Bob Dylan Vs Neil Young

Electrophonic Tonic · 07-01-2011, 11:09 PM

Bob Dylan deserves a ton of credit for being a major influence on both out culture and our music. Personally, I just prefer Neil Young.

I remember being absolutely in love with Highway 61 Revisited and listening to it constantly, maybe 100 times in 2ish months. What finally broke me away? I heard 'Cortez the Killer' and it blew my mind. So, I went on a Neil Young binge afterwards.

When I went back and looked at them when neither were my absolute favorite afterwards, and I found myself liking Neil Young much more.

blastingas10 · 10-26-2011, 05:28 AM

It's close. They're my 2 favorites musicians ever. But I'd say bob. Neil is a better guitar player, that's the one thing he's got on bob. Bob is a lot better at guitar than people think. Just listen to his unplugged album, he does all the lead guitar work on that album. The fingerpicking in "don't think twice it's alright" is more difficult than so many acoustic Neil songs. Neil was a pretty simple guitarist as well. His electric guitar playing is what raises him above Dylan. Bob is better on the keys and harmonica. I've seen them both live and I think bob has gotten better as a musician over the years than neil has. I couldn't believe how good Dylan was on the organ when I saw him, and his harmonica playing was great. He was playing some lead blues harmonica like I have never heard from him.

I think Dylan is a better singer too. Neil can sing in that high pitched, girl voice and that's it. Just listen to "mr soul" by buffalo springfield for example, his vocals are not good at all in that. Dylan was great at vocal phrasing. Overall I think Dylan is the better vocalist.

As for songwriting, Dylan is miles ahead of Neil. Neil was great, don't get me wrong. He's one of my favorites. But Dylans songs were obviously more influential. His writing was more artistic and poetic and just all around better than neils. There's a reason that Dylan has been nominated for a Nobel prize in literature for at least 9 straight years. And no it's not because he's an overrated pop star or because the people nominating him had a "childhood fascination" with him. I've heard that one before. One of the men who always nominates him is professor of poetry at Oxford university, Christopher ricks, who is around 10 years older than Dylan. Obviously it's no childhood fascination on his part. He's nominated because he was a great writer. He hasn't won because the Nobel committee doesn't consider song to be literature, even though some of his work is undoubtably poetry.

ClassicRockLover · 03-20-2012, 12:56 PM

while I am Canadian and quite proud of our talented Mr. Young, Dylan's words blow me away more. He's a true poet. I'm not saying Neil Young's lyrics aren't great, I'm just saying, that imho, Dylan's are better.

Phantom Limb · 03-20-2012, 01:01 PM

What are the best Neil Young albums? I never listened to him and I wanna start.

Unknown Soldier · 03-20-2012, 01:11 PM

Dylan sends me to sleep, Young invigorates me.

blastingas10 · 03-20-2012, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom Limb

What are the best Neil Young albums? I never listened to him and I wanna start.

I'd recommend "harvest", and "on the beach" just for starters.

Forward To Death · 03-20-2012, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom Limb

What are the best Neil Young albums? I never listened to him and I wanna start.

Highly recommend Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Harvest, After The Gold Rush and Rust Never Sleeps. They are varying in style, some more rock oriented, some more folky.

I think Dylan is the greatest songwriter of all time, Lennon/McCartney included, and imo his work in the 60s and early 70s is amazing, so I give him an edge, but Young really was more of an explorer stylistically. It's tough, being two of the all-time songwriters, and having produced quality material for so long. Young is the better musician while Dylan is the better lyricist, imo.

blastingas10 · 03-20-2012, 10:16 PM

Dylan is a better piano player. I saw them both live last year and I was amazed at how good Dylan was at the organ. He's certainly gotten better, the same goes for his harmonica playing as well. Young played some piano and it didn't seem like he was any better than usual. You can hear it on record too. There is some great piano playing from Dylan on his "new morning" album. And there are instances when Dylan does some fingerpicking while hes singing that exceeds any level of difficulty that young does, acoustically at least. It's youngs electric guitar playing that separates him from Dylan.

