Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I generally prefer acoustic Dylan. But - Desire is probably the album I listen to the most. edit: I would say that Desire is really acoustic record. I consider any record with no electric guitars to be acoustic.Additionally...Desire kicks major ass.I must say that Oh Mercy has really grown on me over the last two years. The Lanois production really fits that set of songs. +++ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Nice catch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Gym Teacher Man Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 edit: I would say that Desire is really acoustic record. I consider any record with no electric guitars to be acoustic.Additionally...Desire kicks major ass.I must say that Oh Mercy has really grown on me over the last two years. The Lanois production really fits that set of songs. +++ I guess I'll be giving Desire a few good listenings soon. It's always been boring to me. Haven't tried it in quite some time though. I also really enjoy Oh Mercy. It's not top-tier for me, but still a fucking great album. I loved Dylan's writings in Chronicles about the experience of recording that album. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I dont like Desire. Never have. Dont like the female vocals or the strings. I never listen to it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I dont like Desire. Never have. Dont like the female vocals or the strings. I never listen to it. To me, it is a picture perfect post card of 1976. Born to Run, Desire...all about time and place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Central Scrutinizer Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 To me, it is a picture perfect post card of 1976. Born to Run, Desire...all about time and place.I think that's key. While you can go back into artists' catalogs, there are experiences tied with the time of their release that gives currency -- whether esoteric or not -- over the direct judgment of the music itself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmait Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 >I loved Dylan's writings in Chronicles about the experience of recording that album. That whole section on New Orleans is my favorite part of the book. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigideas Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Like Pearl Jam fans liking No Code the best . That's interesting. I don't think I cared for it much when it first came out, but years down the line I came to like No Code the best and feel it's the best 'album' of their's. I never got the last one or Binaural. The one in between was hit and miss for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I think that's key. While you can go back into artists' catalogs, there are experiences tied with the time of their release that gives currency -- whether esoteric or not -- over the direct judgment of the music itself. Nothing exists in a vacuum. We all bring a set of baggage to the table. However, I do believe that quality is somewhat immutable. My 14-year old son is a prime example. He is exploring my cd/record collection and arriving at certain clear opinions that have nothing to do with the original expectations and baggage that these recordings had at the time of their release. He devoured Born to Run. Was he influenced by the fact that his dad (me) is a Bruce Tramp? Dunno. But one must assume that there some enduring quality to records/cds/albums that are perennially favorites. Are his opinions devoid of the cultural baggage of an artist any more or less valid than mine rife with this baggage? And if his opinions are similar to mine? MattZ doesn't like Desire...I do. I can see where he's coming from...the Ronee Blakely and Emmy Lou Harris backing/harmony vocals are pretty distinct and can be offputting. It's such a curveball that I love it. It's an interesting world filled with all kinds of people with differing opinions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 One of the reasons Desire sounds the way it does is due to the fact it was pretty much done in one night. Emmy Lou Harris did not even know what was going on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Central Scrutinizer Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Nothing exists in a vacuum. We all bring a set of baggage to the table. However, I do believe that quality is somewhat immutable. My 14-year old son is a prime example. He is exploring my cd/record collection and arriving at certain clear opinions that have nothing to do with the original expectations and baggage that these recordings had at the time of their release. He devoured Born to Run. Was he influenced by the fact that his dad (me) is a Bruce Tramp? Dunno. But one must assume that there some enduring quality to records/cds/albums that are perennially favorites. Are his opinions devoid of the cultural baggage of an artist any more or less valid than mine rife with this baggage? And if his opinions are similar to mine? MattZ doesn't like Desire...I do. I can see where he's coming from...the Ronee Blakely and Emmy Lou Harris backing/harmony vocals are pretty distinct and can be offputting. It's such a curveball that I love it. It's an interesting world filled with all kinds of people with differing opinions.Agreed, my point is, as quality is in the eye/ear of the beholder, each one of this who wades in far enough feels the pull of the depths of "quality" that's out there. Even if you tether yourself to one particular artist, there are waves of creativity, experimentation and emotion that buffet their work that while quality permeates, we look for what resuscitates us, and that's what we tie to experience, our own reflection on art and how we internalize it. And, like meeting up on the shore, you gather with others and recount your experiences, learn from them, and get ready to get pulled under again. As far as your son -- I have two kids 17 and 12 -- and the short answer is "yes." Your impact on his tastes are huge, as an offspring grows and embraces, then dispels and seeks his/her own influences. He couldn't have grown in a vacuum, and what he has assimilated from what you have listened to helps form his tastes, and he is all the better for it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Nothing exists in a vacuum. We all bring a set of baggage to the table. However, I do believe