[Jim Moonan]

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I don't think Dylan has ever felt comfortable in his skin. I think he was very early on —pretty much when he moved to NYC — derailed from his innocence and natural artistic instincts and sent on a different trajectory.The people who so vehemently disagreed with his switch to rock knew that it meant the death of the Dylan that had been a folk poet. He managed, for a time, to stay connected to his muse (or maybe he found a new one), but it pretty much faded, to my ear, after Blood On The Tracks. But it's rare that an artist remains constantly fruitful over a long period of time. Dylan has produced an impressive catalogue that, for better or for worse, musically blueprints his life. I remember reading once that he never felt religious in the sense of being connected to any particular institutionalized faith (although he certainly explored them). Ultimately he sees music as his true religion. I like that. I think it can be expanded to be seen as art being religion and the artists as preachers (for lack of a better word). It means that I can be multi-faithful and combine genres to gain a better view of the invisible world. : )

Max, yeah I see what you mean about the sudden re-emergence of the myth-legend that is The Band. I am not nearly as tuned-in to the history of the differing versions of their role in Dylan's career as others here might be... I never knew of the conflict between Levon Helm/his wife and RR and never realized how RR-centric The Last Waltz was/is. There are always multiple versions of the truth I guess. (It reminds me of Lennon/McCartney and their struggle with each other to get their own versions of the truth out.)

Mark, thanks for the list of artists you follow. I've only heard of a few and am enjoying the discoveries. As I aged and became pre-occupied by my realities, my musical tastes went semi-dormant/stagnant. It's good now to have been roused into listening again to new artists.

I saw Dylan only once, in the early 80's —perhaps the worst period during which to see him perform. He was hip-deep in his Christianity phase and not making much sense. I went in hopes of hearing some of the songs that, even to this day, blow me away. To this day, when I hear the opening chords/notes to "Like A Rolling Stone" I practically rise out of my seat and salivate. When I first heard it, listening to "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" was like smoking opium (which I've never done but imagine to be dreamy).

James, fantastic vid of Dylan performing "Tangled Up In Blue". That song, too, has a catalytic effect on me.

Btw, I love his early folk music and still consider it to be some of the best music/poetry he's written.
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