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Elliott Murphy

John Swenson, The Village Voice, 29 November 1973

I DOUBT IF anyone has ever taken a poll, but Blonde on Blonde seems to be recognized in a lot of circles as Dylan's "best" album. All that really means is that the album came out at the right time, during the peak of his status as the codifier of counterculture values in the '60s. Every now and then an outstanding album will come out and be likened to Blonde on Blonde, usually meant as the highest of compliments. It happened to the Band, it happened to the Velvet Underground, and it happened to Mott the Hoople (before the self-conscious posturing of their glitter days). Recently it has happened (to a lesser degree) to Bruce Springsteen. It is happening now to a guy named Elliott Murphy, and he's proving why this week at the Bitter End.

Total word count of piece: 631

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