Bob Dylan – Collecting My Thoughts in a Pattern Review

Little gems of the stage can be found in Collecting My Thoughts in a Pattern. A compilation of Bob Dylan performances across the Spring of 2022. A season of change, not just for the everyday person but for the setlist Dylan provided. Shows across the United States featured a compact Rough and Rowdy Ways cover. But there is still reason to head into this compilation effort of bootleg live recordings. The main thrill of any taping is not the performance itself, strong as they are here, but the possibility of rarities. To hear Dylan perform Melancholy Mood with the context of his latest studio efforts is one of those treats. A moment to cling onto. Part of the charm of his live work is hearing the changes to his sound, and the subtle notes from the Tony Garnier-featuring instrumentals backing Dylan are a major part of that appeal. 

Rough and Rowdy Ways features an impressive depth that Dylan and the band are still exploring years on from its release. The recording quality here is a mixed bag, but it is ultimately an enjoyable time. Opener Watching the River Flow is in a worse state than the ear implosion, which comes when listening to bootlegged songs which are harmonica-heavy, but is the opportunity to hear a solid new song. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine) is a chance to hear the early moments of Dylan piecing a new arrangement together. His piano playing could still use some work and has certainly improved since this performance, but it marks the start of a whole new sound for Dylan. That is what Collecting My Thoughts in a Pattern offers very consistently. For those who have listened to further Rough and Rowdy Ways bootleg releases, you may notice the slight instrumental variations. Slower in tempo, heavier on the piano, that is what Collecting My Thoughts in a Pattern provides.  

When I Paint My Masterpiece has certainly changed for the better. The chirpy style this rhythm and blues overhaul offers the song is neat, but it lacks the strength of the Rough and Rowdy Ways album tracks. Those moments which explore the darker recesses of the 1960s, the parts which play around with the meaning of legacy and how the greats are remembered. Dylan featured as much on his 2020 album, and affixes that same message to the likes of When I Paint My Masterpiece and Gotta Serve Somebody. Who he serves is anyone’s guess, but with I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You, there is a sense he is now serving the audience.  

Dylan is not serving them with what they want, naturally. No audience member truly knows what they want until after the show. But what Dylan provides is what will help a listener’s understanding of Rough and Rowdy Ways. Later performances in this bootleg, like a mesmerising Every Grain of Sand and a sweet appearance of Crossing the Rubicon, go that step further in cementing the longevity not just of Dylan, but of the ever-changing culture which has affected his work. It still does now, and not just on his writing. You can hear Dylan, as ever, change the fundamentals of his instrumental experience, and that is a delight for those who have heard Dylan before, be it in person or on the solid live albums of the past. It is a stark contrast to Hard Rain or Real Live, and such is the point. No two shows are the same, and Collecting My Thoughts in a Pattern highlights that unique intricacy.