Bryan Ferry - Dylanesque - Album Review
by Martin Bandyke
Detroit Free Press, 24th June 2007
Considering its stopgap nature, "Dylanesque" is a pretty, pleasing solo outing from the vocalist of the British art-rock band Roxy Music.
What was originally supposed to come out this year was the long-awaited reunion album from Roxy Music, whose last studio project was the magnificent "Avalon," issued 25 years ago. The thought of what Ferry and Roxy cohorts Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, Andy MacKay and Paul Thompson might come up with is absolutely tantalizing, but the project has been shelved while Ferry struggles with writer's block.
To free his muse and get his creative juices flowing again, Ferry is back with, you guessed it, a Bob Dylan covers album. Cranked out in barely a week, "Dylanesque" is notable for its fresh, spontaneous feel. Ferry covering Dylan might strike some as a weird match, but Ferry is entirely comfortable with Dylan's surreal wordplay and cutting imagery, and has a knack for bringing out the underlying melodies.
Ferry is backed by a sizable band that features longtime associates Chris Spedding (guitar), Andy Newmark (drums) and Paul Carrack (organ). Together they work their way through a number of gems from Dylan's catalog, including "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," "All Along the Watchtower," and an especially gripping version of "Positively 4th Street."
Ferry, now 61, sings these classics in weathered-but-wise fashion, plays some mean harmonica on a few tracks and puts a fresh perspective on the desolate "Simple Twist of Fate" and hopeful "Make You Feel My Love."
All well and good, Bryan. Now please get back to that Roxy album!
