hi mark e. in seattle! and everyone. mark, i'm so glad you are enjoying the dylan CDs you bought! i think "blonde" is the masterpiece -- my absolute favorite -- and dylan has a quote where he describes the sound of that album as "a thin, wild mercury sound" which i think is beautiful and apt. i think that "blood on the tracks" has always been a bit easier to listen to, though, because it has the gorgeous melodic songs -- but "blonde" is challenging and more fascinating ultimately, in my opinion.
dylan is funny! i agree, his reputation might not put that out first, but with time i've grown to love his slightly twisted, slightly harsh, wry and winsome worldview. the quotes that someone added recently to a post demonstrated that. i'm trying to think of another example but now i can't! i have a writer friend who is to dylan what i am to joni (in love for life!) and through his knowledge and guidance i have found so much richness and reward listening to dylan. it's funny coming to him as a joni "person" b/c you really have that "joni's the best" attitude that ani difranco was expressing in a recent quote here (opposite to what most of the public thinks!) so bob really had to do some work to impress me...it took some time but i'm so glad i stayed with it...what a joy (frustrating though, and confusing often) his music can be. anyway, i thought i had specific a point here, but possibly not -- just wanted to say i'm glad you are enjoying his work! love to hear more about your discoveries. -- emily ps: my friend told me that "another side of bob dylan" was recorded in one night, which i find amazing every time i listen to that record.
