Bob Dylan A Thousand Hearts & Eyes Brixton Residency 2005

 

 

Bob Dylan
A Thousand Hearts & Eyes
Brixton Residency, 2005

MAGGIE'S FARM (11-23)
SUGAR BABY (11-24)
MILLION DOLLAR BASH (11-21)
HIGH WATER (11-23)
SHE BELONGS TO ME (11-23)
SHELTER FROM THE STORM (11-23)
IT'S ALRIGHT MA (11-24)
WAITING FOR YOU (11-21)
BLUE MONDAY (11-23)
BOOTS OF SPANISH LEATHER (11-21)
'TIL I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU (11-20)
POSITIVELY 4TH STREET (11-22)
LONDON CALLING (11-21)
VISIONS OF JOHANNA (11-21)

Of course, we all know about Brixton 2005. One of the high points of Bob Dylan's late career. Five nights of songs, old and new, pulled from the fiery furnace and refined in the chilly London air. Like his brilliant Fall 2003 tour, the Fall 2005 tour culminated in amazing performances on the British Isles. All of these songs are sourced from Crystal Cat's “Brixton Box” Set, and the CD is arranged to present the best of the 5 nights. The tracks are a bit hot, tending towards clipped high and low ends, but the quality rarely suffers.

Our evening opens with a rollicking "Maggie's Farm" before a tender "Sugar Baby" pulls back on the energy, and then a joyful performance of "Million Dollar Bash" brings the audience and Dylan to laughter by the end. "High Water" turns up the heat, pedal steel melodies propel "She Belongs To Me," and "Shelter from the Storm" is played for all its drama. Possibly the strongest rendition of the march-like arrangment of "It's Alright Ma" is up next. Then one of the only airings of "Waiting For You" before 2013 – each word is drawn out to perfection. We are surprised again with Bob Dylan's only performance to date of Blue Monday.  The violin brings out every ounce of sorrow present in "Boots of Spanish Leather," and the long-burning "'Til I Fell in Love With You" brings us around to a sad, longing "Positively 4th Street." After a brief, delightful cover of The Clash's "London Calling," the serene "Visions of Johanna" concludes this set. It's not quite as strong as its nigh-definitive reading in Dublin mere nights later, but this "Visions of Johanna" plays to the qualities of Bob Dylan's tight 2005 band.

This is one of the last appearances of such a jazzy sound in Dylan's repertoire until 2012, and 2006 would bring both the organ and an increasingly hard, bluesy sound to the forefront. The songs here are light, airy, somehow managing to sound simultaneously loose yet well-rehearsed. This is a band at one of its peaks, creating beautiful music for an adoring crowd. Perhaps some personal favorites are missing, but the 14 tracks give a representative look into the Bob Dylan of 2005. If 2003 was the beginning of this sound, then 2005 is the conclusion. If you find this set to your liking, and want more, download the complete Brixton Box. As always, enjoy!

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