Soi Disantra: SD Hall of Fame: Bob Dylan, Desire

April 18, 2006

SD Hall of Fame: Bob Dylan, Desire

(Yes, I know this is supposed to be a Friday feature, but whatever. Maybe there will be another one on Friday, and maybe it will even be a MZ choice.) After enshrining a couple of '90s favorites into the HOF I figured it was time to turn back the clock for a more predictable classic. But not necessarily the most predictable. Just because this is the first Dylan album going into the HOF doesn’t mean it’s my favorite, but that’s obvious. It is probably the most underrated, though. Well, Bringing It All Back Home is still the most underrated, if only because it boggles my mind how anyone can think that’s not one of the five greatest albums ever, but that’s not what we’re talking about now. (Want a quick top five underrated? OK, since you asked so nicely. In order: BIABH, Desire, Another Side, New Morning, Time Out of Mind. Top five overrated? Sure. Blood on the Tracks, Empire Burlesque, Blonde on Blonde, Infidels, Love and Theft.) Desire is certainly my favorite non-’60s Dylan album. I’ve never ever never nerver nevernever nnnnever understood how people liked Blood on the Tracks better than this one. And it’s not just because of that pretty wretched 1975 production on BOTT. I’ve got all those BOTT outtakes/alternate version bootlegs (duh) and the material on Desire is just better. Dylan in narrative mode, which is pretty sweet. It’s got that really warm and fuzzy sound that makes everything feel really alive – when I was first becoming obsessed with Tanglewood Numbers this was the album that kept coming to mind. I think I explained it a bit in here. Well, I don’t think I explained anything just “a bit” in there. But yeah, a sort of rebirth, recreation, didn’t think he still had it in him sort of thing. Not to mention some amazing female backing vocals. What are the best songs? Let’s find out.

1. Isis – It doesn’t get much better than this right there. Well, it does get better on the live versions from the Rolling Thunder tour. But this is about as perfect as they come. It follows my general rule of a seven minute (or longer) song – especially one with only one real “part” – in that it must tell a story so as to keep the listener engaged. Great violin, great vocal take, great everything. I said “Farmer’s Hotel” reminded me specifically of this one, but you know what? There. I had to end that sentence because that song can’t be mentioned in the same sentence as this one.

2. Romance in Durango – I think – no, I know – this ranking is heavily influenced by the raucous versions from the Rolling Thunder Tour. Man do they tear things up on the chorus there. But that makes the recorded version a great companion piece. Maybe I just like the songs about walking around in foreign lands. And how can you not love Bob singing in Spanish? And to tie in the Joos again, I’ve gone on record many times saying that Cassie’s backing vocals are one of the highlights of the album, and that dynamic is done to perfection here with Emmylou.

3. Hurricane – Even cooler than Bob singing in Spanish? Bob cursing. I’m pretty sure this is the only song from an official album in which he does so, and he gives us a “shit,” “ass” and “nigger.” Sweet. It didn’t make me want to see the movie, though. Here’s what MZ wrote to me today about Pollock, which she just watched: “It was okay – good acting but pretty pointless.” In that sentence, she summed up my feeling on biopics. But the song still slays.

4. Black Diamond Bay – Yes, yes, I like all the long ones best. Well, except for the longest. It’s just the greatest sound imaginable, so why should I want it to end? People really like BOTT better?! Well, I guess I’m one of the few who would rather hear extended fictional tales that take place in foreign lands as opposed to ultra-personal tales of love and love lost. And that’s why you won’t see “Sara” in the top five here.

5. Mozambique – It’s the “Animal Shapes” of this album or something. A silly but plenty charming little song with wonderful female co-vocals. Great wordplay. Does it deserve to be here over “Sara”? Well, I’ll usually go for silly over sincere.

Worst Song – Joey
Duh. I think I’ve listened to this whole song a grand total of once. Just unnecessary and almost bad enough to keep this album from enshrinement. Well, not really. But this song really does suck.

--DM--

April 18, 2006 | Permalink

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April 18, 2006

SD Hall of Fame: Bob Dylan, Desire

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