For any Bob Dylan fan, you could lose yourself within the utterly brilliant words on his 39th studio album, it’s amazing to hear it all in new music. While not only does ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ offer so much for the die hard fans, there is some cool swagger blues that all can enjoy and Dylan doesn’t sound all that bad vocally!
‘I contain Multitudes’ starts the album off and the title is a reference to the universally, self reflect poem by Walter Whiteman called ‘Song of Myself’. Dylan has said that he was in a trance like state for this one, simply commenting on his own identity, both the good and bad. It’s a perfect opener for his newest release, especially as it references a fellow winner of a certain prize.....does seem a comment about his Nobel prize in literature.
It’s so fascinating to listen to the fresh, interesting thoughts of one of the geniuses of the 20th century, especially with such a swagger in the bluesy ‘False Prophet. It contains song references from Richey Nelson and Janis Joplin and based around how Bob Dylan doesn’t seem to think that all the tributes, for acclaimed artists who have passed away, are not needed. He views that their amazing work and impact should just be respected and let that live long in the memory (he referenced Little Richard in an interview when discussing the song and the impact he had on his younger self).
‘My Own Version of You’ is a fascinating concept and has such a cool rhythm to it! Here Dylan is culturally referencing some of the coolest actors in Pacino and Brando, due to wanting to create a new version of someone with different body parts, he’s gone all Dr Frankenstein here!!!
You wouldn’t be wrong that there are recurring aspects of ideas musically on this record, however the subtle changes are brilliantly done. For instance the waltz number called ‘I’ve Made up My Mind to Give Myself to You’ may seem like a normal romantic ode to someone, when in fact it’s actually about giving yourself up to eternity.
His takes on the world will always be something worth knowing and ‘Black Rider’ was a song that stood out for me in that sense. With some subtle guitar playing and filled with biblical references, its sparked debate as it could be about death or Donald Trump, or both?
The stand out lyric for me to suggest it’s meaning, is a reference to the prophet Issac from the bible. ‘Better seal up your lips if you wanna stay in the game’ is referring to an angel who seals up the prophets mouth with burning coal...I wonder who he wants that to happen too? Also the lyric about who cares about the size of your cock, amazing.
‘Goodbye Jimmy Reed’ is classic Dylan and it may make you just want to listen to ‘Groom’s Still Waiting At The Alter’, but who didn’t go nuts when that harmonica came in? ‘Mother of Muses’ focuses more on the lyrics again and my god, it’s fascinating! There’s some lovely guitar picking and strings going on as Dylan is summoning the muse of poetry, Calliope.
You are just taken aback by the rhyming couplets throughout the album and the wordsmith that Bob Dylan is, it’s utterly brilliant and the following track shows that off. ‘Crossing the Rubicon’ is a steadier blues track that is about the unlikely 14th day. Despite the song track named after Romans crossing the Rubicon not having a link to the number, there’s nods to the following events related to the 14th day: the Black Sunday Dust Storm in 1935, Titanic sinking on the 14th March and Lincoln’s assassination on 14th April 1865.
The album finishes with the end of side a, Key West’, which is about the island (off the coast of Florida) where a lot of celebrities live or visit, again his way of words shine here. Then with only track on side b, ‘Murder Most Foul’, the song we all know about JFK, finishes after 10 minutes.
It’s a delight and honour to have new Bob Dylan music, something that a few thought would never happen again. It offers everything that we all admire and adore from the songwriter and it most definitely not disappoint.
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