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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT . KITSAP SUN « Friday, February 6, 2015 «5
BOB DYLAN
‘SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT’
Columbia
BobDylanhasnevercalled“Shadows
in the Night” a Frank Sinatra tribute
album. The idea seems nuts: one of the
last century’s greatest songwriters
challengingperhapsitsgreatestvoice,
on Sinatra’s turf. No wonder it was the
butt of jokes before anyone heard a
note.
The fact remains that each of the 10
standards here, written between 1923
and1963,wasrecordedbySinatra.
Some, like “Some Enchanted Evening”
or “That Lucky Old Sun,” are fairly well
known,othersmoreobscure.Dylan
closed his last few concerts with one
of them, “Stay With Me.”
The precise, and even more
intimidating,comparisonisSinatra’s
superb 1955 concept disc, “In the Wee
Small Hours.” For these are all songs
that come to mind when the night
gets long, when missed opportunities,
regrets and lost loves come to mind.
They’rethesongsyou’dexpectthe
73-year-old man sitting at the end
of the bar to request. Here they are
performedinmutedfashion,notwith
“Shadows in the Night,” by Bob Dylan
an orchestra, but with Dylan’s band,
supplemented by a mournful pedal
steelguitarandtheoccasionalsubtle
horn.
Thehushedarrangementsputeven
more emphasis on a voice that, let’s
faceit,wasneverconsideredclassic
evenbeforebeingravagedbyage.The
remarkablethingisthathepullsitoff,
with crooning you’ve heard from Dylan
before. Unlike his holiday album from a
few years back, where his croak played
likeunintentionalcomedyattimes,he
workshardtodojusticetothesongs
and setting. Don’t toss your Sinatra
discs aside. By the time Dylan reaches
forthelastlineinalbumcloser,“That
Lucky Old Sun,” you’re rooting for him
to nail it. He does.
ThediscisconsistentwithDylan’s
later-period emphasis on classic
American songcraft and material that
evokesmortality.Itisveryspecificin
its appeal. Yet when it’s time to turn
downthelightsandpickupatumbler,
youcoulddofarworse.
David Bauder, Associated Press
MARK RONSON
‘UPTOWN SPECIAL’
RCA
Mark Ronson’s new album, “Uptown
Special,”openswithsuchpromising
notes: Stevie Wonder’s harmonica,
playingsosoulfulandslowthatthe
listener can’t help but settle in, ready
and waiting for what’s sure to be an
exhilarating musical story.
Sadly, you’ll be kept waiting. That’s
nottosaythereisn’tsomegood
musiconRonson’sfourtheffort,
because there is. But “Uptown
Special” feels chaotic, moving from
soundtosoundinawaythatfeels
haphazard.
The songs don’t hit the listener in a
connectedway,butasifRonsonjust
puttogetherabunchoftracksthat
soundedcooltohim.That’sfine,but
withalittlemorecuration,themusic
might have been transcendent.
Thereareundoubtedlysongsthe
listenerwillwanttohearagain.The
lead single, “Uptown Funk” with Bruno
Mars,hastakenoverthechartswith
itscatchybeatthatalmostdaresyou
tostaystill.“ICan’tLose”isanother
one that gets your toes tapping, and
“Leaving Los Feliz” has a sweet sway
to it.
Grammy-winning Ronson, who has
produced for top-notch acts from
Amy Winehouse to Adele to Paul
McCartney, has an obvious affinity
for old-school sounds. It’s just not
enough to make this album special.
Deepti Hajela, Associated Press
NE-YO
‘NON-FICTION’
Motown
Ahh, Ne-Yo. So much talent — the
voice, the songwriting. And yet,
somehow, such a boring album.
It’s a little crazy-making, truth be told.
All the ingredients are here some hot
beats; smooth, rich vocals; and the
idea of an album as a whole concept
rather than a collection of songs.
Sowhyisn’titmoreinterestingor
compelling?
Maybebecausethisalbum,his
sixth, feels so one-dimensional. A
song about a woman. Another song
about a woman, this one using him
for whatever celebrity swag she can
get. Oh hey, a song about sex with
a woman, or preferably two (which
interestingly, has a beautiful melody).
Aaaaannnd, another song about a
woman, who decided to move on to
someone else and Ne-Yo wishes her
well.
Ne-Yosaysthesongscamefrom
stories,fromhislifeandthoseofhis
fans, but they’re all saying the same
thing.
With his extensive vocal and musical
skills, it would likely be fascinating
to hear the outcome if Ne-Yo
decided to broaden his musical
conversation.
Deepti Hajela, Associated Press
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