Perhaps most noticeable on this album is playfulness in music as it is overall a pretty lighthearted album that is a lot of fun to listen to. “Bob Dylan's 115th Dream” is probably the funniest with its odd, surreal dream of a story set to a dancing roots rock beat. It's a random collection of images that might be unapproachable to some, but the song's absurdity is what makes it charming and makes for some very honest social commentary or just a funny dream song depending on how you want to look at it.
The album does have a folk side as well with “Mr. Tambourine Man” as one of Dylan's folk classics that could have easily been lifted from one of his previous albums. My favorite track though, (if I have to choose just one) is “Gates of Eden.” A simple folk song with supremely symbolic lyrics, it has a unique feel that is rustic and authentic but also sad and full of wisdom. It is a stark contrast to the fun of the rock tracks of the album and a different feel than any of Dylan's other folk work with hints of “Masters of War” without the anger, mysticism and songs like “All Along the Watchtower,” which would come two years later.
I wasn't around back in 1965 when this album was first released so I can't really relate to why there was such a backlash against it initially. Now, Bob Dylan's career spans multiple genres and I knew that when I first started listening to his music so I wasn't shocked when I heard rock tracks or influences in one of his albums. Personally, I like when an artist or band evolves throughout their career. It shows their changing influences and creates snapshots of particular moments within their songs. I don't see as much of a dramatic departure from Dylan's previous writing in these songs as some might suggest.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
Good write-up. Welcome to the carnival.
2 - Lono
This is classic Dylan, way before he went weird in my estimation. Oh yes, there is electric... but it complements the music perfectly. Just like Blonde on Blonde... a masterpiece.
So when did get weird and lose me? Just after this time. Right around here Dylan had the very serious motorcycle accident, grew a terrible beard, and found god. Frankly, everything changed after those events (prioritize them as you will). Ah yes, these were great times for Dylan. Good review, glad to see someone is giving early Dylan some visibility besides me.
3 - Lono
I'll tell you what happened on that road in Woodstock on 1965. Remember how they said that Paul McCartney was killed in a car accident and the band hired an actor to play Paul going forward?
you see where I am going with this. Take a look at pre and post 1965 Dylan. Then, take a listen. Outside of the disgustingly perfect masterpiece 'Blood on the Tracks' in '74... I never saw or heard the Bob Dylan I fell in love with after 1965.
Yes yes yes, you will all say 'aren't artists allowed to grow and change? Well, I say no. Not at the rate Dylan did. That was some crazy overnight shit that happened. I think the motorcycle accident totally and completely frazzled him to the core. He was never the same, especially since they hired that actor to replace him. ha ha.
4 - Pete
I first heard Dylan in 1962, as I recall, although when I first heard him and saw him he was performing under the name of Blind Roy Gunt. I have been a major fan ever since. I moved to London a year later and it seemed that Dylan was more popular there than he was in America. I recalled quite well when "Bringing It All Back Home" came out and as I remembered it, except for a few hard-core folkies, the album was universally praised and accepted on the U.S. side of the Atlantic. Most of the negative criticism came from the other side of the pond.