Yes, just like Shakespeare with the contemporaneous "Romeo and Juliet" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream", (I just can't stop myself, sorry) it's almost inevitable that phrases, themes, story lines and same source-allusions crop up in both. That allows us lucky audience members to enjoy both even more and witness the artists' creative input in dialogue with itself .
My point was clumsily made, what I meant was that my comparison was rather obvious while you extended it for me by triangulating the interplay with the less obvious comparison with "R&RW", for which thanks.
Further to that, the "L&T" roundtable podcast also stressed the pairing of the 2001 and 2020 albums just to make sure I was paying attention.
I'm enjoying my first lengthy dip into this Dylantantes pool!
Writing as another fan of "Renaldo and Clara" and "Masked and Anonymous" I appreciate hearing from an expert in the field. I always felt that in "Eat The Document", "Renaldo and Clara" and "Masked and Anonymous" (each of which reflect and build on the predecessor) and allow Dylan to open up and tell us his thoughts on his own life and art in a manner he could not on record (up until "Rough and Rowdy Ways", at least)except in a much more indirect way.
Additionally to how you decribe "Rough and Rowdy Ways" as having an inter-dialogue with "Masked and Anonymous", that movie also, for me, is very much connected with "Love and Theft", close to being a twin in some ways, and so listening to your exposition brought the 2001 and 2020 albums into a further, new dialogue for me.
A truly enjoyable listen, thank you, and Erin's description of you at the concert was lovely.
Now, of course, being an obsessive and enjoying hearing you talking about Dylan, I have to watch all your movies as soon as I can.
Thank you, Graley! I had a similar thought about Tennyson’s “Ulysses” when I read and during our conversation on Dylan’s poem in the liner notes to Joan Baez in Concert, Part 2.
Great conversation! Thanks Michael and Erin for opening my eyes to so many things I hadn't considered about Renaldo & Clara, Masked & Anonymous, and The Rolling Thunder Re-Vue. I especially love the idea about Dylan revising the pessimism of M&A with RARW, from a cynical view of I'm just an entertainer and music doesn't change anything, to an appreciation that music matters deeply, provides necessary sustenance and comfort, and will stand the test of time.
Wonderful reflections on individual songs, too, especially "I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You," "Mother of Muses," and Murder Most Foul." The point (by way of Michael Gray) about terrace=terra=earth reminds me of that other great terra reference in Dylan: "Subterranean Homesick Blues." Make of it what you will, but "Lost in the Stars" is also a Frank Sinatra song.
Your point (by way of Richard Thomas) about Dylan as a modern Odysseus trying to make his way home was beautiful and reminded me of the end of Tennyson's "Ulysses": "Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho' / We are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; / One equal temper of heroic hearts, / Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will / To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." Thanks for this fun and inspirational conversation, Michael and Erin!
Yes, just like Shakespeare with the contemporaneous "Romeo and Juliet" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream", (I just can't stop myself, sorry) it's almost inevitable that phrases, themes, story lines and same source-allusions crop up in both. That allows us lucky audience members to enjoy both even more and witness the artists' creative input in dialogue with itself .
My point was clumsily made, what I meant was that my comparison was rather obvious while you extended it for me by triangulating the interplay with the less obvious comparison with "R&RW", for which thanks.
Further to that, the "L&T" roundtable podcast also stressed the pairing of the 2001 and 2020 albums just to make sure I was paying attention.
I'm enjoying my first lengthy dip into this Dylantantes pool!
Writing as another fan of "Renaldo and Clara" and "Masked and Anonymous" I appreciate hearing from an expert in the field. I always felt that in "Eat The Document", "Renaldo and Clara" and "Masked and Anonymous" (each of which reflect and build on the predecessor) and allow Dylan to open up and tell us his thoughts on his own life and art in a manner he could not on record (up until "Rough and Rowdy Ways", at least)except in a much more indirect way.
Additionally to how you decribe "Rough and Rowdy Ways" as having an inter-dialogue with "Masked and Anonymous", that movie also, for me, is very much connected with "Love and Theft", close to being a twin in some ways, and so listening to your exposition brought the 2001 and 2020 albums into a further, new dialogue for me.
A truly enjoyable listen, thank you, and Erin's description of you at the concert was lovely.
Now, of course, being an obsessive and enjoying hearing you talking about Dylan, I have to watch all your movies as soon as I can.
Thank you, Graley! I had a similar thought about Tennyson’s “Ulysses” when I read and during our conversation on Dylan’s poem in the liner notes to Joan Baez in Concert, Part 2.
Great conversation! Thanks Michael and Erin for opening my eyes to so many things I hadn't considered about Renaldo & Clara, Masked & Anonymous, and The Rolling Thunder Re-Vue. I especially love the idea about Dylan revising the pessimism of M&A with RARW, from a cynical view of I'm just an entertainer and music doesn't change anything, to an appreciation that music matters deeply, provides necessary sustenance and comfort, and will stand the test of time.
Wonderful reflections on individual songs, too, especially "I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You," "Mother of Muses," and Murder Most Foul." The point (by way of Michael Gray) about terrace=terra=earth reminds me of that other great terra reference in Dylan: "Subterranean Homesick Blues." Make of it what you will, but "Lost in the Stars" is also a Frank Sinatra song.
Your point (by way of Richard Thomas) about Dylan as a modern Odysseus trying to make his way home was beautiful and reminded me of the end of Tennyson's "Ulysses": "Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho' / We are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; / One equal temper of heroic hearts, / Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will / To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." Thanks for this fun and inspirational conversation, Michael and Erin!