Ah, Blonde on Blonde, as a new found Bob Dylan fan I must say I have been looking to reviewing this album immensely. So much to talk about with this legendary album sadly, so little time. But I will try my level best to fit all I can in this review. This album is widely recognized as Dylan’s best album and achievement. This thought was widely accepted soon after its release, which I assure you is no mean feat. Considering that:

A) He had already six best-selling albums out at the time (Blonde on Blonde being his seventh) and

B) The album completely contradicted the pop music culture at the time.

The time itself was the sixties. May 16^th 1966 to be precise. At this time the counterculture was growing rapidly and the hippy culture was in full flow. This was good timing perhaps, as the contradictory element to the pop-culture appealed most to the counterculture itself. But this is not to say the counterculture was the only audience that Blonde on Blonde appealed to, it was a huge success with the critics as well as a big success with the new type of Dylan fan that was starting to like his more electric sound.

It was blatantly obvious that Dylan had changed incredibly in just four years since his first unsuccessful album back in 1962. One of these changes was the fact that he was no longer a bachelor, having married Sara Lownds. At this stage you might wonder why I’m boring you with facts of Dylan’s love life. The surprising truth is that Dylan’s love life had an impact on the album. Many believe Sara Lownds inspired half of the tracks on the album. The most probable of these was the fourteenth and final track of the album “Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands” with many people making the connection of lowlands and Lownds.

Trying to describe this album in one word is quite difficult, but disregarding its legendary status and all the rest I can only call it eccentric. Some people might find this a strange comment but after hearing the first song they might be persuaded. “Rainy Day Women” is a fun song of course but it is a little odd. With people laughing in the background, a funky kind of beat and some exceptionally surreal lyrics it is quite enjoyable to listen to, though very strange.

Thankfully most of the other tunes on the track sounded great and I felt “ I Want You” “Stuck Inside Of Mobile With Memphis Blues Again” and “Obviously 5 Believers” in particular really stood out as great songs. A good introductory album to Bob in my opinion it incorporates a new electric sound for him and is a very enjoyable, affordable C.D. Despite getting his new electric sound and even more surreal lyrics, this marked the end of a great era for Bob Dylan, as he was subsequently involved in a motorcycle accident that was to change his outlook on music drastically.