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Rating:
2006, Dylan is still Dylan, after thirty-two albums he remains a monster of authentic skill. Many critics and fans mark the end of his career with the beautiful Oh mercy! of 1989, with the last isolated flash of genius in Time out of mind of 1997. Instead, after the admirable album of '97, Dylan completely frees himself from any professional obligations towards record companies and fans/critics (not that he had really ever listened to anyone beyond his creative instinct throughout his career) and launches into a trilogy, produced solo under the pseudonym Jack Frost: Love and theft (2001), Modern times (2006) and Together through life (2009), a genuine rediscovery of the old rock-blues of the early '50s, polished and modernized because these are indeed modern times and not a revival of the great music that was. An isolated rock lesson because none of the new generations of music want to draw from those sources and this lesson: perhaps it is precisely in this way that the lack of rock artists from 2000 onwards can be explained.
I would like to start by commenting on the masterpiece of the album, for the writer one of Dylan's most beautiful songs: Ain't talkin, almost nine minutes of music with a hypnotic and psychedelic approach, with a bleak tango rhythm accompanying the bitter reflections of a man who feels he has not reached the existential happiness he would have liked to achieve; in these verses, you can feel the pessimism that had invaded historical albums and masterpieces like Blood on the tracks and Desire
"they say that prayer has the power to heal
so pray for me mama
in the heart of man a wicked spirit can dwell
I try to love my neighbor and do good
but oh, mama, things ain't going so well"
Another ballad, another masterpiece is Nettie Moore, a track in some ways "experimental," led in the verses by the bass marking the time repetitively, like the ticking of a clock, but then opening into very melodic choruses; here too, Dylan certainly doesn't have sweet words for what his life has been and where it has taken him
"I have a bunch of sins to pay for and I don't have time to hide"
A less somber, pop piece is Workingman's Blues #2, with a melody that harks back to Let it be; here the theme is underpaid work and the poor economic conditions of the working class, a return to the themes of his beginnings
"There's a nighttime mist coming down by the hill
Star light by the edge of the shore
The purchasing power of the proletariat's gone down
Money's getting shallow and weak
Well the place I love best is a sweet memory
It's a new path that we trod
They say low wages are a reality
If we want to compete abroad"
Spirit on the water and Beyond the Horizon are two relaxed waltzes, even in themes, talking about women, love, sex.
And what about rock? Thunder on the mountain is a surprising piece, only a genius can rewrite a modern Johnny B. Goode, without plagiarizing it; the beautiful guitar interventions by two great guitarists like Denny Freeman and Stu Kimball are noteworthy.
Rollin' and tumblin', Someday baby and The levee's gonna break are three blues with a rockabilly pace: Dylan has written pieces like this many times, but here in terms of composition we are at the level of the electric turning point albums Bringing it all back home and Highway 61 revisited.
Rock, blues, tango, waltz...what's missing? Jazz! Here it is in the dreamy notes of When the deal goes down, where Dylan returns gloomy and pessimistic about his own life, but here he's accompanied by the figure of the woman he loves
"we eat and we drink, feel and think
On the road, far away, we wander
I laugh and I cry and I'm haunted
By things I'll never see or hear again
The midnight rain follows the train
We all wear the same thorny crown
From soul to soul, our shadows fold
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down"
An album from another time and at the same time modern, the album of a true artist, against the tide and free. Listen to it and live it!
