Friday January 05, 2007

Five Nill...

New from old

Two new cd's I have bought recently are from old artists one who has been releasing music for years and one who has been silent and for some reason has decided to make an album out of the blue.

The first album is from Bob Dylan called Modern Times. At the stage in his career he is not going to ever produce another Blood on the tracks but it is not half bad. Here are my favourite tracks:

Thunder on the Mountain - fast moving really catchy tune - a sort of mixture between a country and blues track.

Rollin' and Tumblin' and Someday baby - both fast tracks without realising it you find your foot tapping along with the beat...

Workingman's Blues #2 - a slow track with a nice piano accompaniment perhaps the closest track in this album showing his talent for writing excellent words to a track sleep is like a temporary death is one line as an example.

Nettie Moore - an odd name for a track but no matter more excellent words I am the oldest son of a crazy man a simple track with only a simple drum beat and guitar accompaning Dylan's gravelly vocals.

There are not many tracks on this album - ten but each is fairly long.. Dylan's voice is not what it used to be it seems like a piece of sandpaper now wearing out..

The second album is from Yusuf who used to be known as Cat Stevens and I would like to know why he has chosen this time to make his first album for thirty years. Anyway here are my highlights:

Midday avoid the city after dark - starts where he left off with his music of yesteryear with piano/guitar and his voice then a blast of brass comes in to surprise us. The best track on the album.

Maybe There's a world - is a beautifully melodic track which starts with just his vocals and guitar simple but perfect.

After the odd but thankfully short When the Butterflies leave, there follows the second best track on the album - In the End.

There is Peace - a simple ballad with his vocals and a guitar the words are very apt in our busy chaotic lives..

So in summary two average albums not the best best from either artist but worth a listen especialy the Dylan that I have warmed to since first listening to it..