Thanks!

Wow, can't believe I said "hellbound" instead of "hell hounds".....but then again I actually said "Masked and Anonymous" came out in 2008 when my mind was thinking 2003.....I'm getting old and feeble-brained, Thomas. I agree 100% on "Ain't Talkin'"....in fact, I my initial plan was to open the review by reading the entire lyrics to that song, because I think that song says it all, by which the other songs on the album could be interpreted. The only reason I didn't do so is because the video was already going to be over a half-hour anyway! So much to say about any given Dylan album. Thanks, Thomas. Jeff

Thanks, Glenn! I agree with your favorite songs here - they are marvelous. Thanks again - I appreciate your comments! Jeff

Hi Jay - the longer I spend thinking about this album, the more I realize how magnificent it is. Dylan's lyrics are like living documents that yield new ideas and imaginations every time you hear them. I mean, what other lyricists do that? Not many, I'd say. Thanks again for your comments! Jeff

Thanks!

Great album to be released on your actual birth month!

Thanks, Kurt!

I can’t recall the line from anything else I have read….at least based on my memory. But then again, I don’t even think I have read any Ovid, come to think of it…. Thanks for your comment as always, Ralph.

I agree, Dieter. I was just thinking the other day about how almost every music artist that I have enjoyed for decades has, at some point, switched to some degree of “auto pilot”. It seems to be a rather natural course of events for some reason. And as for the crooner albums, I don’t even have (or want) them at all. Not interested.

Indeed.

Oh yes, Loudon Wainwright! I love that guy also, Paul. Marvelously expressive performer, full of heart. I like a lot of his son's music also. Thanks for the kind comment, Paul. Yes, Modern Times is from the "pulpit of Dylan", indeed! Haha, I love that phrase - it is perfect for albums like this. Jeff

Hello Diana. What a marvelously interesting question! I absolutely love the book of Lamentations. I do not immediately recall any direct references to that book per se in Dylan's songs.....or the destruction of, or exile from, Jerusalem specifically.....but they could very well be there, however. So many of his lyrics are full of related themes of decay of faith and wandering off the path, and the resulting manipulation/deception/oppression/destruction and exile from one's once-beautiful home. So in many ways he has indeed indirectly referenced the thematic material in Lamentations but I am not aware off the top of my head of any direct references to the book. He has incorporated (in very poetically creative and imaginative ways) the many fascinating themes, people, stories, etc., of The Bible into many of his lyrics (far more than most listeners are aware). It is one of my favorite things to do: glean the Biblical references therein and how those references relate, either directly or indirectly, to the other thematic aspects of the lyrics. I can almost guarantee that Lamentations has influenced his song ideas....in fact, I would be shocked if this were not true. I really wish I could respond right now and say, "yes Diana, here is a place where Dylan specifically refers to Lamentations", but I can't at this time. However, I will give this a lot of thought and if I think of something I will surely let you know. Thanks so much for your question. Jeff

@@CalicoSilver Thank you so much for this great reply! I agree with you. Bob Dylan and the book of Lamentations seem like a natural pair. They have so many themes and emotions in common. If you ever find a direct reference, I would love to know. In the meantime, I'm sure I am not alone in thinking that it would be wonderful to see you do a session dedicated to BD and the Bible ... All best, Diana

So true. I never like it when people continue to pretend that Dylan floundered about with nothing to say or offer creatively from 1975 to 1997. You NAILED it when you suggested that these people were either not paying attention, perhaps because they weren't told to. Right on the mark.

I agree 100%, Trevor, and I too have been a bit disappointed in the total lack of credit given to other musicians and composers in some cases when it comes to songs credited as being solely by Dylan. Yes, his own creative output vastly DWARFS anything he may have "loved" enough to commit "theft" over (haha), but still......I actually wrote a particular couple of songs in my youth that I was very proud of at the time, and when I played them for other people, they said "that song sounds like so-and-so's song", so I immediately re-assessed the songs and in both cases, the similarities were not THAT noticeable, but still, I never played those few songs in public ever again. So, I am very sensitive to the concept of fair-credit when it is clear that a song has been "borrowed", whether intentionally or not. But that is just my opinion, and it seems you and I agree on this.

So true, Lacey! Even though I vastly prefer listening to my good stereo system without headphones, I probably do 75% of my music listening with headphones (at the request of my family, haha, as well as during my daily bike rides). So I know exactly what you mean about Nettie Moore - I've heard that song on headphones many times over the past years. Marvelous. Thanks for your comment. Jeff

Yeah, my webcam/computer collaboration (haha) was ended.....so I finally decided to procure a smart phone (yes, you read that correctly....I was a perfectly happy flip-phone user until last week). I hate smart phones, but finally sold my soul.....but at least I now have a "camera" that I can use any time anywhere without having the constant issues I dealt with for almost two years.

By the way, James......now TWENTY albums linked to each other??!! I am too timid to even dare watch that video....my goodness what an achievement! (but seriously, I'll watch it.....once I've had a few beers first.....damn, you certainly do keep raising the bars for everyone, James....)

@@CalicoSilver I like to keep you all on your toes!

I think I might agree with you there, Varlam. ;-)

Indeed it is! Thanks.

I agree, Jonathan. Modern Times seemed dynamically flat to me also. In fact, my lack of positive response to it at the time resulted in my not buying Together Through Life until a few years after it came out. But I still loved seeing Dylan live at the time. And these days I do very much enjoy Modern Times.....even though it can't hold a candle to Love and Theft, I agree! And yes, Tempest is great!