It would have been easy to explain this album with political upheavals happening in the world back than and describe it as folk-protest collection of songs by angry young troubadour - its all true but listening it carefully now half a century later it is still a powerful, almost Gothic, stark and dark music that either gets listener's complete attention or whizz by without leaving a trace on ones consciousness. If you are into "pretty music" that cheerfully plays in the background without any brain activity this is definitely not for you. If there IS any brain activity going on, chances are this might stop you in your tracks.
Contrary to my expectations (again) while bravely attempting to - for the first time ever - plow trough Dylan's massive discography with open ears and heart (and minimum outside influences and informations) I got completely stuck on this album and listening it now several times in a row. "Ballad of Hollis Brown" is pure voodoo and it gets me every time - and its just one of the many songs here. At this point I must say that everything about (than young) Dylan seriously started to make me bow in awe - the eloquence of his poetry, the powerful imagery, the timelessness of simple-but-effective music (that sounds as something people from mountains might have sung centuries ago) and even the weary sound of this old-soul voice have a huge appeal to me and somehow unconsciously I understand it speaks to lover of literature in me. Across the time (half a century later!) this album has found a new fan.
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