The Philosophy of Modern Song

De: Bob Dylan

Narrado por: Bob Dylan, Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman, Oscar Isaac, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Sissy Spacek, Alfre Woodard, Jeffrey Wright, Renée Zellweger

Duración: 6 h y 38 m

Resumen del Editor

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.

©2022 Bob Dylan. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fun and Instructive

The audiobook is what this book is mean to be. I can imagine just reading words on a page, but hearing them is far more fun at least, if not more interesting. The choices of who would read each part was brilliant at times and, at times, questionable. But always good in the sense of not haven’t all these stories and insights tied to one voice. It’s good Dylan’s own voice is the default reader throughout, but also good that he’s not the only reader. The writing is unexpectedly Dylanesque in that is clear and concise, strong with images and in its phrasing The writing can verge on poetry without becoming syrupy or poetically obscure. It’s a well-written, well-thought out, well-executed audio and intellectual experience. It will also teach almost any serious music lover something new about music in general and the specific songs covered in particular.

Bob Dylan’s Narration is Very cool

Bob Dylan should have narrated the whole book. Entertaining and fun to listen to him read lyrics by other writers.

Amazing book!!

This book is like a music appreciation class taught by 80 year old Bob Dylan

Wonderful walk through songdom

Beautifully produced with an ensemble of voices led by Bob’s. I read the book first and then listened to it combined with listening to the songs. It was a thoroughly fun and enlightening listen.

Brilliant

Bob Dylan can analyze a song as well as he writes one. I learned more about music in this book than in almost everything I've read or seen. And I am a former disc jockey! His brilliant and entertaining analysis of all genres of music is riveting. This book is as good as his songs!

This Nobel Prize for Literature Winner is a pretty good writer

A special audiobook with significant cultural icons, artists, and Bob Dylan himself reading his words, presents an opportunity to delve deeper into the well known, obscure, or nearly forgotten songs inspiring his own unique contributions to the art. Toggling between narration and a music platform is a must. I’d like to commission Bob to comment on other songs I might have wanted him to include. I’d ask for more female artists featured (how about You Don’t Own Me?), but Cher’s Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves, and Nina Simone’s Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood were revelatory high points. There were many insights, historical curiosities, and other cool moments. Together with 2020’s amazing Rough and Rowdy Ways, I’m very much a fan of octogenarian Bob Dylan.

Awesome

It doesn’t get better than this. Funny, wise, thought provoking, conversational and unique. Read by a host of amazing actors as well. One of my favorites for sure

Dylan reacts to the evolution of Pop Music

I really enjoyed Dylan’s journey through the last few decades of Music from Uncle Dave Macon to The Fugs, Sinatra, Elvis, and The Eagles.

His knowledge and understanding of the way Music has changed over the years is incredibly wide and deep. His Stream of Consciousness expression of reactions to these sixty-six songs is both challenging and educational.

I listened to the book with instant access to a Spotify Playlist of each song. I would heartily recommend this approach to anyone reading this work. Dylan’s musings are very personal and don’t really follow the usual historical analysis one might expect. He just pours out his gut feelings to each piece, sometimes reacting to the lyrics, performer of the impact the song had on the audience. It’s quite enlightening.

Re-listening and remembering this wide-ranging collection is worth the price of admission. Having the iconic American Poet as your tour guide is a bonus. Five Stars *****

Zimmerman Riffs on Song

Even though I'm a professional songwriter, I have never been a huge Bob Dylan fan. But while laid up in a cabin, with a busted foot and a bad cold, Bob's rap like readings were just the elixir I needed.
And a great cast of characters.
I listened to each song before the chapter started and it really brought it to life.
Loved!

Bob fans will like this

The breakdown of thoughts behind the songs gives insight to what some are thinking when listening or writing!