Fans of the album New Morning are saying it holds one of the most “underrated” songs in Bob Dylan‘s discography.
Dylan’s eleventh studio album was released in October 1970, mere months after Self Portrait hit shelves and split listeners. New Morning proved somewhat a return to form for the veteran songwriter, who has thrilled fans on the r/BobDylan subreddit. They believe a song featured on the album is one of the most underrated pieces of music Dylan has ever written, with the whole album also coming highly recommended from those who have listened to it over the years. New Morning marked another vocal change for Dylan, a return to the nasal singing which had dominated the 1960s and his so-called “voice of a generation” period.
A fan asked: “What are some good underrated songs by Bob Dylan?” In the mix of this Reddit discussion was Day of the Locusts, the second song on New Morning. One user agreed with this suggestion, writing: “As soon as I saw this post I came here to write Day of the Locusts. Outstanding shout!”
Another added: “Agreed, as well as Boots of Spanish Leather and a number of songs from the Another Self Portrait set.” A third wrote: “Just listened to it, have to say I really like it.” Day of the Locusts was the only New Morning song mentioned in the thread, though other users suggested some similar, nasally Dylan era vocal works.
One user wrote: “On the Road Again off of Bringing it All Back Home is a silly little blues song – but it cracks me up. Some days, I listen to it over and over to hear Bob’s subtle vocal inflections.”
Another agreed, adding: “It’s such a clever song. I love how it points out the absurdity in upper-class living. Like the kleptomaniac uncle, surely he’s well off enough not to steal. But he can’t help himself. Exotic pets like a monkey are a sign of good taste or high income of whatever, but what use is a pet that only gives a face full of claws?
“I could be misinterpreting it. But I’ve always taken the lyrics to be a critique of how impractical being rich is. They eat bizarre food (to keep up appearances? I wonder if it’s like Esme Squalor from Lemony Snicket’s book, where she’s worrying about what’s ‘in?’), have dysfunctional power dynamics (they’re all fighting, all the time. Even the butler’s got something to prove!), and best of all they think it’s a better lifestyle!”
A separate comment saw Something There is About You from Planet Waves, an album which released four years after New Morning, as one of Dylan’s most underrated efforts.
They wrote: “I feel like Something There is About You gets treated as a throwaway, but it’s a great love song with fantastic imagery and trademark ambivalence (the ‘I could say that I’d be faithful…’ part. And the Band sounds excellent as usual.”
