Sign on the Window isn't the Bob Dylan podcast you need, but it's definitely the one that you want! Each week we select a Dylan song at random, live with the song for a week (or two) and then get together to discuss. This week we summon thunder with the opener to 2006's Modern Times, "Thunder on the Mountain."
We start our last (maybe?) Music Video Month with:
Context (5:00)
Music and openers (9:00)
The music video for "Thunder on the Mountain" (14:00)
The song itself (30:00)
Does this work today? (51:00)
We close with our playlist talk (56:00), recommendations and sharing next week's episode!
Next episode: Dreams where the umbrella is folded
EPISODE BROUGHT TO YOU BY JOSUE
Context (5:00)
"Thunder on the Mountain" was recorded in February-March 2006 at Sony Music Studios in New York City. The album features Bob Dylan, Stu Kimball and Denny Freeman (guitar), Donnie Herron on violin, mandolin, and steel guitar, Tony Garnier on bass, and George Receli on drums.
The song wasn't an official single, but it does have a music video so...
He's performed this song 739 times (as of recording) from October 13, 2006 to November 2, 2019.
Rolling Stone just put out "The 25 Best Bob Dylan Songs of the 21st Century" to coincide with Rough & Rowdy Ways. This song was #9.
The Music Video (14:00)
The video premiered on Slate back in December of 2006; they describe it as
a whirlwind tour of the many phases, and faces, of Bob—from fierce ‘60s folk-rock tyro to white-makeup-caked troubadour to craggy old bard with a gleam in his eye and a Vincent Price mustache. The video draws on several decades of archival footage, some of it previously unseen. It’s a panorama of 40-odd years of American musical history, and—for Dylan freaks—a trainspotter’s dream.
They were giving away a signed guitar if you could identify 20 images by year and a tie-break to come up with your own four-line 12-bar blues lyric to be judged... I wonder who won!
If you have a time machine, entries need to be in by Dec. 15, 2006
Song Itself (30:00)
Kelly isn't a fan of straight-forward blues rock. For Daniel this is wrapped up in a lot of nostalgia. The two go through each set of lyrics to talk about: Exodus 19:16-19, Alicia Keys, new revelations from Rough & Rowdy Ways and Dylan interview with The New York Times, "the art of love," St. Herman, I sucked the milk out of a thousand cows, LeRoy Carr's "Gettin All Wet," Kokomo Arnold’s “Mean Old Twister," and I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth.
Does this song work today? (51:00)
Daniel loves the song and the music video, for what they are and almost nothing more. He notes all the openers since Time Out of Mind and how this is the only one that does start with this distance, with this breathing room. That makes it unique in that regard.
Kelly isn't buying it. The video is novel, and fills in more gaps for her, but nothing is really new under the sun.
THE EPISODE’S BOOKLET & PLAYLIST (56:00)
RECOMMENDATIONS
Kelly been in her security blanket of lo-fi hip hop and Dumb Gay Politics. She's been watching Insecure and Will & Grace, which as returned. She began Ken Burns' Jazz, but it was removed from streaming platforms. She's been playing Rocksmith to try to fill her empty hole where Rock Band and Guitar Hero used to be.
For Daniel, it cannot be overstated how improbable Rough & Rowdy Ways is. It has zero business being as good as it is. I'm so here for this and cannot wait to wear this out.
The goal is to not have that happen too fast. Enter Jeff Rosenstock and NO DREAM, an easy contender for AOTY and will probably get more overall listens in 2020 than anyone, at this point, outside of maybe Waxahatchee. Also helping at Run the Jewels RTJ4 and BLACKSTARKIDS SURF.
Finally, hat tip to Virgil for letting me know that Daniel Romano is going off in 2020 and released DANIEL ROMANO'S OUTFIT DO (WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN) "INFIDELS" BY BOB DYLAN & THE PLUGZ.
ENDINGS
Next in Music Video Month: "Series of Dreams."
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