Another Side of Bob Dylan (Plus, He's Naked)

Overall Album Score: 8.8 out of 10

Yay! By 1964 when this album was released, we were so far into Bob Dylan's career that it was ABOUT TIME we saw another side of the guy! (Okay ... I guess the title means that he returned back to form after that somewhat dull The Times They Are A'Changin'.) And, that's a good thing, too! Dylan even resurrected some of that great humor that was on present on Freewheelin'.

Okay. Here is my official stance on this particular addition in the Dylan discography. It's good. But, it's the album before Bringing It All Back Home, and it's not as good as THAT album. So, you know, when I'm fishing for Dylan albums to listen to, I don't often choose this one. This is the album cut right before Dylan would go electric and start making all those pioneering steps into developing rock-and-roll into a true art form. So, as expected, this is almost strictly a singer-guitar-harmonica album. (There's a little bit o pianer on the second track, though.)

It's essential for anyone collecting Dylan albums, but, like all of Dylan's folk albums, it's not a good place to start a collection. This is the second-most essential of Dylan's four folk albums. Purchase The Freewheelin' first. Then get this one shortly after. However, Another does show a little bit of growth. For one: the melodies, for the most part, are the best that we've seen in his discography thus far. Another: while Dylan was always the king of lyrics, these ones seem to grow even deeper!

Some people call this somewhat of an overlooked Dylan classic. And that makes sense. The Times sold really well, but Dylan didn't seem to enjoy cutting that album so much. Another is what Dylan would have rather done (and it's much better), but it wasn't very well publicized. Plus, it was followed up by Bringing it All Back Home, which is the prized chicken compared to this.

I also ought to mention that The Byrds (or, The Boyds) covered three songs off of this album for their debut Mr. Tambourine Man. And ... all you Byrds (Boyds) fans ... all these Dylan versions are better! :P

Well... I've run out of things to say about this album here in the introduction, but before I get on with the summary and track reviews, I would like to put a rather philosophical question out there on the table:

Why didn't Bob Dylan ever make a disco album? Can't you just picture that guy on the flashing checkerboards in a leisure suit and a cowboy hat dancing with the hot, new disco version of "Blowing [Hillary Clinton] in the Wind?" (I never thought such an image would be so nightmarish! And, I'm only glad to share it with my faithful readers.) That would be Bob Dylan's version of going Michael Jackson, for sure! Tank guudness it didn't happen.

Overall Album Score: 8.8 out of 10 (Bob Dylan delivers a solid set of folk stuff. I like this album. But I like Dylan's electric stuff better! I yearn for it! Gaaaaag!)

Average Song Score: 8.8 ('Tis a solid collection of pre-Electric Dylan if there ever was one.)

Album Tilt: 8.5 (Man... I put off reviewing this album FOREVER. Needless to say, I'm not too enthusiastic about it.)

Artist Tilt: 9.0 (I do very much appreciate Dylan's love for the art, however, and the only reason that I've ever enjoyed listening to this was that fact. Many of the songs here are very deep, which is exactly what good rock-and-roll songs ought to be. There are some terrific melodies here as well.)

Track Reviews

All I Really Want to Do 9/10

Aw! Bobby! I want to be friends with you, too! This song, being not one of the best tracks, is SOOOPURB nevertheless. It's about Bob Dylan not wanting to do stuff with somebody 'xcept be friends with somebody. It's memorable, but it fails to incite emotions in me. What can I say? I'm a coldhearted doodiehead.

Black Crow Blues 8.5/10

Ah! Here's an early taste of electric-era Dylan. (Even though the only deviant instrument here is the piano.) Other than that, it's not a major standout in the album. It's not exactly an upbeat number, but it's pointed in that direction.

Spanish Harlem Incident 8.5/10

Slowly-played ... it's not too powerful ... but the melody is good (which was later given Byrds treatment) and Dylan's vocal performance is as good as usual. Good track!

Chimes of Freedom 9.5/10

This is a very serious, and a kinda cryptic song. (I'm not too positive what it's about. Sorry!) The song is fairly long (over seven minutes) but it's a very good song that, above everything else, is very interesting. Sorry I couldn't give it a 10. It might have deserved that, but it just doesn't seem to strike me as 10-worthy.

I Shall Be Free No. 10 10/10

Well... when I'm casually listening to this album, this track is really the highlight. This is one of Dylan's silly songs. Though, it might not be as melodically pleasing as "Chimes," but it's not supposed to be. (Dylan basically talks this one.) But, it is a funny song! Yay! Good luck with the Dean of Women, Bobby.

To Ramona 8.0/10

This is song has one of the most beautiful (read: simple) melody in the whole album, but I find it rather boring, especially after coming after those previous two tracks. It's still an excellent number.

Motorpsycho Nightmare 9.5/10

What can I say? I like funny songs! This song tells a very funny story about a young doctor who is stranded at a farm and announces that he likes Fidel Castro. (Uh oh!) This song is in almost the exact style as "I Shall Be Free No. 10," and I like both songs almost equally. Yay!

My Back Pages 10/10

Well... here's a very beautiful melody! The (cryptic) lyrics are really beautiful, as well. I enjoy this song quite a bit better than "Chimes of Freedom," so I'm going to call this track the best of the album. (I think this track has more of a captivating quality than 'Chimes.' (The Byrds also covered this song in their Younger Than Yesterday album whose title was probably derived from these lyrics.)

I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Met) 8.0/10

It's not a phenomenal song, but it's solid. The melody is fine and the lyrics are pretty good, which is about a guy's girlfriend (or ex-girlfriend, maybe) who pretends they've never met. Yay. Okay.

Ballad in Plain D 7.0/10

Oooooooo. When I'm listening to this song casually, I can take it in easily. But listening to it closely, the song is too long, too slow, and rather dull. But, nevertheless, it is a solid 7-earner. It's not a weak enough link to ruin the album ... I don't skip this track ... it's just not the album's greatest songs.

It Ain't Me Babe 9.0/10

Being a fairly complex melody, I feel my brain cells growing by listening to it. It's a great song ... albeit, it's not particularly memorable.

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