HOT on the heels of the recent Bob Dylan Basement Tapes reissue comes another appealing set of 20 tracks using Dylan lyrics that initially went unused from the original BT sessions 47 years ago.
Producer T-Bone Burnett, along with Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and Marcus Mumford (Mumford & Sons), have created an album worthy of comparison to Dylan's own high-water works. It may be that the key to the kingdom lies in the lyrics, but the musical and vocal heft this talented quintet provide is what will keep you coming back to these songs. Everyone here, even old Elvis, sings like they mean it. There are no weak moments and the commitment to the cause, to bring these dusty words into the present, works on practically every track.
One wonders why Dylan found these unusable at the time, but to have songs like Kansas City, Nothing To It or Duncan and Jimmy brought to life again is ultimately the sweetest sound of all. Wouldn't it be swell to have Dylan cover these arrangements to complete the trifecta?
DOWNLOAD THIS: Duncan and Jimmy, Card Shark
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