Expecting Rain

It's Thursday, you know what that means.....

i've deleted the death threats i got after forcing people to choose on Blood on the Tracks and JWH, so i'm ready for another batch

Time Out of Mind

because of the structural parallels between BoB and TooM, i think it's fitting to break this one down into sides for each disk. plus, i do think each one of these particular sides stand up pretty f'n well on their own.

Good luck! I've been contemplating this one since the first pole...there are some real challenges here if one is going after the big guns - they run counter to the cohesion approach.

There's such a oneness to TOOM, you really can't split it up. So I chose side 4.

Two..

as far as what he's been vocal about, stephen has scored 100% so far on his survey responses. congratulations stephen

most have been about 50/50 or 70/30, the normal curve persists!

It's ridiculously close between Side 2 and Side 3, I'm probably gonna have to go with Side 3 but it's a very, very close call.

I feel that way about sides on and two. Make You Feel My Love drags side three down for me. I'm leaning towards side one... the combination and sequence is too good to pass up.

Any fule kno iz side 1

'Not Dark Yet' is ModBob's single most overhyped song. It's pretty crap. "My sensitive manatee has gone down the drain"? Um, ok Bob..... "There's not even room enough to be anywhere"? What the x does that mean? Anyway, like most of TooM its a song made up of huskily grunted lines from other songs by other people, put to a tune thats also nicked off someone else or himself. It's not some grand epic, its just mood piece where the mood is melodramatic teenage/senile old bloke poetry about darkness and burdens and whirlpools and gayness.

At least Side 1 has 2 straightforward blues choons and 2 which are at least semi-original in their composition. The other sides don't. "Standing In The Doorway" is also the only classic on the album and the only song I'd keep if forced to shoot all but one track.

As for side 4, well Highlands is fine and dandy for 2-3 minutes tops, but a 12-bar blues that lasts for 37 hours? Piss off. It'd be the first to get a bullet.

Side 2

I wish!

I've only listened to Highlands about 2 times. For the most part, I don't get into Bob Dylan's epic's all that often. Sad Eyed Lady is my favorite easily

I bet you're a right laugh down the pub.

Whatever.... it's my number one wish to witness played live.

that explains benny's problem with the later cut and paste bob - he never got to the verse where bob announces his next leitmotif:

The sun is beginnin' to shine on me
But it's not like the sun that used to be
The party's over and there's less and less to say
I got new eyes, everything looks far away.

Ah, Bennyboy, you're so wrong here. Usually, your diatribes have solid backing and are good fun - but your appraisal of Not Dark Yet and Time Out Of Mind in general makes you sound either facile or senile. You get to choose which.

Many thanks.

Oh please. 'Not Dark Yet' is overblown, crybaby non-specific woe-is-me bollocks. Someimes my bourbon is more than I can bear.....

Coming from anyone but the multi-millionaire tramp who can basically do whatever the fuck he likes and get away with it because he's, you know, BOB DYLAN!, the song might have more credibility. I'd be far more inclined to believe him if he wrote a track called "Not Waking Up In This Luxury Bed In This Beachfront Apartment In Honolulu Until, Oooh, Mid Afternoon At The Earliest, Aaaah, Bring It On!".....

Dylan was 55 when he recorded the song. Its taking a fucking loooong time to get dark mate.

That one was just as shortsighted, though it was more entertaining, at least.

Always glad to please.

Never heard that. I like it though.

It's overhyped so I ignore the hype and take the song for what it is. The lyric is good, not brilliant, and it's a very stylish track done just fine. It definitely describes a state of mind that maybe not everybody has experienced.

There are a couple of live performances of Highlands from the 2001 leg in Australia... There is a loose feeling as the song unfolds that gives the feeling he's making it up on the fly as the band is playing along... it has a joyful, hilarious feeling about it and even though I know the song I find myself hanging on each line wondering what's coming next. Its wonderful! Curiously, it ends the same way every time.

(I believe Adelaide is the one I'm thinking of.)

Side 1 gets my vote. Not a bad tune in that bunch whereas side 2 has "Tryin' To Get To Heaven" and side 3 has "Make You Feel My Love." Can't pick side 4 simply because there has to be some variety.

right, and Martin Scorsese cannot direct a convincing violent movie because he's too friendly of a guy.

why do you like North Country Blues then?

It's a tough call between 2 and 3.

Side 1 is pretty good, but I don't like Dirt Road Blues, so that's out.
I've honestly never had the fortitude to listen to Side 4 from beginning to end, even when the CD is playing in the car. I've come close a few times, but I just can't do it.

Now, Side 2 has my two favorite tracks on the album, Trying to Get to Heaven and Not Dark Yet...But 'Till I Fell in Love with You, while not bad, is kind of forgettable.
I love everything on Side 3, but I don't know if I love them enough to give it the edge over 2.

It must be a curse to be alive at the same times as one of the best artists ever and not being able to like his work. I can't even imagine what it would feel like. I guess you've not witnessed or heard last fall's Hannover version.... heartbreakingly beautiful.