Together Through Life/Bob Dylan, Columbia, Release date: April 28, 2009
If you pre-ordered the Bob Dylan album from his website, which I know you did, it arrived today. With it comes a little poster, a reproduction of the famous 1965 Columbia advert that proclaims, “Nobody Sings Dylan Like Dylan.”
No shit.
In the nearly 45 years since Columbia first thought to apologize for Dylan’s voice, the man has rasped, choked and wheezed his way into history as, without question, the greatest songwriter who ever lived. He’s still on Columbia, and apparently they still feel compelled to remind us that although not necessarily pretty, his voice is indeed singular. I’d like to think it was Bob’s idea to include the old promo poster with his latest triumph, Together Through Life. It would certainly fit the wicked humor and sly innuendo that runs through these songs.
In case you haven’t noticed, the Bard (who turns 68 next month), is on a pretty good run. His last three studio albums, Time Out Of Mind, Love & Theft and Modern Times were all critically acclaimed and sold respectably. Together Through Life keeps the streak alive, and at least on first listen, appears to be the most readily accessible of any of the previous three.
Dylan continues to channel the roadhouse rocker that has carried him through studios and stages over the past decade. A true-blooded, full-fledged American Original, every bit as genuine as Robert Johnson, Jimmie Rodgers, Muddy Waters or Hank Williams.
Dylan has always worn his influences on his sleeve, secure enough now to include a disc of the music he loves with this package (a bonus disc featuring one of his Theme Time Radio Hour Show he hosts for satellite radio). Now, as a seasoned veteran of the road, with hundreds and hundreds of published gems, he stands shoulder to shoulder with the greats, and , one could argue, seems to have even surpassed them. Yes, you can say that now. After nearly 50 years of performing, Bob Dylan has taken up the mantle of the single most influential, and without doubt, the greatest recording artist in history. No argument. The proof is right here in the digital code of this CD. Go ahead, listen.
From the opening twang and trumpet of “Beyond Here Lies Nothing” all the way through to the chortling, “It’s All Good,” Bob and his brigand band (including Los Lobos’ Richard Hildago as well as his touring band’s rhythm section) tear through a lively set of devilishly good barroom rock and roll. Barroom rock with the literate touch of Dylan as well as the lighthearted flair of collaborrative lyricist, Robert Hunter (of Grateful Dead fame). The 10 songs here would do just fine in any Shamrock, Texas jukebox, and they prove once and for all that Columbia ain’t lying, nobody sings Dylan like Dylan.