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Thunder on the Mountain (05:55)
Thunder on the mountain, and there's fires on the moon
A ruckus in the alley and the sun will be here soon
Today's the day, gonna grab my trombone and blow
Well, there's hot stuff here and it's everywhere I go
I was thinkin' 'bout Alicia Keys, couldn't keep from crying
When she was born in Hell's Kitchen, I was living down the line
I'm wondering where in the world Alicia Keys could be
I been looking for her even clear through Tennessee
Feel like my soul is beginning to expand
Look into my heart and you will sort of understand
You brought me here, now you're trying to run me away
The writing on the wall, come read it, come see what it say
Thunder on the mountain, rollin' like a drum
Gonna sleep over there, that's where the music coming from
I don't need any guide, I already know the way
Remember this, I'm your servant both night and day
The pistols are poppin' and the power is down
I'd like to try somethin' but I'm so far from town
The sun keeps shinin' and the North Wind keeps picking up speed
Gonna forget about myself for a while, gonna go out and see what others need
I've been sittin' down studyin' the art of love
I think it will fit me like a glove
I want some real good woman to do just what I say
Everybody got to wonder what's the matter with this cruel world today
Thunder on the mountain rolling to the ground
Gonna get up in the morning walk the hard road down
Some sweet day I'll stand beside my king
I wouldn't betray your love or any other thing
Gonna raise me an army, some tough sons of bitches
I'll recruit my army from the orphanages
I been to St. Herman's church, said my religious vows
I've sucked the milk out of a thousand cows
I got the porkchops, she got the pie
She ain't no angel and neither am I
Shame on your greed, shame on your wicked schemes
I'll say this, I don't give a damn about your dreams
Thunder on the mountain heavy as can be
Mean old twister bearing down on me
All the ladies in Washington scrambling to get out of town
Looks like something bad gonna happen, better roll your airplane down
Everybody going and I want to go too
Don't wanna take a chance with somebody new
I did all I could, I did it right there and then
I've already confessed - no need to confess again
Gonna make a lot of money, gonna go up north
I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth
The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf
For the love of God, you ought to take pity on yourself
03 Rollin' and Tumblin' (06:01)
I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
Woke up this mornin', I must have bet my money wrong
I got troubles so hard, I can't stand the strain
I got troubles so hard, I can't stand the strain
Some young lazy slut has charmed away my brains
The landscape is glowin', gleamin' in the golden light of day
The landscape is glowin', gleamin' in the golden light of day
I ain't holdin' nothin' back now, I ain't standin' in anybody's way
Well, I did all I know just to keep you off my mind
Well, I did all I know just to keep you off my mind
Well, I paid and I paid and my sufferin' heart is always on the line
Well, I get up in the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade
I get up in the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade
I ain't nobody's house boy, I ain't nobody's well trained maid
I'm flat out spent, this woman been drivin' me to tears
I'm flat out spent, this woman she been drivin' me to tears
This woman so crazy, I swear I ain't gonna touch another one for years
Well, the warm weather's comin' and the buds are on the vine
The warm weather's comin', the buds are on the vine
Ain't nothing so depressing as trying to satisfy this woman of mine
I got up this mornin', saw the rising sun return
Well, I got up this mornin', see the rising sun return
Sooner or later, you too shall burn
The night's filled with shadows, the years are filled with early doom
The night is filled with shadows, the years are filled with early doom
I've been conjuring up all these long dead souls from their crumblin' tombs
Let's forgive each other darlin', let's go down to the greenwood glen
Let's forgive each other darlin', let's go down to the greenwood glen
Let's put our heads together now, let's put all old matters to an end
Well, I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
Ah, I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
I woke up this morning, I think I must be traveling wrong
07 Beyond the Horizon (05:36)
Beyond the horizon, behind the sun
At the end of the rainbow life has only begun
In the long hours of twilight 'neath the stardust above
Beyond the horizon it is easy to love
I'm touched with desire
What don't I do?
