Why would you listen to THIS??? Professor Skye reviews Bob Dylan's Rough and Rowdy Ways

[@ChesterPFloyd]

Murder Most Foul is reason enough to listen to this album on repeat.

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Its a brilliant song....

[@LukeMtech55]

Shot of Love has my all time fav Dylan track, “Every Grain of Sand”. Dylan is simply a legend and a once in a lifetime artist. The thing I love the most about him is, he really could care less what anyone thinks of him. Dylan, is each and every one of us. We all are full of contradictions and lies, but at the end of the day we all just want to be loved. Dylan, reaches depths that most people will never get close too. His genius has always been his poetry and the mystery he keeps hidden away.

[@dice1296]

EGOS is indeed a great track

[@unstartedartist]

this is the album that got me into dylan, He’s now my #1 of all time. This album an amazing examination of spirituality and life in general. a 10/10 album

[@loveminus0]

I really like the idea you bring up that Dylan has earned the right to be criticized. He's put out all this work, this art, for so long, he has to want you to actually examine it thoughtfully. Not in the messianic or mindless praising sense, which we all know he hates, but trying to understand an artist and his work. That a person who loves Dylan is actually doing him a disservice by kissing his feet every time he does anything.

[@stevenlight5006]

True with the things you love

[@michaelstokes919]

Big fan of the album. " Murder most foul " sounds like a hazy recollection of a traumatic event by a man on his deathbed. That's the reason I like it so much.

[@professorskye]

That is by far the best description of the song yet, and gives a great way for me to revisit it.

[@mohammedhanif6780]

this is the sort of personal passionate videos KZbin is for

[@manolisgeorgakakis6342]

I think that “Got a tell-tale heart, like Mr. Poe” is amazing writing. In Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart, the killer is watching the police officer standing on the very floor boards under which he hid the dead body. He thinks he is still sane, but he is hallucinating and hearing the heart of the dead man pounding so loud that he fears it will reveal his crime. (Although in reality, if the heart was actually still beating, his would be a lesser crime.) Now, Dylan says Poe had a tell-tale heart. In my opinion, this may have many different meanings, and maybe all of those are valid at the same time. By reading the whole verse, we see that it obviously involves thinking of an ex-lover who has moved on and with whom the narrator is really familiar. His heart can’t hide, it’s a tell-tale heart, which means it will reveal the truth or maybe so he thinks, because in Poe’s story, the heart was actually dead. Also, if the narrator himself has a tell-tale heart it might mean he is still “alive” in her head. If not, it might mean he has remorse; he is the killer of things he has buried in his room, maybe signifying memories or mistakes. It might also mean that the poet himself never dies, because he is always speaking through his work. Calling him Mr. Poe is a way of leveling with him in the context of this lyric. It is being playful, it is blurring the lines, it is time travelling, it is involving the writer in his story. It might also mean that the narrator is losing his mind like his fellow poet, that he can’t distinguish what is real and what is made up, with regards to his lost love.

[@everyvillainislemons7583]

Avaa. Lovely review! Going to see Dylan live in a week, this is the first record of his I’ve heard in its entirety. New fan, very interesting place to start (I believe he’ll be playing this record in its entirety)

[@matthewbrown7572]

Skye, I really like your channel and think this is an interesting review and am 66 years old and love Bob Dylan and think there's Dylan and then every body else and also think that there are brilliant artists in every decade ,including this one and love music from every genre ( I know, that's a lot of ands ), but the thing that is amazing about Bob Dylan is the way he can throw together imagery that doesn't make literal sense sometimes ,but somehow makes emotional sense. He respects the listener enough to create a space for the listener to inter into the creative process with him to create meaning. I think this is why I can listen to songs by him that I've heard hundreds of times and they still sound fresh.I can't think of anyone that I can say the same about, including another "Boomer" member of the holy grail, "The Beatles" whom I also love. I need to listen to your review of "A Murder Most Foul', I'm surprised you didn't like it. Also, a bit of an aside, you expressed how much you thought the lyric about 'Mr. Poe" was horrible, but you didn't explain why you thought it was horrible. Maybe I'm missing something.

[@professorskye]

Totally agree about the space Dylan gives. The emotional sense is a great way to put it.

[@doreekaplan2589]

I prefer melodic songs, especially a whole album, what invites me to sing along, that is fun....

[@superlove35]

I have never been a big Dylan fan, but I always appreciate that the man is a master at what he does. But I listened to this album and was blown away by it. The more I focus on lyrics as opposed to melody or groove, the more I appreciate Dylan's insane genius. To me, this album is so far ahead of most stuff out there in terms of its depth, that you can't even compare him to regular pop artists. I don't think you are an idiot, but you do seem like that common type of somewhat cynical and certainly arrogant rock critic who just doesn't understand art (but believes he understands it better than everyone) and comes off as a know-it-all, trashing great works, perhaps out of jealousy or to aggrandize oneself. But it takes all kinds to make an interesting world, so keep it up!

