Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

4. Bob DylanBlood On The Tracks

I like loads of Bob Dylan’s stuff but this is a stone-cold killer classic. The songwriting here is at a level that I can only aspire to. He has great songs on all of his albums but this album you can put on from start to finish and never have a B-moment. It’s A+ all the way.

It’s not a going out album. Something like Fu Manchu’s The Action Is Go, which nearly made this list, is a going out album, but not this. It’s very beautiful. I’ve met people over the years who have this idea that Bob Dylan is a wanker, but I just think they haven’t listened properly and don’t know what they’re talking about. He’s as good as everyone says that he is and you have to listen and find the reason that you like it. He has a fantastic degree of aggression in his delivery and his phrasing, even when he’s talking about the most tender subjects. He’s obviously a massively smart individual.

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