Bob Dylan
Rough and Rowdy Ways

Release Date: 2020 | Tracklist

Each song on Rough and Rowdy Ways is deceptively complex. At its core, it’s simply another blues rock album, not entirely different from the numerous such albums Dylan’s put out in the past 20 years. But repeated listens reveal an attention to detail that propels it above the rest, and it becomes apparent that Dylan is still implementing the subtle flourishes in his songs that make them so captivating. Despite this, Rough and Rowdy Ways sounds like it was almost effortless to make. The songs slowly unfurl in a very organic way, but the added details show that it’s not actually a lack of effort Dylan puts forth here. He’s just been developing his songwriting ability for so long that he’s capable of releasing an impactful and well structured album just one year shy of turning 80 years old.

These details manifest in the subtleties of the album’s instrumentation, as well as Dylan’s witty but poignant lyricism. Each track is built on a fairly simple foundation, but there are always added little melodies or guitar licks to embellish them and make them more interesting. Unfortunately, the album features a flaw that many of Dylan’s later albums suffer from, which is that many of the songs are simply too long. The added details I mentioned are sometimes not enough to make a six and a half minute song compelling from start to finish. Because of this, the album can drag at times, which is a shame. But since the songs are so well composed and Dylan’s lyrics and delivery are so on point, it remains interesting overall.

Of course Dylan has been known for his lyrics throughout his whole career, but on Rough and Rowdy Ways he strikes a near perfect balance between humour and honest reflection. On the opening track I Contain Multitudes he sings “I paint landscapes and I paint nudes, I contain multitudes.” I can’t speak for everyone, but I find it hilarious listening to a 79 year old Bob Dylan describe the multifaceted nature of his personality by describing the things he likes to paint. And the way he drags out the word “multitudes” lets you know he’s in on the joke, having just as much fun singing it as I do listening to it. But elsewhere on the album, he gets real about his own mortality and acceptance of death, singing “I’ve already outlived my life by far” on Mother of Muses. And on “My Own Version of You,” one of the stranger Dylan songs I can remember, he details his search for body parts (“limbs and livers and brains and hearts”) in order to reconstruct and bring back to life someone he lost. On one hand it’s funny and playful, but also dark given how real the concept of loved ones and friends dying must be to a man of his age. This variety found within the lyrics keeps the album interesting and keeps the listener guessing. On top of that, Dylan’s vocal performances are somehow better than on previous albums like Tempest. By taking a slightly more subdued approach, his voice actually sounds stronger, and really helps to facilitate the ideas he conveys with his lyrics.

Overall, Rough and Rowdy Ways is another excellent bluesy rock album from one of the world’s most prolific songwriters. It drags at times, but the quality of the album’s arrangements, as well as some truly fascinating lyrics make it stand out as his best album in a long time. I don't think anyone really knows how many more albums Dylan has left in him, but if this is his last it's a strong note to go out on.

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