SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT called Bob Dylan's 36th studio recordings and it is not the first Bob Dylan publication, which is equipped exclusively with foreign-composed songs. According to media reports Mr. Dylan should itself have not quite known for a long time whether to risk it because / can, to try to present songs.
Now he has it anyway daring and the result is a record that at least is unlikely to disappoint. Of course I can statements such as "cobbler, stick to your last" reconstruct partially. Of course, would in this direction (with their own titles) probably enjoyed more even me another "Tempest" or the like. However, I must hold on to this point that just Bob Dylan is one of the few artists who can try and try, the more or less everything. Was it not just Bob Dylan, who provided a with his musical-artistic stubbornness over and over again stir and uproar? I want there to just tender folk-pop-rock experiments with electric amplifiers remember (once had to insert "Judas" -Schimpfrufe for Dylan) or, for example, to the still heavily debated Christian phase Dylan's late 70s / early 80s where I now am so personally think that just albums of that time (including "Slow Train Coming", "Saved" etc.) contain some real, indestructible pearl of the Master. Likewise, subsequent plates, such as "World Gone Wrong" were (which also contains only cover versions and I think for my part for extremely successful) not universally highly regarded, even among non-fans!
Seen in His Bobness has remained at present Silberling true to yourself and - times Hand on heart - (No offense is) still actually mean it's amazing how it this 73 year old "fellow" to polarize - just in fan circles. Because your heart is still on - or not?
I for one have me anyway was delighted when I - I heard that a new Dylan plant is coming up - rather casually. Then when I had heard that it would, however, be a pure cover versions Collection, some doubts set out frankly even through me. I immediately had to "Christmas In The Heart" think this is indeed sometimes quite successfully (is on Christmas day at home always ready), on the other hand but also to a certain extent (musically-high) of the other publications of recent years (ie say "Time Out Of Mind", "Love & Theft", "Modern Times", etc.) was removed..
From this perspective, SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT at least a successful compromise. As I said I think (still) all the last Dylan Studio Publications great (only "Together Through Life" is lagging behind a bit, but even that is a good plate), and I the whole bootleg Series spending of recent years now even want to leave them out (since the last disks have me really upset. no. 8 ("Tell Tale Signs") was the last that I have found to be very good and bought). And starting from the fact that I set really high expectations in each new Dylan disc, SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT is really not a bad record! The songs are all captured with care. Dylan surrounds himself once more with musicians of his confidence - and it shows. The atmosphere is tender-rough, one hand casually, on the other hand constantly striving to be the great task justice - the self-imposed task namely, all songs (which have already been covered by other artists) to breathe those flair in order to unmistakably to Dylan songs make. And yes: The bill goes on full! In parts may be enjoyed as a relaxed listener even to Dylan's most (in terms of harmonics) vocal parts for a long time. It is probably really assume that this publication was a labor of love - but I assume in person at a Bob Dylan actually getting out (why should the gray-haired gentleman else still want to make music?). The band accompanied - to match the songs - sparse, occasionally you can hear some wind. Picking out the highlights in my opinion, would actually be idle, yet have for me personally "Stay With Me" and "That Lucky Old Sun" at least for now turns out (with his bombastic finish) as such. From the latter song's incidentally also a Johnny Cash version (on one of the legendary "American Recordings"), which is also very worth listening to ...
Conclusion: Bob Dylan still does whatever he wants and that he just lets us because one can, I think, actually be just right. SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT is a consistently quiet album, ideal as a backdrop, perfect to come down from one or other stressful day.
Clear: SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT is not a "Tempest", not a "Modern Times" and not a "Time Out Of Mind". On the other hand, it is not to be equated with a "Christmas In The Heart". In other words: With his latest litter Bob Dylan more than just a more or less nice in between album was a success. That it is polarized among fans also to be regarded rather as encouraging signs of life, because when seniles mishap of an aging, grumpy pension musician.
Again, these recordings were Bob Dylan obviously a big concern, a labor of love - and one gets no doubt also felt. If you SHADOWS INTHE NIGHT so than that assumes what it is, namely, as an album of self-interpreted song classics from foreign spring that is to a sweeten one or the other more quiet hour something, then His Bobness is something in any case, succeeded in that too at its most loyal fans no remorse anticipated from!
In this sense - 4 stars for Dylan newbie!
