Bob Dylan – Together Through Life Review

Blues rock shimmies its way into Together Through Life from word go. An at-the-time surprise from Bob Dylan still surprises today. Beyond Here Lies Nothin’, its tropical and Flamenca understudies easing through the shimmering tones and the croaking voice of an all-time great, is a stunner of an opener. Beyond here lies nothing. Not necessarily true, but for those that feel nothing is ahead, the powerful presence of guitar and quality producing from Dylan, under the alias Jack Frost, will reignite the fire. Harry Nilsson may have told audiences to jump into the fire, that daring exploration of what lies ahead, but there needs to be great work to light it. Together Through Life is a dark and delicate piece of Dylan’s discography, monumentally powerful.

Originating from the prompts of French director Olivier Dahan, the first track to come from Together Through Life, the sultry and slower ballad-like charms of Life is Hard, are stringent, tight and interesting. Lost love? Possibly. It has that shimmering Dylan charm and a rare, streamlined contemplation that strikes through with such power, such clarity. With Dylan doing much of the leg work and the late Robert Hunter in the writing room, there is much potential for Together Through Life that feels well realised. Like Triplicate, this is a collection of tracks that have Dylan in front of a microphone but also working through the intricacies of producing his own work. Those flourishes can be felt, and the flourish of the Willie Dixon-credited My Wife’s Home Town is a delicate treat.

Those charming mandolin and accordion charms that crop up on most of the tracks, especially If You Ever Go To Houston, feel resplendent. They reminisce about easy-going times. An introspective addition gives Dylan a chance to attach those producing qualities to his music. Forgetful Heart is a clear highlight, but consistent with Together Through Life is a focus on the layering Dylan is pushing through in the studio. Those jolts of electric guitar, the constant feel of it, the power of those accordions meshing with a cheeky bit of steel guitar. As instrumentally sexy as it gets, it is all wrapped together nicely with some sold vocal impressions. The change Dylan’s vocal range moved through over the albums preceding this find themselves in comfortable company on Together Through Life.

Jolene doesn’t do too much but the quality is there, the instrumental sections that give Dylan time to work on which instrument is given presence, which notes need to be brought to the front. It is all strong preparation under “Jack Frost” for what many considered an album of great standing over a decade later, Rough and Rowdy Ways. Many albums in Dylan’s discography can lay claim to an “underrated” categorisation, but Together Through Life shines through far brighter than the rest of them. An album for the fans, certainly, but for those not as obsessed with the man himself, Together Through Life will provide a sincere piece from Dylan, the sleepy folk-rock stylings create a good flow from track to track. Quality for those needing a personal kick, though. Glimmers of brilliance. Jump into the fire.