It's exciting.
Invigorating.
I've never ever listened to so much music in my entire life. I spend as much time listening to music as I do reading (and you know how I love to read). I shudder to think of the hours spent staring at my ceiling and just listening. I listen to music like it's my job. Often, I find myself with a wrinkled nose and a cringe when listening to new stuff that isn't quite up my alley, but it's always captivating. And it makes me feel alive. Every new artist I find, or music blog I stumble upon seems to open up new doors. Sure, I've been into music and bands before, but I've never had the freedom to meander and explore like this. Thanks to resources like the library, and Spotify, and the interwebs in general; it's all right there. At my fingertips. At your fingertips. It's there, waiting for me and for you. All we have to do is listen.
What sparked this earnest and sappy post is this...
Now, as a non-troubled, trying-to-be-interesting-teenager, I got into Bob Dylan (full disclosure, because I was into Jakob Dylan(his son)'s band, The Wallflowers). But then, past all that puffing and posing, I really did love Bob Dylan. I collected his greatest hits and most important albums, I read his poetry, went to two shows. And then I forgot all about him and all about music. But now it seems, I'm back.
Recently. I've been working off this list:
http://www.nme.com/photos/25-21st-century-albums-nme-has-given-10-10/325963/1/1
I love NME. I started to love them because they are British and they love The Killers (the way that American media doesn't), but now I love them because they are fantastic and funny, they love Arctic Monkeys, and they really seem to know what they're talking about.
SO...tonight, I'm listening to this Bob Dylan concert from 1964 that NME gave 10/10 stars. And I am moved. If you hate his voice and if that matters to you, you should ignore all of this. But if his voice doesn't bother you; or if, even better, his voice stirs something within you...this recording is stunning.
Stunning.
I haven't really paid much attention to my Bob Dylan feelings in the last ten years; but, HOLY SHIT. Tonight, listening to this...I regret every minute spent not thinking about Bob Dylan and his beauty and his relevance. Listen to this recording. He's funny and charming. He's unleashing some of his most powerful work. These are songs that are going to define him and define a generation of music, activism, and art. He sings alone, sings with the audience. He sings with Joan Baez; and together, they are phenomenal. He's 23 years-old. And he will blow your mind.
