Artist: Bob Dylan Album: Slow Train Coming

Year: 1979
Duration: 0:0-1

A Critical Review of Bob Dylan's Slow Train Coming: An Album That Changed Minds And Hearts

Bob Dylan is a name that has always remained relevant in the music industry. Dylan was prominent in the '60s and '70s for his meaningful lyrics and distinctive voice, and his music continues to inspire and influence generations today. One of his most significant albums is Slow Train Coming, released in 1979. This album was revolutionary in the fact that Dylan declared his faith in Jesus Christ and focused on gospel-themed lyrics. In this blog post, we will delve into Dylan's history, the music genre of the album, the best songs of the album, its most innovative parts, and a critical review of the album.

The 1970s were a transformative time in the US, a decade of change and revolution. It was also a time when many music icons emerged and left a lasting impact on the industry and the world, with Bob Dylan being one of them. Born in Minnesota in 1941, Dylan started playing music in his early teens and moved to New York at 19, where he rapidly gained notoriety for his lyrics and style. Dylan has always been a controversial artist, yet always maintained his authenticity as an artist and human.

Slow Train Coming was released in 1979 and was the first album of a three-part gospel trilogy produced by Jerry Wexler. As previously mentioned, the album was significant in that Dylan reinforced his faith in Jesus Christ in his lyrics. This was quite a departure from his previous works, which focused more on social commentary and personal experiences. Slow Train Coming was Dylan’s return to gospel-themed music, influenced by his connection with fundamentalist Christians and his disillusionment with the 1970s political scene. It was a move that shocked some longtime fans and music critics.

One of the best songs on Slow Train Coming, hands down, is the opening song, Gotta Serve Somebody. This crowd-pleaser is well-known for its upbeat tempo and for its focus on how everyone is going to serve somebody – whether it's a religious figure, the devil, or something else entirely. Furthermore, the song won Dylan a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

Slow Train Coming was innovative not only in terms of lyrics but also musically. Mark Knopfler and his band, Dire Straits, produced the album, and the band’s influence is clear from the opening track itself. Knopfler's clean guitar style, paired with Dylan's weathered voice and harmonica, created songs that felt both fresh and familiar to audiences. A standout moment on the album is the guitar work on Gonna Change My Way of Thinking: the melodies draw the listener in, and the lyrics keep them there.

Despite Dylan's reputation as a groundbreaking songwriter, Slow Train Coming received mixed reviews at the time. Critics were torn between celebrating Dylan’s courage in sharing his faith so explicitly and lamenting his alleged impulse to moralize. Some also critiqued the production of the album, feeling it was too slick compared to Dylan’s previous works. Be that as it may, it was still the album that earned him his first Grammy.

Slow Train Coming helped define 1979, enduring as one of the unique and essential albums Bob Dylan ever produced. It was an album that rocked the music world, with Dylan transforming into what felt like an entirely new artist before his fans' eyes. The album boasts some of the most catchy and original melodies Dylan ever wrote, and its lyrics were testament to Dylan's faith in Jesus Christ. It still remains a controversial album for some Dylan fans, but it also stands as a symbol of Dylan's artistic fearlessness. All in all, Slow Train Coming is an excellent album to revisit in today's world, and it will undoubtedly continue to inspire and influence other artists and fans alike.

Slow Train Coming helped define 1979, enduring as one of the unique and essential albums Bob Dylan ever produced. It was an album that rocked the music world, with Dylan transforming into what felt like an entirely new artist before his fans' eyes. The album boasts some of the most catchy and original melodies Dylan ever wrote, and its lyrics were testament to Dylan's faith in Jesus Christ. It still remains a controversial album for some Dylan fans, but it also stands as a symbol of Dylan's artistic fearlessness. All in all, Slow Train Coming is an excellent album to revisit in today's world, and it will undoubtedly continue to inspire and influence other artists and fans alike.