[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

I really thought he was going to pull the plug after "Time Out of Mind." I just had this feeling in each song that he was saying: "This is it. I've said everything I needed to say." Was it just me?

I think "Highlands" is a classic, up there with "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands." It has one of the best endings to a Dylan song:

The sun is beginning to shine on me
But it's not like the sun that used to be
The party's over, and there's less and less to say
I got new eyes
Everything looks far away

Well, my heart's in the Highlands at the break of day
Over the hills and far away
There's a way to get there, and I'll figure it out somehow
But I'm already there in my mind
And that's good enough for now

[Mr. Mojo]

The opening tune on TOOM sets the tone for the rest of the album -- "Love Sick." Set to a reggae rhythm with sparse drumming, and dark. When I first heard the album in its entirety I thought "amazing, but I hope Dylan's ok." Darkest album I've ever heard, even moreso than Sly Stone's There's a Riot Going On or Neil Young's Tonight's the Night. ....or the Stones' Beggars Banquet.

Almost every verse in "Highlands" is quotable.

Another long Dylan song I quite like is "Brownsville Girl" (from Knocked Out Loaded).

[Rocko]

Just heard Modern Times; it's an extremely strong album.