Bob Dylan has apparently gone stark-raving-mad and it is a joy to behold."Christmas in the Heart" -Dylan's 47th album- is a raggedy collection of Zimmy singing corny, old-favorite, holiday songs delivered with nary a hint of irony and rasped out in his deliciously, shredded voice.
And it is awesome. This is the most unexpected holiday treat since Bing Crosby answered the doorbell and invited David Bowie in for the still-inexplicable-to-this-day "Little Drummer Boy" duet.
The highlight of "Christmas from the Heart" is a raucous take on "Must Be Santa" that sounds like it would be right at home on a Pogues record. It's a mindbending Klezmer/jug-band party stomper. (See the video here. Embedding disabled)
This is probably the most left-field thing Dylan has done since his alleged embrace of Christianity resulted in the underrated "Slow Train Coming." Dylan deflates that entire brush-with-Jesus episode (and more) in the entertaining and enjoyable "Chronicles: Volume One."
Likewise, if you watch Scorcese's documentary "No Direction Home" the "Minnesota Man of Mystery" persona that has followed Dylan since time began, seems less like the master plan of a self-promoting folkie, then the result of overzealous fans and overreaching journalists. In the film, he scoffs at most of the absurd assumptions made about his intentions over the years. Maybe it's another mysterious "persona" on display, but if so, it's cynical and smart and coming from a guy who apparently knows how to laugh, while rolling around the bed with this crazy mistress we call fame and fortune.
In other Dylan news: in a recent interview with the British Classic Rock(1) magazine, KISS fire-breather, Gene $immons, claims that Dylan's wacky greasepaint get-up during the "Rolling Thunder Revue" was directly inspired by KISS (see photo above.) Like Gene says; 'If you don't believe me, you can ask him yourself.'
Yeah, dude. Like, I got him on speed-dial.
Sounds plausible anyway. Who are we to argue with the Bat-Lizard?
(1) The interview doesn't seem to be online. I read it for free in Barnes and Noble (which is kind of like the Internet; lots of free stuff to read and no obligation to buy anything.) Anyway, it's a good magazine if you are interested in whatever happened to Starz or need to fill in the holes of your knowledge of Thin Lizzy. Or maybe you wonder when that Trigger album is being reissued. That little tidbit is filed under "Best News of the Century!"
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2 comments:
Thank the Lord for Web Sheriff,
I was able to donate to the Food Programme and only because he provided a link to an official preview of B.D.'s version of "Must Be Santa."
People who downplay the act of piracy and it's effect on the entertainment industry are the same people who would turn a blind eye to the fact that Glenn beck raped and killed a girl in 1990.
What manner of gayosity is the Web Sheriff? He seems unconcerned that my previous post was vehemently in favor of stealing stuff from the internet.
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