Streaming has made music too easy - Bob Dylan

[Randy]

Bob Dylan: 'Streaming has made music too easy'

In a rare interview, Bob Dylan has explained why he prefers to listen to music on a record player.

www.music-news.com

Bob Dylan believes streaming services make music "too smooth and painless".

In a rare interview with The Wall Street Journal to promote his new book, The Philosophy of Modern Song, the legendary singer-songwriter shared that while he listens to some music via online platforms, he much prefers vinyl, CDs, and radio.

"Everything's too easy. Just one stroke of the ring finger, middle finger, one little click, that's all it takes. We've dropped the coin right into the slot," he said. "It's all too easy, too democratic. You need a solar X-ray detector just to find somebody's heart, see if they still have one."

Dylan went on indicate that he believes the best way to listen to music is on a record player.

"I bought three in an antique store in Oregon about 30 years ago. The tone quality is so powerful and miraculous, has so much depth. It always takes me back to the days when life was different and unpredictable," the 81-year-old continued.

Elsewhere in the conversation, Dylan explained that is interested in all genres, from ballads to country blues, and discovers new artists by "chance".

"I walk into things intuitively when I'm most likely not looking for anything. Performers and songwriters recommend things to me. Others, I just wake up and they're there," he added.

The Philosophy of Modern Song, which contains commentary on 66 songs by other artists, is now available to purchase.

Thoughts?

 

[fuzzems]

It is easy. But, that's progress. I like streaming as it has opened up a lot more music to me. There is good and bad with everything. Back in my teen days. you bought albums. And I am an "album" listener. If I like an artist, I want to listen to all of their stuff. And I listen to all of their songs. So i had a depth of knowledge about fewer artists but didnt' have the wider variety. The limits in prior times forced us to look at depth. Now we look at width. We know a little about a lot instead of a lot about a little.

So, is that better or worse?? Not sure.

 

[PGen98]

I have to agree, easy means a step forward. Does it mean we get some utter garbage music coming through the pipelines? Of course, but we also get some great music that might never have seen the light of day had it not been for today's streaming options. Seems like a good thing to me.

 

[Nebulous]

Of course a guy in his 80s would be against this new fangled technology.

Music should be easy to obtain and start listening to.