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2006, nella nostra Era Vulgaris, dominata da gruppo scimmiottatori dei mitici sixities and seventies e da cantanti improponibili, una stella che rischiara da 44 anni il firmamento musicale si risveglia da 1 letargo durato ben 5 anni... e i risultati saranno all'altezza delle aspettative...
Bob Dylan, uno dei più grandi miti della seconda metà del '900, a 66 anni suonati decide di rimettersi in gioco.... chi ritiene che questi,dopo una carriera ricca di successi e riconoscimenti, abbia deciso di riposarsi sugli allori, dovrà ricredersi dopo l'ascolto di questo disco.P er apprezzare questo nuovo album del menestrello, bisgna prendersi del tempo, accompagnarlo ad 1 buon bicchiere di vino e lasciarlo lasciarlo stagionare nei nostri cuori. Immaginate i saloni aristocratici anni '50, nobili e dame che ballano ed avrete l'atmosfera di "Modern times". Dai tempi in cui Bob vagava all'interno dei Café del Greenwich Village e suonava nei diversi locali, tra cui il celebre Gaslight di Van Ronk, ne sono passate di primavere, ma anche di autunni e lunghi inverni.... però sembra che dal 1997 la primavera sia tornata a illuminare il cammino del nostro menestrello.
Il disco parte con "Thunder On The Mountain", un blues che sarebbe potuto uscire nel 1950, magari da un album del compianto Muddy Waters. La canzone è ben costruita su un giro di chitarre prettamente blues. Il ritmo è trascinante, anche se l'ascoltatore rischia di rimanere freddo di fronte ai brani più roots, come il sovracitato e le varie "Rollin and thumbling" (grande interpretazione vocale nel brano più tirato dell'album, ai confini tra il blues e l'hard rock), o "Someday Baby", o ancora "The Leeve's gonna Break", grande blues costruito su una base melodica semplice ed essenziale... Ad intervalli regolari, tra le canzoni più blues, si stagliano ballads dalla dolcezza e profondità inalterata dal timbro vocale ormai roco del Nostro, ma anzi rese ancora più profonde dalla sua voce straziante e straziata dagli anni e dai vizi. Bob prima ci trasporta in un'atmosfera festosa e gaia, ma poi ci fa tornare alla cruda realtà della vita, disseminata di sventure e paure, con le sue ballads dolenti. Però la speranza, che deve guidare la vita dell'uomo, riaffiora in più punti e ci permette di sognare... L'atmosfera, nelle ballads, è cupa, ma non claustrofobica. La luce si intravede, anche se è intermittente e discontinua.... come la nostre vite d'altronde.
Pezzi come "Workingman Blues#2" o "Nettie More" scavano un solco profondo nel nostro cuore e riescono con la loro semplicità a riscaldarlo. Proprio questi due pezzi possono essere annoverati tra i classici di Bob e non sfigurerebbero, credetemi, neanche di fronte a "Just Like A Woman". L'ultimo pezzo, "Ain't Talking", funge da commiato a questo album e consegna Bob Dylan e le sue poesie ritmiche all'eternità. Il resto delle canzoni lo lascio scoprire a voi... sperando che l'ora passata insieme a Bob possa illuminar anche a voi il cammino...
Come diceva la zia di Bob in "Chronicles vol.1"... "Happiness isn't on the road to anithing.... happiness is the road".... ma non aveva fatto i conti con un nipote che ha aperto a molti le porte del Paradiso....