[@professorskye]

It’s tricky because I try to emphasize that I don’t think of myself as being very knowledgeable, yet, I still come across as a know-it-all. Must be something about my confidence that comes across as arrogance. Maybe it is arrogance, I don’t know. The thing that I also don’t quite get is how I spent so much of this video explaining in great detail what makes Dylan great in general and this album in particular, yet most comments are upset with me as a Dylan hater. But thanks for your comment, I do appreciate it. I sure as hell don’t think I’m above Dylan, though I do think that Dylan deserves the honor of harsh criticism.

[@AMEER-114-]

@@professorskye so many reasons its clear you cannot see whats what. Only one example needed... Daring to equate Dylan with Kanye or even the pervert Warhol... We only need JESUS and Bob has made that plain as well. Forsake attachments to this world.

[@kent787]

He did an okay live show in Asheville recently; it wasn't terribly energetic. A lot of his lyrics are just streams of consciousness that you can take seriously or not, or laugh at or not. But he can still do story songs like Tempest also.

[@NevinThompson]

I'm a big Bob Dylan fan, and I do like 'Rough and Rowdy Ways', but I think this is a pretty fair review, although I disagree with a lot of it. I think this latest (and probably last?) album is more of a meta-commentary by Bob Dylan about Bob Dylan for Bob Dylan fans. It's not an "undying" messianic statement, it's an album about death, a bookend to 'Time Out of Mind', nearly 25 years ago, which contemplated old age and, eventually death. In this case, death is around the corner. It's here. The leaves are gone from the trees, as he says.

[@joelwateres]

In order to understand Bobs new album anyone who truly admires Mr Dylan should google those phrases you don’t understand . It took me hours to read between the lines for instance To cross the Rubicon is a metaphor which means to take an irrevocable step that commits one to a specific course. When Julius Caesar was about to cross the tiny Rubicon River in 49 B.C.E., he quoted from a play by Menander to say "anerriphtho kybos!" or "let the die be cast" in Greek. But what kind of die was Caesar casting and what decision was he making? There were so many things between the lines the work is genius great genius . Walt Whitman quotes, ie I contain multitudes . Do you know what Balinini is or where ? I do . Bob Dylan is the greatest of the great second to none. ( equal to equals and ... I’m hoping his summer tour happens I can’t wait to be in his presence one more time. Play it again for Tom Dooley Dont know what that means ? then you don’t know how to listen to a Bob Dylan I’m not putting you down it’s ok to just enjoy the music but my friends you’re missing the best part if you don’t read between the lines -++ song, poem or a piece of literature Bob Dylan is in a class of his own . We should feel privileged to have this mans works part of our generation. I suggest buy yourself a bottle of Heavens Door ,sit in a comfortable chair and google what you don’t understand and your appreciation of Dylan’s work will be 10 fold. Don’t criticize what you don’t understand

[@ragqueen]

you made me laugh! thank you so much. i love Bob!

[@Sheriff_Ochs]

While I too am not a fan of "Murder Most Foul" I don't think it is bad enough to warrant being "the blackest mark on Dylan's discography" that award absolutely goes to the atrocious opening track on 1990's Under The Red Sky, "Wiggle Wiggle". Check it out if you haven't heard it yet...my God...

[@mlucasohio]

Because something is happening here But you don’t know what it is Do you, Mister Poe?

[@hobarthelen2]

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to your review of Rough and Rowdy Ways! Reading thousands of comments on how amazing Dylan is is sooo boring!Hearing your very critical, and positive review was both interesting & enlightening! Thank you!

[@petermchale9629]

Thank you for sharing your insights in such an articulate, intelligent review. Loved your discussion of key lyrics and especially your willingness to actually engage with, challenge and criticize the songs. Like you said, veneration is death, and this is genuinely the first review I've seen for this record that seems motivated by genuine respect and appreciation for Bob's work rather than a blind desire to give a gushing 5 stars. I didnt agree with every point you made but you articulated your thoughts brilliantly and naturally. As a 19 year old Dylan fan this is really his first record I've been on the scene to experience and your thoughts have added to that greatly! Keep up the good work and I hope your channel blows up soon- I subbed after hearing your thoughts on RTJ4 and this has cemented my appreciation for the channel :)

[@getoffthestage263]

Who calls Edgar Allen Poe “Mr Poe”? Bob Dylan.

[@wheatonna]

It's exactly the right question to ask.

[@harsangeetkaur3677]

Hahah so lovely ! Loved to hear you.

[@harsangeetkaur3677]

I was doing some sort of criticism and praises on each of his songs and here you are। Yeah I felt that too..

