Bob Dylan
Self-Portrait


3.5
great

Review

by rigooz USER (1 Reviews)
October 18th, 2017 | 15 replies


Release Date: 1970 | Tracklist

Review Summary: It's simplistic charm will have you humming right along.

I've listened to all of Dylan's critically acclaimed records (aka every album leading up to Self Portrait) and each one is amazing in a different way. It is my argument that Self-Portrait was unfairly criticized due to the records that preceded it (Freewheelin', Highway 61, Blonde on Blonde, etc.). Of course, when Dylan was fed up with people showing up at his door, he decided to lay low and put out this record of covers. Looking back, it makes sense why he did it. The classic "what is this ***" review that adhered itself to this album upon its release was understandable, but it's time to unstick it.

It was unlike anything the poet had done previously and it caught people by surprise. But give Self-Portrait a chance and you'll enjoy its easy listening quality. Laid back performances of Like a Rolling Stone and She Belongs to Me show how Dylan can perform these classics without spitting venom as he did on the 1966 world tour that nearly killed him. I enjoy his version of Early Mornin Rain more than the original by Gordon Lightfoot and his duet with Paul Simon in The Boxer is irresistible in its minimalistic approach. Gotta Travel On is a definite highlight, he adds a couple verses to the end and arranges the song brilliantly.

If you're looking for a Dylan album that won't shake you to the core of your being, but is nonetheless an enjoyable listen on a Sunday afternoon, this is a great record to pop on the old turntable.


user ratings (227)
2.5
average
other reviews of this album
Drbebop (3.5)
Come all without, come all within!...



Comments:Add a Comment 
TheIntruder
October 18th 2017


758 Comments


I never heard this album. But this doesn't seems to me a review. It seems more a soundoff. Too short for a review.

SandwichBubble
October 18th 2017


13796 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

This is a nice succinct review. I like it more than the album

wham49
October 18th 2017


6341 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

"Dylan's first crack at covers."



the first sentence and I do not have to read any more, clearly you are not a Dylan person if you think this is the first covers that he has done, Check everything up to freewheelin' dude. His whole act for 2 years when he came to NY was Guthrie covers, and his whole first album was covers





rigooz
October 21st 2017


1 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

@wham49 I wrote this review late at night cause I couldn't sleep, I had the record on and I thought why not write a little something cause no one else had. The next day I realized the glaring fault in the summary. His first record was all covers except Song to Woody and Talking New York, as you mentioned. Thanks for calling me on it, I edited what I thought was a clever alliteration out.



Thanks everyone for your comments ! I appreciate the feedback.

wham49
October 23rd 2017


6341 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

actually I like some of it, considering he was trying to make a POS to begin with, he wanted the heat off on himself, which he did

butt.
July 14th 2020


10952 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Why does everyone hate this so much? Pretty nice honestly

wham49
July 15th 2020


6341 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

compared to other BD albums I guess, and why is BD covering anybody else, best lyricist ever

widowslaugh123
December 10th 2020


4040 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Kinda want the first song to go on forever shit is beautiful

hel9000
August 7th 2021


1528 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

i kinda really like this

widowslaugh123
August 7th 2021


4040 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Yeah it’s great the average is a little fucked

hel9000
August 7th 2021


1528 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

yeah i don't think this is much worse than New Morning or Nashville Skyline, some middling and weird tracks but nothing offensive.

wham49
August 9th 2021


6341 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

i would say this is a 3 at best compared to the other dylan albums, remember he was trying to put out a bad record, or at least one his fans did not want to hear. That is why the hate for it, but coming into it 45 years later, you think what was the big deal, its good, well not not when it came out

widowslaugh123
August 10th 2021


4040 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

How old are you wham were you around when this was released?

Rastapunk
April 10th 2023


1540 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This record is far better than I expected, very enjoyable. I don't get the rating to be honest.

Sharenge
April 10th 2023


5088 Comments


still haven't gotten around to this but I can believe it



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