Bob Dylan fans believe one of his most recent songs is “unlike anything” they have ever heard and is his “greatest” modern-day release.
Fans have called the song a “masterpiece”, and while not everyone was on board with the praise, many have agreed it is a song which no other artist could do. A post to the r/BobDylan subreddit saw fans suggest the Rough and Rowdy Ways song was of surprising relevance and highlighted Dylan as one of the great songwriters. A user suggested it was not as good as people made it out to be, dubbing it “eighth-grade poetry.” But users were quick to defend the Rough and Rowdy Ways track, suggesting the song was actually one of the very best releases not just from Dylan, but from any legendary artist working today. The song in question marked Dylan’s return to original songwriting releases, his first in eight years at the time of its release.
Murder Most Foul, which Dylan released on March 27, 2020, was his first release of original material since 2012’s Tempest. While the song has never been played live by Dylan, the Rough and Rowdy Ways tour has entered its fourth year, and is so far set to conclude mid-September. It is unknown whether Dylan will continue to tour the album or has fresh material ready to release. Murder Most Foul, five years on from its release, remains a firm favourite with Dylan listeners, with many saying they were moved to tears by the track.
One user of the Bob Dylan Reddit page wrote: “Simply put, it’s like nothing I’ve heard before. An 80-year-old reflecting on one of the most monumental events of the 20th century, having lived it all. And the message, music can comfort us and teach us. I find it captivating and beautiful for 17 minutes, no other modern-day artist could do that for me, I don’t think.”
Another agreed, adding: “And to add, I love so much that he knows how impactful he himself is as Bob Dylan in two ways in the song, ‘play it for me and for Marilyn Monroe’ then, at the end, ‘play murder most foul’.”
Other listeners have praised the song as one of the best-ever because of the “devastating” impact it muses on. One listener suggested: “Speaking for myself. I was 13 when JFK was assassinated. It was devastating. The country just stopped in its tracks. We were changed forever. This song is a continuation of the mourning. A brilliant poetic song that took a picture of the event.”
Another added: “For me, its the embodiment of what Dylan has been about his whole life. Americana, storytelling, and overcoming the evil of the world with music. It’s a history lesson, and it also pushes music forward with its structure. To m,e this is what makes great music. Holding onto the past while reaching out to the future.
The style is meditative, quiet, and slow, so it takes a certain mood to consume. If you can’t get there, it may not be for you and that’s ok. But the song is a slow-burning masterpiece.”
Twitter users have also praised the song, with a recent post seeing users consider it one of the great masterpieces of his discography. One user wrote: Murder Most Foul blows me away more and more as time passes. Absolutely insane to release what might be your greatest masterpiece in your late 70s. Like for me, it’s joined the canon of great American art.”
Other Twitter users were in agreement and have suggested the song is part of one of the “greatest albums ever.” One user wrote: “The more I listen to Rough and Rowdy Ways, the more I rank it not just among Bob’s best, but amongst the greatest albums ever. Key West and I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself to You are indescribably beautiful.”
A third added: “Agree. It’s one of the best songs he has released, and the others are all legendary pieces of work. Black Rider is also an outstanding track.”
Murder Most Foul is also a favourite of Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker and Talking Heads’ David Byrne, with both musicians naming it as their favourite Dylan song in a Stereogum round-up celebrating his release.
