Customer Rating:  
Summary: I'll explain below ...
Comment: Actually, about 3 1/2 stars.
But I attended a gazillion live performances in 2007 (and a few more in 2008)- from Pittsburgh to Hershey, Baltimore, Atlantic City, Rhode Island, Ohio, Chicago, Interlochen- and the recent, post-2001 material was well-done live, leaving its studio counterparts sounding relatively muddy and muted.
So I would suggest that one try to secure some of these live recordings, widely accessible via the Web.
Customer Rating:
Summary: ROSEMARIE'S REVIEW OF MODERN TIMES
Comment: Really enjoyed this CD of Bob Dylan's.No wonder it is considered his best. If you want to try Bob's music, try this one and you will be happy you did.
The service was amazing and very fast.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Amazed, amazing
Comment: I don't think I listened to Dylan since college ("young Dylan") and picked Modern Times up just for fun ("old Dylan"). At first the changes in his voice shocked me - Tom Waites meets Leon Redbone.
But the tunes were so engaging and the band so good that the voice seemed to fit perfectly after a couple of listens. Wonderful songs from an accomplished writer.
90% of my music is classical so it's a pleasant surprise that I like this disk as much as I do. Wish all 'legends' could be this entertaining.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Is It Worth Buying - Yes!
Comment: I love this CD and listen to it often. The arrangements are wonderful. The voice may be grating to some, so check out the CD before you buy it. If you can get past the voice, you may love it too. Beyond the Horizon is one of my favorites.
Customer Rating:
Summary: may lead to violent behavior if forced to listen
Comment: There should be a warning sticker placed on this cd- may lead to violent behavior if forced to listen! I consider myself a very mellow & easy going guy but having the displeasure of hearing this for 2 agonizing hours (they played it twice) at a local bar while shooting pool with friends, after the first 3 tracks I was getting irritated, I couldnt concentrate & was making bad shots, after a 1/2 hour I was beginning to growl and was losing badly (which was unlike me), by the end of the last track me & my friend Mike were plotting to kill the bartender, and when they decided to play the whole frickin' thing over (they wondered why so many people were leaving) I was in such a rage I would have strangled a puppy.
I'm really at a loss to why this is so highly praised. Bob has never been a great vocalist (I don't care what people say about his emotion & phrasing) but he was at least listenable in his "Nashville Skyline"/"Knockin on Heavens Door" period. Now he just sounds worse, like an old man on his deathbed. I generally wouldn't advocate euthanasia but I might make an exception in Bob's case. This wouldn't be so bad if the music itself was worthwhile. Someone here described the music as not blues, not folk, not country, definately not rock & roll, but lounge music- and I'd have to agree. This is very bland sounding, lacking any musical punch or emotion, the band is way too laid back, merely in the background noodling while Bob goes on & on & on. There's really no noticeble difference in any of these tracks as far as tempo change goes. It's all very maudlin and trite.
I've liked a lot of things by Bob over the years, he's a legend who has written so many great songs it's a wonder how he does it. I enjoyed "Time Out of Mind" although I wouldnt call it great. But "Modern Times" is a bad album, I dont understand the people who think it's something brilliant. A lot of them are probably old hippies who have warped their minds from too many acid trips. I thought "Knocked Out Loaded" was more enjoyable than this, and that was widely panned by critics when it came out. It makes me wonder- if Bob had recorded "Modern Times" as a duet with Yoko Ono would people still praise it?
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