Re: Bob Dylan
Favorite albums:
1. Blood on the Tracks - An uncharactersitically personal album for him, which is why I like it. Dylan typically wrote more about what was going on in the world, and during his "prime" years his lyrics became quite surrealistic as well. This album came out a few years later and it draws more from the personal experiences of an adult who has felt real emotions versus the optimism of a kid who still wants to change the world.
2. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - This was Dylan's breakthrough, and it was a game-changer, dissecting subjects like war and race. When you listen to it, try to put it in the context of 1963, when The Beatles were still singing about holding hands and doing the twist. Dylan also didn't seem to take himself too seriously at this point, which is refreshing. This is the best example of his folksy acoustic sound that casual fans are most familiar with.
3. Highway 61 Revisited - This album exudes cool. The look Dylan has on his face on the cover is exactly how the songs come across. Objectively, this is some of Dylan's best songwriting as well. The lyrics are amazingly complex. Probably the best example of his "plugged-in" sound, made famous on his tours with The Band.