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29/08/2006
Your ten second summary of the London press reviews of Modern Times
Too close to call! Modern Times has split the four serious London daily newspapers - right down the middle.
* The liberal-left Guardian irritated some Dylanistas with its lukewarm response: “largely pleasant and unassuming record… songs that outstay their welcome or sound like filler… muted rockabilly shuffles and polite, country inflected pre-rock ‘n’ roll pop…”
* The Times, once Voice of the Establishment, said it’s “a triumph of modest objectives: no more, no less.”
A second Times reviewer opined: “no masterpiece… knee deep in… relentlessly average 12-bar blues rockers… like a Dire Straits covers band… lazy and unfocused…”
* The small circulation ‘right-on’ Independent was very positive: “…it took me a few listens to be won over… a fine conclusion to the trilogy started in 1997 with Time Out Of Mind - the first time in 40 years that Dylan has made three great albums in a row.”
* The Daily Telegraph, paper of choice of ageing conservatives, was gung-ho: (On Dylan): “stands outside and above it all (it=rock culture)… body of work without comparison…singularity of his genius”. (On Modern Times): “he is completely engaged… a great artist fully absorbed with his work and the wider world”.
Me? Largely pro vibes. Some telling writing. Lovely performances. The voice surprisingly strong. Some tedious music.
It’ll take me a few dozen more listens before I reach a conclusion I’ll feel comfortable with… always a good sign… .
Gerry Smith
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