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Nate
Does anyone know if Bob will play in Europe this year?
Thanks
Nate
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MrEcho
If you hate Dylan like The Times reviewer, you will not like Shadows In The Night. If you approach the album with an open mind, you'll realize that it's a great work of art:
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Cristiano Radtke
Bob Dylan, Shadows in The Night, review: 'extraordinary'
Shadows in the Wind is the sound of an old man picking over memories and it is quite gorgeous, says Neil McCormick
Dylan sings Sinatra? It shouldn’t work but Shadows In The Night is quite gorgeous, the sound of an old man picking over memories, lost loves, regrets, triumphs and fading hopes amid an ambient tumble of haunting electric instrumentation. It is spooky, bittersweet, mesmerisingly moving and showcases the best singing from Dylan in 25 years.
The very concept seems outrageous, which is perhaps why Dylan’s management have been at pains to insist it is not a Sinatra tribute. One was a vocal giant with perfect mix of tone, technique and emotional expression. The other has a voice that David Bowie described as “like sand and glue,” (and that was intended as a compliment). They are artists we listen to for very different reasons. Yet as a young man suffering romantic defeat, two albums helped me through my misery, Dylan’s Blood On The Tracks and Sinatra’s In The Wee Small Hours. Shadows In The Night is a perfect blend of those heartbreaking classics, digging beneath self-pity to reveal deeper relationship truths.
As much as I love Dylan, recent albums have suggested his barking, growling voice was shot beyond repair. But here his singing is delicate, tender and precise. There is age in the notes, for sure, a wobble and croak as he tackles chords from unusual angles, and falls away with fading breath. Yet somehow this ancient croon focuses the songs, compelling listeners to address their interior world in a way glissando prettiness might disguise.
It is perfectly set in simple yet inspired arrangements for a five piece band, replacing the usual nostalgic orchestras with weeping pedal steel guitars, gently sawed double bass, a swell of horns and the lightest hint of brushed hi hats. It is so sparse and present, you can hear foot pedals squeak, fingers scratch strings, Dylan breathing. Autumn Leaves is woozily sorrowful, Stay with Me is turned into a sacred prayer, That Lucky Old Sun has the stirring power of a gospel folk anthem.
We know of Dylan’s affection for early 20th century pop from his Theme Time Radio Hour and a strand of jazzy melodiousness running through his own latterday work. Dylan has spoken not of covering these classic songs but uncovering them, “lifting them out of the grave and bringing them into the light of day”. He takes beautiful material written by such greats as Rodgers and Hammerstein and completely inhabits them, reimagining Some Enchanted Evening with the wistful intimacy of someone peering back through the mists of time.
Some will scoff, but imagine a beloved grandfather at a family gathering singing ballads of love and yearning from his lost youth, and you will get some idea of the power of this extraordinary record. There wouldn’t be a dry eye in the house.
[www.telegraph.co.uk]
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Silver DaggerQuote
Cristiano Radtke
Bob Dylan, Shadows in The Night, review: 'extraordinary'
Shadows in the Wind is the sound of an old man picking over memories and it is quite gorgeous, says Neil McCormick
Dylan sings Sinatra? It shouldn’t work but Shadows In The Night is quite gorgeous, the sound of an old man picking over memories, lost loves, regrets, triumphs and fading hopes amid an ambient tumble of haunting electric instrumentation. It is spooky, bittersweet, mesmerisingly moving and showcases the best singing from Dylan in 25 years.
The very concept seems outrageous, which is perhaps why Dylan’s management have been at pains to insist it is not a Sinatra tribute. One was a vocal giant with perfect mix of tone, technique and emotional expression. The other has a voice that David Bowie described as “like sand and glue,” (and that was intended as a compliment). They are artists we listen to for very different reasons. Yet as a young man suffering romantic defeat, two albums helped me through my misery, Dylan’s Blood On The Tracks and Sinatra’s In The Wee Small Hours. Shadows In The Night is a perfect blend of those heartbreaking classics, digging beneath self-pity to reveal deeper relationship truths.
As much as I love Dylan, recent albums have suggested his barking, growling voice was shot beyond repair. But here his singing is delicate, tender and precise. There is age in the notes, for sure, a wobble and croak as he tackles chords from unusual angles, and falls away with fading breath. Yet somehow this ancient croon focuses the songs, compelling listeners to address their interior world in a way glissando prettiness might disguise.
It is perfectly set in simple yet inspired arrangements for a five piece band, replacing the usual nostalgic orchestras with weeping pedal steel guitars, gently sawed double bass, a swell of horns and the lightest hint of brushed hi hats. It is so sparse and present, you can hear foot pedals squeak, fingers scratch strings, Dylan breathing. Autumn Leaves is woozily sorrowful, Stay with Me is turned into a sacred prayer, That Lucky Old Sun has the stirring power of a gospel folk anthem.
We know of Dylan’s affection for early 20th century pop from his Theme Time Radio Hour and a strand of jazzy melodiousness running through his own latterday work. Dylan has spoken not of covering these classic songs but uncovering them, “lifting them out of the grave and bringing them into the light of day”. He takes beautiful material written by such greats as Rodgers and Hammerstein and completely inhabits them, reimagining Some Enchanted Evening with the wistful intimacy of someone peering back through the mists of time.