[@not_emerald]

Well, you made a harsh point in the beginning and I think it should be addressed properly. And I'd like to make it clear that I'm not a boomer, but a 1998 zoomer who can't believe he's written this much on a youtube comment. I agree with some points. For example, I couldn't agree more that the Nobel Prize that Dylan got in 2016 is among the least impressive things he won. Even in the literary aspect, the Pulitzer is way more interesting. The best thing about it were people pretending to care about the Nobels just to criticize him, so there's that. At the same time, in this very same example, I couldn't disagree more with whatever the hell you said comparing his Nobel to his revolution in music. I don't think at all that Dylan's importance is that, but I'll get into it later. Also, I appreciate that you put Dylan aside Kanye among the greatest American pop geniuses. I probably agree with that, although Kanye's not quite there in genius levels. Everything you said in the part about "if you've not listened to Shot of Love 100 times why listen to Rough and Rowdy Ways?" is very, very dumb. I mean, I genuinely believe Rough and Rowdy Ways is better than Shot of Love or most of his works, really, and I think there's a strong case for it. Shot of Love is somewhat underrated in my opinion, specially because of songs such as "The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar" which people seem to ignore. "Lenny Bruce" is another gem in that album, "In the Summertime", "Shot of Love" and of course "Every Grain of Sand" are pretty good (in the last case an amazing) songs, but the album itself is kind of lacking - and I'm saying this as a profound admirer of Dylan's Christian works. I find myself often making cases for Saved, for example. Also, portraying Dylan as an "undead" cashing in on nostalgia is simply... disingenuous. Seems like you're trying to paint a narrative without paying attention even to what Dylan himself does. Can Dylan sound more out of touch? You're saying as if he's trying to appeal to the public, but I think that's not been the case for decades and decades. I genuinely believe that the only album he made that not entirely for his own reasons was The Times They Are A-Changin', which he explicitly said was written because he thought the people wanted that, and that makes the album very charged politically and pushy, which personally I don't like. I can understand not liking "Murder Most Foul", but calling such an unique song in his catalogue "garbage" for the sake of it is absolutely retarded. Dylan has what, seven songs that are 10+, and "Murder Most Foul" is unique in the most obvious of aspects: it's not a musically monotonous piece. It doesn't demand that you pay attention to the lyrics, you can just appreciate something he's never done in his almost 60 years of career. Also saying that "he sometimes actually means nothing, he's goofing" is not very helpful especially in albums such as Rough and Rowdy Ways. Songs such as "Black Rider" have at least two biblical references in a very cohesive narrative, "Key West" develops the spirit of others in his career such as "Visions of Johanna" and "Isis" and "Highlands", it's a constant theme throughout his career about ideals. Just because a specific line doesn't have a specific meaning it doesn't mean that it's pointless. You're ignoring that probably the biggest influence on Dylan is the Bible, and well, there may be pages and pages that can be written about individual verses. Just because Dylan doesn't precisely lays out what the connection between Anne Frank, Indiana Jones and the Rolling Stones is in "I Contain Multitudes" does it mean it doesn't exist and he's just throwing words around? I can see something archetypal about them. Dylan is no academic as you say, but he's a genius. He's explicitly said that if not a musician, he would be a Roman history teacher. And do I really need to say where such themes appear in Rough and Rowdy Ways when there's literally a song called "Crossing the Rubicon"? Dylan's lyrics are also filled with Roman influences. Modern Times was criticized for taking from Ovid and Henry Timrod, Love and Theft took from Confissions of a Yakuza and Virgil. The albums you seem to love from the mid 60s took from Rimbaud. And now Rough and Rowdy Ways takes from Roman history. The richness of his lyrics are reviving names such as Henry Timrod, and that is not to be ignored. Dylan, the one you call an "undead", is reviving giant names that people such as yourself with such modern and immediate view of artistic history rarely consider. Although I do agree that Dylan doesn't take himself that seriously, it doesn't mean "jokers", as you put them, shouldn't be taken seriously. I don't accept the argument that "oh it's humorous so it's meaningless". You mentioned Oh Mercy, right? What about the comedian that earns a song title there? Lenny Bruce was a cultural phenomena that was important to real life issues such as freedom of speech, but he was... joking around. You gave the example of Dylan trolling the media and journalists in the 60s as if it meant he wasn't to be taken seriously, but you've ignored entirely the context of that. Journalists harassed Dylan in his early career, and he just adopted a persona to deal with them. It wasn't a single persona, too, just compare the infamous Time interview of 1965 with the interviews in 1966 where he says he's a protest singer, going directly against his own words. Both of them were defense mechanisms against journalism. (Also, the stories of him telling lies about his own life are hilarious, but I don't think they're born out of not taking himself seriously, but protecting his identity. Not many people knew at the time who Robert Zimmerman was. And in another note, I'm surprised you didn't mention Chronicles, which has at least two chapters out of five which are purely comedic and not bibliographical at all, creating places and disfiguring faces to tell his own story. Although it's clearly somewhat comedic, that book people take way too seriously as pure fact. But again, even with his comedy, it doesn't mean it's meaningless.) Also, on another note, it seems to me that you're not exactly satisfied with the fact that things aren't clear as water with his lyrics, but I mean... is Tolstoy, which he listed as one of his greater influences? Is Dostoevsky? Is any great poet really? Is Leonard Cohen? I agree that Dylan's fanbase (which I mostly despise, by the way) is cultish and tends to interpret things like the garbology guy, but I wouldn't say that this quality of his lyrics is something important enough to be brought to light. Most of your criticism to the melodies and the overall sound being a background to his lyrics are... pointless, really. Jesus, why don't you say that about "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall" or "It's Alright Ma", which take as long as any song in Rough and Rowdy ways in as little variance, if not less? At least some critics I've seen that criticized later albums such as Love and Theft recognized that while Dylan's voice got rougher and rougher, his sound got greater and greater. And the fact that you don't recognize that has its epitome in your view of "Murder Most Foul". Dylan's importance, as I said before I would bring up, lies not in what he brought of new to the table, but in what he *brought back*. It's no wonder he has as many bootlegs as he does, and frequently we find some profound gem that, although not "new", still is profoundly impactful, such as "Blind Willie McTell", "Foot of Pride", "Let Me Die In My Footsteps", "Series of Dreams" or "Seven Days". Oh Mercy was not an album with revolution in its sound, maybe in the production with Daniel Lanois it was specially clean and well done, but its concepts are clearly old. Does "Man in the Long Black Coat" sound like a 1989 song? Dylan is not listened to because he sounds new, but because he sounds old. "The fact that he consistently and always in his own way, his own muse, in the own way he sees things, that's the undying Bob Dylan I love" was a nice way to start the "good" part of the review, the problem is that it doesn't match anything you said in the first 8 minutes or so. Dylan's way *is* writing 17 minute long ballads about something that happened 60 years ago, and it's always been that. Take "Masters of War", it's not an original melody although it talked about contemporary issues. "House of the Rising Sun", which he took from Dave van Ronk, not a contemporary song at all. In fact, most of his first album deals with times that are not his. He's always took from issues that were not contemporary. Even in the political songs of the 60s, he took from the previous beat generation, and ones such as "Hurricane" in the 70s, which were from issues started years ago. Even in those times he was talking about issues that preceded him in 10 years or so. (continues)

