The last couple days I've been listening to two albums. First, there's the new Guy Clark work, The Dark. Clark is an original; there's a lot here to like -- good melodies, good story-telling, good singing. This is a very listenable and at times very moving album. Recommended.

Next is the new one from the man in black, Johnny Cash, The Man Comes Around. Heavy stuff. Cash is in great voice here, too, though the instrument doesn't have the range it used to all. As Mike said, this is not an uptempo album; it's very serious stuff. In all, though, I do think I much prefer the last album, Solitary Man. I liked the playing, mostly, on that album a lot better. Still, there's no one like Cash, and no one better. (Though the selection of two songs is really strange. It's hard to forgive him for recording the old Bridge Over Troubled Waters and First Time Ever I Saw Your Face chestnuts; as good as they are, and they're very good indeed, they do seem unnecessary.)

(Cursing myself for not going to the Merle Haggard Tribute to Bob Wills show last night in San Francisco.)

Also in heavy rotation is the new soundboard recording of Dylan's show in Atlanta last February; this is one of the best soundboards I've ever heard. Sometimes soundboards lack warmth and dimension. Not this one. The music, and Bob's voice especially, is very present, very three-dimensional. The performance is great, too, though the song selection is not all it could be. I'd like a recording of this quality from the fall tour! [Steve's No Direction Home Page]

Great Dylan also includes the latest official "Bootleg Series" entry from the Rolling Thunder Revue  -  "Live 1975" (in stores Nov. 26).