Bravo! TOOM is a bit of an obsession with me, and you do justice to its dark majesty in this deep meditation, Matthew. I like the lead-in with "Lone Pilgrim," as if the TOOM walker hasn't just been traveling for miles but for centuries, millennia, since our first amphibious ancestor crawled out of the primordial ooze, or Cain drew first blood and got his walking papers to the Land of Nod. Thanks for getting my mystical weather vane spinning with this excellent post, Matthew!
Thank you, Graley. I appreciate your kind words. I found Dreams and Dialogues in Dylans "Time Out of Mind" so interesting and thought provoking and it was on my mind when writing this piece.
TOOM is absolutely one of my top 4 Bob albums and possibly the one I’ve listened to the most. Additionally the outtakes/alternate versions of TOOM from the Bootleg Series are among the best in that amazing collection. “Mississippi” is one of Bob’s best and I can’t imagine how much I would’ve loved TOOM if it had been included on the CD at the time. As it were, it stayed in my truck for months in the CD player and at times I would listen to “Highlands” over and over. The author is correct, Bob is a blues singer, picking up the mantle of Charley Patton, Son House and Robert Johnson. Great article, I look forward to more and I will search out your book on Bob. Thanks!
Thanks, Paul - glad you enjoyed it and hope you enjoy the book, too, if you get a copy! So glad that Bob went back to Mississippi for "Love and Theft".
TOOM has long been one of my favorite Dylan albums, if not my favorite, as Blood On the Tracks is a bit worn out for me these days. You’ve really captured its essence here while reminding us that he can still craft a song as well. Not Dark Yet is IMO one of his greatest and I’m so glad to see the appreciation for Make You Feel My Love. Many so called fans are too cool to give it its props as a seemingly conventional but ultimately Dylanesque, in the best possible way, love song (love the phrase, “highway of regret”). I’ve always thought that the best reviews/criticism succeed when they make you want to listen to the music right now, so I think I’ll play TOOM or Fragments tonight. Cheers.
Thanks for this piece, Matthew, I really enjoyed it. The songs on TOOM are wonderful material to work with and, as Graley says, you do justice to it.
Thank you, Richard. I'm glad you enjoyed it and appreciate your kind words!
Bravo! TOOM is a bit of an obsession with me, and you do justice to its dark majesty in this deep meditation, Matthew. I like the lead-in with "Lone Pilgrim," as if the TOOM walker hasn't just been traveling for miles but for centuries, millennia, since our first amphibious ancestor crawled out of the primordial ooze, or Cain drew first blood and got his walking papers to the Land of Nod. Thanks for getting my mystical weather vane spinning with this excellent post, Matthew!
Thank you, Graley. I appreciate your kind words. I found Dreams and Dialogues in Dylans "Time Out of Mind" so interesting and thought provoking and it was on my mind when writing this piece.
Love the Boatman's Call comparison. Never made that connection before.
Loved your book of interview with Bob’s band mates! Hope there’s a Part 2!
Thanks, Ray! Have Lanois and Nick Cave ever worked together? They'd probably make a good pairing
TOOM is absolutely one of my top 4 Bob albums and possibly the one I’ve listened to the most. Additionally the outtakes/alternate versions of TOOM from the Bootleg Series are among the best in that amazing collection. “Mississippi” is one of Bob’s best and I can’t imagine how much I would’ve loved TOOM if it had been included on the CD at the time. As it were, it stayed in my truck for months in the CD player and at times I would listen to “Highlands” over and over. The author is correct, Bob is a blues singer, picking up the mantle of Charley Patton, Son House and Robert Johnson. Great article, I look forward to more and I will search out your book on Bob. Thanks!
Thanks, Paul - glad you enjoyed it and hope you enjoy the book, too, if you get a copy! So glad that Bob went back to Mississippi for "Love and Theft".
TOOM has long been one of my favorite Dylan albums, if not my favorite, as Blood On the Tracks is a bit worn out for me these days. You’ve really captured its essence here while reminding us that he can still craft a song as well. Not Dark Yet is IMO one of his greatest and I’m so glad to see the appreciation for Make You Feel My Love. Many so called fans are too cool to give it its props as a seemingly conventional but ultimately Dylanesque, in the best possible way, love song (love the phrase, “highway of regret”). I’ve always thought that the best reviews/criticism succeed when they make you want to listen to the music right now, so I think I’ll play TOOM or Fragments tonight. Cheers.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful words, Sherman. I'm so glad you enjoyed the piece and hope you enjoyed listening to the album afterwards as well!
Great read. Great insight. Thanks. Also just ordered your book, look forward to more from your view of Bob on the road. Can’t wait to read it.
Thanks so much, Gregory - really appreciate your kind words and your order. I hope you enjoy the book as well. Will get that posted for you tomorrow!