From my daily music dose journal @ Buzznet.

I’ve been a longtime fan since I first discovered his work by working in music retail in the late ’90’s, I’ve been able to rediscover his work over the past decade multiple times due to his vast catalogue of music and lately for the recent MCR cover of “Desolation Row” for the Watchmen movie. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the genius of Dylan, listen up and take notes. Even if Dylan is not for everyone, I still think he should be. All you have to do is listen.

You may even be surprised to find you already know a Dylan song or two; many artists have covered Dylan over the decades. Everyone from Jimi Hendrix to PJ Harvey to Muse to now even My Chemical Romance.

While some of you may be familiar with his early work in the ’60’s as becoming a figure of writing songs such as “The Times They Are-A Changin’” and Blowin’ In The Wind; songs that became anthems for civil rights movements and anti-war, it’s one of these particular songs I’d like to point out that seems even still to this day timeless. That song is “Masters Of War”, from his 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan: paints a picture of those responsible for war that can be used even today’s societies:

“You that never done nothin’/But build to destroy/You play with my world/Like it’s your little toy/You put a gun in my hand/And you hide from my eyes/And you turn and run farther/When the fast bullets fly“

While it’s an understatement to even say Bob Dylan is simply a genius, it should be given credit where credit is do for this: he is a singer, songwriter, author, poet, painter, and a thinker. At the heart of his genius is not just a multi-talented musician, it his lyrics that spark the interests of millions and generations and are a subject of poignant interest. While his earlier work in the ’60’s was a herald of truth to the tension of the times, his more personal work in the ’70’s also paints a truthful picture for humanity: honesty in his emotional songwriting. So honest, in fact, that it’s safe to say I think Bob Dylan has written over the years a song for everyone in every type of relationship. Storytelling in its most poetic musical form: lyrics. Albums such as 1975’s Blood On The Tracks is a long time favorite, possibly because it’s full of emotion and storytelling, as exampled here in “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go”:

“Situations have ended sad/Relationships have all been bad./Mine’ve been like Verlaine’s and Rimbaud./But there’s no way I can compare/All those scenes to this affair/Yer gonna make me lonesome when you go.”

Even his work in the late ’60’s when he made the jump from acoustic to electric performances, much to his earlier fans’ demise, is just as important as his anti-war songs. Albums like Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited are just as crucial to knowing Dylan as to knowing his early work. He didn’t want to repeat himself, didn’t want to explain himself and didn’t have to. Much like the person he is, he says what he says and he doesn’t prefer to be boxed in a corner when it comes to his craft. He despised being called “a folk singer” by press, and he wasn’t afraid to challenge the likes of journalists when questioned why he made the change to take his music in a different direction. While fans of this time called his work “an abortion”; imagine how wrong they really were. Songs like Subterranian Homesick Blues and Maggie’s Farm became legendary and set a foundation for other artists to branch out their style. Even so, it’s his little gems I’ll suggest you listen to.

I could probably write an encyclopedia on Dylan, talk about him for hours, but I think the point of this entry is to go out and discover his work for yourself. Once you’ve appreciated him, you’ll never quite look at songwriting or the world the same way. I was lucky enough to see him several times live, and he never dissapoints. The first time was at the Illinois State Fair in 2000, 50 ft from the stage and probably the first and only time I’ve ever been starstruck. His songs will make you think, they’ll make you cry, they’ll make you laugh. His lyrics will touch you. He is equally an open book and a mystery.

And finally, yes, shameless self promotion, as I’ve done some artwork of Dylan in tribute to the man himself

A Few Dylan Classics:

“The Times They Are-A Changin’” * “Blowin’ In The Wind” * “Like A Rolling Stone” * “It Aint Me, Babe” * “Mr. Tamborine Man”

A Few Personal Dylan Favorites: (and this is condensed)

“She Belongs To Me” * “Tangled Up In Blue” * “Series Of Dreams” * “Tombstone Blues” * “Things Have Changed” * “Desolation Row” * “Highway 61 Revisited” * “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go” * “Buckets Of Tears” * “Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat” * “Dirt Road Blues” * “It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train to Cry” * “I Want You” * “Most Likely You’ll Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine” * “Don’t Think Twice (It’s Alright” *

Dylan Video Fun

“Subterranean Homesick Blues”

“Series Of Dreams” (an incredible song) View the awesome video here: I couldn’t embed it, sorry…youtube’s fault.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-gamWTze6g

“Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” (awesome song, awesome video)

If you get a chance to watch the Martin Scorcese documentary about Bob Dylan entitled “No Direction Home”, I highly highly HIGHLY recommend it! Have a great weekend everyone! Hope you find a place in your heart for Bob Dylan!