Highway 61 Revisited review

Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylan's most critically acclaimed album (or certainly up there anyway). Here are my thoughts on both the album and the legendary singer-songwriter.

Tracks:

1. Like a Rolling Stone: 10/10 brilliant. Just brilliant. The tune is fantastic, the lyrics are deep and intelligent without showing off, the chorus is great and Bob Dylan's singing completely nails it. This certainly wasn't named the greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone just because it has 'Rolling stone' in the title.

2. Tombstone Blues: 9/10 intense, thought provoking and ingenious (if slightly confusing) lyrics which diss society like only Bob Dylan can combined with a brilliant, fast moving instrumental make this a near masterpiece.

3. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry: 8/10 a more enigmatic song of frustration, which isn't as good as the first 2 songs but has plenty of mystery and benefits from Dylan's delightfully cynical singing voice and his downright brilliant song writing.

4. From a Buick 6: 8/10 a shorter song that's even more surreal and pretty weird but even though all the junkyard angel stuff is pretty confusing it still connects and it's another excellent song.

5. Ballad of a Thin Man: 9/10 now this one is pretty intense. The angriest song on the album, this brutal but ingenious barrage of insults is a real gut punch. Whoever Mr Jones is, I wouldn't want to switch places with him.

6. Queen Jane Approximately: 9/10 it may be similar to the album's other songs in many ways but Dylan always finds an interesting way to convey his message and always ensures his music is never boring.

7. Highway 61 Revisited: 8/10 more of the same in a good way.

8. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues: 6/10 the themes of misery aren't as well realized here and it's not as enjoyable as the other songs on the album although it's still a meaningful and enjoyable song.

9. Desolation Row: 10/10 an 11 minute masterpiece which creates a fictional universe to rival that of Star Wars and sees Bob Dylan hitting the peak of his lyrical wizardry. Even though Desolation Row seems like a pretty depressing place, you won't want to leave.

Best song: Desolation Row
Worst song: Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues

Summary: Bob Dylan is pretty much the Shakespeare of the music world. His lyrics are pure genius and he always finds innovative ways to tell his many stories of dissatisfaction and protest. Even though the songs are all in the same genre you can tell them apart thanks to his superb and innovative guitar instrumentals. It's better to listen to these when you can hear the lyrics properly though.Overall, a great album and a showcase of some of the best song writing of all time.

Final Rating: 10/10