Time Out of Mind (NAD 2023)

Bob Dylan has been time-hopping throughout his career, but on "Time Out of Mind" he's stuck firmly in the past. This album feels like a drunken stumble through a nostalgic jukebox, with Dylan croaking out lyrics like a grizzled old barfly. The production is as thick as pea soup, with guitars that sound like they've been left out in the rain too long. But somehow, it all works. Tracks like "Love Sick" and "Not Dark Yet" are like bittersweet ballads from a bygone era, while "Highlands" is an epic journey through the mind of a man who's seen it all. Dylan's voice may sound like gravel being crushed under a boot, but it's a perfect match for the raw emotion on display here. If you're looking for catchy hooks or polished production, look elsewhere. "Time Out of Mind" is a ragged, unfiltered look into the soul of a musical legend. Dylan may be an old man now, but he's still got plenty of life left in him. Give this album a spin and let yourself get lost in its haunting beauty. Just make sure you've got a stiff drink in hand, because you're in for a wild ride.