Love and Theft, released on September 11, 2001, is a sprawling and enigmatic masterpiece that captures Bob Dylan at his most playful, reflective, and slyly subversive. With this album, Dylan weaves a rich tapestry of American musical traditions—blues, jazz, folk, and rockabilly—while delivering lyrics steeped in wit, nostalgia, and the mysteries of life.
The album kicks off with “Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum,” a rollicking tale of two mischievous characters, setting the tone for an album brimming with vivid storytelling. “Mississippi,” originally written for Time Out of Mind, is a standout track—a wistful meditation on time, love, and regret that Dylan delivers with understated power. Meanwhile, “High Water (For Charley Patton)” channels the spirit of the Delta blues legend, its apocalyptic imagery punctuated by banjo and a propulsive rhythm.
Recorded with his touring band at Clinton Recording Studios in New York City, the album’s loose, live feel brings Dylan’s genre-hopping compositions to life. Tracks like the jazzy “Moonlight” and the ragtime-inspired “Floater (Too Much to Ask)” showcase his knack for inhabiting different musical worlds with effortless authenticity. Throughout, Dylan’s voice—gravelly and rich with character—acts as the perfect vessel for his poetic musings and mischievous humor.
Love and Theft is peppered with sly references, from old folk tunes to obscure literature, creating a mosaic of cultural homage and reinvention. It’s an album where Dylan winks at the listener, blending the profound and the absurd with masterful ease.
Critically acclaimed upon its release, Love and Theft reaffirmed Dylan’s place as one of music’s most vital and inventive artists, even in his sixth decade of recording. Its release date, coinciding with the tragic events of 9/11, lent the album an unintended poignancy, with songs like “Sugar Baby” resonating in unexpected ways.
A celebration of America’s musical past and a testament to Dylan’s unyielding creativity, Love and Theft remains one of his most captivating works—a record that feels timeless, endlessly rewarding, and as enigmatic as the man himself.