And like you said, Dylan is definitely the better songwriter, but that's not to say Neil isnt great. I prefer Dylans voice as well.

Forward To Death · 03-20-2012, 10:48 PM

Imo, neither can sing very well. Idk if I can pick a winner in the vocals department. Probably Young because he hits high notes okay.

Howard the Duck · 03-20-2012, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom Limb

What are the best Neil Young albums? I never listened to him and I wanna start.

my faves are actually Ragged Glory and Harvest Moon

i'm sorry but i feel the others mentioned here are pretty overrated

10-26-2011, 05:28 AM	#42 (permalink)
blastingas10 Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,126	It's close. They're my 2 favorites musicians ever. But I'd say bob. Neil is a better guitar player, that's the one thing he's got on bob. Bob is a lot better at guitar than people think. Just listen to his unplugged album, he does all the lead guitar work on that album. The fingerpicking in "don't think twice it's alright" is more difficult than so many acoustic Neil songs. Neil was a pretty simple guitarist as well. His electric guitar playing is what raises him above Dylan. Bob is better on the keys and harmonica. I've seen them both live and I think bob has gotten better as a musician over the years than neil has. I couldn't believe how good Dylan was on the organ when I saw him, and his harmonica playing was great. He was playing some lead blues harmonica like I have never heard from him. I think Dylan is a better singer too. Neil can sing in that high pitched, girl voice and that's it. Just listen to "mr soul" by buffalo springfield for example, his vocals are not good at all in that. Dylan was great at vocal phrasing. Overall I think Dylan is the better vocalist. As for songwriting, Dylan is miles ahead of Neil. Neil was great, don't get me wrong. He's one of my favorites. But Dylans songs were obviously more influential. His writing was more artistic and poetic and just all around better than neils. There's a reason that Dylan has been nominated for a Nobel prize in literature for at least 9 straight years. And no it's not because he's an overrated pop star or because the people nominating him had a "childhood fascination" with him. I've heard that one before. One of the men who always nominates him is professor of poetry at Oxford university, Christopher ricks, who is around 10 years older than Dylan. Obviously it's no childhood fascination on his part. He's nominated because he was a great writer. He hasn't won because the Nobel committee doesn't consider song to be literature, even though some of his work is undoubtably poetry. Last edited by blastingas10; 10-26-2011 at 05:44 AM.

07-01-2011, 11:09 PM	#41 (permalink)
Electrophonic Tonic Your Ad Here Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 876	Bob Dylan deserves a ton of credit for being a major influence on both out culture and our music. Personally, I just prefer Neil Young. I remember being absolutely in love with Highway 61 Revisited and listening to it constantly, maybe 100 times in 2ish months. What finally broke me away? I heard 'Cortez the Killer' and it blew my mind. So, I went on a Neil Young binge afterwards. When I went back and looked at them when neither were my absolute favorite afterwards, and I found myself liking Neil Young much more.

03-20-2012, 12:56 PM	#43 (permalink)
ClassicRockLover Groupie Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: earth Posts: 2	while I am Canadian and quite proud of our talented Mr. Young, Dylan's words blow me away more. He's a true poet. I'm not saying Neil Young's lyrics aren't great, I'm just saying, that imho, Dylan's are better.

03-20-2012, 10:16 PM	#48 (permalink)
blastingas10 Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,126	Dylan is a better piano player. I saw them both live last year and I was amazed at how good Dylan was at the organ. He's certainly gotten better, the same goes for his harmonica playing as well. Young played some piano and it didn't seem like he was any better than usual. You can hear it on record too. There is some great piano playing from Dylan on his "new morning" album. And there are instances when Dylan does some fingerpicking while hes singing that exceeds any level of difficulty that young does, acoustically at least. It's youngs electric guitar playing that separates him from Dylan. And like you said, Dylan is definitely the better songwriter, but that's not to say Neil isnt great. I prefer Dylans voice as well.

03-20-2012, 10:48 PM	#49 (permalink)
Forward To Death Trolier Than Thou Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,336	Imo, neither can sing very well. Idk if I can pick a winner in the vocals department. Probably Young because he hits high notes okay.