More audiophile reviews by Ted King

Modern Times
—Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan has written 40-plus albums that span the bridge of time between the Vietnam conflict and the Iraq War. His latest recording, the first in five years, is not the macro view of the world he wrote of during the 1960s. The most recent tales break down the complexity of male/female relationships as metaphors for larger themes. His voice is gruffer, quieter, his lyrics are more personal, and his sound is timeless. Dylan has been called the best lyricist on the planet, and many of the phrasings on

this record are mind-expanding. I don't feel that he's at his best here like he was on albums like Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde, but he still manages to wrap your brain around a verse a few times. The album is quiet and repetitive in style, but the relaxed nature of the music lures you into a false sense of security. Mr. Dylan has written a personal record here, and this time around he looks at the world as a man who has lived, not a man who wonders.

Corinne Bailey Rae
—Corinne Bailey Rae

Welcome a fresh voice, bringing back to life an old style rhythm and blues. The album starts with the innocent acoustic song "Like a Star" that serenely launches you into a flurry of romantic recordings. British singer Corinne Bailey Rae writes or co-writes all of the songs on this album and desperately wants to share her tales of love and sorrow. If there is a weakness on this record it's her tunnel-like focus on enchantment and heartache. Her voice is childlike and her sound is light and sweet to the ear, providing a relaxing soundtrack to a fall day. This debut is catchy, romantic, ethereal and worth a listen.

Classic Corner
Exile on Main Street — The Rolling Stones

I've heard it said that if aliens landed on Earth and asked for the definition of rock 'n' roll, you would simply hand them a copy of Exile on Main Street. This record is raw, raunchy, humorous and amorous. Recorded in the south of France in 1972, the sound is tight, urgent, passionate and unapologetic. Mick, Keith and the gang are at the top of their abilities as musicians; there isn't a wasted note or a poorly timed smack of the drums. This album is not for the faint of heart; it's what mothers warned their daughters about and it's terribly fun.

This article originally appearred in the October 24, 2006 issue of Soap Opera Digest.