that quality is somewhat immutable. My 14-year old son is a prime example. He is exploring my cd/record collection and arriving at certain clear opinions that have nothing to do with the original expectations and baggage that these recordings had at the time of their release. He devoured Born to Run. Was he influenced by the fact that his dad (me) is a Bruce Tramp? Dunno. But one must assume that there some enduring quality to records/cds/albums that are perennially favorites. Are his opinions devoid of the cultural baggage of an artist any more or less valid than mine rife with this baggage? And if his opinions are similar to mine? MattZ doesn't like Desire...I do. I can see where he's coming from...the Ronee Blakely and Emmy Lou Harris backing/harmony vocals are pretty distinct and can be offputting. It's such a curveball that I love it. It's an interesting world filled with all kinds of people with differing opinions. Exactly. It is very interesting. You do like Desire and I can see where you are coming from, too. I didnt mean to state my opinion as an absolute, just to respond to someone else wondering if they are the only person that didn't like Desire. I love Dylan to pieces, but I just never could get into Desire. I was born in 1975, so it is very possible that I can't relate to the time/place aspects of that album, and that if I could, I might feel differently. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Central Scrutinizer Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 One of the reasons Desire sounds the way it does is due to the fact it was pretty much done in one night. Emmy Lou Harris did not even know what was going on.There's all sort of way to bottle "quality." For some it's catching a glowing firefly in a jar. For others, it's brewing the mixture before corking it up, others it's distilling, others it's smashing a variety of influences and fermenting the results. I didnt mean to state my opinion as an absolute.Nor did I. Anyone who attempts to deal in absolutes regarding tastes in art would need a jacket with extra long sleeves. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I very much like the female backing vocals and the strings on Desire and think it's a unique album in his catalog the way New Morning is with some of the lyrics and musical arrangements. However, I've listened to it so much the past 25 years or so that I'm a little fried on it. I listened to it a few days ago on the way to work and had to ff through "Hurricane" and 1-2 others. OTOH, I also grasped a new appreciation for "Black Diamond Bay," so go figure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmait Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 >My 14-year old son is a prime example. He is exploring my cd/record collection We're not too far away from a time when our kids will click through our mp3 collections, without LPs, cds, etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
isadorah Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I very much like the female backing vocals and the strings on Desire and think it's a unique album in his catalog the way New Morning is with some of the lyrics and musical arrangements. That' EmmyLou Harris singing back up on the album. i always have to skip the chili pepper song. it's like nails on a chalkboard for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 That' EmmyLou Harris singing back up on the album. i always have to skip the chili pepper song. it's like nails on a chalkboard for me.Right, but I think Emmylou shares the vocals with another chick, though. Great opening line on "Romance in Durango, " I think. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Right, but I think Emmylou shares the vocals with another chick, though. Great opening line on "Romance in Durango, " I think. Ronee Blakely... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 >My 14-year old son is a prime example. He is exploring my cd/record collection We're not too far away from a time when our kids will click through our mp3 collections, without LPs, cds, etc. I was amazed to hear him shouting/singing along to LOnesome Day the other day as it blared from the iPod speaker set up he has in his bedroom. Then he followed that with Search and Destroy, Something by Avenged Sevenfold and Death or Glory. (Had to have a little talk about the last one with him...we don't need to be playing that one when Downtown is in the house ) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Speaking of acoustic Dylan songs: Farewell Angelina And, a great version by Joan Baez - Farewell Angelina Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anthony Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I have to admit I love Desire - even I was late to the party. Didn't buy the record until I decade after I bought my first Dylan record. ... quick aside: I distinctly remember buying my first Dylan record(s) in 1990 +/-. I was at Target one day and they had his whole catalog on CD on sale for like 9 bucks. Picked up Hwy 61, Nashville Skyline & Bringing It All Back Home. Hooked ever since ... Anyway, ... I think I like it becasue of the backing vocals - a new and fresh sound for Bob. There is a live recording of me and the wife at an Open Mic dueting on Oh, Sister. Sweet. Isis is so good, and love Durango. To each his own, I suppose. I was just tarred and feathered in another thread for suggesting Day of the Locust was no good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Sara must be one of the most straight forward personal songs that be ever put out there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 i like the songs on Desire, but its the muddy mix that puts me off a bit... considerring BOTT is my favourite of his albums farewell angelina is great!. its funny how he leaves some of his best tunes off the albums Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Sara must be one of the most straight forward personal songs that be ever put out there.No kidding. Wasn't Bob and Sara split up at the time? I seem to recall a story that she was in the studio hanging out for some reason when that song was recorded. That must have been heavy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 here's the infamous burp from Hard to Handle! (40 secs in) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zNuKi426nE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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