Robert Baird

<B>DAVE ALVIN & THE GUILTY MEN: <I>Out in California</I></B><BR> Hightone HCD8144 (CD). 2002. Dave Alvin, prod.; Mark Linnett, prod., eng. AAD? TT: 76:00<BR> Performance <B>****&#189;</B><BR> Sonics <B>****</B>

<B>THE BAND: <I>The Last Waltz</I></B><BR> Warner Bros./Rhino Entertainment R2 78278 (4 CDs). 1978/2002. Robbie Robertson, prod.; Rob Fraboni, John Simon, co-prods.; Larry Samuels, exec. prod.; Terry Becker, Tim Kramer, Elliot Mazer, Wayne Neuendorf, Ed Anderson, Neil Brody, engs. AAD? TT: 4:10:16<BR> Performance <B>*****</B><BR> Sonics <B>****?</B>

<B>WILCO: <I>Yankee Hotel Foxtrot</I></B><BR> Nonesuch 79669-2 (CD). 2002. Wilco, prods.; Jim O'Rourke, mix. AAD? TT: 51:51<BR> Performance <B>****</B><BR> Sonics <B>****</B>

<B>SHELBY LYNNE: <I>Love, Shelby</I></B><BR> Island ISLF 15426-2 (CD). 2001. Glen Ballard, prod.; Scott Campbell, eng.; Bob Clearmountain, mix. ADD? TT: 42:19<BR> Performance <B>****?</B><BR> Sonics <B>****</B>

As I sit down to write a year's-end musical retrospective, I feel that the old column-writing joke between Stereophile editor John Atkinson and myself about first needing a subject and, second, needing it to make sense, will not be a problem this time out. For me, the music and almost everything else about 2001 have been dwarfed in importance by the mayhem wreaked on New York on September 11.

<B>BOB DYLAN: <I>"Love and Theft"</I></B><BR> Columbia (85975) (CD). 2001. Jack Frost, prod.; Chris Shaw, engs. Jeremy Welch, asst. eng. AAD? TT: 57:35<BR> Performance <B>****1/2</B><BR> Sonics <B>****</B>

<B>JOHN HIATT: <I>The Tiki Bar is Open</I></B><BR> Vanguard 79593 (CD). 2001. Jay Joyce, prod.; Nico Bolas, eng. Greg Parker, asst. eng. ADD? TT: 44:55<BR>Performance <B>****</B><BR> Sonics <B>****</B>