Time Out of Mind - Dylan, Bob (CD 1997)

Bob Dylan's 'Time Out of Mind' is unquestionably a Dylan album - amazing and wonderful. As a long time Dylan fan, I purchased this album 3 years ago, and I still find myself constantly returning to this record. This album is the voice of a man out of place-in a time out of mind. Dylan's voice creaks and whispers and moans throughout this album - ringing in your brain and echoing in your soul. This is not the 1960's Bob Dylan, just as we are not the 1960's public. He has seen war and hatred and love and death, and these things all co-exist in his amazing voice. Many people hate the way Bob Dylan sings. I find his voice to be one of the most descriptive and intricate voices ever recorded. Just as Ella Fitzgerald's voice IS jazz, Bob Dylan's voice IS lost youth, tired eyes, and a heart looking for a place to rest. Death rings throughout this album, it is in Bob's voice, in his music, and in his words. Such song titles as "Tryin' to get to Heaven" and "Can't Wait" reflect the emotion running through the album - death is waiting right outside window. This album however, is not only about the rapid passage of time. Made into a huge hit by Garth Brooks, but a Dylan original, "Make You Feel My Love" is perhaps the most straightforward and sincere love songs he has ever recorded. Only the soul knows lyrics like "I'm walking through the summer nights, Jukebox playing low. Yesterday everything was going too fast, Today everything is going too slow". This album is all about the hard lessons, simple single moments, and beautiful emotions that make life worth living. This is honestly one of the best Bob Dylan albums ever recorded, and a must have for any serious music fan. Well deserving of its best album Grammy in 98, it is a fine record for a quiet night. Bob sings " I been walking through the middle of nowhere, Tryin to get to heaven before they close the door" and this album certainly brings it's listeners a bit closer to that heaven.