The Dylan Holy Trinity

The Monkey · 05-22-2011, 06:13 PM

I agree in that Blonde on Blonde is by far the weakest. It has only a couple of of tracks that stand out (such as I Want You and Visions of Johanna). The longer tracks do tend to be rather mundane, as Dylan seems to lack the explosive energy of the previous two albums.

Bringing it all Back Home is for me his finest moment, as he blends the wonderful arrogant finger-pointing of his earlier protest days with a more mature poetic writing. The electric dimension is for me just the icing of the cake. Plus it contains his best and most complete song, "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)"; nothing he ever wrote before or after comes close to that masterpiece.

midnight rain · 05-22-2011, 06:37 PM

^Couldnt of said it better myself. I agree with everything.

TheBig3 · 05-23-2011, 10:44 AM

I enjoy "Its alright, ma" but it strikes me as his "we didn't start the fire."

newmen · 06-28-2011, 02:29 AM

blonde on blonde
bringing it all back home
highway 61 revisited

although presonally i like his earlier albums much more

William Zanzinger · 07-01-2011, 07:41 PM

I think "Blonde on Blonde" was as innovative and influential as "Sgt Pepper" or any other rock album you care to name.
The word play on "Rainy day women"-(Everybody must get stoned!), the shifting perspectives of "Visions of Johanna", the surrealism of "Stuck inside of Memphis", the cynicism of "Just like a Woman" are IMO, unmatched to this day.
Genius is a word which is often applied to the mundane.
In this case, it`s totally appropriate.

Howard the Duck · 07-01-2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Zanzinger

I think "Blonde on Blonde" was as innovative and influential as "Sgt Pepper" or any other rock album you care to name.
The word play on "Rainy day women"-(Everybody must get stoned!), the shifting perspectives of "Visions of Johanna", the surrealism of "Stuck inside of Memphis", the cynicism of "Just like a Woman" are IMO, unmatched to this day.
Genius is a word which is often applied to the mundane.
In this case, it`s totally appropriate.

which means it is mundane

William Zanzinger · 07-01-2011, 07:58 PM

Nay, nay and thrice nay!
Genius is totally appropriate!

ThePhanastasio · 07-18-2011, 11:47 PM

Agreement with William.

Dylan wrote songs that the masses could connect with, and he wrote real lyrics capable of stirring something within the listeners. It wasn't flowery, wordy bull**** - it was legitimate, and he wanted people to listen and relate.

As such, if it's mundane, it's only so because of the multitude of songwriters who have used the same approach. However, Dylan may have not used the most original approach of all time, but it was real to him. And that's all that matters.

JMayerPhoto · 07-23-2011, 04:04 PM

that's tough, I don' think I can choose especially for a guy that has made so many albums!

OccultHawk · 07-23-2011, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clutnuckle

Blonde on Blonde is an easy winner. Bringin' It All Back Home's electricity is very weak and doesn't hit home at all. Not to say that it doesn't have its fair share of good songs, but Dylan was just getting started on his road to diversity. Highway 61 Revisited is a step in the right direction; some much longer songs, universal lyrics, and a better tone of voice if you ask me.

Blonde on Blonde eclipses its predecessors as it's both like them and unlike them at the same time. It has a canon of lengthy pieces to wrap your head around ("Sad Eyed Lady...", "Visions of Johanna", "Stuck Inside of Mobile..."), along with these tiny jovial tunes ("I Want You") that cause the album to have several different identities. Both of the predecessors had those kinds of pieces, but the lyrics were never this surreal or enticing; just listening to Bob Dylan's sheer poetry across "Visions of Johanna" is a pure treat. And its length is another big factor to why I like it so much; in order to expand so much upon his musical palette while still not abandoning the reputation he had built up, Dylan needed enough space to both compliment his old style and spit in its face, so to speak.

That's at least how I see it.

Good stuff. Blonde on Blonde for me as well.

View Poll Results: Whats The Best of Bob Dylan's Mid-Sixties Creations?
Bringing It All Back Home	22	22.92%
Highway 61 Revisited	36	37.50%
Blonde on Blonde	30	31.25%
No Opinion But I Like Voting in Polls	8	8.33%
Voters: 96. You may not vote on this poll

05-22-2011, 06:13 PM	#31 (permalink)
The Monkey Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 803	I agree in that Blonde on Blonde is by far the weakest. It has only a couple of of tracks that stand out (such as I Want You and Visions of Johanna). The longer tracks do tend to be rather mundane, as Dylan seems to lack the explosive energy of the previous two albums. Bringing it all Back Home is for me his finest moment, as he blends the wonderful arrogant finger-pointing of his earlier protest days with a more mature poetic writing. The electric dimension is for me just the icing of the cake. Plus it contains his best and most complete song, "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)"; nothing he ever wrote before or after comes close to that masterpiece. __________________ Now another stranger seems to want you to ignore his dreams as though they were the burden of some other My Last.fm Last edited by The Monkey; 05-22-2011 at 07:21 PM.

05-23-2011, 10:44 AM	#33 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	I enjoy "Its alright, ma" but it strikes me as his "we didn't start the fire." __________________ I've moved to a new address

07-18-2011, 11:47 PM	#38 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	Agreement with William. Dylan wrote songs that the masses could connect with, and he wrote real lyrics capable of stirring something within the listeners. It wasn't flowery, wordy bull**** - it was legitimate, and he wanted people to listen and relate. As such, if it's mundane, it's only so because of the multitude of songwriters who have used the same approach. However, Dylan may have not used the most original approach of all time, but it was real to him. And that's all that matters. __________________ Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend My last.fm It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they're better left unsung

05-22-2011, 06:37 PM	#32 (permalink)
midnight rain Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,711	^Couldnt of said it better myself. I agree with everything.

06-28-2011, 02:29 AM	#34 (permalink)
newmen Groupie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 46	blonde on blonde bringing it all back home highway 61 revisited although presonally i like his earlier albums much more

07-01-2011, 07:41 PM	#35 (permalink)
William Zanzinger Music Addict Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: The Wasteland Posts: 77	I think "Blonde on Blonde" was as innovative and influential as "Sgt Pepper" or any other rock album you care to name. The word play on "Rainy day women"-(Everybody must get stoned!), the shifting perspectives of "Visions of Johanna", the surrealism of "Stuck inside of Memphis", the cynicism of "Just like a Woman" are IMO, unmatched to this day. Genius is a word which is often applied to the mundane. In this case, it`s totally appropriate.

07-01-2011, 07:58 PM	#37 (permalink)
William Zanzinger Music Addict Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: The Wasteland Posts: 77	Nay, nay and thrice nay! Genius is totally appropriate!

07-23-2011, 04:04 PM	#39 (permalink)
JMayerPhoto Groupie Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 14	that's tough, I don' think I can choose especially for a guy that has made so many albums!