Through flame and through fire
I'll build my world around you
Beyond the horizon, in the Springtime or Fall
Love waits forever, for one and for all
Beyond the horizon, across the divide
'Round about midnight, we'll be on the same side
Down in the valley the water runs cold
Beyond the horizon someone prayed for your soul
My wretched heart is pounding
I felt an angel's kiss
My memories are drowning
In mortal bliss
Beyond the horizon, at the end of the game
Every step that you take, I'm walking the same
Beyond the horizon, the night winds blow
The theme of a melody from many moons ago
The bells of St. Mary, how sweetly they chime
Beyond the horizon I found you just in time
It's dark and it's dreary
I've been pleading in vain
I'm wounded, I'm weary
My repentance is plain
Beyond the horizon o'r the treacherous sea
I still can't believe that you have set aside your love for me
Beyond the horizon, 'neath crimson skies
In the soft light of morning I'll follow you with my eyes
Through countries and kingdoms and temples of stone
Beyond the horizon right down to the bone
It's the right time of the season
Somebody there always cared
There's always a reason
Why someone's life has been spared
Beyond the horizon, the sky is so blue
I've got more than a lifetime to live lovin' you
08 Nettie Moore (06:52)
Lost John's sittin' on a railroad track
Something's out of whack
Blues this mornin' fallin' down like hail
Gonna leave a greasy trail
Gonna travel the world is what I'm gonna do
Then come back and see you.
All I ever do is struggle and strive.
If I don't do anybody any harm, I might make it back home alive.
I'm the oldest son of a crazy man,
I'm in a cowboy band
Got a pile of sins to pay for and I ain't got time to hide
I'd walk through a blazing fire, baby, if I knew you was on the other side
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o'r
Winter's gone, the river's on the rise
I loved you then, and ever shall
But there's no one left here to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
Well, the world of research has gone berserk
Too much paperwork
Albert's in the graveyard, Frankie's raising hell
I'm beginning to believe what the scriptures tell
I've gone where the Southern crosses The Yellow Dog
Get away from all these demagogues
And these bad luck women stick like glue
It's either one or the other or neither of the two
She says, "Look out, daddy, don't want you to tear your pants
You could get wrecked in this dance."
They say whisky'll kill you, but I don't think it will
I'm ridin' with you to the top of the hill
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o'r
Winter's gone, the river's on the rise
I loved you then, and ever shall
But there's no one left here to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
Don't know why my baby never looked so good before
Don't have to wonder no more
She been cooking all day, it gonna take me all night
I can't eat all that stuff in a single bite
The judge's coming in, everybody rise
Lift up your eyes
You can do what you please, you don't need my advice
'Fore you call me any dirty names, you better think twice
Gettin' light outside, the temperature dropped
I think the rain has stopped
I'm gonna make you come to grips with fate
When I'm through with you, you'll learn to keep your business straight
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o'r
Winter's gone, the river's on the rise
I loved you then, and ever shall
But there's no one left here to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
The bright spark of the steady lights
Has dimmed my sights
When you're around me all my grief gives 'way
A life time with you is like some heavenly day
Everything I've ever known to be right has been proven wrong
I'll be drifting along
The woman I'm loving she rules my heart
No knife could ever cut our love apart.
Today I'll stand in faith and raise
The voice of praise
The sun is strong, I'm standing in the light
I wish to God that it were night
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o'r
Winter's gone, the river's on the rise
I loved you then, and ever shall
But there's no one here left to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
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Other reviews
By Dune Buggy
We will always be there to love Dylan because he is Dylan, and that’s enough for us.
His voice is like a mud formed in the tradition, it slipped through the decades, has smeared a bit of everything, and we like to know that it still stains.
By jackpizzello
Undoubtedly a good album, very homogeneous that alternates more rock moments... with more relaxed and refined ones.
Dylan’s voice, always a bit nasal and croaky, but this time warmer, hoarse, and understandable.
By Viva Lì
"Modern Times is an album that exalts the spirit of the American working class and contains an impressive sequence of musical and cinematic references."
"Even today you are one of the few songwriters who strives to record music genuinely, without too many synthesizers or vocal modifiers."
By j&r
'The heart of the album consists of three songs of great talent and depth... worthy of the character in question.'
'The best song of the album: Nettie Moore. A beautiful piece that soars thanks to one of the most beautiful melodic openings of the Dylanian repertoire.'
By ibelluca91
To appreciate this new album by the minstrel, one needs to take some time, accompany it with a good glass of wine, and let it mature in our hearts.
Tracks like 'Workingman Blues#2' or 'Nettie Moore' dig a deep furrow in our hearts and with their simplicity manage to warm it.
