Bob Dylan's Modern Times: A Contradiction of Titles for a Fabulous Classic Sound

Bob Dylan's Modern Times is a contradiction. It's not a modern piece of work. It's a classic album, rock for an earlier era that never goes out of style. A bit of blues, a bit rock, a bit ballad… it is an album that is new and yet familiar all at once.

Ten new songs on the Modern Times album showcase Dylan's musical abilities to go from one 'style' to the next without ever really leaving his blues-rock roots behind. Music and lyrics written by Dylan, he also plays guitar, harmonica, and piano on the album. Each song differs from the previous but with his laid-back sound carrying through.

While his guitar, harmonica, and piano sound is still as strong as ever, there are a few songs where Dylan's age hinders the vocals. His husky sound is perfect on some of the blues tunes but the more 'rock' sound is lost, like a fine wine - mellow with age but still full bodied. Nonetheless, this is a fine album of enjoyable music - the toe tapping head nodding sort.

Rollin' and Tumblin' is the sort of rock and roll Johnny Cash would have enjoyed, while Thunder on the Mountain suffers slightly with the vocals but is still a strong musical piece. Someday Baby has a fabulous guitar solo that shows Dylan's playing hasn't diminished at all, moving along with a nice driving beat to it. Nettie Moore is a soulful tune for a lady, with acoustic guitar picked instead of strummed.

His bluesy pieces would not be out of place being performed on a corner café in New Orleans, and in fact, The Levee's Gonna Break does sound like a tribute to the Big Easy. Workin' Man's Blues #2 is just that, a tribute to the working man. It's the sort of song you want to hear playing on the jukebox after a long day while you nurse a cold beer. Spirit on the Water has a toe-tapping beat that shows Dylan still has soul.

Two pieces really stand out on this album. The first is 'Beyond the Horizon'. Strummed lightly, it's a beautiful love song that sounds as if it should be played on a dance floor in a bygone era. This is a song I would love to hear at my wedding, or an anniversary. It's a bright piece that will charm any listener.

The second song that really drew me in was Ain't Talkin'. It's a departure from every other song on the album. A dark mournful ballad with a weeping guitar, strings, and chimes in the distance. It invokes the mental image of the dark lone figure on the road and it leaves its' haunting melody in your brain long after the last notes fade. The husky quality to his voice is perfect for this sort of a song and it struck all the right chords.

Modern Times is a good album that runs the gambit of Bob Dylan's musical style. Fans will not be let down by the songs and those unfamiliar with his work will be pleased by the easy-listening and smooth texture to the songs. While some of the more traditional rock songs are slightly hindered by his voice, the blues-rock is where he really shines. Some of the songs seem to last a bit longer than they should in this era of twenty second sound-bites but they never drag to the point of tiring.

Soulful and still musical, Bob Dylan's latest effort is well received and a breath of fresh air when compared to most modern rock artists. In Spirit on the Water he sings 'I think I'm past my prime'. I have to disagree. Like fine whiskey, Dylan's mellow and smooth with age - going down nice and easy.