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 When simple is enough Nov 15, 2009
Stripped down folk like this thrives for one reason- talent. The talent to inject a weary charisma and weighty swagger in what would be bland, generic songwriting for so many other artists. ASOBD instead plays out as one of the master craftsman's most approachable, endearingly early efforts.
 I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now. Oct 20, 2009
This was Bob Dylan's fourth album, and the last album of his "folk music" period. Despite being musically similar to his previous albums, thematically it is quite different. Instead of being about "issues", as most folk music was at the time, the songs are more autobiographical. Anyway, the songs are great and this is another Dylan masterpiece.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Worst Dylan album. Ever. Aug 03, 2009
Okay, I'm making a pop cultural reference with my heading...paraphrasing Comic Book Guy off of The Simpsons cartoon series. It should also be noted I haven't listened to most of Dylan's albums...basically I've heard his first seven albums and Blood On The Tracks. In my opinion this album is easily his worst (I think I have the unremastered version of this cd, but that wouldn't really solve the problems that I have with this cd).
So, what's my problem with this album? Dylan is not at his sharpest, lyrically speaking, on this album. In my opinion, the songwriting is at a low level here, with the lyrics being self-conscious, wordy and opaque. He gets silly sometimes, but it can still be engaging though. Where he is not engaging is by being excessively wordy...pointlessly so. Whilst this album does have more than its fair share of shaggy dog stories, they are very demanding of your attention...i.e. it is the musical equivalent of being buttonholed by an accountant who chews your ear off...about the fascinating history of paperclips or some such. You're stuck, and they're just so insistent that you can't zone out, so to speak.
Oddly, I put a dot next to many songs on this album, which indicates that they are to some extent interesting or ok to listen to. A tick means that they I really like the song. However, all those dots don't seem to carry much weight with me when I score it...unlike an album such as Blood On The Tracks, which also has overly long shaggy dog stories...but that has the advantage of the rest of the album being good chill out music.
Anyway, my pick as the best song on this album...getting two dots next to it:
My back pages - a familiar sounding song...not sure if it reminds me of Hattie Carroll by Dylan, or something more recent, like a Kenny Rogers song. Has a catchy and whimsical chorus and the stringed instrument sounds like a ukulele. The lyrics are self-consciously confusing though.
Next best songs, in track order:
All I really wanna do - interesting lyrical style, features accoustic guitar and harmonica. The song sounds glitchy sometimes and I've got a note about the singing being sort of bad on this. Dylan demonstrates one of his signature moves in this song...he makes himself laugh.
Spanish Harlem incident - guitar is the only instrument used on this song.
I shall be free no.10 - the lyrics are whimsically kitsch...wouldn't say that they are his best lyrics, and they seem self-consciously bad too boot. Not sure, but maybe Muhammad Ali had said something about Dylan, because Dylan seems to be engaging in some sort of dialogue with Ali here...and Dylan seems to be kidding himself too. Would have to say that Ali could have written better lyrics than some of the songs on this album. This song is also of its time...a time when Americans feared the atomic mushroom cloud that the USSR could plant in cities all over America. Dylan plays harmonica in this song. Note to self - who is Barry Goldwater, who Dylan references in this song?
To Ramona - delicate accoustic guitar and harmonica featured. The vocal melody sounds familiar...not sure if Dylan is pilfering from others in this song, or if others have pilfered from Dylan subsequently.
Motorpsycho nitemare - has an interesting narrative to it (the opposite to this are his shaggy dog stories, which is where he fails to execute lyrically) but again his writing is not at its best here...he gets a bit silly sometimes. There are some more pop cultural references in this song which place it in time.
I don't believe you - a catchy song which is more 'sing-a-long-able' than his more self-conscious songs. Dylan plays harmonica. Song is about an odd woman.
It ain't me babe - has harmonica.
The rest, but not the worst:
Black crow blues - the piano and the harmonica are the only instruments played on this track.
The worst of Dylan...interminable shaggy dog stories:
Chimes of freedom - has harmonica. Dylan sings this in a way which requires your attention, making it demanding of you, without being rewarding. Buttonholing accountant song!
Ballad in plain d - his most annoying song, perhaps...ever, or maybe just on this album. He makes it 8 and 1/2 minutes long...just to prolong the torture! The song is a word picture about his lover and her sister. He plays the guitar in an annoying and distracted way, hitting bung notes. And his vocals have an annoying sing-song style to them. An interminable shaggy dog story. If speed metal merchants Slayer played these last two songs in my review, they'd be annoying...in a different way...it's just that at least they'd have the good grace to be over quickly!
That's all the songs on the album. Maybe giving this 3/5 stars is too generous on my part. Dylan albums that I recommend the highest are:
The freewheelin' Bob Dylan -accoustic folk of an engaging kind. "Masters of war" is a masterpiece. I don't say that a lot about Dylan songs. Not a huge folk fan.
The times they are a changin'- brings another mood to the table with this album...quite bleak, but it's nice to wallow in this gloominess. Title track a masterpiece.
Blood on the tracks - another change in mood. Apart from two annoying overlong and annoying shaggy dog stories, the album is quite mellow and easy on the ear.
Blonde on blonde - has electric guitar on this.
One of Mr Dylan's best, to be sure. Jun 17, 2009
"Another Side of Bob Dylan" was my first Dylan album. I bought it in the mid-60s, and have always enjoyed all of its music over the years. If you are a Dylan fan, this album is a must-have for your collection.
Classic, early Dylan! 4 and 1/2 stars! Apr 18, 2009
One of my favorite Dylan albums! What can I say? One of the greatest storytellers of all time! With lines like "I like Fidel Castro and his beard!!" You gotta love it! For those of you just getting into Dylan, start with this - it's his finest pre-electric album.
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