Review excerpted from Thom Jurek in All Music Guide
2 CDs* with 27 songs in a brilliant box with a 60 page booklet.
“Tell Tale Signs” is perhaps the most appropriately titled of all the volumes in Bob Dylan’s official Bootleg Series thus far. Containing 27 tracks, the material here dates from the albums “Oh Mercy” through to 2006′s “Modern Times.” It presents a carefully prepared sonic treat of a genuine enigma’s musical world-view. Dylan may be an icon, but if it wasn’t already obvious, he seems to perceive the modern world as a strange place that he no longer understands, nor wishes to. The music here is startling in its depth and presentation.
“Tell Tale Signs” feels like a new Bob Dylan record, not only for the astonishing freshness of the material, but also for the incredible sound quality and organic feeling of everything here. It’s a carefully presented set, but it’s full of life and crackling energy and offers yet more proof — as if any were needed — that Dylan remains as cagey, unpredictable, and yes, profound and relevant as he ever was.
*A 13-track single-disc version was also released.
2 CDs* with 27 songs in a brilliant box with a 60 page booklet.
This is a great collection of songs. Mysterious, elusive, enigmatic…just like the man himself. Songs with color and character.
And if you love the characters Bob’s created here, you should (shameless plug alert) take look at my new novel, BLOOD ON THE TRACKS, a murder mystery set in the rock world in which all the suspects are characters in Bob’s songs.
An entire book built around Bob’s creations? That’s just the kind of depth this man has. Intrigued? You can get a copy on Amazon.com or go “behind the tracks” at http://www.bloodonthetracksnovel.com to learn more about the book.