff the occasional listen. Chomsky seems to be putting something on Dylan that perhaps he didn't want to be. Anyway - I don't give a shite about musicians politics.. .it's not why I listen to them.

So you listened to the overtly political songs that Bob Dylan produced on his first album because you really appreciate his guitar and harmonica playing?

 

[BigMoaner]

My Back Pages

Crimson flames tied through my ears
Rollin’ high and mighty traps
Pounced with fire on flaming roads
Using ideas as my maps
“We’ll meet on edges, soon,” said I
Proud ’neath heated brow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now

Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth
“Rip down all hate,” I screamed
Lies that life is black and white
Spoke from my skull. I dreamed
Romantic facts of musketeers
Foundationed deep, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now

Girls’ faces formed the forward path
From phony jealousy
To memorizing politics
Of ancient history
Flung down by corpse evangelists
Unthought of, though, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now

A self-ordained professor’s tongue
Too serious to fool
Spouted out that liberty
Is just equality in school
“Equality,” I spoke the word
As if a wedding vow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now

In a soldier’s stance, I aimed my hand
At the mongrel dogs who teach
Fearing not that I’d become my enemy
In the instant that I preach
My pathway led by confusion boats
Mutiny from stern to bow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats
Too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking
I had something to protect
Good and bad, I define these terms
Quite clear, no doubt, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now

 

[BigMoaner]

…but then does it matter when you create something like this, no matter before or since?

 

[BigMoaner]

The phrasing and timing on that

 

[BigMoaner]

Repetition , assonance, alliteration

 

[Winot]

Have we had this yet?

 

[BigMoaner]

Have we had this yet?

It’s always struck me how consistently private he is, apart from occasional flurries. As krtek a houby says, it all becomes myth. You can barely press him on anything. Good. Thank god he didn’t get hooked on twitter, either.