Bob Dylan Is Number One!

All others are number two or less.

Although chart positions are transient by nature, just the fact that Bob stopped back by briefly at number one – thirty years since his last visit there – is encouraging. I’m sure he’ll be unseated by the latest new “American Idol” runner-up album out next week.

Even more encouraging is the fact that the album in question, “Modern Times,” is my favorite since 1997’s “Time Out of Mind.” Everybody fell all over themselves to lay praise at the feet of the album between, “Love and Theft,” but it left me cold. It was like every song Bob put on a different hat and made a different funny face. Plus, no song really “popped” for me. What song on L&T will we be talking about in 20 years?

“Modern Times” is back in the “TOOM” mold, featuring alternating blues raveups and wistful ballads. And even the blues numbers had something new to say, and an ingratiating way of saying it. Plus, Bob in concert is an energetic train wreck on a good night. Bob in the studio, he really leans into the microphone and croaks as clearly as he can. Like Tom Waits (not to mention Vincent Price, whom he has come to eerily resemble), his limited, ruined vocal instrument only becomes more expressive in its advancing decrepitude, especially when you can actually hear it.

And to answer my own question, a couple tracks popped right away, “Spirit On The Water” and “Workingman’s Blues #2.” I gotta put the thing back on and give it another listen. But two tracks on the first listen, and blues songs that didn’t have me hitting the “next” button. And, I understand (but haven’t seen yet) a video with Scarlett Johansson and an iPod commercial.

Welcome to the party Bob! Can I be on your myspace Friends List?!

Self-produced as Jack Frost, this CD will probably end up in a Grammy duel for Best Folk Album with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.