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Thunder on the Mountain (05:55)
Thunder on the mountain, and there's fires on the moon
A ruckus in the alley and the sun will be here soon
Today's the day, gonna grab my trombone and blow
Well, there's hot stuff here and it's everywhere I go
I was thinkin' 'bout Alicia Keys, couldn't keep from crying
When she was born in Hell's Kitchen, I was living down the line
I'm wondering where in the world Alicia Keys could be
I been looking for her even clear through Tennessee
Feel like my soul is beginning to expand
Look into my heart and you will sort of understand
You brought me here, now you're trying to run me away
The writing on the wall, come read it, come see what it say
Thunder on the mountain, rollin' like a drum
Gonna sleep over there, that's where the music coming from
I don't need any guide, I already know the way
Remember this, I'm your servant both night and day
The pistols are poppin' and the power is down
I'd like to try somethin' but I'm so far from town
The sun keeps shinin' and the North Wind keeps picking up speed
Gonna forget about myself for a while, gonna go out and see what others need
I've been sittin' down studyin' the art of love
I think it will fit me like a glove
I want some real good woman to do just what I say
Everybody got to wonder what's the matter with this cruel world today
Thunder on the mountain rolling to the ground
Gonna get up in the morning walk the hard road down
Some sweet day I'll stand beside my king
I wouldn't betray your love or any other thing
Gonna raise me an army, some tough sons of bitches
I'll recruit my army from the orphanages
I been to St. Herman's church, said my religious vows
I've sucked the milk out of a thousand cows
I got the porkchops, she got the pie
She ain't no angel and neither am I
Shame on your greed, shame on your wicked schemes
I'll say this, I don't give a damn about your dreams
Thunder on the mountain heavy as can be
Mean old twister bearing down on me
All the ladies in Washington scrambling to get out of town
Looks like something bad gonna happen, better roll your airplane down
Everybody going and I want to go too
Don't wanna take a chance with somebody new
I did all I could, I did it right there and then
I've already confessed - no need to confess again
Gonna make a lot of money, gonna go up north
I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth
The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf
For the love of God, you ought to take pity on yourself
03 Rollin' and Tumblin' (06:01)
I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
Woke up this mornin', I must have bet my money wrong
I got troubles so hard, I can't stand the strain
I got troubles so hard, I can't stand the strain
Some young lazy slut has charmed away my brains
The landscape is glowin', gleamin' in the golden light of day
The landscape is glowin', gleamin' in the golden light of day
I ain't holdin' nothin' back now, I ain't standin' in anybody's way
Well, I did all I know just to keep you off my mind
Well, I did all I know just to keep you off my mind
Well, I paid and I paid and my sufferin' heart is always on the line
Well, I get up in the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade
I get up in the dawn and I go down and lay in the shade
I ain't nobody's house boy, I ain't nobody's well trained maid
I'm flat out spent, this woman been drivin' me to tears
I'm flat out spent, this woman she been drivin' me to tears
This woman so crazy, I swear I ain't gonna touch another one for years
Well, the warm weather's comin' and the buds are on the vine
The warm weather's comin', the buds are on the vine
Ain't nothing so depressing as trying to satisfy this woman of mine
I got up this mornin', saw the rising sun return
Well, I got up this mornin', see the rising sun return
Sooner or later, you too shall burn
The night's filled with shadows, the years are filled with early doom
The night is filled with shadows, the years are filled with early doom
I've been conjuring up all these long dead souls from their crumblin' tombs
Let's forgive each other darlin', let's go down to the greenwood glen
Let's forgive each other darlin', let's go down to the greenwood glen
Let's put our heads together now, let's put all old matters to an end
Well, I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
Ah, I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
I woke up this morning, I think I must be traveling wrong
07 Beyond the Horizon (05:36)
Beyond the horizon, behind the sun
At the end of the rainbow life has only begun
In the long hours of twilight 'neath the stardust above
Beyond the horizon it is easy to love
I'm touched with desire
What don't I do?
Through flame and through fire
I'll build my world around you
Beyond the horizon, in the Springtime or Fall
Love waits forever, for one and for all
Beyond the horizon, across the divide
'Round about midnight, we'll be on the same side
Down in the valley the water runs cold
Beyond the horizon someone prayed for your soul
My wretched heart is pounding
I felt an angel's kiss
My memories are drowning
In mortal bliss
Beyond the horizon, at the end of the game
Every step that you take, I'm walking the same
Beyond the horizon, the night winds blow
The theme of a melody from many moons ago
The bells of St. Mary, how sweetly they chime
Beyond the horizon I found you just in time
It's dark and it's dreary
I've been pleading in vain
I'm wounded, I'm weary
My repentance is plain
Beyond the horizon o'r the treacherous sea
I still can't believe that you have set aside your love for me
Beyond the horizon, 'neath crimson skies
In the soft light of morning I'll follow you with my eyes
Through countries and kingdoms and temples of stone
Beyond the horizon right down to the bone
It's the right time of the season
Somebody there always cared
There's always a reason
Why someone's life has been spared
Beyond the horizon, the sky is so blue
I've got more than a lifetime to live lovin' you
08 Nettie Moore (06:52)
Lost John's sittin' on a railroad track
Something's out of whack
Blues this mornin' fallin' down like hail
Gonna leave a greasy trail
Gonna travel the world is what I'm gonna do
Then come back and see you.
