For the first time in decades, Bob Dylan is back on stage with a new album.The 81-year-old music icon is in Amsterdam for two performances around Roughand Rowdy Ways , which was released in 2020. Dutch critics embrace his newrecords, but are also critical of Dylan’s performance.
By our entertainment editors
de Volkskrant – 3 stars
“Dylan is apparently just as fond of this album as its critics. And it istherefore a joy in advance that Dylan focuses on a new album during hisperformances for the first time in about forty years. to do with two flaws.”
“First of all, the songs with which the new work is interrupted. The fact thatDylan chooses to mainly use songs from the years 1969-1971 is part of hisalways enigmatic repertoire selection. To Be Alone With You as a connectionbetween the two perhaps most beautiful songs of Rough and Rowdy Ways (Crossing the Rubicon and Key West (Philosopher Pirate) ) is a sin, justlike the somewhat affected I ‘ll Be Your Baby Tonight that precedes thistrio of songs.”
“This brings us to the biggest shortcoming: Dylan’s piano playing. He hasn’tplayed the guitar for years. But the way he hammers the same chords on hispiano in all songs is just as nice. But in the end it comes at the expense ofthe subtlety that are right. characterizes new work.”
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AD – 3 stars
“Whatever Dylan takes for his audience, he is averse to frills. There is nophoto or video camera in AFAS Live. So also no video screens with which fansare served in the back of the room. Quite a handicap for them, since his pianoDylan is largely hidden from view all evening.”
“Telephones are not allowed to be used – the devices are sealed in a specialcase on arrival – and there is no decoration whatsoever on the stage. Six menstand and sit on a stage in front of an immensely high curtain, that’s it.That is more than pure concert experience may seem old-fashioned, it actuallyfeels very nice.”
“The backing band is perfectly fine. The five are fully at the service oftheir boss, there is no room for solos. They operate almost cautiously,apparently afraid to offend Dylan. As a result, the playing pleasure nevershines through. they make the evening musically, by lovingly disguising theshortcomings of their leader as the musically weakest link.”
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Het Parool – gives no stars
“Would it have to do with old age that Dylan uses a fixed set list during hiscurrent tour? In the past, even his accompanists did not know what he wasgoing to do at his concerts.”
“Despite that fixed program, it is sometimes quite a mess on stage. Dylan thenjust messes around on his piano, while his four-piece band also doesn’t seemto be fully focused. But there are plenty of moments that make up for that.Especially the songs by Rough and Rowdy Ways be inspired.”
“Beautiful is for example I Contain Multititudes with a text featuring awhole series of celebrities: from Anne Frank and Indiana Jones to ‘ themBritish bad boys the Rolling Stones. And also very beautiful, also from thatlast album: My Own Version of You in which the music steers in the directionof Tom Waits (talking about raw voices).”