1 hit single when it came out in March. Our rock critic Ken Tucker has a review of Bob Dylan's new album called 'Rough And Rowdy Ways.' It includes the longest song Dylan has ever released, the almost-17-minute track 'Murder Most Foul,' which became Dylan's first No. With Yannick Bisson, Helene Joy, Thomas Craig, Jonny Harris.This is FRESH AIR. Sing of Sherman, Montgomery and Scott And of Zhukov, and Patton, and the battles they fought Who cleared the path for Presley to sing Who carved the path for Martin Luther King Who did what they did and they went on their wayRough and Rowdy Ways: Directed by Yannick Bisson, Harvey Crossland, Eleanore Lindo, Laurie Lynd, Peter Mitchell. TITLE: Rough and Rowdy Ways.

Like always, his evocative and striking songs are crushing and imaginative.(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, 'I CONTAIN MULTITUDES')Rough and Rowdy Ways is the 39th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on June 19, 2020, through Columbia Records.It is Dylan's first album of original songs since his 2012 album Tempest, following three releases, one a triple album, that covered traditional pop standards.TIDAL is the first global music streaming service with high fidelity sound, hi-def video quality, along with expertly curated playlists and original content.BOB DYLAN: (Singing) Today, tomorrow and yesterday, too, the flowers are dying, like all things do. Disc 2 is made up soley of the 17 minute epic 'Murder Most Foul', a song right up their with 'Hurricane' in terms of storytelling if not necessarily musically.Even though Rough And Rowdy Ways is an hour-long personal examination, Dylan remains shrouded in mystery a 21st-century enigma in his line of work. Disc 1 consistently delivers the good and is a masterclass in song writing and poetry.

He's insisting that we each contain multitudes, that we shouldn't limit ourselves to one identity, one ideology, one set of facts about our lives. Got a telltale heart.KEN TUCKER, BYLINE: When Bob Dylan commences his new album singing 'I Contain Multitudes,' the most important thing to realize in this invocation of Walt Whitman is that Dylan is also saying you do, too. I fuss with my hair, and I fight blood feuds.

Let's reenter the song in the middle of the second verse.DYLAN: (Singing) When you're down on Deep Ellum, put your money in your shoe. Just under 17 minutes, with Dylan speaking his couplets over rippling piano and violin, it sweeps you up in a swirl of historic events. I'm just a patsy like Patsy Cline - really, Bob? But I waited a day, and I played it again, and then again and again because the song took hold of me. We're going to kill you with hatred, without any respect.TUCKER: The first time I heard the epic-length song 'Murder Most Foul,' I scoffed at its puns and cheap rhymes. You got unpaid debts we've come to collect. 'Twas a matter of timing, and the timing was right.

I'm going down to the crossroads, going to flag a ride, the place where faith, hope and charity died. Dealey Plaza, make a left-hand turn. Cash on the barrel head, money to burn.

Dylan bursts with a braggard's pride on the song 'False Prophet.'DYLAN: (Singing) Well, I'm the enemy of treason, an enemy of strife. I wanna create my own version of you.TUCKER: There's a striking amount of upbeat rhythm and blues on this album. I'll bring someone to life, is what I wanna do. Frankenstein riff he develops on 'My Own Version Of You.'(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, 'MY OWN VERSION OF YOU')DYLAN: (Singing) All through the summers into January, I've been visiting morgues and monasteries looking for the necessary body parts, limbs and livers and brains and hearts. One example of the mediocre is the maudlin 'Black Rider.' It contains one funny, dumb, penis joke, and that's about it.TUCKER: The jokes and the melody are much sharper on the Dr. The mediocre songs start to shrink and slink away.

I'm first among equals, second to none. Put 'em 6 feet under, and I pray for their souls.TUCKER: Just as you're coming to terms with the line, I'm the enemy of the unlived, meaningless life, Dylan makes you laugh out loud with a boast worthy of Muhammad Ali. Bury 'em naked with their silver and gold. The last of the best, you can bury the rest. I'm first among equals, second to none. I go where only the lonely can go.

Hope you can join us.(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, 'GOODBYE JIMMY REED')DYLAN: (Singing) I live on a street named after a saint. Balko writes about criminal justice and civil liberties for the Washington Post. And you know what else can't come across in a print interview? His band really rocks.DAVIES: Rock critic Ken Tucker reviewed Bob Dylan's new album called 'Rough And Rowdy Ways.' On tomorrow's show, we talk with Radley Balko, author of 'Rise Of The Warrior Cop.' It's about what he describes as the militarization of America's police forces and the military culture within some police agencies. I've made up my mind to give myself to you.TUCKER: Dylan recently gave a rare interview to The New York Times with the historian Douglas Brinkley, the chief value of which is to confirm that Dylan is very much absorbed in current events, which is useful to know in listening to the music here because no matter when it was actually recorded, this album demonstrates how an artist can engage with their time without trying to score points for virtuousness. Been thinking it all over, and I've thought it all through. And the lovely, waltz-time ballad called 'I've Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You' may have little to say beyond restating the title phrase in various ways, but that doesn't make it any less lovely.(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, 'I'VE MADE UP MY MIND TO GIVE MYSELF TO YOU')DYLAN: (Singing) I'm sittin' on my terrace, lost in the stars, listening to the sounds of the sad guitars.

It's just what I need.DAVIES: Our interviews and reviews are produced and edited by Amy Salit, Phyllis Myers, Sam Briger, Lauren Krenzel, Heidi Saman, Therese Madden, Thea Chaloner and Seth Kelley. Give me that old time religion. Goodbye, Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Reed indeed. I can tell they're Proddy from a mile away. Where the Jews and Catholics and the Muslims all pray.

Thump on the Bible, proclaim a creed.Copyright В© 2020 NPR. For Terry Gross, I'm Dave Davies.DYLAN: (Singing) Goodbye, Jimmy Reed. Roberta Shorrock directs the show. Our technical director and engineer is Audrey Bentham, with assistance from Charlie Kaier.