All I ever do is struggle and strive.
If I don't do anybody any harm, I might make it back home alive.
I'm the oldest son of a crazy man,
I'm in a cowboy band
Got a pile of sins to pay for and I ain't got time to hide
I'd walk through a blazing fire, baby, if I knew you was on the other side
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o'r
Winter's gone, the river's on the rise
I loved you then, and ever shall
But there's no one left here to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
Well, the world of research has gone berserk
Too much paperwork
Albert's in the graveyard, Frankie's raising hell
I'm beginning to believe what the scriptures tell
I've gone where the Southern crosses The Yellow Dog
Get away from all these demagogues
And these bad luck women stick like glue
It's either one or the other or neither of the two
She says, "Look out, daddy, don't want you to tear your pants
You could get wrecked in this dance."
They say whisky'll kill you, but I don't think it will
I'm ridin' with you to the top of the hill
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o'r
Winter's gone, the river's on the rise
I loved you then, and ever shall
But there's no one left here to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
Don't know why my baby never looked so good before
Don't have to wonder no more
She been cooking all day, it gonna take me all night
I can't eat all that stuff in a single bite
The judge's coming in, everybody rise
Lift up your eyes
You can do what you please, you don't need my advice
'Fore you call me any dirty names, you better think twice
Gettin' light outside, the temperature dropped
I think the rain has stopped
I'm gonna make you come to grips with fate
When I'm through with you, you'll learn to keep your business straight
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o'r
Winter's gone, the river's on the rise
I loved you then, and ever shall
But there's no one left here to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
The bright spark of the steady lights
Has dimmed my sights
When you're around me all my grief gives 'way
A life time with you is like some heavenly day
Everything I've ever known to be right has been proven wrong
I'll be drifting along
The woman I'm loving she rules my heart
No knife could ever cut our love apart.
Today I'll stand in faith and raise
The voice of praise
The sun is strong, I'm standing in the light
I wish to God that it were night
Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore
And my happiness is o'r
Winter's gone, the river's on the rise
I loved you then, and ever shall
But there's no one here left to tell
The world has gone black before my eyes
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Altre recensioni
Di Dune Buggy
Saremo sempre lì ad amare Dylan perché è Dylan, e questo ci basta.
La sua voce è come un fango che si è formato nella tradizione, è scivolato attraverso i decenni, ha impiastrato un po’ tutto, e ci piace sapere che sporca ancora.
Di jackpizzello
Bob Dylan ha una grossa importanza storica, fu lui a portare il rock tra le masse.
Il songwriting, che rimane sempre uno dei più belli della musica moderna, dei tempi moderni.
Di Viva Lì
"Bastano la voce di Dylan, una chitarra e un pianoforte per ricreare il mito di 'Masters of war' e 'Just like a woman'."
"Dylan rimane unico e inimitabile. Almeno fino a prova contraria."
Di j&r
'Modern Times' è un album a tratti noioso, a tratti meraviglioso.
La migliore canzone dell’album: Nettie Moore, pezzo bellissimo che si libra in volo grazie ad una delle più belle aperture melodiche del repertorio dylaniano.
Di Hungry
Una lezione di rock, isolata, perchè nessuna delle nuove leve della musica vuole attingere a quelle fonti ed a questa lezione.
"Dicono che la preghiera ha il potere di guarire, quindi prega per me mamma... ma oh, mamma, le cose non vanno molto bene".
