John Wesley Harding Coolidge Hoover Roosevelt Truman Eisenhower Kennedy

Overall Album Score: 9.7 out of 10

Well ... You might say that Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde were rather tough pills (but ultimately satisfactory) to swallow. This time, in the good 'ole year of 1967, Bob decides to sit back and release a quiet album full of lovely, calm rock numbers. Even though much of this rock can be classified as being early country-rock, as someone who despises country-western, I can say that this is all in good taste! I don't hate it! In fact, if anything, I like it!

The major classifier between this album and the immediate ones Bob worked on before this is that the arranging is fairly minimal as well as quiet. This is electric Dylan being more straightforward and simpler.

If anything, I'm just happy that Bob Dylan is beginning to stay away from the blues. He was certainly competent with the derivative blues, but I never liked it too much. The style of these songs sound quite unique and original. (After all, this is 1967! It's at the helm of the whole country-rock movement!)

Also, Dylan no longer seems to care about protesting, nor do his lyrics indicate any major social injustices. In fact, this doesn't even take place during Dylan's time period! By and large, he paints a landscape of the Old West. It seems to me that Dylan was trying to narrate a realistic Western film or something.

Lastly, I'll address the album's length. It's only thirty minutes! Maybe that's the only reason this album seems to be an easy pill to swallow! I can't help it ... I have a short attention span. But, with this decreased time, Dylan seems to be less apt to resort to filler, which is completely unlike that Blonde on Blonde album! Also, most of these songs run under three minutes, which was highly unusual for Dylan! But, I prefer shorter songs as well as shorter albums usually ... especially if a 50-minute version of this album would say the same thing. The only time I like lengthy songs or albums is when it's an opera or particularly epic ... and the length of the song is vital to enjoying the epic. Speaking of epics, why didn't anyone offer a concept album based on Ben-Hur? Wouldn't that be a cool project?

Overall Album Score: 9.7 out of 10 (Bob Dylan goes forth to a new direction, country-rock, and he rules all.)

Average Song Score: 9.5 (Even though he is treading the waters of a brand new musical style, country-rock, Dylan's songwriting abilities do not falter.)

Album Tilt: 9.5 (It's cool, quiet, and oftentimes quite lovely ... though the 'lovely' part isn't consistently convincing. There are a few moments in here that have me wondering, anyway.)

Artist Rating: 10 (Dylan completely went against the electrified folk-rock that he exuberated on Blonde on Blonde and came up with an album that treads new waters within the rock movement, but it's uncharacteristically quiet.)

Track Reviews

John Wesley Harding 10/10

This is a very short, sweet, and simple tune that paints a character sketch of John Wesley Harding. (Yeah ... even though I am officially against addressing lyrics in music reviews, I'll make an exception with this album, because knowing the overall theme is vital to the enjoyment of this record.) As Dylan explains this character, John Wesley Harding is probably an outlaw, yet within his universe, he is a fair one. He might even be something like a Robin Hood character. This is pretty good. I like the melodic quality of the tune as well as the quiet atmosphere.

As I Went Out One Morning 9.5/10

Another strong, quiet song here. I think the rhythm section on this track is particularly strong. These lyrics here are certainly left up to interpretation and I could probably write 10-pages worth of commentary on what they could possibly mean. It involves the narrator meeting a woman who he knows wants to do him harm. And he rejects her. And then Tom Paine (the author of Common Sense?) comes a-running and apologizes for this woman. Yeaaaah. This is why I'm not a poet. For us cretins, the melody here (as well as that rhythm section) should be enough to keep us entranced.

I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine 10/10

This is a gorgeous song that depicts an earthly return of St. Augustine (someone whose history I am not at present familiar with). Again, this is something whose message that I have questions over. Or, perhaps the message is only secondary. This really does sound like something that would be done back in the 1800's! Its nature it prophetic and the subject matter is obviously derived from Biblical themes, which I assume was common in secular hymns of the day. By a very narrow margin, I'm going to call this my favorite track of the album.

All Along the Watchtower 10/10

A bit noisier and quicker, the lyrics are more mysterious to me here, as I again fail to grasp any theme. It seems to be about a joker and a thief who discuss about the meaning of life ... and I have no idea what happens at the end. Theories anyone? Again, the laid-back atmosphere is quite welcoming.

The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest 8.5/10

This is the first long song on here, running at slightly over five and a half minutes. That's not why I'm neglecting to give this track a full 10. Rather, that is because it repeats the same central idea over and over and over ... and it gets a little bit excruciating. On the plus side, however, the lyrics aren't nearly as cryptic as the previous track, the real puzzler. It even has a moral of sorts ... however, it's something you'll have to invest valuable brain waves on. It might be worth it!

Drifter's Escape 9.5/10

This is an amusing tale about a "drifter" who goes to court not realizing what he's done to get there. The jury and the audience seems to be reacting negatively to this drifter. And then a lightning bolt strikes the courthouse and the drifter leaves. Any sort of moral isn't apparent, but this situation does remind me a lot of the trial of Jesus Christ (except that he didn't use his supernatural powers to escape). Perhaps only slightly like that! The melody here is strong, though not as strong. The song's as quiet as the lot of 'em, which is good.

Dear Landlord 10/10

Hey! This sounds very much like a regular and very creative melody! What do you know? The material here is fairly cryptic as well. It also strikes me to be fairly supernatural. Perhaps it's a plea from a tenant to a landlord to not throw him out just because he is different. I don't know. I think the melody is fabulous, though.

I Am a Lonesome Hobo 9.5/10

This track is very straightforward in its theme and message. Indeed, this is probably the only song on here that can be easily construed as having social ties to it. It involves a hobo who was caught up in 'life's jealousies' and finds himself begging on the street and waiting to die. Again, the melody and the presentation of the song remains almost remarkably strong, except the melody I can say isn't the most memorable thing on the planet, especially when you compare it to "Dear Landlord."

I Pity the Poor Immigrant 9/10

I'm not a huge fan of this song. The theme is so hopeless and it is so depressing! Even though this song is touching, about an immigrant who I'm guessing finds out that American life wasn't all that it was cracked up to be and 'hates his life' and 'thirsts for wealth,' etc. It just doesn't manage to move me or enchant me as it might have. It's just a big downer. (*Sniff*)

The Wicked Messenger 8.5/10

I'm relatively unimpressed with the musical quality on this one. It's just doesn't strike me as a wonderful song, this time. However, it is still quite strong. The lyrics have Biblical elements ... but as I read them, they seem to be a little bit throwaway as well, as if Dylan might have considered them secondary himself.

Down Among the Cove 9.5/10

With stunted chords on an electric guitar used here, this one might have the most aesthetically interesting brand of arranging on this album, although certain elements of it sound more derivative than anything else. The lyrics here actually seem fairly normal ... surprisingly. In spite of that, this is a good song!

I'll Be Your Baby Tonight 9.5/10

Oooooooo... This is Dylan's most obvious attempt on here at country rock. The slide guitar! HOLY CRAPAMAMA! Even the rhythm section and the tune sounds country at its heart. I find it tasteful, though, officially.

Do you think this was album review was RIGHT? If'n ya do or don't, please leave some comments here. (You can leave any comment, actually. It doesn't even have to do with the album. I just want a comment).