Bob Dylan: Shadow Kingdom

It’s such a joy revisiting a lyrical storyteller. Right off the opening track, Mr. Dylan tells a heartbreaking story: “Newspaper men eating candy / Had to be held back by big police / Someday everything is going to be beautiful / When I paint my masterpiece.” And damn, isn’t he a blues man? I could feel his pain when he sings the “Tombstone Blues” chorus: “Mama’s in the fact’ry she ain’t got no shoes / Daddy’s in the alley lookin’ for the fuse / I’m in the kitchen with the tombstone blues.” Of course, “What Was It You Wanted?” is so spare yet so heartfelt.