[@not_emerald]

Blood on the Tracks, an album inspired by Chekov, definitely not a "current" album, but that transcended its times through music. Same about Time out of Mind (which you for some reason unknown to me enjoy, since it was not a "new" album in any way in 1997) and John Wesley Harding. Let's talk about John Wesley Harding. You mentioned the Christian period, so why not begin with Dylan's true Christian origins? "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" is probably the first full christian song Dylan's written, in an album full of references to the Bible. "All Along the Watchtower", taken almost directly from the Book of Isaiah. Prior to that, "With God on Our Side" is a cheesy example. Highway 61 Revisited in its title track has biblical references in the very first verse. These are literally millenia old stories that Dylan is bringing up, so it's not anything "new" or "current". Even in his sound he's not making things up randomly or out of nowhere, the electric trilogy is a direct homage to his blues heroes. Take the name of the album Highway 61 Revisited, for example. Dylan was great in the 60s because he *brought back* musical traditions to a new aesthetic, and that's it. That's the timeless aspect of his music. You can't truly appreciate the "new" and "current" if you don't respect the old and traditional, and that's what Dylan's career has always been about. It's plainly obvious with the last three albums, from Shadows in the Night to Triplicate. These are not technically great albums, they don't bring anything new, but the redo what his *entire* career has been about. I personally gave them a 65/100 in a review, but I would never undermine them as bad simply because they don't bring nothing new. Really, what's the difference between making these albums, or making his very first album? Or World Gone Wrong and Good as I Been to You? Or taking early blue licks in Highway 61 Revisited? Or taking melodies from others in The Freewheelin'? Or taking Timrod lines in Modern Times or taking... well, you get the point. In general, I can appreciate that you put your view out there so bluntly, but I am 100% positive that you're looking it through the wrong lenses. It boggles my mind why anyone would listen to The Freewheelin' in 1963 because of its "cutting edge" sound or its "current sounds". They simply wouldn't. Praising it as great album today while at the same time criticizing Rough and Rowdy Ways is a huge inconsistency of thought. Both albums are great (although I'd argue Rough and Rowdy Ways is a little better) because of its transcendent value, because of the "spirit" of the music. You'll never be able to measure that. Most of your good points are swept under the rug because of this shallow cynical way of making analysis. It seems you're angry at boomers for simply being boomers, which makes me think that you're just a boomer who tries to be a millenial.

[@saml302]

I love this album. I might disagree with the overall thesis, but I really appreciate the perspective. many great points here.

[@starshinegolddust]

appreciate your review. i like the working theory that the album is also about "America" as a concept. I think Key West is an important metaphor for how Florida has come to be worked into the ideals of the American Dream. For many people, the ultimate goal is to retire to Florida, but not everyone is so lucky to be able to afford that or to do the "snowbird" thing. My grandpa who retired to South Florida would always joke that he was living in heavens waiting room.

[@electricfence61]

THANK YOU...thank you for saying it exactly as it is...Murder Most Foul..total garbage..I wouldn't be surprised if Dylan was the first to agree either... l think maybe they found it on the cutting room floor and thought..let's put this out for a joke. Not that funny though! I think maybe Dylan has lost commitment but is carried on by the wonderful monster he's created at this stage. Some great moments, then filler to complete the project. The greatest songwriter ever in my opinion.

[@professorskye]

Thanks for the comment. It is odd how angry people get when you criticize the most unambiguously applauded individual in music history. It’s like...he is the best, but he is not ALWAYS the best. Oh well!

