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Yet another side of Bob Dylan

Kooky songwriting legend Bob Dylan is releasing a Christmas album. Hear a snippet.

By DAVID SILVERBERG

Remember when Bob Dylan confounded fans by adapting Love Sick to a Victoria’s Secret commercial?

Dude is selling out, some said of the music icon. “WTF?” others wondered.

Now Dylan is thinking outside the box set with his first Christmas album, called Christmas in the Heart, due for an Oct. 13 release.

Music blogs have been writing about the recently leaked 30-second samples from the album, heard here on YouTube (47,000 views and counting). Finally, we can all revel in Here Comes Santa Claus sung by the raspy voice who declared everybody must get stoned in Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35.

Other tracks include Little Drummer Boy, O Come All Ye Faithful, Silver Bells, and O’ Little Town of Bethlehem.

Give a listen to the entire seven-minute clip if you can. It’s embarrassing stuff, even if you are in love with Dylan and/or Christmas carols. A commenter on Dylan fan site Expecting Rain wrote, “Utterly embarrassing. Please God no, make it stop.” Culture blog flavorwire blasted Dylan’s singing, saying that “his voice is more wheezy than raspy and it sounds like he’s knee-deep in the eggnog.”

Only redeeming factor? The energetic accordion on Must Be Santa. Everything else points to a sad turn for Dylan. Maybe he needs the money. Maybe the label was pressuring him for a 2009 release. Or maybe he just wants to punk his fans with an odd duck of an album.

It feels almost cruel to bash Christmas in the Heart, though. Dylan promised international royalties from the album would be donated to the World Food Program to feed hungry people around the world. But a music project should still be charitable and palatable, right?

Sep 28, 2009 at 10:21 AM

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Comments

Posted by conchita on 09/28/2009, 10:36 PM

oh my goodness!

Posted by George O. on 09/28/2009, 11:06 PM

These snippets are awesome, well, the voice if your not used to it might not appeal to you right away, especially if you dont listen to Dylan very much. He hits every note perfectly. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! Im buying this for all my friends and family.

Posted by Tim on 09/29/2009, 02:11 AM

Where exactly do you find these writers?

"Maybe he needs the money. Maybe the label was pressuring him for a 2009 release. Or maybe he just wants to punk his fans with an odd duck of an album."

1. ALL proceeds from the album are going to feed the homeless. So no, he doesn't need the money.

2. There has already been a 2009 release. It's called "Together Through Life" and went number 1 in the UK and US.

Seriously, you're bashing Dylan for releasing a charity album to feed the homeless? Firstly, get your facts straight and then...get a life.

Posted by Gander on 09/29/2009, 04:07 AM

Tim has pretty much nailed it there. Might I also add that what Bob appears to be exhibiting here is a sense of fun; a fine thing if you can find it. First time since 1970 that Bob's released two new studio albums in a single year, as a side note.

Posted by Dadacoolone on 09/29/2009, 05:05 AM

Bob Must need the money? I think not..not one mention that all proceed go to feeding millions of families in America and England,not to mention thousands upond thousands in undeveloped nations,just goes to show,you really didn't have a clue to what you were talking about..

Posted by ray.english on 09/29/2009, 06:37 AM

Before you take the P*** out of someones efforts to help people , think twice before opening your fat mouth, don't waste my time trying to be funny, your not...

Posted by Bobcatina on 09/29/2009, 07:48 AM

Christmas in the Heart is not your usual cookie cutter "sweet and syrup" Christmas album. Rather, it is filled with fun and celebration and genuine, heartfelt sincerity. It sounds to me that Bob is having a great time! He is also keeping with the true spirit of the season as Bob is doing what the Man that the season is about asked of all of us--to take care of each other---especially those who are in need. God bless Bob! God has certainly blessed us with Bob and the gifts he has given us over the years!

Posted by alias on 09/29/2009, 08:37 AM

No wonder Bob Dylan doesn't talk much. It seems no matter what he does, some critics like to denigrate his actions/singing/talent. He has nothing to prove anymore. He's just Dylan. Either you "get it" or you don't. With comments like I see here, I hope Dylan doesn't read this crap or else it would be along time before I would think about being charitable.

Need the money???????? LOLLOLLOLOLLOL

Posted by rc on 09/29/2009, 09:39 AM

Idiot review, it's a wonder you get paid.

