Dylan's Return To Form (Time Out Of Mind - Bob Dylan)

Member Name: nilo0901

Product:	Time Out Of Mind - Bob Dylan
Date:	10/11/09 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some of Dylan's best songwriting, interesting production

Disadvantages: A little dark perhaps for some

Time Out Of Mind sees an emphatic return to form from Dylan after years spent in the wilderness and many mediocre albums behind him throughout the 80's. Released in 1997 this is a true testimonial of a grumpy old man who has reached the twighlight of his years and is confused about where he is and what he has become.

Lyrically, I think this is one of Dylan's strongest albums, not just of his latter day career, but of all time. He has become much more focused in his writing and has lost some of the more cryptic writing of his earlier material. I know some regard it as a sin to ay, but I quite like understanding what he's writing about. Don't get me wrong, the Dylanisms and the poetic vision is still here but has been channelled. This is an album of resignation and bitterness and some may struggle with this.

The production is dark and very moody. Dylan previously worked with producer Daniel Lanois on Oh Mercy but I think this is altogether a better collection. This album is dark, mysterious, rare and gritty and this only compliments the songs and their subject matter.

Standouts include 'Not Dark Yet' that has been likened by some to the work of Keats. I wouldn't go that far but it is a wordy masterpiece that stands tall alongside his best. This is a man coming to terms with his life and as such few of these songs are 'happy', least of all 'Not Dark Yet' as the title would suggest. 'It's not dark yet, but it's getting there...'. Here's a man looking both backwards and forwards to the inevitable and hitting it face-on. The song displays a personal honesty rarely seen since 'Blood On The Tracks'.

'Standing In The Doorway Crying' and 'Love Sick' are heartbreakingly honest accounts of lost love whereas 'Make You Feel My Love' is the rare occasion where this album is full of hope. It's a song about winning a lover over that is straight and to the point. Some may know it from the Adele cover but Dylan brings a certain gruffness in comparison to her sweeter version that gives it more potency.

This album paved the way for the Dylan comeback throughout the late 90's and 00's. In my view he has never reached this pinnacle of songwriting since which comes as a great disappointment. Perhaps we should remember this as Dylan's swan song assuming he does not reach these heady heights again.

Summary: A Great Addition To Any Record Collection