[@shoelesshunter2599]

I think I heard it 333 times, perfect for working at home during COVID. Poignant, haunting and so much more, he finally painted his masterpiece. Not least of all, he clearly endorses that the assassination was not merely a conspiracy, but a coup de'etat. Where are the people from the 60s who wanted Dylan to return to political music. Here it is, the boldest statement of all.

[@georgecoventry8441]

You raise a lot of interesting questions and points about this album. I agree about the weakness of the "Mr Poe" line. Also agree about the brilliance of the lines mentioning Zhukov, Patton, Elves, and Martin Luther King. Overall it's hell of a strong and fascinating album. You finally got around to answering your own question, "Why would you listen to THIS?" And I agree with your answer. And "Shot of Love" is a terrific album. One of my favorites from Dylan.

[@professorskye]

Thanks for this comment. I got A LOT of anger based on my interview from Dylan fans and I didn't understand it because I thought that I was being super positive .

[@georgecoventry8441]

@@professorskye - Yeah, I'm not surprised you did! (smiling) I was a bit annoyed at first by some of what you were saying, but after awhile I could see that you really do have a good appreciation of the value of Mr Dylan's work. I'm not sure about your criticism of "Murder Most Foul". I'll have to listen to it some more and see what I think. My first reaction to it was quite positive, but I've only really listened to it once.

[@ClydeMilliken]

You said you don't consider murder most foul to be music, what do you define music to be? (Not trying to come off as rude, genuinely curious)

[@professorskye]

No worries about being rude....this is a comments section! :). I mean that there doesn’t seem to be any melody, rhythm or structure. I mean there is, but it is so subservient to the words that it is barely there. That is what I meant.

[@kathylarson8876]

Doesn't need structure as you see it, he is all about feeling

[@stevel9365]

The reference to Zhukov and Patton - you missed Montgomery (British WWII) General and Sherman - US Civil War - clearly helping to forge the path for Martin Luther King

[@dice1296]

i've only heard the album once, but it seems like the kind of stuff dylan could churn out in his sleep

[@violaleebluesy]

Respectfully, I'm not sure you know enough about Dylan to analyze him at this level. It'd be helpful to realize that Dylan's music has a mirror effect. The reaction his music evokes may say more about the listener than him. Consider the actual theme of what it would mean to have "a tell-tale heart." Was the heart really beating beneath the floorboards, or was it the hallucination of a man's guilty conscience?

[@professorskye]

I totally agree that I may not know about Dylan to analyze him at this level. However, I think that there is value in doing it anyways.

[@kathylarson8876]

@@professorskye i suppose that could be so, but i don't think you have anything to offer, reminds me of the interviewers that new so little about his music that they bored dylan with there insignificant questions

[@anneriordon4131]

The one thing I can bring to the Mr. Poe lyric is he mostly is portraying characters in song. So what may seem useless or lazy is him in character. I feel he really made this his bread and butter in tempest. Haven't listened to this album yet. I only heard Dylan had released a new album upon reading a tweet from James Woods.

[@exert2020]

Rough and rambling ways

[@tonycarey1735]

'... how unbelievably wise and educated he is, and he is ... some shakespeare references ... some bible references ... he certainly knows more than just about anybody about the history of American music ... but beyond that ...'. Beyond that!? I suspect you're having argument with yourself. Are you the joker?

[@professorskye]

Fair criticism ! I probably should have been more clear on that point. What I meant is that I have heard some reviews which treat Dylan’s knowledge of literature as something completely unapproachable. Like, he could be a professor of English at Columbia if he felt like it. My point is that he is certainly more known than 99.9% of other pop stars, but he is not at that level. But, when it comes to American music, he probably could be a professor at Columbia if he felt like it. But I was too snarky in my video and your criticism is fair game. I’m mostly off the cuff with notes and sometimes that can hurt my meaning.

[@tonycarey1735]

@@professorskye Thanks for your reply. FWIW, I think you're 'review' spends far too much time arguing about the 'idea' of Bob Dylan than the merits or otherwise of the music. Isn't this ironic given your apparent disdain of people who take Dylan too seriously? I think it's fair to say that a particular Dylan album might not be the best of its type at the time, but there is no other musical artist with a comparable body of work and every album, yes even the Christmas disc, deserves to be assessed in order to understand the whole.

[@markbastow3426]

not sure if this man is all there.

[@andyelphick]

I knew the title was a bit click bait but I enjoyed your interesting and articulate comments.

[@professorskye]

Thanks! Sorry for the click bait title, but it was at least my honest framing device. (Or, that is what I tell myself)

[@JackFate76]

​@@professorskye It worked. I didn’t know you existed before that and now I’m watching and subscribed..

[@TheHSIHP]

The last 2 albums I have listened to. The new Tame Impala and the new Dylan. Why? Because I like good music.

[@gregsilsby6884]

My two favorites man! I think Kevin will go down as a musical genius.

[@ThatGioGuy]

Why wouldnt you listen to pop2 by charli xcx

[@soundssimple1]

There are two kinds of people, artists and critics, only the former has anything worthwhile listening to, then decide.

[@ronreynolds1610]

Ya don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows .....I listen because it is there ...

