Blood on Blonde

Posted by marty | Filed under Records

Blood on the Tracks Blonde on Blonde

quin·tes·sen·tial - the most typical example or representative.

This was the word to describe Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde. My initial reaction, NO. Blonde on Blonde was not Bob Dylan's quintessential album. Danny chimes in and sez, Blood on the Tracks. YES, I agree. Why? When I first really got into Dylan, which was around 97 or 98, everyone would say, "Oh you gotta get Blood on the Tracks". Hands down, this was the "quintessential" album. I remember John got it, and I listened to it. AND, agreed with the masses.

 In April 2003, I got myself a fancy iPod. Danny said, "Come on down to the lab and hook your iPod into my iTunes". I, of course, assumed this was a booty call and accepted his invitation. That's when I got Blonde on Blonde. After listening to that, I was like, wow, this is a f*cking great album.

 From that point on, I loved Blonde on Blonde. But could not officially accept that it was the most typical example of Bob Dylan's work. So, I listened to both albums the other day. I haven't popped in Blood on the Tracks in a few years. Blonde on Blonde is still great. The first jam, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, I picture Dylan in a bar with a bass drum strapped to his back with a cymbal, with that harmonica strap he wears and a guitar, and an old guy playing the horn.

I think what it is for me is that Blood on the Tracks is more "digestable". Dylan is alittle less whiny. The album is produced. Blonde on Blonde is just more raw. Any way you look at it, they are both amazing.

Whadya think? 

Permalink | December 6th, 2006

2 Responses to “Blood on Blonde”

  1. inmyownlanguage Says:
    December 8th, 2006 at 2:42 pm

    well what i think it is marty, is that blonde on blonde is a rollicking, record while blood is soooooo much more personal. think of blonde and lines like ” you debuante knows what you need , but i know what you want” and w/ its harmonica like a fred sonic smith guitar wail, while blood is more painfully personal songs and that maybe means more to me (and maybe you as well)

  2. danny noonan Says:
    December 20th, 2006 at 8:57 pm

    i don’t get it. it sounds so perfect and sweet to like these albums but come on boys… come on men, life begins with john wesley harding… and comes to fruition with infidels. duh.