Bob Dylan – Tempest

My copy has the both vinyls warped like bowls. I’m disappointed.
P.S. The second copy I received is a little less warped, so it plays much better.

A fantastic album which always sounds great being played live. Great songs!

Just opened my Amazon UK sourced copy... would like to have gone indy but the 2017 Dylan issues were a mess (blame MPO who failed epically on Planet Waves and Street Legal) and returning modern presses is almost an expectation for me now... this being Optimal though is better for sure, mostly flat with a just a hint of edge warp, clean bar a couple finger marks and abit of dust... inners are card and need poly lining which ive done now. My first copy had some pitch issues from an off centre side 4. All were abit off centre but side 4 in particular and 'Roll on John' was notably pitchy vs playing the CD alongside. My second copy is still abit off centre on both while again free of warp and nonfill but again has a hint of pitchyness to last track vs the CD. YMMV!

A great sounding pressing. Discs are both super quiet. Mix has been mastered very well and Dylan's voice sounds great.

This is Great and Dylan puts out 10 different movies or so called songs on two vinyls-i am lost in his world-Thanx Love it-Leif

Tempest opens with a little ditty that stands both out of place and out of time ... much like the music that filtered from the weathered movie speakers just prior to the matinee on a Saturday afternoon. Though given that line of thinking, the whole album stands as some sort of black and white timeworn flickering beacon, harkening back warnings from a bygone age, by a cliffhanger hero we seldom take seriously enough these days, and should, because while he’s got a different way of phrasing things under his setting sun, the unexpected weight of his songs are no less powerful.

Dylan draws deeply from the last forty years, not so much taking stylistic detours, but bringing up and challenging musical visions of the past, allowing them to sound more important with his juxtaposition. None is more evident then his vintage Tattoo You era vision of “Pay In Blood,” a song who’s lyrics he gently spits out, a song that nearly begs for the rolling hips of backup singers to sweeten the old man’s soulful moves, and ease his pain.

Tempest is a haunting rogue’s gallery of musical visions, commentary, misfortune, memories, and disillusions ... laid out like a series of paintings from the Lewis Carroll book, “Through the Looking Glass,” all lined up nice and neat, only to be rearranged right before your eyes, casting a hypnotic spell that will have you shaking your head in disbelief while searching for a chair to contain the beating of your heart as you realize that Dylan’s still out there with his amphetamine fueled visionary dexterity in tact.

Even if we have been distracted from time to time after all these years, Tempest leaves little doubt that his Bob-ness, the eternal watchman, is still at the top of his game. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve gotta put my hands in my back pockets, Betty Davis style, and stand here staring as this record spins ‘round and ‘round once more.

Review by Jenell Kesler

An ageing musician turns into the type of blues singer who inspired him as a youth. Usual Dylan inspired imagery and lyrics delivered in a mainly blues style with the residual folk influences. Well worth repeated listenings and will not disappoint.