Rough and Rowdy Ways, Bob Dylan

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2020. The final one! Back to the future. 

Rough and Rowdy Ways, Bob Dylan, 2020, 1:10

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

On June 19, the Great One dropped a surprise album, and all anyone could talk about was the 17-minute nostalgia dystopia "Murder Most Foul." I liked that, but aside from its novelty length I don't think it's that much of a standout in the Bob oeuvre.  This album is mostly in the vein of his bluesy growler Together Through Life, one of my least favorite Dylan albums.  But there's a lot to love here, lots of those Dylan lines that make you suddenly stop, start upright, and say, "Wait, what now?"  Like in "Black Rider:"  You're digging the tough blues groove about some mysterious death-like figure and then you hear "Black rider, black rider, hold it right there / The size of your cock will get you nowhere."  With Bob, you just gotta jump into the wagon, love, throw your panties overboard.  If this turns out to be Dylan's last studio album, it will be a definitively apt one, with its looking back at the past through grim-colored glasses.  Favorite tracks: "False Prophet," "Goodbye Jimmy Reed," "My Own Version of You."

Ghosteen, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2019.

Ghosteen, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, 2019, 1:08

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This is the album born out of Nick Cave's grief at losing his son in a terrible accident.  This is the album in which he is saying that his son is here next to him, not in his heart, but with him.  It's a gorgeous work of art.  It's also terribly abstruse and poetic and personal and ethereal and insular.  It just is, this album; it doesn't ask for your approval or your understanding.  I think that you can no more quantify or criticize this album than you could a dream.  Favorite tracks: "Bright Horses," "Sun Forest."  It's difficult to take them out of context, however.

Semicircle, The Go! Team

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2018.

Semicircle, The Go! Team, 2018, :40

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Since I first heard these guys way back on (looks it up) August 27, I found out that the band is an ever-changing organism, led by one Ian Parton.  Their technique is to blend everything into an aural hurricane of shouty fun: obscure samples, funk, hip-hop, dance, indie pop, double-Dutch chants, horns, steel drums, and basically any sound that might make the song a banger.  Apparently on this album there are guest vocals from various choirs and high schoolers and a lot of other singers.  The result is a great deal of eclecticism, but all swagger and sunshine pop.  If you don't like it, you're still too old.  Favorite tracks: "Chain Link Fence," "The Answer's No - Now What's the Question?," "Semicircle Song."

Feel Your Feelings Fool!, the Regrettes

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2017.

Feel Your Feelings Fool!, the Regrettes, 2017, :46

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Superb throwback punk by sneering feminist band.  Confidence, assured sexuality, and dismissal of what you think about them are all on display.  Buzzy guitars at a breakneck pace, played with a skill that belies their teen years.  Favorite tracks:  "Jukebox Baby," "'Til Tomorrow," "A Living Human Girl."

Phone Power, They Might Be Giants

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2016.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Phone Power, They Might Be Giants, 2016, :45

I have been a devotee of the Church of They Might Be Geniuses for a long, long time.  The mid 1980s probably.  Maybe longer even than I've worshipped at the altar of the Unblemished Bob.  Anyway, that's a way of saying my assessment of this album is perforce a bit biased.  As it's a Dial-a-Song compilation of 18 tracks, it's definitely going to be a mixed bag.  But the high points of TMBG are high indeed.  I like that one song, "Got Getting Up So Down," began life as a Dunkin' Donuts commercial ("left sock, right sock / T-shirt, wristwatch / bus pass, laptop... I got gettin' up so down, I could do it in my sleep").  It says something either about me or about what the Johns are best at writing about that my favorite tracks all seem to be narrated by an insane person who's hallucinating things: "Apophenia," "Sold My Mind to the Kremlin," "It Said Something," and "Shape Shifter."

Anthems For Doomed Youth, the Libertines

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2015. 

Anthems For Doomed Love, the Libertines, 2015, :45

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

What a brilliant comeback!  Yes, you can call it a comeback.  Brilliant lyrics, gorgeous melodies, wonderful blending of lead vocals.  But it's far from a retread of their superb self-titled album; it's a step forward.  "Here's a story about the rules of death or glory / To be learned by heart by all children of men / It's the hour of the morning on the day after the dawning / When the sun they said would never set finally set again."  But then the sun did rise again on the likely lads' Albion, at least for a while.  The dry fatalistic poetry of the boozer, wrapped up in sweet guitar licks.  Favorite tracks: "Anthem For Doomed Youth," "Belly of the Beast," "Glasgow Coma Scale Blues."

High Hopes, Bruce Springsteen

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2014.

High Hopes, Bruce Springsteen, 2014, :56

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Hailed as a masterpiece by "Rolling Stone," panned as a dud by "Pitchfork" (counterpoint: Pitchfork only raves about albums by women or rap artists), this album of castoffs, covers and re-recordings of old material is perforce a mixed bag.  The Boss fills these odds and ends with Bono-like passion, sincerity, and what would be characterized as righteous anger if you're charitable and melodrama if you're not.  I hadn't ever heard the three covers (including the title track), so can't speak to how Bruce might have elevated or desecrated them.  I mostly found the album overblown and tiresome, even though I admire the rockstar power Springsteen put into it.  Favorite tracks: "Frankie Fell in Love," "This is Your Sword."

Magpie and the Dandelion, Avett Brothers

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2013. 

Magpie and the Dandelion, Avett Brothers, 2013, :43

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

This is indie-bluegrass-folk-rock.  I've heard some of their stuff, but not much.  I'm kind of underwhelmed, frankly.  I mean, this is good stuff.  But I much prefer super-talented Dallas duo the O's.  These guys have heart.  But there's not enough muscle.  Favorite tracks: "Open Ended Life," "Morning Song," "Skin and Bones." 

Break It Yourself, Andrew Bird

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2012.

Break It Yourself, Andrew Bird, 2012, :59

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Whistling, violin, atmospheric layers of sound, and a singing voice so beautiful that if it weren't so understated you would call it "operatic." Unlike these indie kids, Andrew Bird doesn't need to dazzle with noise or attempts at virtuosity. That's because he is a virtuoso, and everything he does smacks of virtuosity just because he's doing it. Listening to this album after a few days of what is usually thought of as "indie rock" is like returning to the adult table after spending time at the kids' food fight. Intelligent, emotive lyrics accompany skillfully-arranged, ethereal melodies. Favorite tracks: "Orpheo Looks Back," "Danse Caribe," "Eyeoneye."

Thank You Happy Birthday, Cage the Elephant

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2011. 

Thank You Happy Birthday, Cage the Elephant, 2011, :48

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Indie rock, heavily influenced by the Pixies and post-punk.  Shrieking, yelping vocals, heavy guitar riffs, driving beats.  I would say that this is almost a four star album.  However, the straight hardcore noise of tracks such as "Sabertooth Tiger" and "Indy Kids" not my cup of tea. However, the parts I like, I enjoy a great deal. Not highly original, but extremely effective.  Favorite tracks: "Right Before My Eyes," "Flow," "2024."