Light On Dark Water

Bob Dylan: Duquesne Whistle

Weekend Music

Dylan has a new album, Tempest,  coming out in a week or so, and this video for one of the songs was released a few days ago. I really hadn't planned on buying the album, but I like this song. Be warned that the video takes a rather violent turn somewhere past the three-minute mark. Someone suggested that it's meant to be a take-off on the romantic comedy cliche where the boy, smitten on sight by a strange girl, does something silly and sweet to get her attention. Maybe so. At any rate, here she thinks he's a scary stalker, and he gets into big trouble, charming the girl only in the dreams that come to him after he's been beaten unconscious. 

 

An interviewer asked Dylan whether the album's title was meant to be his last, and the title an allusion to Shakespeare's last play. He replied, "Shakespeare's last play was called The Tempest. It wasn't called just plain Tempest. The name of my record is just plain Tempest. It's two different titles."

Also in music: The Avett Brothers have a new album, which can be heard online at NPR for some limited period of time. I've heard only a few songs by them, and they were all outstanding. The only reason I haven't investigated them further is that there is just so much more music available than I can listen to, and I haven't gotten around to them. I haven't listened to this yet but thought I would mention it.

5 responses to “Bob Dylan: Duquesne Whistle”

  1. Ellen

    Wow, I really liked that too…. maybe I’ll buy that and the last Tom Waits album I’ve neglected for so long….

    Reply
  2. Mac

    I’m sure you would not regret buying the Waits album, although it probably also wouldn’t be your favorite. Buy the “deluxe” version because one of the bonus tracks is one of the best on the album. I think I’d like to hear the Dylan before buying it, though.

    Reply
  3. Craig

    I like that interview with Dylan. He seems a bit prickly.

    Reply
  4. Grumphy

    I’m buying it on the basis of this track, which I heard via NPR last week.

    Reply
  5. Mac

    Time for me to put in a plug for Rdio. For $5 a month you can stream a huge selection of music to your computer. For $10, you can include mobile devices. It’s like Spotify, but in my opinion more comfortable to use. You can also purchase music, I think for 99 cents/track or 9.99/album. Most of Dylan’s catalog is on there so I’ll probably wait to here this album there before I buy it. Not sure if it’s available outside the U.S., though.
    I liked that interview, too. The “two different titles” bit is funny.

    Reply

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