[@harsangeetkaur3677]

I really wanted to hear this.

[@johnheaton5667]

well you made your point but i beg to disagree.... this album is decent though not as good as those five star reviews obviously

[@professorskye]

Well thanks for watching. I appreciate your videos!

[@professorskye]

And might as well link to your Bob review for others to see... kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6aXg6BugtiaZ5I

[@sattwa2]

Key West is the best-

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Why can't people just enjoy other people's talent,

[@mohammedhanif6780]

because criticism makes art art

[@knockedoutloaded279]

@@mohammedhanif6780 ,,,you sure about that...

[@dorisswift816]

if you like it, listen to it, if not , listen to something you like

[@basilfomeen9995]

I couldn't agree with you more about that "Mr. Poe" line. I cringed when REM sang "Mr. Freddie Blassie" in order to fit the line scheme, but come on Bob! You can do better than that!

[@ClydeMilliken]

Good video, what's your favorite Dylan album?

[@professorskye]

Thanks! Tough to say, but probably Planet Waves? Ask me tomorrow and I’d probably say something else. It seems like I have a new different favorite one every couple of years.

[@patrickward2526]

And speaking of shot of love that could have been a masterpiece just look at all of the outtakes from that album. Angelina I need a woman Yonder comes sin You change my life the better version of Caribbean wind from the bootleg series. I love that album with the outtakes of course

[@alphanemo6121]

Hi Patrick, just spotted your comments, please could you direct me to where these outtakes are, do you mean the bootleg series 1-3 or are there outtakes somewhere else?

[@patrickward2526]

@@alphanemo6121 some on the bootleg series 1-3 summer on the bootleg series trouble no more, and some on a bootleg CD called between shot and saved.

[@anneriordon4131]

Btw, What did you think of his cover of of polka dots and moonbeams? I thought triplicates was a wonderful twist on old standards. It seems to me, Bob Dylan believes there is a spiritual component to timeless songs, a deeper truth within, regardless of the original artists intent. With polka dots I Invision a tired Scrappy bulldog with saliva, snot and tongue unfurled while dreaming beside a pool, alongside imagery of a otherworldly butterfly that thinks nothing of perching oneself a top the mangy dog"s nose allowing the mutt to see it"s self fluttering and dancing in the air in unison with the butterfly. This song as with all others on the album are incredible once interpreted as a allegory of the relationship God has with man. It makes me laugh when Roger Waters comments that he should stop making covers describing them as a waste of time. I guess this album flew over many a head if Roger was confounded by it.

[@mohammedhanif6780]

criticism makes art. whi h js to sa, criticism makes art art. i really enjoyed your passion.

[@karlhughes849]

I could listen to half of Rough and Rowdy Ways or I could listen to this review .... erm .... I Contain Multitudes here I come!

[@ritahall6628]

Did you review Greta Van Fleet ? Bobs album is romantic sexy insightful-The reference to youth -the changes of evolving as a human being -That getting older is not a death sentence-Hope he never stops creating in his childlike innocent view of the world - it keeps me alive

[@juliaq.5968]

I dont analize what I'm doing... I started with "oh mercy" why did I do it? It just happened. 😀

[@professorskye]

Oh Mercy is also a great album!

[@morty100mgdistillategummy7]

You gotta check out Willie Nelson's _Across The Borderland_ LP Dylan cover of "What Was It You Wanted?" among a couple other gems (collaboration notwithstanding..). I hope they eventually release The Alzheimer's Band rehearsal tapes (all on archive.org already, but what isn't?) soon. Grateful Dead backing Dylan is quite interesting. Wonder what archival Dylan release is up next. We are spoiled, honestly.

[@jnagarya519]

Dylan focusing on phrasing? Listen to "Delia".

[@martinhasson4942]

Andy Warhol??????? 💅

[@francoisguillez334]

"Who carved the path for Martin Luther King", the 'who' is Zukhov etc., not Elvis Presley, you did not read those 3 lines correctly.

[@jnagarya519]

Bashing "Boomers" is stupid.

[@BrigitteLuiseDornseifer-fd4cc]

That's right: you never get the Real Bob Dylan...the authentic one...he is ful of self irony...never serious...

[@michaelhonychurch202]

Maybe we should let RARW mature for thirty years and then it may make sense , or not. We need to play catch up as usual.

[@professorskye]

True!

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

😊this sounds good. Not the old style but lyrics are good😊

[@telabib]

I just wish i could understand the words, i mean i wish they were more clear and distinctive.

[@paulie56il]

Now listen here Prof! You could have said that Dylan was obviously paid by the Florida Tourist Board to make Key West, I mean why'd you have to go & make this & the other album songs you reviewed so damned interesting & inspiring, inspiring coz now you've got me writing a song about America that'll mean I'll have to do another whole album (recently did 'Scared of America' Vol.'s One & Two) and it comes right slap bang in the middle of our latest album BELIEF that we're tryna finish that contains songs written for Sir Cliff Richard and that was delayed coz we had to do some co-writes with Bob Dylan (those will now appear on a separate album) I mean come on Prof. that's just not cricket is it:)! Thanks for the review, would have liked it longer (haven't heard that said a while) but it's the best I heard so far and yes, Bob can be lazy and sloppy sometimes (look no further than the 'Thunder' and 'Plunder' rhyme), but at the end of the day he's just a man doing all he can (sorry, I started writing out our 'Dope Fiend Robber' lyrics that I dedicated to Bucky who I'd hoped would have performed the song, anyway that's another story) and please feel free to check me out at www.paullyrics.com if you've got the time or mind:)!

