Monday, August 06, 2007

Blonde on Blonde (1966)

"Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" Shortly after release of this a motorcycle accident demonstrated that Bob Dylan, contrary to all evidence indicating otherwise (then and now, come to think of it), was actually a frail mortal like the rest of us. I consider this uneven and a little rickety, mostly I think because my distaste for "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" casts a long shadow over all that follows. Get over it, JPK. A new lushness of emotional depth/access is brought off with a stunning blend of country and blues feel. You can play this one over and over, days on end. The second side of the original package – "I Want You," "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again," "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat," and "Just Like a Woman" – is one of the great rock sides. So is the above-mentioned "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands," even if it's a bit of a cheat at 11:19. But that's not the point. Why do you have to make it so complicated, JPK? This is one of the greats.

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