Blonde On Blonde
by Bob Dylan

From buzzdainer TOP 100 COMMENTER 02/06/2016 03:19 | #158816 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

The way I feel about this album is best represented by the scene in High Fidelity in which Jack Black's character, Barry, describes not owning it as "perverse." That about sums it up. Song for song, this is finest folk rock album ever made. "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" is probably the highlight for me, but there's not a weak track here. (Edited)

My favourite Dylan album. It's sort of a combination of rock,blues,folk,and country, and at the same time it's none of these, I guess it's that wild mercury sound that Bob alluded to. Gone is the vitriol of his last album, and replaced with a cynical sarcasm, and a bit more humour. There's definitely a smirk on Dylan's face on the first track, rainy day women nos:12&35, and certainly again on the hilarious, leopard skin pill box hat. My personal favourites are, the glorious, visions of Johanna, the beautiful, just like a woman, and the absolutely gorgeous, sad eyed lady of the lowlands. Other standouts are, one of us must now, and, absolutely sweet Marie, which features my favourite line on the record, 'anyone can be like me, obviously, but not many can be like you, fortunately ', brilliant. Stuck inside of mobile with the Memphis blues again, is also another one of Dylan's masterpieces, a stunning track, Bob on top form here. Elsewhere, there's the lovely, I want you, and the funny, fourth time around, which still doesn't sound like Norwegian wood to me. An outtake entitled, she's your lover now, could have been another wonderful moment here, but it was never quite finished off properly, which is a shame because it had a lot of potential. That Bob was able to leave off tracks like that, just shows that he's on the top of his game here. It's a fantastic album, full of all the invention, originality, and wit, that's so representative of Dylan at his best. Perfect. (Edited)

When I first bought this album in vinyl format 20 years ago I nearly switched it off after the first two songs. Pledging My Time and Rainy Day Woman seemed like mindless throw aways. But then the pace slowed as Visions of Johanna came on. That was something else and so I persevered. The next song was to become one of my favourites - the relentless but also melodious One of Us must Know. How he managed to get that grating voice of histo be even mildly pleasant on the ear, I dont know, but he managed it here. And then three of the next four songs were some of the strongest numbers I had ever heard. I loved the whimsicality of side 3 but really it was only a lead up to the magnificence that was awaiting me on side 4.
Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, is probably the greatest epic ever written. This is Dylan reaching heights that few have ever reached, and for all his talent and genius, he would never reach again.
One or two duds should not take away from the splendor of this piece of art. And I've actually grown to like Rainy Day Woman. Indespensible in your collection! (Edited)

Highway 61 is a madcap explosion that feels like a party bursting at the seams. Blonde on Blonde is the morning after that party. With some of Dylan's best ever lyrics, he takes more of internal reflection than in his previous work, and creates a melodic epic that explores love, loss, light, darkness, comedy and tragedy. Truly one you should not skip over. (Edited)

Bob Dylan is actually the best folk artist in rock history. He is also one of the first rock artists to have released a double album with Frank Zappa. This album is called "Blonde On Blonde" and is simply the most ambitious album of Dylan's extraordinary discography. This album is an incredible masterpiece. It would probably be in my list of the 10 most essential rock albums. Dylan is actually my favorite songwriter. It is impossible to love Dylan without loving "Blonde On Blonde", IMPOSSIBLE! The 73 minutes of the album are exceptional and never tired. Worship of the cult.

10/10

Best track: "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" (Edited)