I can still remember the first time I heard Infidels played on my mum’s record player; I had fallen in love, instantly. That’s why I was excited to soak up to the latest instalment from what can only be described as a roller coaster of a musical career, of Mr Bob Dylan. To be honest, Together Through Life, is also a tiny bit like riding on that roller coaster, (produced by his usual pseudonym, Jack Frost)
From lusty, samba opening track Beyond Here Lies Nothin,’ Dylan pummels through simple lyrics and south of the border sounds, which leads us into Life Is Hard, which is a solo whisky-at-the-bar ballad, somewhere in Texas, regretting the loss of someone close, the resident band joins in with his Spanish, yet bluesy guitar and transports you to somewhere Dylan has been a hundred times or more. The cover art also alludes to the worldly sounds and instrumentation encapsulated on this record. My Wife’s Home Town, is a fuming, pissed off Dylan, full of raspy, underground vocals, yet it’s simply big band blues at it’s best and sly, sneering lyrics ” I just wanna say that Hell’s my wife’s home town.”
Jolene, with a much more upbeat tempo and blues scale undertones, typical of Dylan, we can see he is definitely at his finest when backed with electric guitar solos and finely produced hooks. Tennessee vibes, deep vocals, positive lyrics and harmonica sounds shine through I Feel A Change Comin’ On and the most upbeat of all of the lot, closing track, It’s All Good, seems to lyrically encompass Dylans “final words” on it all – whether or not is actually “all good.” The track tells the story of the crumbling of our social, political, financial and environmental climate due to a myriad of factors, upon which Dylan comments thoroughly throughout closing track: ” Big politician telling lies, restaurant kitchen, all full of flies, don’t make a bit of difference” However, it seems, according to jovial, sneering, Dylan, “it’s all good.” Although vocally Dylan is slowly dismantling, his comments upon everyday life, is the kinda wisdom I love listening to, especially wrapped up in a chequered shirt, vest, and banjo.
This record becomes a collection of Dylan’s memories, regrets, fortunes and failures, and how they have changed over time. Worth a listen.
Originally published on: thedwarf.com.au