[@patrickward2526]

I think you over-analyze things, agreed there are some weak lines in this album but some really great ones also. This is not a masterpiece it is a seven out of ten for me but there are really great moments. Murder most foul it's not as bad as you claim it to be everybody's different everybody enjoys different things. I do enjoy your passion for mr. Dylan😃

[@justenbenally522]

Jesus, everything you've said is so far off. I'm not even a boomer or a dylan fan. Why would I listen to this? Why do you listen to anything? Because I like it.

[@danwood4631]

A suggestion: Listen to R&RW as a spiritual autobiography, and everything will click in place. As in the past, sometimes it takes a few years to catch up with Dylan's work.

[@derrydylanger8994]

You're way off base spouting your inane opinions in your cluttered den. Bob Dylan's new album is a masterpiece and Murder Most Foul is a great original tune about the tragic coup that was perpetuated by the US govt. You shouldn't declare this album less than genius until you've listened to it at least 20 times to let your feeble mind come to grips with it. Murder is a beautiful, emotional, treatise on the robbery of a great man though imperfect. You think way too highly of yourself. By the way check out my version of Hurricane and let me know what you think.

[@dice1296]

yeah, a coup where nobody ever came forward, even on their death beds. get outta here. just doesn't happen

[@samlewis7878]

This guy is pretty funny, pretty far gone. Bob delivers PEACE OF MIND, man. That's the clincher. Depth and experience. Bob is telling you not to listen to this album? What the hell does that mean? If there is peace on earth-- it's in sublimity of nature, of intellect, of spaces and feelings of in deph reflection. Do you know what any of that stuff means, guy? Do you?

[@ventrust7507]

He’s a stimmer. You don’t need it. . You led an unchallenged life, perhaps. You take yourself way too seriously. Please never say boomer Jesus again in your life. We got it no hero worship. But you’re Try not to hero worship that you’re hero worshiping so much with yours try not to hero worship. You should just sit on the floor and cry and how much you love it no matter what you think too hard to just sit on the floor crying enjoy it right somethings are just meant to be experienced not over analyzed.

[@TroubadourAtHeart]

As soon as you put Kanye West in the same category as Bob Dylan; you're credibility is shot.

[@keef7224]

Your holy trinity includes Kanye?!😂😂😂

[@martinhasson4942]

You didn't get many comments.

[@corneliakapelinski]

Good performance - I laughed a lot. I think you really love Bob Dylan , how else could you be annoyed with " ..Mr Poe" ."Got a tell tale Heart like M. Poe " only means showing his distance from what was being told, he always tells from a different perspective - " Mr Poe" makes this clear ..all is not meant personally- he got a tell tale heart is a summary of his creative origins- and not bad. Incidentally , i also think it is about finitude: Humanity, America as a world power, the finiteness of the individual...Let go of your Mind a bit, Dylan has always only worked if you expose yourself to it- let his voice , his nuances take effect. The underestimated music also casts a spell on you.

[@petersmith9530]

Is this some sort of joke channel? Have you even listened to the album? You need to get over yourself "professor" and start listening to the music instead of trying to impress us with how much you think you know.

[@ludosedos7779]

he should've just said allan poe lmaoooooooo gonna go listen to this now, tried to listen to blonde on blonde, freewheelin and nashville skyline for the first time n i have to say it is a downward trajectory (i think his poetry is honestly his main redeeming factor, his instrumentals have always been boring since i grew up on more luxurious folk like fleet foxes and grizzly bear, and i really really can't stand his voice when he manages to hold a tone) it's nice to know that murder most foul is on the worse end of the album at least

[@ludosedos7779]

also if bob dylan has written a song regarding a woman that's consistently lyrically good n not kinda sexist i haven't found it yet

[@reaganwiles_art]

a passel of the greatest writers of the Nobel era did not win the Nobel prize: I might mention Virginia Woolf, Nabokov, Henry Miller...and those are limited to my ignorance of other language writers: so you're a French guy, I'll throw in Cendrars, Montherlant, Giono, Nathalie Sarraute ....

