Bob Dylan's remarkable new album Modern Times is set against an apocalyptic backdrop of broken levees, broken dreams, and a "world that has gone black before my eyes," according to at least one of this album's brilliant ten new songs. But if Dylan's got doomsday on his mind, the impending apocalypse he foresees seems to be as personal as it is biblical.
Bob Dylan has employed religious imagery in his lyrics at various points throughout his illustrious career. But unless I am wildly misreading the lyrics here (and I honestly don't think I am), the Modern Times Dylan refers to on this album mean nothing less than the End Of Days itself.
This in itself should surprise no one. Dylan has always been a rather astute commentator on our times since at least his "spokesman of a generation" heyday in the sixties. And whether it's because of a Christian president fighting a "war on terror" against what are largely Islamic enemies (let's be honest here), or the biblical level disasters like Katrina we've seen in recent years, or any and all of the above, make no mistake. Apocalyptic thought has become a deeply ingrained part of the national, if not the global psyche. That someone like Bob Dylan would take note of this on his new record is again, hardly a surprise.
Still, this album contains some of the darkest, most overtly religious imagery Dylan has used since the Slow Train Coming days. But there is a distinct difference between then and now. While Dylan himself seems to be acutely aware of the impending doom of songs like the opening "Thunder On The Mountain," the man we find here is not really so much the zealous fire and brimstone preacher of the infamous "Born Again" years.
Well okay, there is the occasional biblical chastisement. Such as found in the line "Well I got up this mornin', see the rising sun return, Sooner or later you too shall burn" from Dylan's modern uptake of the blues standard "Rollin And Tumblin."
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Thanx for publishing this Connie. One quick note, in paragraph twelve's opening line:
With the apocalypse raging outside, the final track, the eight minute opus "Aint Walkin," finds Dylan's beaten down traveler. "Walkin through the cities of the plague," and that there "ain't no altars on this long and lonesome road."
the word "traveller" needs to be followed by a comma rather than by a period. I'd have emailed this privately but I'm at work and unable to access the BC group from here.
If someone could make that change, I'd be most appreciative.
Thanx again!
-Glen
2 - Mat Brewster
Excellent! I can't wait to wrap my ears around this one.
3 - Mark Saleski
is is a great record. dunno if i'd put it ahead of Time Out Of Mind but to my ears its tough to compare the two since they're quite a bit different.
nice review glen.
4 - Glen Boyd
Thanx fellas.
They are different records too Mark. Completely different. The difference lies as much in Dylan's vocal delivery here though as it does in the darker lyrical content. His voice is still the bluesy croak I so loved on Time Out Of Mind and Love & Theft. But theres something...I dunno...smoother about it. And his phrasing here is simply amazing.
Thanx for the comments guys.
-Glen
5 - Joey V
Nicely done Glen! Definitely sparked my curiosity, can't wait to hear Dylan's take on the end of days. (Although I thought I already had with A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall)
6 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Joey! can't wait to "QC" this one (thats an inside reference I suspect only Joey will probably understand...)
The truth is that we've gotten Dylan's take on the End of Days a number of times over the years...
I ltend to see Modern Times as simply being the latest update...like a breaking news flash from the frontlines of the apocalypse. Or in this case, more from it's trenches.
Thanx for the comment.
-Glen
7 - Maggie
I think you nailed this one pretty good. But I don't think Dylan has found religion again. I just think he grew up over the years without ever losing it. I'm looking forward to hearing this...thank you.
8 - Glen Boyd
Hey all...
Just wanted to let everyone know that right now if you do a Google Blog Search for "Bob Dylan Modern Times", this BC review comes in at #1.
I thought that was pretty cool.
Thanx everybody.
-Glen
9 - Big Sal
I heard that Dylan thinks modern recording technology sucks. Surprising, cause this album sounds as warm to me as my sweet Francesca's tit.
Now giddoudda here okay? BIG BAD SAL
10 - Mary
Spot-on review. U get exactly what I get from this album- I think it's amazingly
well crafted, dignified and poetically intriquing.
11 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Mary. And thanx Big Sal.
-Glen
12 - Markus
excellent review, Glen, thanks a million
I totally agree, that this "is the best of the three" last records. In my ears this masterpiece is even his finest studio album since 'Shot Of Love'.
Markus
13 - Glen Boyd
Thanx for the comment Mr. Markus.
14 - Ben
Great review, chimes almost toally with my own thoughts. Superman returns.
15 - Glen Boyd
Superman indeed. Don't we all wish we could fly like that? Thanks for the comment Ben.
-Glen
16 - joe romby
Dear Glen: I thought your review was terrific. I do not think though that "Time Out" is part of the trilogy. On "Time Out" he's more vulnerable. Just the photos of him show a different persona.
On the last two records he's more vibrant on the rockers ("Honest With Me", "Thunder") and he shows a new, jaunty style as on "Moonlight" and "Beyond the Horizon." The later records from the moustached "Mississippi" Bob Dylan show him at more of a distance(although the voice is mixed higher and clearer), more "professional", and more bemused which is perhaps foreshadowed on "Time Out's" "Highlands." He (as Jack Frost)produced "L&T" and "MT" and I hope the trilogy(if there is one) is only two-thirds done. I also have to mention "Workingman's Blues #2". that's a beauty. "Modern Times" is going to win the Grammy for best album no doubt about it.
17 - joe romby
Oh yeah! The 4-song video is very entertaining too. This guy is having a good time doing his Charlie Chaplin/Vincent Price act. Seeing him sing to the camera on "Things Have Changed" just cracks me up.
18 - Glen Boyd
Joe,
I actually wanted to mention "Workingmans Blues #2" but edited it out when I was doing my final edits on the piece. Of all the tracks on "Modern Times" is the one that sticks out as being the most political. The lines about "the buyin power of the proletariat gone down" and "they say low wages are a reality if we want to compete abroad" are just priceless.
I agree wholeheartedly on your Grammy prediction by the way...though I think that Johnny Cash's "American V" may give it a bit of a run for the prize.
Thanx for the comment Joe.
-Glen
19 - Joe
Well I guess ya nailed that didnt ya Glenzo?
20 - Glen Boyd
I absolutely love this album Joe. I really do,
-Glen
21 - Vern Halen
I don't know if Dylan ever found relgion EVER, if you take my meaning. I think he's always realized it was always out there, permeating our society like literary professor & critic Northrop Frye suggested in many a book on symbolism and literature ( re: The Great Code in particular). In these trying, so-called post modern times, it would be odd that an artist of Dylan's calibre ignored the connection between the biblical apocalypse and the perception of events currently playing themselves out on the world stage.
22 - Glen Boyd
Agreed Vern. In a weird sort of way, absolutely agreed. But listen to this record, and you tell me what you think...
-Glen
23 - Juice
I love the album and DVD. I am going 11/16 to see him for my first time and my seat is great and I am so looking forward to the whole experience. I feel like a kid again. Scorcese docu sold me on him. My feelings as with all of us love has messed up Bob Dylan through his own actions probably. He seems sad, lost and thinking about what does come next. Heaven. Whatever he may think he has done "wrong" if sorry..God is all merciful and forgives him. He has nothing to worry about he has given of himself to us all. He is truly a genius.
Your article..dynamite! Thanx
24 - Glen Boyd
I'll be in the tenth row here in Seattle on 10/13 Juice.
Not the first time for me though. Thanx again for the comment.
-Glen