Modern Times Bob Dylan Columbia Records out of

To most college-aged people, Bob Dylan is more myth than man. His most famous music is at least as ingrained in rock 'n' roll culture as that of rock legends like Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin or the Beatles.

But, though this may surprise some of you, Elvis is actually dead, Zeppelin disbanded 26 years ago and the Beatles have been coffee-table-book fodder for a while now. While some artists of this golden age of rock are still shaking their prosthetic hips on stage, Dylan is the sole torchbearer of his generation who is still making music that compares with his best.

With Modern Times, Dylan's first album in five years and the 44th of his career, this 65-year-old proves that he is anything but over the hill. This new album, featuring 10 tracks of country-blues rave-ups, contemplative, haunting folk ballads and old-time waltzes is quite possibly the best Dylan record since before most Pitt students were born.

Modern Times isn't quite like anything released since Dylan's own Love and Theft from 2001. This is the Blonde on Blonde of Dylan's musical second wind, which began in 1997 with Time Out of Mind. Yes, it is that good.

Dylan has said in recent interviews that his current backing band is the best of his career, and one listen to Modern Times will confirm just that. Aside from his stunning-as-usual lyrics, the rumbling rock 'n' roll on this disc is the perfect compliment to Dylan's instantly recognizable voice. That is, both sound quite weathered.

Bob Dylan's voice, one of the most unique in contemporary music, quivers confidently throughout these ten songs. Not a Bright Eyes I-can't-quite-sing-type shake; instead, Dylan's voice is a dusty, gravel road. It is well worn from decades of use, rough and a bit scratchy.

Luckily, the music on this album is just the same: To quip from a Neil Young record, this is road rock. It tumbles along casually and meditatively with Dylan's narrative lyrics, but everything fits into place perfectly. The guitar twangs and ramblings trot along with brushed percussion, rhythmic piano and bouncing bass lines.

These tracks find Dylan leading an imaginary hot country dance in a saloon where whiskey is drank like water. Sometimes the tunes will get every cowboy and his girl to spin each other around into a frenzy, but others will have them pressed cheek to cheek, waltzing delicately around the floor.

Simply put, Modern Times is the most fun Bob Dylan has had in years. And if it had been released, say, 80 or so years ago, it would be the party record to end all party records. Therein lies the humor with our man Bob: The music on Modern Times is quite far from anything that might be considered modern.

But here Dylan, a musical trendsetter and visionary, reintroduces the roots of rock 'n' roll --- the genre he helped bring to the forefront --- as something fresh, something new and exciting in a time when the genre has arguably stagnated and halted in its progress. These are Modern Times indeed.

The record starts off with a bang as "Thunder On the Mountain" opens with an up-tempo shuffle beat, some rhythmic piano and wild, swinging guitars. The track also features Dylan's most provocative and intriguing line on the album: "I was thinkin' 'bout Alicia Keys, couldn't keep from crying. When she was born in Hell's Kitchen, I was living down the line. I'm wondering where in the world Alicia Keys could be - I been looking for her even clear through Tennessee." Here he states clearly what the record title hints at --- Dylan is bridging the gap between roots rock and modern music. He is saying that soul and heart still exists, in Miss Keys, for example, you just have to look closer.

"Someday Baby" is a bluesy, subdued tune that many listeners will recognize from Dylan's recent spot on an Apple commercial, and features a short-and-simple, repeating guitar line that will repeat in your brain ad infinitum. The guitar work here brilliantly plays along with Dylan's overtly rhythmic vocals --- the two complement each other, but never interfere. Dylan's voice and his guitar are partners here, never competing.

Age seems to have brought Dylan added patience as well. With only one song clocking in less than five minutes and some at over eight, Dylan is content to let his music cook slowly, gradually developing into fully formed masterpieces. The man has got a lot to say and expects his listeners to stick around for the full sermon.

Not surprisingly, the music is so rich and textured that even the longest tracks never get boring. Every song on the album is fully engaging, with interesting Dylan insights and musings on love, longing and life.

It is hard to say that Modern Times has cemented Dylan's status as a legend or an icon, for that position has preceded him for decades now. But the record does prove that his genius is still alive and kicking its cowboy boots harder than ever. Beautiful, exciting, interesting and swinging - Modern Times is about as perfect as rock 'n' roll gets.

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