The first rumors of a distant portent in Northern sky were the ‘exclusive’ previews that started appearing in the ‘serious’ music press, the ‘chosen ones’ were allowed a ‘behind closed doors’ listen. Thus they spoke in hushed reverence: they spoke of primeval blues, of the spirit of ancient Chess records, of the dust and romance of Mexican Cantinas, of ravishing dark skinned women with roses in their teeth and tequila in their glass. The rumor mill fed the multitude, and some among them, impatient for the word, tapped at their keyboards like priapic woodpeckers on crystal meth: fearless and true, they blogged their prophecies deep into the night. And lo, it came to pass, sorry. And lo, it came to Amazon, and across the land it travelled, and it was hailed as both divine and sublime… it was the new Bob Dylan album.
Initially the omens were good, the Independent’s great music critic Andy Gill quoted these lyrics: "I’ve got the blood of the lambs in my voice" in his review. This bodes well it was thought; perhaps this is ‘old testament’ Bob. Some wondered aloud: “Bob, these lambs of which you speak; are they lambs of sacrifice or lambs of silence?” Oh! They are the lambs of typographical error. I see: it’s the ‘blood of the land’ that you’ve got in your voice. And with that revelation the only interesting couplet on the record melted in to thin air and this insubstantial pageant was revealed.
Dylan fans of a nervous disposition look away now. Together Through Life is the worst Bob Dylan record of this century, and it's in the all time top three worst Bob Dylan albums of all time. (I knew you’d ask, and without going all Hi Fidelity anorak, the other two are Down In the Groove and Dylan) As no thunderbolt has yet struck, I’ll try to justify my attempt to burst the bubble of bullshit that hangs over this album. Firstly let me confirm membership to the ‘Bob Dylan is the greatest songwriter and cultural icon on the planet ‘ club. However, great as I think Bob Dylan is, I cannot believe what I have seen written about this truly mundane album. It seems that Bob has moved to a place that not only puts him above any criticism, but where he is now revered as some sort of cultural totem, and to throw harsh criticism at him is to risk the total collapse of the entire cultural edifice.
Article comments
1 - Duane Barlow
Great review, thank you!
2 - michael
Bad Dylan records have a habit of sounding a whole lot better years later in the context of what else was around at the time.... I think your comments whilst valid maybe say more about you than Dylan
3 - Bill
You're right. "Together through life" is a disaster. It really stinks. And I,too, am a lifer when it comes to my appreciation for Mr. Dylan and his contributions to pop music. He's #1.
4 - Thad Williamson
maybe just a little harsh, an over-reaction to what I agree have been inexplicably positive reviews. Unlike Down in the Groove, however, this is listenable. (And "Dylan" I don't think was so bad at all if you understood it for what it was, a bunch of outtakes thrown together by the record company to fulfill a contract. I think "Knocked Out Loaded" is a better choice for the worst 3 Dylan records.)
I do take issue with the put-down of "It's All Good." No it's not a great song but it's not bad and is fairly entertaining.
Given that the lyrics are generally uninspiring and uninteresting (Robert Hunter being the thread connecting this with DITG), what's more disappointing is that the music--not just the melody, but the arrangement--is just so dull. The accordion on "if you ever go to houston" plays the same thing over and over the whole song, no variation, plus it's mixed to loud and drowns out the vocal.
I have hope that some of these songs will sound okay in concert. It has happened before with Dylan. Plus, the Theme Time Radio Hour and the video interview on the deluxe package are both pretty sweet.
Overall though, a disappointment.
5 - Nigel Simons
An unbalanced love of Brownsville Girl saved it from that top 3, but a good point, and I nearly put Knocked Out in there in spite of BG.
All the comments to this piece have been fair and measured, which is not what you would expect for a negative Dylan review. I just found it interesting that non of the many rabid Dylan fans I know thought it as good as promised by the reviews, and were mostly disappointed.
I just hope no new Dylan fans buy this number one album with the awesome reviews and wonder what all the fuss is bout, and miss out on the greatest body of work in popular music.
I'd also argue that any artist has highs and lows in their work, and one gives a perspective on the other. Even the bard wrote a few plays that are not that well thought of, which leads to Timeon adds to the genius of Lear type arguments.
Its when the lows are celebrated more than the highs that I start to get a bit worried that all perspective is lost.
Now, how long to wait for the next one?
6 - jay
The man has seriously lost his mojo. Perhaps he should treat his wife better.
7 - jonnyra
I find the album quite good. You can trash it all you want...your choice. I have been a lifelong Dylan fan and while I would not rank with his greats (you know the list) to trash TTL like this is just childish. I listen, I groove and I listen again. And will keep doing that for a while me thinks.
8 - michael
Look , it's not Highway 61 but it's not that bad,in fact I don't agree at all that it's in his worst three (if there ever was a worst three) ....the guy's 68 years old and he's just scored a No 1 ....we're not going to see the likes of him again and when everything's tallied up 50 years from now everyone who made these derogatory comments are going to be doing their best to deny it...by the way my fav Dylan albums are jwh ,Street Legal and infidels...I know they're not his best albums but theyre the ones I'd crawl across cut glass for
9 - Garry
I thought it must have been just my wife and I being out of synchronicity with the rest of the world, listening perhaps through "knowing" Dylan super-fan superior ears. I too am worried that Bob might believe the reviews and he will have no direction home for his next album