John Wesley Harding - Bob Dylan > Reviews > John Wesley Harding

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Thematic, Basic and Brilliant .
Disadvantages:	Short - ish, and a bit odd .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

A truly exceptional album.

There are those upon this earth who may desire their melodies graced by string, brass and choir; but by the gentle hand of chance I am not one of them.
Many a fine song has been meddled with for ill, many a gem has been soiled by fiddling.
The beauty and magic of this album, however, is that it simply lets the songs do the work.

Yes, granted, the biblical references, guarded metaphors and blinding imagery are some of the best featured in Dylans' lyrical portfolio.

Yes, the musicianship is second to none. (If you don't believe, me, check out the drums on 'Down Along The Cove'). (Also, don't try telling me that Dylans' deft use of his limited vocal skills is anything but a masterstroke).

But the raw, dusty, earthen quality that makes this album so lucidly thematic and gives it that utter brilliance is the instrumentation.

Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals, Lap Steel.
That's it, pretty much.

When you strip a band down, take away all their little whistles and bells and tell them to record a twelve-track album, the songwriting has to be good.
JWH illustrates what can sometimes be forgotten in the tide of Dylans' lyrical mystery and enigmatic legend-status.

The simple fact is that Bob Dylan is a master of song construction; simple chord progressions, well-gathered melody and a talent for memorable hooks are all seen here. (Perhaps that's why I will stand high and proud, and shout from the rooftops "Dylans' version of 'All Along The Watchtower" WAS better than the Jimi Hendrix version, although that in its own right was an excellent work but lacked the quiet genius of the original writers' production'!!!).

The downsides of the record are there, of course; on first listen it may seem a little inaccessible, and it will never quite make for easy listening. The last couple of tracks do sound as if they've been tacked on at the last minute.

However, it is as addictive as penny sweets and as broadly cinematic as a Spaghetti Western showdown, and I would heartily recommend the thing to man and beast.