Posted on 08/22/2006 10:20:10 AM PDT by 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."
John Lennon
Johnny Cash,
Rod Stewart
Frank Sinatra
Tom Waits
Van Morrison
Joe Cocker
Mick Jagger.
All of the above have very limited range, but none are great singers. It often takes more then a voice to make a star.
Not really. It's just that my folks were Pete Seeger fans and I like Woody and Arlo Guthrie. Mostly, I can't stand Baez.
Yep, uh huh. "Everybody must get stoned!" That there is some great songwriting. Maybe we should get Bob to rewrite that tacky, tasteless "Star-Spangled Banner" for us.
Agreed. That has long been my favorite Dylan and one of my favorite all time as well.
Maybe something akin to a leopard skin pillbox hat.
I know your post was a bit tongue-in-cheek but what Dylan is protesting (and I tend to agree) are the production techniques. In an effort to make every song sound 'big' the production, engineering and mastering processes apply compression (mostly) and other effects. This results in 'brickwalling' where even the quiet parts of songs are at redline levels.
Its adoption coincides fairly closely with the grunge movement and the crash-bang-wallop sound of Nirvana and competitors/imitators (Pearl Jam, Nickelback, Stone Temple Pilots, et al), although Welsh producer Owen Morris claimed to have invented brickwalling when he mixed 'Definitely Maybe' by Oasis. Green Day's 'American Idiot' is a good example of this production technique.
It's the reason most modern rock, whether it's grunge/metal or not has that spread-stereo sound. While exciting to the ear at first it actually produces listening fatigue (for lack of a better term) since the sound level/dynamics never really change. Country is just as big an offender, with most 'Hot New Country' opting for a mishmash of chorus, reverb and delay (see: Shania Twain, Toby Keith, et al).
The contrast with older records (even those from the 80s) is quite striking since the dynamics of a take/performance/master are usually preserved.
This is one reason why bands labeled as Low-Fi and/or Indie often sound so different on their debut or early records, since they often lack or purposely avoid the studio polish on many modern recordings. By the same token, bands are often accused of selling out or going Hollywood once they sign big record deals and are paired up with big-time producers by their label.
There are always exceptions. Rick Rubin has a very distinctive style that has no problem with an up-front, punchy style often punctuated by pauses/silence.
Many people prefer oldies or classic rock for the songwriting/hooks/performance, but they may also be subconsciously avoiding the studio excesses of many modern releases.
Since production/sound engineers, schools and studios often rely on ProTools and other digital/computer applications the temptation to tinker is usually too great to resist and the music/message gets lost, as Dylan says (and I'm not a Dylan fan!).
That could be right. I tried to find it but I didn't really look all that hard. The site had a red background which I found obnoxious.
'Fess up: Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 is the only Dylan song you've ever heard.
It is funny how so many people who know so little about Dylan will come on here just to bash him.
Did you hear that Van is opening for the Stones in Oakland in Sept (I think)? Take care
Anyway, I wouldn't decry the Beatles, Hendrix, Don Henley, scores of others. I wouldn't say Dylan was a great lyricist. I guess he only joined the Wilburys out of boredom? Or maybe thought he'd teach Orbison something? [/s]
Three that I consider "finds" (although you may be aware of them):
Max Stalling (Texan)
Tom Russell (Canadian, moved into the Austin music scene about 30 years ago)
Jim Lauderdale (not a Texan, but still)
All *great* songwriters IMHO.
Fair enough.I despise Seeger's politics,although I realize he was quite influential in the 50's and 60's. I'm not as familiar with Woody's work as I should be but This Land Is Your Land is a great,great song.
My favorite folk performers are Judy Collins,Dylan and Baez.I've gotta disagree with you on her.yes,her politics stink but her early work was of genius quality,IMO.
You pick one song out of literally hundreds that he is written and write him off based on that? Is it required that every song he writes be a "great" song before he be classified as "great"?
Try "Forever Young" written in five minutes after he held his son for the first time. The song was written to express his love for his son and his hopes for the child's future.
How did you feel the first time you held your first child? And could you (or anyone) have expressed that feeling more poignantly then that song does?
Bob's right to a great extent, but there is still good music out there. Try to take away my Lucinda Williams and we'll have a problem.
"Heartworn Highways."
Thanks for the laugh. And thanks to my having lost my glasses this AM. Thought the title was, "Heartworm Highways," You know, a vets' nightmare? Highways infested with heartworms---like those maps you see in at the vets showing the areas with higher incidences of heartworm infestation across the country. On second thought, that's not a bad title LOL
We went to see Seeger and he ran me off. I was little, 5 or 6. He was rude. Woody and Arlo, for my money, are both quite a bit more touchy-feely, happy-happy and not so dark as Baez. I like Collins but I prefer Joni Mitchell. And there's always PP and M and I would argue they did as much as anyone for folk music.
placemarker
I played the guitar a little many many years ago and have a banjo I've worked with off and on although I haven't picked it up in a while. It's hard to play the banjo quietly and my wife gets a little irritated at the racket.
>> (the DVD is actually from 1995)<<
I meant the *documentary* was done in 1975...put on DVD in 1995.
Sorry.
;-)
Guy Clark, Joe Ely, Townes Van Sandt come to mind.
Lyle Lovett, not far behind (as a writer).
Another in the same league (but not a Texan) is John Hiatt.
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