New Dylan Song: "Huck's Tune"
This one's growing on me. After reading my scintillating prose, hit iTunes and check it out... (Oh, and on iTunes, I also recommend buying Carrie Underwood's charity single I'll Stand By You. Did you see Idol last night? Real nice version. Plus you'll be absolved of guilt for 99 cents.)
Album: Lucky You Soundtrack (Columbia)
In stores: Now
Why we care: Director Curtis Hanson’s poker drama features Dylan’s first new material since 2006’s Modern Times. Sure, it’s just one song, but Huck’s Tune is a slow, bittersweet keeper that sounds very much part of Bob’s recent “trilogy” (especially 2003's Love and Theft). Plus for the reclusive sleuths in Bob Nation, any peep out of Zimmy is reason enough to ditch work and start deciphering.
Why we like it: Dylan and Hanson have hooked up before: Bob recorded middle-aged lament Things Have Changed for 2000 dramedy Wonder Boys. Huck’s Tune isn’t as sturdy as that gem, but it’s still a thrill to hear Dylan use poker as a metaphor for bad love. “The game’s gotten old / The deck’s gone cold / I’m gonna have to put you down for awhile.” By the way, the rest of the soundtrack is pretty good, too, with cuts from Springsteen, George Jones and Bonnie Raitt.
Reminds us of: That for all his complexities, Bob's always been an incurable romantic.
Download these: Huck’s Tune and, in case you don’t have it, Springsteen’s swaggering rocker Lucky Town
Grade: B
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
Seeing Clarkson and Underwood perform last night just made me realize how much more talented they are than this year's contestants. Seriously, Jordin aside, has there ever been a weaker Top 6?
Posted by: Guy | April 26, 2007 at 01:24 PM
The Top 6 are definitely milquetoast. Jordin's the only one who looks like a "star."
So, Guy: Did you buy the Carrie Underwood single?
Posted by: Sean Daly | April 26, 2007 at 02:19 PM
By the way, Guy, can you elaborate on Springsteen's "The Fever"?
It appears on the "Lucky You" soundtrack, but I hear there's backstory there.
Posted by: Sean Daly | April 26, 2007 at 03:27 PM
Underwood's version of I'll Stand By You is sublime. She's stunning, which probably explains why I prefer her version to Chrissie Hynde's original.
Posted by: Guy | April 26, 2007 at 08:00 PM