Bob Dylan says modern music is worthless

Entertainment Weekly ^ | 8/22/06 | Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bob Dylan says modern recordings sound "atrocious," and even the songs on his new album sounded much better in the studio than on disc.

"I don't know anybody who's made a record that sounds decent in the past twenty years, really," the 65-year-old rocker said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

Dylan, who released eight studio albums in that time, returns with his first recording in five years, "Modern Times," next Tuesday.

Noting the music industry's complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, he said, "Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway."

"You listen to these modern records, they're atrocious, they have sound all over them," he added. "There's no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just like ... static."

Dylan said he does his best to fight technology, but it's a losing battle.

"Even these songs probably sounded ten times better in the studio when we recorded 'em. CDs are small. There's no stature to it."

[rawcatslyentist]

All this machinery making modern music
Can still be open hearted
Not so coldly charted
It's really just a question of your honesty, yeah
Your honesty
One likes to believe in the freedom of music
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
Shatter the illusion of integrity~~~~Neil Peart Rush

[pissant]

Dylan. Head and antlers above every other pop star since the he came on the scene. Dylan's equals are people like Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and Miles Davis.

[Lurking in Kansas]

Dylan's equals are people like Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and Miles Davis.

No, Dylan had no equals.

;-)

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

"In my day, life was a carnival! We entertained ourselves! We didn't need moooovin' pitchurrrres. In my day, there was only one show in town -- it was called "Stare at the sun!" ... That's right! You'd sit in the middle of an open field and stare up at the sun till your eyeballs burst into flames! And you thought, "Oh, no! Maybe I shouldn't've stared directly into the burning sun with my eyes wide open." But it was too late! Your head was on fire and people were roastin' chickens over it. ... And that's the way it was and WE LIKED IT!"

[andy58-in-nh]

Dylan needs to look deeper.

Agreed. He's more than right about the state of "pop", but there is some really good music out there that you won't hear on FM radio. In my mind that would include Robert Earl Keen, Fred Eaglesmith, Hayes Carll, Rodney Crowell, and Dwight Yoakam (you might actually have heard him on the commercial airwaves once or twice).

[SerpentDove]

Hey, ladtx,

A friend of mine just gave me a really interesting DVD, called "Heartworn Highways". It's a documentary done in 1975 or so, and it has Steve Earle, Larry Jon Wilson, Gamble Rogers, Rodney Crowell, Charlie Daniels, Townes Van Zandt, etc.

I found it very interesting.

It's on Amazon, if you want it. I make not nickle one, so I'm not selling anything.

[scott says]

New album- "Modern Times " comes out in a week.

http://www.bobdylan.com/moderntimes/home/main.html

I hope its good, I haven't heard much about it.

[najida]

We don't make 'music' anymore.

All the singers sound the same,
yelling, big gestures and emoting is mistaken for singing talent, even the lyrics are worthless.

I haven't bought "western" music in years (OK, I did pick up a couple of classical and C&W CD's at Goodwill).

World music is where the actual music and beautiful voices are found these days.

[SerpentDove]

See #26

[sully777]

I dunno. Be Yourself by AudioSlave is a great song.

Someone falls to pieces
Sleeping all alone
Someone kills the pain
Spinning in the silence
She finally drifts away
Someone gets excited
In a chapel yard
And catches a bouquet
Another lays a dozen
White roses on a grave

And to be yourself is all that you can do
To be yourself is all that you can do

Someone finds salvation in everyone
Another only pain
Someone tries to hide himself
Down inside himself he prays
Someone swears his true love
Until the end of time
Another runs away
Separate or united
Healthy or insane

And to be yourself is all that you can do
To be yourself is all that you can do
To be yourself is all that you can do
Be yourself is all that you can do

Even when you've paid enough
Been put upon or been held up
Every single memory of the good or bad
Faces of LUCK
Don't lose any sleep tonight
I'm sure everything will end up alright
You may win or lose

But to be yourself is all that you can do
To be yourself is all that you can do
To be yourself is all that you can do, (fade out)

[Tijeras_Slim]

New album- "Modern Times " comes out in a week.

That'll knock Paris Hilton right off the charts. ;)

[YCTHouston]

Heartworn Highways is great. Seeing Guy Clark, Townes, Rodney Crowell and Steve Earle when they were all young and just getting started writing songs, and already better than most of the pop country out today.

They finally put the soundtrack out on CD; I happily own both versions.

[Constitution Day]

I saw Neko Case perform live in April.

I have every single CD of hers and simply can't find enough good things to say about her.

[pissant]

Those mentioned are at least in the same leauge. Unlike Jagger, Lenon, etc, etc.

[Gay State Conservative]

I'm not sure if he's slamming the quality of the *recordings* or the quality of the music itself.If he means the latter,I agree 100%.

There precious little that's been released since the early 70's that's worth a bucket of spit.

[pissant]

If it approaches his last two albums in quality, I'll be happy.

[sully777]

Thanks for the post. We all got a good laugh out of it.

[Constitution Day]

Dylan hosts a show (Theme Time Radio) on XM Radio.

It's pretty good, but I still can't get used to him as a DJ.

[najida]

Thanks!

She does have very pretty voice (style/lyrics isn't my cup of tea) but it's nice to hear someone actually sing!

[pissant]

Dylan Ping