Bob Dylan Love And Theft

Bob Dylan, the eternal enigma, comes again out of nowhere with this studio album, his 33rd, and his third in this decade after the brilliant Love and Theft (2001) and Modern Times (2006) albums. While both those albums' musical themes centered around Americana and blues, this album takes a new turn. "Together Through Life" starts off with a blazing Tex-Mex-themed "Beyond Here Lies Nothing", and it really sets the table for the rest of the album. Veering away mostly from the blues-themed and heavy "Modern Times", the album feels lighter in approach and atmosphere, as in "My Wife's Home Town", where you can hear Dylan crack a smile actually. The Tex-Mex themes are never far away, as in "If You Ever Go To Houston". Interestingly, Dylan co-wrote all but one of the songs' lyrics with Robert Hunter, he of Grateful Dead fame (co-writing with Jerry Garcia). Equally noteworthy in my book is that Dylan's vocals are as clear as I've heard them in many, many years. The album's closer "It's All Good" sums up the album perfectly.