Bob Dylan
Rough and Rowdy Ways
(Columbia)
4.5/5
Strange times are these in which we live. Where do we go for answers when our heroes are at home in quarantine? The last time the threads of the empire were frayed and apocalypse neared, an unlikely hero was created as Bob Dylan’s music morphed into something much bigger, and the youth of the 1960s formed a wave that broke just shy of revolution. Like clockwork, in our time of need in late March (early quarantine), Dylan released an unexpected 17-minute single, “Murder Most Foul.”
Truly in a class of his own, Dylan’s 10 Grammys and his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction seem almost inconsequential considering that he is the only musician to have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Now, at 79, Dylan just dropped his 39th album, and Rough and Rowdy Ways is an instant classic.
His recent albums were great as performance art, but Dylan’s voice had deteriorated to an almost unlistenable state. He had created a caricature, and he played it well, mumbling standards that told the story of generations past. In a right turn, Rough and Rowdy Ways is something of a renaissance as Dylan sings better than he has in decades.
There are several incredible tracks here and absolutely no filler. “My Own Version of You” is backed by a perfect blend of blues and twang, allowing Dylan to demonstrate the unparalleled melodic dexterity and storytelling mastery synonymous with his name. Shades of Chester Burnett come out as Dylan expertly howls on blues tracks like “Goodbye Jimmy Reed” and “False Prophet.” Rough and Rowdy Ways comes to an understated climax with the perfectly selected lead single, “Murder Most Foul.”
Dylan is the most important musician of the past century, and he could just coast along based on name recognition and our respect for the past. Instead, he has chosen to redefine himself creatively, and start a new chapter as he approaches 80.
It would be a surprise if any other album this year is better than Rough and Rowdy Ways.