BBC Review
Indulge Dylan his whims and this is worth a spin come Christmas morn.
Nigel Smith 2009-11-02
Bob Dylan has always confounded his audience. The last time he released two studio albums in the same year was 1970. Then, Self Portrait infuriated fans and critics who couldn't believe the great 60s icon and revolutionary songwriter was putting out Gordon Lightfoot and Simon & Garfunkel covers. But Bob came good four months later with New Morning. While nowhere near as adventurous as the previous decade's classics, its laidback charm netted Dylan his sixth UK number one.
In 2009 it's the other way round. Together Through Life, released in April, was Dylan's first UK chart-topper since New Morning and critics praised it as another fine work in his late period resurgence, which began with 1997's Time Out Of Mind. Now, six months later, comes an album that's left even the most dedicated Bobcats puzzled.
Christmas in the Heart, recorded in May with the same touring band he used on Together Through Life, mixes traditional carols with seasonal standards. Anyone subjected to Bob's phlegmy croak through Hark the Herald Angels Sing at Midnight Mass would be more than entitled to ask the grizzled geezer in the pew behind to keep schtum. The secular numbers are more enjoyable. David Hidalgo's accordion gives Must Be Santa a south-of-the-border exuberance that's way preferable to any version of Feliz Navidad, and the steel guitar on Christmas Island conjures up wonderful images of Mai Tais and grass skirts rather than eggnog and woollens.
Dylan has been mining the heritage of American popular song more than ever on recent albums and his brilliant Theme Time Radio Hour – listen to an episode of the show and you'll quickly discover that he can't get enough of this stuff. The backing singers, sleigh bells and drum rolls on the likes of Winter Wonderland and Here Comes Santa Claus might seem cheesy, but their presence is a clear nod to the songs Dylan loves. In this regard Christmas in the Heart is as a better self portrait than his derided 1970 release.
Bob evidently had a great afternoon recording Christmas in the Heart and it's admirable that he's donating all proceeds in perpetuity to homeless charities (UK sales benefit Crisis). Without doubt this eccentric record demands a tolerance of his increasingly strained vocal stylings, but if you're willing to indulge Dylan his whims it's well worth a spin come Christmas morn.
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Yet another work of art from an all time great musician. Rollon christmas morn
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I bought this album this week. Some might say that Bob singing "I'll be Home for Christmas" sounds more like a threat than a promise, and that this whole album sounds like your - favourite - drunken uncle.
However, the fun and joy (as per the above review) really do come through. As such, it is one of the better charity records I've ever bought, and an unusual addition to the Dylan canon.
This album does make a welcome change to all the saccharine styled stuff that you tend to see released at this time of the year (I tend to like traditional carols, 70s cheese, and soul at Christmas and this will add a nice bit contrast come December).
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This album must be a joke. He sounds like Vic Reeves doing club singing. He's becoming a caricature of himself.
If this was released by an unknown artist, it would be widely ridiculed.
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But it's not from an unknown, it's from Dylan, who has often embarked on... tangents. He can be forgiven this indulgence given the greatness he's produced previously, and could do so again in the future. An unknown would never, ever emerge with an album like this!
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The fact that it's Dylan should be irrelevant really though. This album should be judged by the music on this album not on his previous achievements.
I also don't think this makes Dylan any less great. It is simply a poor and pointless offering in my opinion.
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Christmas in the heart is my favourite Dylan album since 'Infidels' or even possibly 'blood on the tracks'. Listen to the instrumentation and the sincerity of Dylans delivery.It is melodic, emotional, sentimental, sacred and fun( must be santa!).Is it because it is a Christmas album that some people dont like it? Dylan's religous albums were widely criticised by all but spiritually minded folk, bit now they are regarded as some of his finest work. As Bob Marley said of Dylan, ' Him no care mon, Him still do it'. Bob doesnt always do what is popular but follows his vision come what may.His voice sounds as rough as anything but thats Dylan. Good on yer Bob! Merry Christmas!
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I'd just like to comment that as someone who bought Self Portrait when it was first released, I'd say it was definitely one of Dylans finest albums. As a musician myself I turn to it time and time again as a songbook; and as for his version of Gordon Lightfoot's Early morning rain, just listen and have your heart broken as Bob's harmonica sails off into the sky where the singer can't follow.
Breathtaking
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Doubt I'd buy this. Dylan's too hit and miss.
Don't think he should have done it.
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Im affraid Bob this Is absolute garbage,I cant see the homeless getting much money,In fact they probably could have done better,I agree with the comment above,you might consider doing a duet with Vic Reeves and his club style.
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