Summing up the career of the most celebrated songwriter of the rock era in 14 songs is a tall order, and despite its title,
Playlist: The Very Best of Bob Dylan
doesn't seem to have any pretensions toward offering the definitive look at
Dylan
's recording career. However, this sampler does at least acknowledge that
has remained a major figure in American music well into the 21st century -- while most
collections put a heavy focus on his work in the '60s (and the cover pictures
in all his
Highway 61 Revisited
big-hair splendor), more than half of these tunes date from the '70s onward, and the final number, "Duquesne Whistle," was drawn from the 2012 album
Tempest
. Some eyebrows might be raised at the notion that "Gotta Serve Somebody" and "Things Have Changed" are truly on a par with "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Like a Rolling Stone," but the flow of this compilation certainly favors the idea that while
may have changed a great deal over the years, his best work in his latter years has had an intelligence, craft, and wit that certainly merits recognition. It's a long way from an essential collection, but
is at least more interesting and effective than most budget-priced appetizers from the man's back catalog. ~ Mark Deming