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Title details for The Philosophy of Modern Song by Bob Dylan - Available

The Philosophy of Modern Song

by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
The Philosophy of Modern Song is Bob Dylan's first book of new writing since 2004's Chronicles: Volume One—and since winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016. The audio is narrated by an all-star lineup including Bob Dylan, Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman, Oscar Isaac, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Sissy Spacek, Alfre Woodard, Jeffrey Wright, and Renée Zellweger!
Dylan, who began working on the book in 2010, offers his extraordinary insight into the nature of popular music. He writes over sixty essays focusing on songs by other artists, spanning from Stephen Foster to Elvis Costello, and in between ranging from Hank Williams to Nina Simone. He analyzes what he calls the trap of easy rhymes, breaks down how the addition of a single syllable can diminish a song, and even explains how bluegrass relates to heavy metal. These essays are written in Dylan's unique prose. They are mysterious and mercurial, poignant and profound, and often laugh-out-loud funny. And while they are ostensibly about music, they are really meditations and reflections on the human condition. Running throughout the book are a series of dream-like riffs that, taken together, resemble an epic poem and add to the work's transcendence.

In 2020, with the release of his outstanding album Rough and Rowdy Ways, Dylan became the first artist to have an album hit the Billboard Top 40 in each decade since the 1960s. The Philosophy of Modern Song contains much of what he has learned about his craft in all those years, and like everything that Dylan does, it is a momentous artistic achievement.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    November 1, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781797129525
      • File size: 191119 KB
      • Duration: 06:38:09

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      This momentous work takes listeners deep inside the emotional narratives and cultural ethos behind 60 pop songs created over the past seven decades. Dylan's narration is quick and occasionally indistinct--a by-product of his intensity and in-the-moment engagement. It's a moving experience to hear this musical and literary giant deliver his takes on these iconic songs. His artistic and social sensibilities are in high gear, and the other remarkable cast members all narrate with equal engagement and charisma. They capture what Dylan says about each song, its cultural context, and the life of the writer(s) and artist(s) who wrote and/or performed it. Almost as one voice, the narrators create a flow of energy that adds immeasurably to the impact of Dylan's poetic writing. T.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from January 9, 2023
      Nobel-winning songwriter Dylan (Chronicles: Volume One) offers a marvelous survey of the recordings he loves. Across 66 chapters—each delving into a song recorded between 1924 and 2004—Dylan considers what a particular number might mean to listeners of many stripes: “Knowing a singer’s life story doesn’t particularly help your understanding of a song,” he writes. “It’s what a song makes you feel about your own life that’s important.” The passage on Carl Perkins’s “Blue Suede Shoes” pulls this off brilliantly, drawing a line from 1950s rockabilly through the past four decades of hip-hop and giving voice to the aggression required to protect one’s “point of pride”: “If you want to live and know how to live, you’ll stay off my shoes.” Chronicles: Volume Two this is not, but there’s plenty of unfiltered Dylan; his entry on Johnnie Taylor’s “Cheaper to Keep Her” swerves into a riotous screed on the divorce litigation industry, while his ode to the Grateful Dead’s “Truckin’ ” praises Bob Weir’s performance in a way that fans might describe Dylan himself: “The guy singing the song acts and talks like who he is, and not the way others would want him to talk and act.” There’s no end to the joy of joining this elusive and voracious artist in musical appreciation. Agent: Andrew Wylie, Wiley Agency.

    • Library Journal

      Starred review from March 1, 2023

      Nobel Prize-winning singer/songwriter/musician and American icon Dylan pens his first book in nearly two decades. This collection of more than 60 essays breaks down big music hits, overlooked ballads, and music staples. These aren't necessarily Dylan's favorite songs; rather, they are strong songs that provided him with inspiration. From Elvis Presley to Elvis Costello, from Bobby Darin to the Clash, Dylan shares the musical knowledge, philosophy, and insight that he has accrued during his storied career. Examining lyrics, beats, history, and more, each essay is written in Dylan's signature rambling, fast-paced style. While the book contains over 150 curated photos, the audiobook features an amazing full-cast performance from luminaries Jeff Bridges, Ren�e Zellweger, Oscar Isaac, Helen Mirren, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman, Rita Moreno, Sissy Spacek, and Dylan himself. Nearly half of the songs discussed are from the 1950s; others go as far back as 1924 and all the way up to 2003. Listeners may be disappointed to note that out of these 66 songs, only four are sung by women; more of the songs, about a third, are by people of color. VERDICT While listeners won't necessarily agree with all of Dylan's selections, they will likely enjoy learning about both obscure songs and chart-toppers. The all-star narration makes this audiobook shine.--Erin Cataldi

      Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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