[@threestringsomg]

Mmmm....I'm not a super Bob fan but I have to say I disagree with you. Rowdy is way more amazing than perfume genius because it's not trying too hard to impress and has a natural flow that comes from class born from experience. I find p.genius one of those on purposely ecclectic artists that irritates more than inspires. There is no should and shouldn't for any artist and many would think old stars should be doing what Bob does here in his own way. That aside, good artists are always saying goodbye in their work. I think this album is a goodbye to Dylan's own arts and humanities tastes...but I don't think he is being opinionated. I think he is doing automatic poetry that flickers over facts like a painter does with colour. I think you let name drop hang ups get in way of really listening which is a shame. There are lots out there with their own taste and music opinion or poetry are both like water in a river and you are the rock. Pollock is considered a painter.....and Rothko....and old Dylan is old Dylan...and I think artists will tell you once art is done it does not belong to you anymore wether good or bad and if you are lucky it flows in the stream over lots of rocks for a while touching many.....that's the way it should be, including 'Mr Poe'....let old Dylan go and listen to new....fresh eyes and fresh ears....ironically Rowdy is actually roots Dylan ....very very bluesy ....and apart from the first and last couple, the songs do not have strong hooks. I love it. But then I enjoy artists who let it flow and then if they are lucky off they go to the next thing....academia and science and history are fantastic things but art should never be right or make complete sense. Thanks for sharing your thoughts sir...I enjoyed writing this. Lol.

[@ricardoluque1931]

You should review immortal technique album "3rd world".

[@nickdunne364]

So Dylan Can provoke your only negative review! There must be something to it eh?

[@professorskye]

Certainly there is something to it! I don't believe in negative reviews because I think that they are boring and often a form of consumer-driven complaint about the artist as producer of consumable. I love Bob Dylan and I think that he deserves better than the blanket "5 Star, best-ever-ever-ever" reviews . As I say in the video, veneration is death. He isn't Saint Bob yet! He is a living artist who deserves our rigorous and honest assessment of his work.

[@johnbundy4818]

Jimmy zimmy jimmy

[@mysteryseaker1914]

PSSRR is possibly a demented something or another and takes himself too seriously me thinks. Or just too much coffee? Do you even strum a guitar. Sheesh, I'm going to bed

[@reaganwiles_art]

I like your banana; thanks for the review.

[@christians6199]

U don't know what I are talking about.

[@martinhasson4942]

🤔

[@pitchforkcustom5379]

Click baiting crap ..

[@StevenMichals0812]

Why would you not listen to this? This is one of the most important album anyone has ever made. The lyrics are great. The music is great. This is what is happening now. You would do well to listen and learn something. Murder Most Foul is a great song that ties together the political and cultural changes of the last 60 years. If you don't like it That's too bad. I like it. Yes. Mr. Poe was a poet and Mr. Dylan is a poet and you do not understand the poetry. You should listen more and read more and try to understand. You have a lack of understanding which is understandable. Just try a little harder but don't try so hard. Just listen and try to enjoy the art.

[@lylecrussell]

Wait, wut?!?

[@johnyoung418]

Bob Dylan is not a boomer

[@robkay278]

There isn’t better!! This album is what it is- a new Bob Dylan album of his own writing.yes Steve Earls latest album is really good and Bobs is also really good, look he’s 80 ! He’s a genius as for your video your all crap,Bob Dylan is amazing, I won’t watch your videos again, I get huge pleasure in listening to everything he’s done,and I cover many of his songs, just listen to forgetful heart , things have changed,man in the long black coat.

[@broccoli5408]

You are great

[@levistubbs8949]

bought because it might be his last, definitely past his best !

[@spam7797]

You're not talking about music. You're not talking about Dylan, or Perfume Genius, or Steve Earle, or anyone else (all good artists, but honestly who gives a shit at this stage who thinks X is better than Y?) You're talking about yourself. At least you're trying to. Let's flip it around. Why do you listen to music??? Music don't need you. Go back to trying to impress the undergrads with this stuff, man.

[@kathylarson8876]

Agree, spam, i love everything dylan does, for me it is all about feeling in his music and only dylan can do that

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Elvis broke down racial barriers....this is a totally dumb review...

[@SteveRockstein2]

Why am I listening to you?

[@harrisgoodman1564]

You lost any credibility when you mentioned Kanye West as your third “pop genius.” From one of your hated “boomers.”

[@njlib2880]

I have to stop this video and go listen to Bob Dylan... He is an artist in his own league... Don't try to analyze him or his art... Just enjoy your own response to his work... That's what I'm going to do! Last time I'll be watching the "professor"...... Why would I listen to THIS???

[@professorskye]

Fair enough, but why would you look for videos that review his music if you do not think that there is any value in analyzing his work? I'm not picking on you in particular because I've gotten a fair number of comments like this. It seems that many people would prefer just 10 minutes of me saying "Dylan isn't about thinking or words or music...he is about feeeeeeeling."

[@njlib2880]

@@professorskye Which one of us wants to stop learning? If I see a masterpiece painting or piece of sculpture and think that I am not enjoying it as much as I should, I read information or listen to others so that I can better understand it ... Rather than finding out what it doesn't have, I personally want to find out why it is considered a masterpiece..... Unlike Springsteen, who explains every word and thought for each song ad nauseam, Dylan once said..... I write the words but I don't know what they mean (paraphrased)... That brought great clarity lol..We can't presume to know what he is thinking... In your review, I wanted to know if you liked it and why... In my opinion, it was your thoughts that were jumbled and your criticism seemed unwarranted in certain instances ie Mr Poe... Suffice it to say our styles are different... Simple! You've inspired some great discussions in the comments... Gives me a lot to think about... Thanks!