First thoughts on the music of Modern Times

1. thunder on the mountain - I dig the dual lead guitar attack. You can hear the second one, a little higher tone, sitting behind and to the left of the main one. I guess that's Bob on acoustic guitar as well as piano. The piano keeps things rolling on this basic but clever blues number. The drummer plays some great fills leading up to the outro. Bob's voice sounds effortless.

2. spirit on the water - Gorgeous descending melody on this one. This one's an early favorite. Everything's understated and right where it needs to be. Love that hissing hi hat. Whoever mixed this album is an all-star. This one's interesting for not having a verse/chorus structure. It just rolls along with a quick change up ("I'm gonna be with you in paradise") repeating once in a while. And then the harp at the end, starting mournful and brightening at the end.

3. rollin and tumblin - This one kicks it. Definitely in the tradition of the blues numbers on BIABH.

4. when the deal goes down - Reminds me of Oh Mercy. The reverb on the voice for starters, but musically as well. I like the single strumming of the guitar on the left and the way the violin comes in, adds a counterpoint to the solo, and then drops out.

5. someday baby - Okay, this one, the drumming at least, puts me in the mind of JWH (the song). You got a slower melody punctuated by some uptempo drumming. Good contrast. I think that's Bob's guitar solo in the middle - there's three guitar lines, left right and middle. The middle's probably Bob bc it's just a few notes. Smile.

6. workingman's blues #2 - Damn. Nice pretty piano, Bob. He's showing off with that tinkling. You don't expect that from him. Love how all the sounds come in together at 0:45. Everyone has his own great melody line on this, and they all meld wonderfully, and then the vocal melody lays down the law and tells you how it is. I am a fan of this band. This song's my favorite. Love the punctuated guitar on the 3 beat. I swear I hear an organ in there but it's uncredited, could just be all the swirling instruments. And the violin comes in at the end and ties it together. A beauty.

7. beyond the horizon - Old timey goodness. More effortless singing. This is the second or third song with that clean bassy jazz tone tasty quick guitar solo. This is new for Bob, as Larry and David didn't play that style, and it fits in these tunes like a reed in clarinet.

8. nettie moore - The first one that didn't grab me. The prominent kickdrum is like a heartbeat and like a baby against your chest it puts you right to sleep. I'd have liked an arrangement that wasn't so sparse.. but after repeated listens to the album I may appreciate it for a breather.

9. the levee's gonna break - Another blues, midtempo but jaunty. Again the dual lead guitars lift the song between the verses, while the piano jumps on board before the buffet's cleared out and the scraps go to the dogs.

10. ain't talkin - The minor key acoustic picking immediately grabs the ear. The hiss returns and Bob begins a 9 minute narration on sin and salvation. The violin and viola provide a sinister undercurrent. He teases a melody from the slop, this music covering the road like a slick of oil and just as dark. It's precisely played with great feeling, only conveying the feeling of muck, and the pessimism at Bob's core that he can set aside but never escape.