10 Most Hated Classic Rock Albums (From Great Bands)
5. Self Portrait - Bob Dylan
People often throw out terms like 'icon' and 'legend' whenever describing Bob Dylan's work. His way with words made him the unofficial spokesman of the 60's counterculture, as more kids decided to critique the adult-imposed standards around them. With a motorcycle accident sidelining him for the time being, Dylan's return to rock on Self Portrait was a bit too much for some.
On the surface though, the record seems to have all the trappings of a Dylan record, with pointed songs and covers of folk rock classics. However, the other end of the record displays songs that sound like Dylan playing catch-up with the years he lost while at home. His covers of songs by Paul Simon as well as his off-kilter rendition of "Blue Moon" feel like they should be forgotten B-sides rather than the grade-A material for the record.
Fans were feeling the difference too, with Rolling Stone's review proclaiming "What is this s**t?." When asked about it later, Dylan expressed a desire to release something that was incredibly raw and blemished so as to shake off the reputation of being a messianic musical figure. Dylan is still certainly a living legend, but this record did show that he was actually human.