Album Review: Bob Dylan - Tempest

Some can't believe Bob Dylan is still alive and are suspicious of the likely quality of new material from an oft-eccentric artist who's certainly stepping into his twilight years. Then there are those who have heard his recent work, know that Dylan is still one of the world's great songwriters and performers and embrace what the legend has to offer. Bob Dylan ceased being groundbreaking years ago (when everyone started copying him), but that doesn't mean he's not pushed the envelope in recent times – anyone who heard 2009's Christmas In The Heart might argue he pushes it too far on occasion – and Tempest is another example of Dylan writing songs and making records on his own terms.

The most important thing about Tempest is simple; Dylan once again contributes something of real weight and of real value, his music remains the opposite of disposable. If so inclined you could spend hours poring over the lyrics, researching and cross referencing his every line, all the while secretly knowing you'll never hit on the true meaning of his lyric. Is Duquesne Whistle really about a train? Does Early Roman Kings speak of Italy in 600BC or South Bronx in the early-1960s? Much of the imagery is unmistakably bleak; talk of gangs, murder (Tin Angel is chilling) and a 14-minute dissection of the Titanic's sinking (on the meaty but overrated title-track) among topics raised. Album highlight Pay In Blood has Dylan telling us he has “dogs that could tear us limb from limb” – in his gruff voice it's more frightening than anything released all year.

It's no masterpiece, but with Tempest the Dylan legacy remains intact.