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."

[ladtx]

There is a lot of good music made in Texas that stays in Texas that the rest of the country is unaware of. I'm constantly and pleasantly surprised at how good it really is. Guy Clark's "The Dark" is one of his best, then there is Deryl Dodd's "New Tony Lamas". If you haven't heard "New Tony Lamas" yet you're in for a treat.

[theFIRMbss]

>Bob Dylan says modern music is worthless
>>Then he ought to feel right at home

Be fair! This might be the greatest album ever. It's in that ballpark . . .

[Constitution Day]

Her voice is so stunning! Glad you took a listen, even though it's not your style.

CD

[Screamname]

"I don't know anybody who's made a record that sounds decent in the past twenty years, really,"

20? Try 25 pal. The decline of Western music began immediately after the advent of MTV. It`s when sight when declared more important than sound for music, and when the music holocaust began, something that continues to this day. Hopefully one day it will be over and our grandkids can ask us how we ever survived this. Like Stevie Wonder says, for music, image never mattered much to him.

[oh8eleven]

Bob Dylan says modern music is worthless
He's right and it's been worthless for years.
The list of "Top 10 Tunes of the 80s and 90s" only has seven songs on it.

[Gay State Conservative]

He's a legend in his own mind.

I don't know how old you are,but I'm old enough to remember the release of his early work.As a songwriter,the stuff he did for his first five or so albums have had a greater influence on rock and folk music than any other single songwriter.

His early performances are also,in large part,classics.. whether you're talking about his acoustic or electric era.

[Froufrou]

Are you telling me this with a wigat on your head? ;o)

[Screamname]

You know, not for nothing, but how can he say that?? Obviously he hasn`t seen the new K-Fed video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDwBHWTGyFU

[fredhead]

Dylan's got a voice that sounds likes fingernails on a chalkboard.

[af_vet_rr]

"I don't know anybody who's made a record that sounds decent in the past twenty years, really,"

For once I agree with him (although a case could be made for some of Johnny Cash's last albums).

[Gay State Conservative]

One of these two albums is the finest he ever made.I can't,for the life of me,decide which one,however.

[GSWarrior]

"I don't know anybody who's made a record that sounds decent in the past twenty years, really,"

Well, here is one. There is an endless list of music being made today that sounds great.

[theDentist]

He's over-rated. I wouldn't buy one of his albums if it sold for a dime.

[Gay State Conservative]

Are you telling me this with a wigat on your head? ;o)

First of all,what's a "wigat"? Secondly,how old are you (if you don't mind my asking)?

[najida]

LOL!

My absolute favorite female singers have been Patsy Cline and Ofra Haza. Leann Rimes actually has a pretty voice too.
The rest I turn off most of the time.

Granted, Josh Turner is a joy to listen to also. But I still won't buy their CD's because there isn't enough desire to listen to stuff a second time.

My autobuys are Alabina, Tarkan, Natasha Atlas, Nancy Agram, Solace (hello Mr. Jeeves!) Omar Faruk Tekbilek and any of the "Rai" singers (Cheb Mami, Rashid Tayha...Cheb Nasri....Cheb Khaled has yet to record a bad song).

Waking up in the morning to Koto Drums is almost as good as coffee. And I actually know a few South American musicians that come down up here to play for festivals. The music is hauntingly beautiful.

There's also some great stuff coming out of the Slavic/Balkan areas these days that is surprisingly good and different.

The biggest loss in this country is the invention of the drum machine. We've lost the concept of rhythms, layered even, being just as much a 'melody' as the melody. So our music all sounds the same, and there isn't nothing reaching inside to grab you and make you actually NEED to hear a song over and over.

That plus we haven't a clue what a 'pretty' voice is anymore.

[najida]

Amen.

[Froufrou]

wigat is from the first Dylan I bought, or it may have been wiggat. It means wig hat. I am 54.

[andy58-in-nh]

There are some good artists listed right there (the DVD is actually from 1995). Steve Earle is an unrepentant lefty but writes damned interesting songs about people on the fringes of society. Charlie Daniels, of course, is unabashedly patriotic and conservative and plays a great fiddle. Townes Van Zandt may be the best country songwriter, ever. He died, too young, back in '97 (heart attack from a blood clot on his idol Hank Williams' birthday). Rodney Crowell is more well-known, and his songs have been frequently recorded by others (Making Memories Of Us being the most recent).

There is good music out there; you just won't hear most of it on the radio.

[SerpentDove]

>>Guy Clark's "The Dark" is one of his best, then there is Deryl Dodd's "New Tony Lamas". If you haven't heard "New Tony Lamas" yet you're in for a treat.

<<

I'll have to check out both of those.

It seems most good music is discovered by word of mouth (like we're doing here). I agree with you, Texas has great musicians, and Texas takes care of their musicians.

Do you play? I halfway play guitar and banjo, and pretty decent on drums.

[Gay State Conservative]

wigat is from the first Dylan I bought, or it may have been wiggat. It means wig hat.

Hmmm...OK.

I am 54.

OK then.Given your age,are you prepared to challenge my assertion that he was the single most influential songwriter of the 60's?