Jakob Dylan - Seeing Things (2008)

The children of music's biggest legends who pursue their own careers often experience mixed blessings. On the positive side it is a lot easier for them to get their music heard and recorded due to their connections while other artists who are just as talented often struggle to earn even a small amount of attention. On the down side they're almost always compared negatively to their far more famous and accomplished parents instead of only on their own worthiness.

Jakob Dylan is one of those offspring. It's not right, but The Curse Of The Famous Parent is going to hang over him forever. So, because The Wallflowers' leader deserves the attention he has earned on his own without being burdened by unobtainable expectations other people have assigned to him this review of Seeing Things (2008) will not be compared to Bob Dylan's work in any way. It will be discussed only on its own merits.

Dylan has recorded two solo albums apart from his band. Seeing Things is the first one and it's a satisfying, folk-oriented, singer-songwriter outing featuring the star on acoustic guitar and vocals.

The album's sparsely arranged tracks are courtesy of Rick Rubin who has run sessions for The Avett Brothers, Johnny Cash, and Neil Diamond. Rubin always brings out the best of an artist's acoustic side and Dylan's album is no exception.

Dylan does not have a strong voice but it's a pleasant one that make these melodic songs easy to listen to. His vocals are brighter and more up front than on any of The Wallflowers' albums and if that ends up being Rubin's chief contribution it's a very welcome one indeed.

I have to admit that I've never paid much attention to the Wallflowers' lyrics. However, Rubin's work makes Dylan's vocals and songs the centerpiece of the album so you find yourself listening intently.

Dylan has a lot on his mind. He is concerned about the state of the world and about the wars that were being waged in the early part of the 21st century. A prime example turns up on the very first track, "Evil Is Alive And Well."

"It doesn't always have a shape
Almost never does it have a name
It maybe has a pitchfork maybe has a tail
But evil is alive and well
It might walk upright from out of the inferno
May be coming horseback through deep snow
It's ragged fat and fat, it's hungry as hell."

As we look at America today the singer-songwriter's words still ring true because even if we are not at war with a common, foreign enemy we are certainly at war with ourselves.

Not every track is that serious but there are no lightweight songs and many are loaded with lyrical obscurities. I guess you can say that makes them deep.

There are only three other musicians listed on the liner notes and they add only light touches of bass, keyboards and harmonies which could be why we are only given their names but not what their individual contributions are.

The artistic success of Seeing Things made me wonder if Dylan should give up his band and concentrate on a solo career because with this album the whole is not greater than the sum of its parts.

Comments

Post a Comment

WHAT'S HOT THIS WEEK!

Slower Than Slow: 16 RPM Records

Image
Have you ever heard of a long forgotten vinyl format, the 16 2/3 RPM record? They were half the speed of the 33 1/3 RPM albums that were the traditional standard for recorded music. Most record players in the 1950s and 1960s came with a speed setting to play these long forgotten discs that were considered novelties even during the years they were available. Because most, but not all, 16s had big holes and were 7" in diameter many of them were mistaken for 45 RPMs and at that size the speed allowed for up to 20 minutes of playing time per side. However, there was no true standard size and they were also manufactured to be 9, 10, or 12 inches in diameter and these larger records played even longer. Just like the other speeds and formats 16s could be played one record at a time or stacked on a changer for continuous play. Radio stations often used the discs for pre-recorded radio shows containing interviews, dramas, and documentaries. More frequent
Read more

The Late Dickey Betts Discusses How Jimmy Carter's Friendship With The Allman Brothers Band Helped The Candidate Win The 1976 Presidential Election

Image
Below is a music related tribute I originally wrote for President Jimmy Carter over a year ago when he first entered hospice care in February 2023. I expected it would only be a short time until he passed. When he didn't, I decided to save it until October 1, 2024 to celebrate his 100th birthday should he make it to that milestone.  However, with today's unhappy news about the passing of Dickey Betts (1943 - 2024) I decided it is time to finally post the article because the great second guitarist of The Allman Brothers Band is quoted in it. Betts' most famous songs with the outstanding sextet are "Revival," "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed," "Blue Sky," and of course,  "J essica," and  "Ramblin' Man." Because most blogs and websites will likely post more traditional news stories and tributes, I hope this essay serves as something a little different and as an homag
Read more

Buried Treasure: Richard Betts - Highway Call (1974)

Image
After Duane Allman died, it could be said that Forrest Richard (Dickey) Betts saved The Allman Brothers Band. He was responsible for four of the seven songs on Brothers and Sisters , their first album without brother Duane who passed away in a motorcycle accident before their previous album, Eat A Peach , was completed. Betts was the man who brought the country music influences to his famous outfit. He wrote and sang lead on "Ramblin' Man," the only Allman's single to ever crack the top 10. The smash hit soared to #2 and was only kept out of the top spot by Cher's "Half Breed." What is probably the band's second most famous song is also on Brothers and Sisters . It's the rollicking, seven-and-a-half-minute instrumental, "Jessica," also written by Betts who was listed at #58 on Rolling Stone 's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. With Betts performing at the top of his game he decided it wa
Read more

Why Do 45 RPM Records Have Big Holes?

Image
Today we're going to find out why 45 RPM records have much larger holes than 78s and 33s. Believe it or not I often wondered about this burning question when I was collecting hundreds of these little seven inch gems back the 1960s. According to several websites, including Answerbag , the reason for the large hole used by 45s was simple. It was difficult for the old 78s, with their smaller holes, to find their way onto jukebox spindles. The large hole effectively eliminated that problem. Strangely, seven inch 45s were often pressed with the smaller holes used for LPs in many countries outside the United States, especially in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Overseas the inserts (commonly know as spiders) were manufactured into the large holes at the factories but they could be punched out if desired. The Beatles' British single of "Love Me Do," pictured here, is a typical example. Why were the spiders built into English 45s? I was unable to fi
Read more

Buried Treasure: Gladstone - A Piece of Paper (1972)

Image
Without expressing my views on the subject here is a rerun of a post that is quite relevant today considering the surprise leak of the controversial - but not yet officially released - Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade. Originally published here on June 27, 2013, it has generated a higher number of comments than one of my posts usually receives. Have you ever heard of Mike Rabon? No? I didn't think so. He was the lead guitar player for The Five Americans, a band that charted five singles a long time ago. They reached the top twenty only once - in 1967 - with "Western Union," a song co-written by Rabon that is still played on oldies radio stations today. Eventually, The Five Americans went their separate ways and in the early 70s Rabon hooked up with another band, Gladstone ("From down home in Tyler, Texas U S A," their debut album cover said). From that LP the unknown group lifted "A Piece of Paper" as a single. It only got as high
Read more