Love And Theft released: Sept 11, 2001 BUY

“Love And Theft”, Dylan’s next studio album after Time Out of Mind, was released on September 11, 2001. “Love And Theft” dispenses with the unified tone of Time Out Of Mind, displaying a richer mix of materials and even better vocals. This is, in fact, one of Dylan’s very best vocal performances ever – roaring, sly, snarling, whimsical, totally assured – a tour de force, despite the obvious ravages of the years on his voice. The album has an ingenious arrangement in which a couple of very distinct types of material play off against one another; six of the twelve tunes are blues-based material of one sort or another, from the rockabilly extravaganza “Summer Days” to the scary, apocalyptic “High Water Everywhere” to the blazing, swaggering “Cry A While,” with its Charlie Patton-derived guitar riff. Another five of them are easygoing, light, romantic songs with an occasionally wistful aspect, like “Po Boy,” “Bye And Bye” and the gorgeous “Moonlight.” “Mississippi” is one of Dylan’s most sustained lyrics in years, and an excellent performance. The final song on the disc, “Sugar Baby,” is unlike any of the others, a heartbreaking song of loss, of letting go, even of defeat – a much older, wiser, and sadder version of “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.” All in all, “Love And Theft” has to be counted among the very top Dylan albums. To see it follow Time Out Of Mind, 35 years after Blonde On Blonde and 25 years after Blood On The Tracks, leaves one shaking one’s head in amazement, and gratitude. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum Mississippi Summer Days Bye And Bye Lonesome Day Blues Floater (Too Much To Ask) High Water (for Charley Patton) Moonlight Honest With Me Po' Boy Cry A While Sugar Baby