Search - Bob Dylan :: Before the Flood

You go Your Way, I'll go mine

Maclen | 06/08/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There's good news and some not so good news. First the Good, the re-master of "Before the Flood" sounds warm and nuanced, the bottom end sounds firm and the high end is clear and distortion free. Nice job on the restoration of this Live classic. I saw this tour back in the day and it was joyous seeing the Band supporting Dylan. The Band's songs are energetic and full of life, save for, ironically the Dylan penned "I Shall Be Released" which is marred by an embarrassingly high pitched lead vocal that is nails on a blackboard to this listener, the other Band songs are exceptional. The Dylan songs are wonderfully backed by the Band's inspired arrangements, especially Robbie Robertson's virtuoso guitar playing. The problem here is Dylan's vocals, he literally shouts the lyrics and his phrasing is completely out of control, take a listen to "Lay Lady Lay" when he shouts "his hands are clean", in short Dylan's singing takes a 4 star album and turns it into a 3 star album. The songs are classics, the Band is inspired and if you don't mind Dylan being Dylan on the vocals then by all means pick this one up. For those interested, this CD came in a JEWEL case, not a DIGIPAK, but I understand it's available both ways."

Don't Buy the MP3 Version!

J. Tate | Centreport, Texas | 09/15/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I would like to echo a comment that was made in an earlier review, which I should have read before purchasing the MP3 version of this album. The MP3 version has been altered to remove the audience sounds between tracks, and thus each track has a shorter running time than it should. When I figured this out, Amazon gave me a refund and I purchased the CD version. The CD version does not have this problem. If you are interested in this album, buy the CD version, as it is much more enjoyable when it actually sounds like a concert with the audience sounds. You also get a booklet with the CD version (though it isn't much, with just a few pictures). Others have commented on the performance itself and the high quality of the 2009 remaster. I would give the CD version 4 or 5 stars, but I am lowering my rating due to the problems with the MP3 version."