BOB DYLAN

NASHVILLE SKYLINE

Bob Dylan closed out his 1960's discography with a set of tunes that confounded devout listeners. In the game of chess, it is advisable to:

1. Open with a center pawn.

2. Develop with threats.

3. Knights before Bishops.

4. Don't move the same piece twice.

5. Make as few pawn moves as possible in the opening.

After that, you can fuck around, catch up on that podcast you've been meaning to listen to and stare down your opponent each time they reach for a piece on the board, smirking at their imminent downfall.

"Nashville Skyline" comes in at number four.

Listening to these tunes without the expectation that the artist has landed in a silver spacecraft to deliver an important message, I hear someone who is scaling back the operation, lyrically, to take a crack at country stylings that were a huge part of what he heard on the radio as a kid.

It's great, from the "Howdy, neighbor!" cover art right on through to "Tonight, i'll be Staying here With You".

Is it rolling, Bob?