Customer Reviews

Mostly Dylan

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"Mostly Dylan" revisits a collection of tunes from the Dylan songbook, placing them in a fresh context alongside a couple of originals which hold up as worthy additions. It is a mature, polished effort, featuring chiming guitars, fluid bass, sturdy keyboards and a distinctive, atmospheric sound suggesting a Northern California version of Daniel Lanois' New Orleans mystique. A collaboration between vocalist/instrumentalist Tim Hockenberry and producer/musician Tom Corwin, it also features a host of superb players such as guitarist George Marinelli, drummer Ricky Fataar, and a guest appearance by Bonnie Raitt.

The first thing one notices is Hockenberry's voice...a rough-edged yet pliable instrument that suggests Marc Cohn in the lower ranges but soars effortlessly into an upper range without losing any of its power and emotional directness. It is somehow both familiar and distinctive...comparisons can be made to contemporary singers such as Joe Cocker and Tom Waits, but traces of long past singers such as Satchmo, Fats Waller and Louis Prima give it a timelessness that transcends the modern era.

The disc opens with a stately interpretation of "Forever Young," a meditative reading that sets the tone for the rest of the album, and stands as an effective reinterpretation that carves out its own territory amidst many other versions of this song. "Like a Rolling Stone" features a tasteful instrumental bridge anchored by Marinelli's guitar, and trades Dylan's angry tirade for a more wistful and poignant reading. Other familiar Dylan songs are completely recast..."Mr. Tambourine Man" emerges as a contemplative waltz with an emotional slide solo by Raitt, and "Rainy Day Women #12 and #35 is transformed into a hallucinatory, 3 a.m. drunken stagger punctuated by Hockenberry's boozy trumpet and Randy Quan's sly wah-wah guitar.

Perhaps the album's tour-de-force is a stunning reworking of "My Back Pages," with its behind-the-beat phrasing, hesitant arrangement and rhythmic shifts. Lyrics cascade out of quiet interludes, and a spiraling, tremulous guitar solo takes the song to a climax, only to have the band run away with the song in an electric outro jam in 5/5 time.

The two original tunes - both Hockenberry/Corwin efforts - blend seamlessly into the rest of the disc. "Two Steps Back" is an appealing minor-key ballad featuring nice fretless bass work from Corwin, and "Flirting With Disaster" more than holds its own, despite the use of a repetitive hook which Dylan himself probably would have eschewed.

"Mostly Dylan" closes appropriately enough with a brief and gently dreamy reading of "Tomorrow is a Long Time." Taken as a whole, the album is a rewarding listen...quiet yet intense, richly textured and tastefully produced. "Mostly Dylan" is the first of a planned series of similar projects featuring different songwriters' works...I'm already looking forward to hearing the results of their next collaboration.

I cant' seem to get enough of this record and I discover new sounds, accents, riffs and touches each time I hear it. I think Like a Rolling Stone is just fantastic. Tim's voice is deep and soulful and the band is right there with him each step of the way. I have to admit, I've not been a fan of Dylan's music over the years, although I've always been a fan of his lyrics and poetry. But these arrangements make his poetry even richer. I heard about it from friends and now I want to spread the word as well. One Too Many Mornings and Tomorrow is a Long Time are also favorites of mine. Did I say I listen to this over and over and over? It's true. Check it out.

I liked this album. I received it as a gift and didn't play it for a week or so but when I did, it grew on me. It continues to grow on me. Dylan is a God, so it takes guts to cover his stuff. These tracks bring a bluesy interpretation to his work I'd never heard before, yet it works. If there was a 4.5 rating, I'd have given it that (if only because the originals get the full 5), but I think this is a very worthy cover album. The singer has the chops to bring a unique voice to these songs. To be honest, the first time I heard "My Back Pages" it brought a tear to my eyes. Dylan was still in his teens when he wrote it, so the original is kind of edgy and angry. This version locates a sad poignancy - a sense of wisdom earned from living many years -- that serves the song well.
"Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats
Too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking
I had something to protect.."

I find myself hitting "repeat" on this track many times over.

Some hard-core purists may not like this collection.
I don't consider myself a purist. I simply love Dylan's music.

Highly recommended. Some unique arrangements of these familiar Dylan tunes. Tim Hockenberry's voice fits the material well. Two originals join the 10 Dylan songs, and Bonnie Raitt plays slide on Mr. Tambourine Man. One of the more enjoyable Dylan cover albums released in 2004.

Mostly Dylan has been on heavy rotation in my world ever since I got it.

I must admit that I am often skeptical of cover-albums -- particularly with something like Dylan (because from the Byrds to Guns n' Roses, he's been quite covered already).

Still, Corwin and Hockenberry somehow managed to really pull this off. The interpretations are very unique -- with a wonderfully jazzy vibe that's on so many of the tracks -- which brings a totally different feel to these songs. And it's not just different for difference's sake; the difference is also very much in line with the spirit of the tunes: these covers really seem to bring out the essence of the songs themselves. And all the while, there's virtuosic musicianship holding it together.

Amazing all around.

I've always loved Dylan's music but when a friend played the "Mostly Dylan" CD for me I was astonished and pleased at it's refreshing interpretation of these classics. I listen to my favorite songs over and over like "The Times They are A-Changin" and "One too Many Mornings". The change in tempo of several of the cuts really resonates with me and I find that I'm able to hear the marvelous lyrics from a fresh perspective. Tim Hockenberry's smooth/rough voice fits with the message .. Thanks, this works for me.

I'm a Dylan fan from way back, and the Mostly Dylan music really touches my heart. The arrangements and voices are rich and soulful. I wouldn't have expected Dylan's music to be so beautifully woven into new expressions that remains so respectful of the original material while moving into such wonderful new experiences. I got the album as a gift and will be gifting it to other friends.

Some great old Dylan classics done by a guy whose voice is a cross between Tom Waits and Richie Havens. Puts his soul into each song. Happily, the songs are not overproduced, and their Dylan charm remains. A wonderful way to have your Dylan and melody too. I haven't taken this cd off my changer since I got it weeks ago. A real find! I hope to hear more from these guys.

I have loved the words and music of bob Dylan for 30 years- to hear this music done with such artful excellence on a production and artistic performance level, is thrilling

I absolutely love this album! It is the kind of CD you put in your car and keep it playing endlessly for weeks on end. I was never a huge Dylan fan- I loved his music but not his voice. This CD is fresh, the musicianship is amazing, the arrangements are phenomenal, it's my favorite album of the year. Bonnie Raitt plays on Mr. Tambourine Man - it's a killer version unike anything you've heard before. The original tunes fit in well and are both great songs. Everyone I play it for - avid Dylan fans or not- goes right out and buys it. You won't be disappointed.