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DylanesqueSnagging.org In association with Amazon.co.ukOnline Shop | Property Guides | Kitchen & Home | Garden Tools | Power Tools | Consumer Electronics Get the Snagging Checklist Here! Dylanesque by: Bryan Ferry, Leo Abrahams, Andy Newmark, Paul Carrack, Guy Pratt, Zev Katz, Chris Spedding, Colin Good, Warren Ellis, Brian Eno  
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Binding: Audio CDEAN: 0094638389125 Label: Virgin Manufacturer: Virgin MPN: 83891 Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Virgin Release Date: March 05, 2007 Studio: Virgin Disc 1:
Editorial Review: Amazon.co.uk Review: For those who know Bryan Ferry solely as the frontman of '70s art-rockers Roxy Music, the news this foppish, handsome Englishman is a Bob Dylan acolyte might come as something of a surprise. However, the appearance of Dylanesque - eleven covers of songs by the Freewheelin' one - is not totally unprecedented; Ferry recorded a cover of 'A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall' way back in 1973 on his debut solo album, so really, this is just the latest manifestation of a long-held admiration. Recorded in just a week, backed by his touring band, it's the sound of Ferry happy to get some dirt under his fingernails. All the same, this is sumptuous, richly-orchestrated stuff. 'The Times They Are A-Changin'' is perhaps the highlight, Dylan's bare-bones protest classic reworked as a velvety art-rock anthem, Ferry carrying off the lyric with just enough velvety command; while 'If Not For You' is notable for its strings and "sonic augmentation", courtesy of old Roxy Music friend Brian Eno. Some moments may please neither Dylan nor Ferry fans - the rock-out on 'All Along The Watchtower' feels contrived and unsatisfying. But whether it's a gutsy, impulsive experiment, or just a handy way of avoiding writer's block, Dylanesque works more often than not. --Louis Pattison Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Had to happenBrian Ferry as a singer songwriter I can take or leave.Roxy Music in small doses.Ferry as an artist who does stacks of cover versions? Yes definitely. The Dylan collection is not the first time he dabbled in Dylan as A hard rain's gonna fall was made in 1974 in a radical makeover which was more Barry McGuire than Bob Dylan-whose original had been acoustic. Purists may object but then they aren't the ones who'd have the imagination Ferry has. For a start this is more a label of love.Its never going to be any sort of chart record unless public taste moves back to where it was before the 80s. I now look forward to Ferry doing a Beatles covers album Rating: - It's pleasant!OK, maybe "pleasant, easy listening" wasn't exactly what Dylan had in mind for these songs. But I have to admit (painfully) that I find it difficult to enjoy listening to Dylan's original recordings, I am no big fan of his voice - yet his songwriting ability, WOW! Back to the Dylanesque album, I enjoy listening to it, I've listened to it a lot since I borrowed it from my mum. Isn't that what music is all about really? Enjoyment? Perhaps not for die-hard Dylan fans, but I like it. Rating: - Definitely worth checking out...Ferry does Dylan doesn't sound too promising... a lot of Dylan's catalogue has been covered by a huge number of artists and few are worth the effort. But this is different. First off Bryan Ferry's voice is perfectly pitched for the task - which is a really important factor in keeping the essence of the originals - and, the musicianship is excellent throughout. But best of all a lot of the arrangements are genuinely innovative, making numbers that you already know too well, come alive - his excellent straight rock versions of "Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues" & "The Times They Are A-Changing" just jump out of the speakers while his exquisitely delicate rendition of "Positively 4th Street" beats any other version out there and takes the song to a completely different level. Sure, some of what's here doesn't quite work but most does and, on the way, the album delivers more than enough delights to make it worth checking out... Rating: - Ferry is still charting new territoryI generally like to listen to an album-particularly a Bryan Ferry album-for several weeks before I form an rounded opinion.Ferry is a particular master of developing songs that initially sound good but after several listens become addictive treats from your sound system.On this album 'Make you feel my love','Gates of Eden'and 'Positively 4th Street' are outstanding and are examples of Ferry's nearly unrivalled ability to discover new angles and nuances in other peoples songs.Other songs such as'Knocking on heaven's door'are all about soaring choruses and are given a less innovative treatment.Along with'As time goes by'and'Frantic'this is Bryan Ferry very much back on form after the nearly impenetrable 'Mamouna'.He is among a small group of artists,such as Kate Bush,who after several decades are still at the forefront of charting new territory-expect a rush of other artists producing 'esque'-style albums in tribute to their artistic heroes,much in the same way that 'As time goes by' spawned George Michael's and Rod Stewart's glimpses into 1930s back catalogues.Ferry has done Dylan proud. Rating: - a revelationNormally I'm a bit protective of Bob Dylan, having been a fan for 40 years! So, it was with a slight hesitation that I let my curiosity have its way. Well, I'm glad I did! Ferry does for Dylan what Jennifer warnes did for Cohen: reveal the musical possibilities of iconic songs. It's true, one or two of the songs lose their razor cut when fully orchestrated and sung in tune. By and large, though, the result is magnificent. "All along the watch tower" is better than Hendrix's cover, "if not for you" is a cracking love song and "heaven's door" is at least as good as the Clapton cover. One more aspect: this is technically one of the best recordings I've heard for ages. I have old, but excellent, "Tannoy" speakers; the sound is like listening with headphones. One of the advantages of being a "famous old fart" is that you can get the best backing musicians and engineers. The result shows it.  Try searching the Internet for "Dylanesque" or Ebay for "Dylanesque". You might also be interested in the following great products:
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