Fans of the iconic artist Bob Dylan are flocking to one vintage album for a rather specific reason.
A conversation unfolded on the r/BobDylan subreddit, where the public shared their love for the legendary musician, who is currently captivating audiences across the U.S. with his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour.
Enthusiasts recently heaped praise onto an older Dylan masterpiece, expressing deep adoration for it. Despite this, some purists are weighing its merit against Dylan’s more famed works, questioning the album’s stand in his revered catalogue.
Discussions delved into the essence of this hit record, christened a ‘comfort album’ by the user who sparked the debate.
Their post questioned: “Is Nashville Skyline that good? I find myself coming back to it all the time and I adore it so much.”
They added a reflection on its artistic depth, writing: “However, it’s obviously not as lyrically complex or interesting as his other work, and it’s probably a weird album to put as my favorite ever. Is Nashville Skyline actually as good as I think it is, or is it just a nice comfort album?”
Released 56 years ago today on April 9, 1969, fans are divided over Nashville Skyline’s enduring allure, with many championing its “tight and concise” nature.
A commenter observed: “The lyrics might not be as baroque as what’s on Blonde on Blonde, but writing lyrics as tight and concise as I Threw It All Away or Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here is just as technically impressive.”
Another enthusiast commented: “I think the lyrics alone are more elusive and broad compared to Blonde on Blonde but collectively, the music structure, the production, and the continuity on Nashville Skyline make it a masterpiece in a different way.
“It’s more of an ‘album’ that flows well and works well at parties or with friends when you play the whole album, comparatively. Just my two cents, but my best friend and I can put on Nashville Skyline and I’ll find us just vibing with our eyes closed, it’s got strong soulful aspect and the songs can make me feel heartache.”
Echoing the sentiment, another added: “For all his lyrical brilliance, Dylan’s ability to make nice comfort albums is really underrated. His ’69-’73 albums have some of his best ‘put it on’ music.
“It’s not the deepest music you’ve ever heard, but it sounds great. One of my favourites from this period is the Bootleg Series: Vol. 10. Pretty Saro, Time Passes Slowly, This Evening So Soon, and the entire Isle of Wight set with The Band are excellent.”
While some acknowledge the album’s lack of complexity in comparison to other works within Bob Dylan’s vast collection, they heap praise on its relaxed vibes.
One stated: “I enjoy the album too. It’s not as complex as some of his others, but it’s fun, and that’s ok. There are some great songs on it, and who could turn down Dylan and Cash?”
Someone else chimed in with their thoughts, saying: “Yeah it’s great. Neither songwriting nor music need to be complex or inaccessible to be great. He made a great rootsy country rock album.”