Posted by Charlie on 09/29/2009, 09:58 AM

I listened to the snippets, and I friggin' love this album. Maybe the reviewer would prefer a Michael Bolton christmas album. This stuff is great.

Posted by jim jones on 09/29/2009, 10:09 AM

Come on, I'm sure you've used wikipedia before... And last I saw, there were about 15 pages of comments from the discussion on expectingrain.com, but as far as we know, you've only read only the very first one - hardly representative.

Whether you like Bob or not, it's fair to say the album is a bit of fun, trying to help people less fortunate at Christmas - sure some people will critique it to until blue in the face, but it's only an album of traditional songs and unoriginal compositions recorded rather quickly for a good cause - it's a performance not a creative exercise, or some great bearing of soul. And yes, charitable music should preferably be palatable because that will raise more money - just like charitable employment should still demand good writing, right?

Posted by OSHEN on 09/29/2009, 10:28 AM

Certifiably the COOLEST Xmas album in recent global WARMING memory! Thank you.

Posted by ShoreGirl on 09/29/2009, 10:36 AM

To David Silverberg: You were right about only one thing, "It feels almost cruel to bash Christmas in the Heart, though. Dylan promised international royalties from the album would be donated to the World Food Program to feed hungry people around the world". Exactly! Now go crawl back in your cave. And have a great day!

Posted by Richard D on 09/29/2009, 01:17 PM

This will be a nice christmas! Bobs voice sounds fine to me.

Posted by gringo557 on 09/29/2009, 01:54 PM

Everyone sounds right on to me. I'm gonna get it AND support feeding the homeless. MERRY X-MAS, SCROOGE!

Posted by charlie o on 09/29/2009, 02:29 PM

the write of this article is a moron. do you not check facts anymore? i can't wait for this album to arrive and yes i have heard the clips.

Posted by alias on 09/29/2009, 02:55 PM

YOU LEAVE BOB ALONE!!!

Posted by Blossom on 09/29/2009, 04:59 PM

The Dylan album isn't too bad. I think that a lot of us forget that he is 68 and not 48 anymore. I mean, you gotta think of him in the same age group of Frank Sinatra & Burle Ives now. The backup singers were horrible; they sounded like little girls, it was too syrupy & sugary. All in all, not his best.

Posted by Jon on 09/29/2009, 09:56 PM

Man, you guys kill me with your selfishness. Bob could have hung it up for good after the motorcycle accident and called it a career, and a DAMN great one at that !! But no, he is not selfish, he has a talent that people dig and he has been sharing that talent with us for over fifty years. Yet some of you complain and moan and groan. Instead, you should all count your blessings that Bob isn't selfish like all you critics out there. The man has TOTALLY given all of us a Christmas present that we can use to increase all our holiday fun from this Christmas until our last. Then, we can pass it on down for our friends and relatives enjoyment. And to those who think that Bob is joking with this album ?? Hell no !! Bob has made a timeless Christmas album, probably the way he remembers hearing it as a child. I think it is spectacular !! Believe me, I don't like everything he has put out, but I can't believe the feedback. I think this album is brilliant and it will be at the head of the line for all my Christmas music needs. And one more thing about this "joke" speculation. Do you really think that Bob is going to make a "joke" album when all the royalties are going to feed starving children ?? Hell no !! This is serious music by a serious man for a serious cause. Just remember that Bob has enough money for 10 lifetimes and he is touring and making albums now for us and like he said, "the man upstairs." Show some appreciation will ya all ???

Posted by Jim on 09/29/2009, 10:27 PM

Beautiful! This will be one of my holiday favorites, right alongside the Johnny Cash Christmas album, Ringo Starr's, and who can forget James Brown's "Funky Christmas"?

Posted by Guran on 09/30/2009, 08:25 PM

Friends, its no masterpice, but its Bob Dylan and its for a good sake!!, feeding the hungry and every hungup soul in the whole wide universe. He will return, with yet another masterpice,someday before he leave this earth, off this Im sure.....

Posted by morgan j. on 09/30/2009, 11:18 PM

I love this album. I can see Bob sitting by the fire with all his kids and grandkids and greatgrandkids (if he has any) and just loving the hell out of all of them and all of us. Merry Christmas, Bob!

Posted by Nancye Clark on 10/03/2009, 10:16 AM

ahhh....spending the holidays with Bobby......love it