The Dylanologists

Not Dark Yet

As the new millennium drew near, Bob Dylan was reinvigorated and ready to evolve yet again. However, and it may sound strange in retrospect, Dylan was in his mid-50's and seen as a has-been—a relic of a bygone era. What more could he possibly have to say?
"Not Dark Yet" is one of the best songs on an album that is overflowing with strong material after many years of lackluster sales and declining interest in Dylan. "Time Out of Mind" was (and still is in many circles) seen as his return to form. It won him a Grammy. It cemented his place in the pantheon of rock gods. It introduced him and his body of work to a new generation of young people. It turns out Dylan was right: "It's not dark yet, but it's getting there..."
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 
Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Tomorrow Is A Long Time

"Tomorrow Is A Long Time" is one of those strange Bob Dylan songs that has never been officially released on a studio album (much like "Blind Willie McTell" and "Things Have Changed"), yet it is one of his best and most profound tunes. What makes it so alluring? How did it end up on a greatest hits compilation in the first place? Join us as we explore this enigmatic track.
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 
Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Things Have Changed

This week we are locked in tight, but very much in range as we discuss a recent Dylan masterpiece—Things Have Changed. This song from early 2000 showcases Dylan in the new millennium, rejuvenated after the success of "Time Out of Mind." Much has changed since his early days in New York City, but the common refrain throughout the song still rings true: people are crazy and times are strange...
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Simple Twist of Fate

We asked and you voted—"Simple Twist of Fate" was declared the winner of a recent Instagram fan poll. Blame it on a simple twist of fate...
Track 2 on "Blood On The Tracks" is easily one of the most popular songs on the beloved album. It is a song overflowing with evocative and visceral imagery—you may even feel a spark tingle in your bones or an emptiness inside to which no one can relate. Either way, grab your talking parrot, head for the arcade, and watch out... for a simple twist of fate.
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Love Minus Zero / No Limit [with Nordista Freeze]

Another interview at last! Nordista Freeze joins us for our first interview as The Dylanologists. He is a musician from Nashville, TN who has been a Dylan fan for many years now. On this episode, he breaks down Dylan's impact on his life and art, while also sharing keen insights about Dylan and the music industry more broadly. 
 
Nordista Freeze: @NordistaFreeze
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 
Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Ballad of a Thin Man

Grab your pencils and walk into the nearest room... this week we explore Adam's favorite Bob Dylan song—Ballad of a Thin Man (don't worry—no one is naked here).
Ballad of a Thin Man is another song that has been interpreted a multitude of ways—it's about a journalist, the folk scene, Joan Baez, racism, LGBTQ+ rights, and/or Dylan himself. Something is happening here, but you don't know what it is. Perhaps that is the point, Mister Jones...
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 
Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Visions of Johanna

This week we explore Jens's favorite Bob Dylan song—Visions of Johanna.
Visions of Johanna is a song that defies simple analysis or explanation. It is overflowing with rich, textured imagery. It is one of Dylan’s most beloved, debated, and surreal epics, yet it all boils down to one simple truth: he misses Johanna, whoever that may be. Infinity isn't the only thing going up on trial...
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Changing of the Guards

Welcome to "episode 1" of The Dylanologists. This week we tackle a song that was voted in by our followers on Instagram.
"Changing of The Guards" was a marked shift for Dylan in more ways than one. Endless interpretations abound, but maybe that's the point—sometimes things aren't black and white; a situation can be interpreted 1,000 different ways; life is never really all that straight forward anyway. This song is emblematic of Dylan during a pivotal period in his life and career. It gives us a glimpse into the mind of a legend who was about to shock the world by converting to Evangelical Christianity. The guards really were about to change.
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Something Is Revealed

The time has finally come for something to be revealed on the podcast. You don't want to miss this. 
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.
Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

Like A Rolling Stone

"Like A Rolling Stone" is undoubtedly one of Bob Dylan's masterpieces. However, were it not for several fortuitous events, it may not have had the immediate impact that it did, and thus, the lasting legacy that exists to this day. The wordplay. The attitude. The volume. The subject matter. This was a sneer turned up to 11—proof that rock & roll could be something more than juvenile. This is the story of "Like A Rolling Stone."
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.
Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.