Grade: B+
Fewer names in music stand in greater totality than Bob Dylan.
In the five decades since his debut release with Columbia Records, he’s released 37 studio albums. His latest, "Fallen Angels," released May 20.
Similar to his 2015 release, "Shadows of the Night," this album seeks to uncover songs from the Great American Songbook. The 12-track album features Dylan covering classic songwriters like Sammy Cahn and Hoagy Carmichael, and almost every track had once been recorded by one of Dylan’s long proclaimed heroes: Frank Sinatra.
Never one to shy away from molding his sound throughout the years, it’s certainly interesting to hear Dylan take on the East Village jazz club vibe. Though he spent most of his years as a folk and rock singer, his passion for jazz is long standing.
His first Sinatra tribute can be traced all the way back to his "Basement Tapes" from 1975. There’s no doubt Dylan is a big admirer of jazz, now if only he sounded more comfortable doing it.
Dylan has never been a crooner. He’s always disregarded pop music’s quest for vocal perfection, and we loved him for it. His music was - and still is - great because no one could sing Dylan except for Dylan. His distinct, scraggly voice felt perfect for "Highway 61" and "Blonde on Blonde," but here it feels slightly strained.
The album’s leading single “Melancholy Mood” is a smoky tune originally performed by Sinatra. Dylan sings his cover in a wistful, hushed tone while delicate guitars slink underneath him.
No doubt it’s an easy-listening track, and the singer’s gritty tone provides a nice foil to the light arrangements. But for an artist whose trademark lyrics can twist their way around any melody, “easy-listening” covers just make us more anxious for original material.
This exists for a majority of the album, until it gets a much-needed shot of energy with “That Old Black Magic.” The lively swing rhythm puts a fire under Dylan’s feet, and we can almost hear the smile in his voice as he brings the song to a close.
All in all "Fallen Angels" is a worthwhile listen. Though it’s not his best work, it’s still decent music.
It’s one of America’s best singers singing America’s best songs, and doing it in that transcending manner only Dylan can do. Though it might not rival the poignant folk songs of 1964 or his epic electric performance at Newport, "Fallen Angels" serves its own purpose in the singer’s repertoire.
Sure, it would have been great to get his classic tongue-in-cheek commentary on Donald Trump or the Syrian refugee crisis, but Bob Dylan has matured past his role as society’s spokesman, and not without due respect.
He’s certainly done more than his share of revolutionizing music and social constructs.
Maybe it’s selfish of us to ask any more from him.
Maybe it’s time to let Dylan age with grace and jazz, if that’s what he wants.
svanderv@indiana.edu | @the_whimsical
