In the Ashtray: 2007-07-01

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Review of Bryan Ferry "Dylanesque"

Usually I am about Bryan Ferry, and Roxy Music is one of my top bands of all time. I also like Ferry's solo work. "These foolish Things" is probably my favorite of his solo albums, and the best track off of that album is the cover of Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall". Next to The Byrds' "All I Really Want To Do", it's the most awesome Dylan cover ever. Oh, I forgot "All Along The Watchtower" by Hendrix.

The way Bryan Ferry sings "A Hard Rain's" is so biting, and the way he enunciates each syllable of each word makes the track feel haunting and suave at the same time. The hallmark of a great Ferry vocal. With ALL of that said, he has completely missed the mark on his new album "Dylanesque". It sucks in the worst way. Instead of being rough and mournful as he was on "These Foolish Things", "Dylanesque" is slicked-out, synthisized, and all meaning of Dylans lyrics are buffed away. Almost every track sounds like a power-ballad, and I H-A-T-E power ballads.

So things look pretty hairy for Bryan Ferry. He's not the cool, dinner jacket wearing crooner anymore. I think he is just catering to the image, instead of creating the image, something he used to do so well. He has lost all of his edge in his old age.

I give "Dylanesque" 1/2 a burned out butt.