Discover a new side of the songs of Bob Dylan, as a music theorist considers the possibilities ingrained in rough sounds, peculiar intonation, and a raspy voice. Folk troubadour, rock star, country crooner, cultural shapeshifter-for a musician who adopted so many styles, Bob Dylan always seems to be unmistakably himself. Whether you-re a fan or a skeptic, you know his sound. A gritty voice that slides toward speech or out of key, a musical trademark that-s been imitated and parodied in equal measure. A piano that may be out of tune. A wailing, ramshackle harmonica solo. But Dylan always sounds like Dylan, despite a musical legacy built on variation, flux, and flaws. Music theorist Steven Rings argues that such imperfections are central to understanding Dylan-s songs and their appeal. These blemishes can invoke authenticity or persona, signal his social commitments, and betray his political shortcomings. Rings begins with (what else?) Dylan-s voice, exploring its changeability, its unmi