Some will scoff, but imagine a beloved grandfather at a family gathering singing ballads of love and yearning from his lost youth, and you will get some idea of the power of this extraordinary record. There wouldn’t be a dry eye in the house.
[www.telegraph.co.uk]
That's good enough for me. Just ordered it. Thanks for posting the review Cristiano.
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Come On
OOhh with drinks while listening to albums I can almost like The Osmonds...
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whitem8
This is yet another reason Dylan is just one of the most astounding showman and American artists. He plays a part. And for his last four albums that was grizzled, wheezing singer of dust and danger in the heart. Then he confounds and angers with Christmas songs being sung from the gravel pits of glass and sand. And now? he comes out and CROONS. And shows people he is a singer from the heart. And always has been. The man is a living myth that continues to surprise as the Willy Wonka of Americana.
Incidentally, if you really want to hear what all the hype was and is on Sinatra. Well listen to any of the stuff on The Capital Years. Or better yet, pour a scotch, and slip on side three of Live at the Sands and listen. The man had pipes, and a depth of feeling in every note that oozed masculinity with a tender undercurrent of boyish mischievousness. I just got Live at the Sands on Mobile Fidelity 180 gram vinyl. My living room instantly became quaffed up roulette room with smoke and whisky. Sinatra. Ole' Blue Eyes. The Chairman of the Board. Yeah, he's all that and a hell of a lot more. A legend and myth of a bygone era. The Thin White Duke got a few tips from him, baby.
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whitem8
This is yet another reason Dylan is just one of the most astounding showman and American artists. He plays a part. And for his last four albums that was grizzled, wheezing singer of dust and danger in the heart. Then he confounds and angers with Christmas songs being sung from the gravel pits of glass and sand. And now? he comes out and CROONS. And shows people he is a singer from the heart. And always has been. The man is a living myth that continues to surprise as the Willy Wonka of Americana.
Incidentally, if you really want to hear what all the hype was and is on Sinatra. Well listen to any of the stuff on The Capital Years. Or better yet, pour a scotch, and slip on side three of Live at the Sands and listen. The man had pipes, and a depth of feeling in every note that oozed masculinity with a tender undercurrent of boyish mischievousness. I just got Live at the Sands on Mobile Fidelity 180 gram vinyl. My living room instantly became quaffed up roulette room with smoke and whisky. Sinatra. Ole' Blue Eyes. The Chairman of the Board. Yeah, he's all that and a hell of a lot more. A legend and myth of a bygone era. The Thin White Duke got a few tips from him, baby.
Each his own. I love Dylan and I believe he is the greatest artist of the 20th century but I can't understand how anyone can listen to any of his newer stuff. His current day voice ruins everything he touches. I have not been able to listen to anything since TOOM. His live music is unlistenable nowadays. Personally I wish he would do the obvious and have someone sing with him and has a voice that blends together well with his. To me Dylan has way too often forgot that the goal of music is to actually sound good. You can write a great piece of music but you also have to have it sound good.
As for Sinatra I never thought he was anything but one of the luckiest people who ever lived. You can find a better voice in any crowded bar any night and his voice was all he had. I always though it was fitting that actual talented people like The Beatles,Dylan, and the Stones pushed people like his to where they belonged..
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TeaAtThreeQuote
stanloveQuote
whitem8
This is yet another reason Dylan is just one of the most astounding showman and American artists. He plays a part. And for his last four albums that was grizzled, wheezing singer of dust and danger in the heart. Then he confounds and angers with Christmas songs being sung from the gravel pits of glass and sand. And now? he comes out and CROONS. And shows people he is a singer from the heart. And always has been. The man is a living myth that continues to surprise as the Willy Wonka of Americana.
Incidentally, if you really want to hear what all the hype was and is on Sinatra. Well listen to any of the stuff on The Capital Years. Or better yet, pour a scotch, and slip on side three of Live at the Sands and listen. The man had pipes, and a depth of feeling in every note that oozed masculinity with a tender undercurrent of boyish mischievousness. I just got Live at the Sands on Mobile Fidelity 180 gram vinyl. My living room instantly became quaffed up roulette room with smoke and whisky. Sinatra. Ole' Blue Eyes. The Chairman of the Board. Yeah, he's all that and a hell of a lot more. A legend and myth of a bygone era. The Thin White Duke got a few tips from him, baby.
Each his own. I love Dylan and I believe he is the greatest artist of the 20th century but I can't understand how anyone can listen to any of his newer stuff. His current day voice ruins everything he touches. I have not been able to listen to anything since TOOM. His live music is unlistenable nowadays. Personally I wish he would do the obvious and have someone sing with him and has a voice that blends together well with his. To me Dylan has way too often forgot that the goal of music is to actually sound good. You can write a great piece of music but you also have to have it sound good.
As for Sinatra I never thought he was anything but one of the luckiest people who ever lived. You can find a better voice in any crowded bar any night and his voice was all he had. I always though it was fitting that actual talented people like The Beatles,Dylan, and the Stones pushed people like his to where they belonged..
I happen to love his latter day voice. I think "Love and Theft" is one of the best albums by anyone in the last 20 years. It careens through so many styles of American music. A personal fave is "Mississippi;" the voice and phrasing in that are pure artistry.
But I've never worried about the singer sounding perfect, myself. Mark Knopfler wrote great songs with a less than splendid voice as well.
T@3