Denim Dan’s take on Bob Dylan’s Things Have Changed doesn’t chase imitation—it struts with the eccentric zeal of a Tom Waits fever dream, drenched in 70s pop panache. The playful shake-up of Dylan’s quasi-waltz groove lets the walking basslines and jangly piano keys call the shots, keeping things rooted in their era while the intricate guitar work wraps the production in a fully immersive haze.
There’s no forced nostalgia here. Instead, it’s an exploration of the human psyche that feels just as relevant now as it did when Dylan penned it. The paradox is baked into the song itself—everything changes, yet the absurdity of existence remains consistent. Denim Dan leans into that contradiction, using his well-worn storytelling instincts to breathe new life into the track without stripping away its weariness.
Denim Dan’s legacy stretches back to the mid-’90s, but this cover makes it clear they haven’t lost the spark that first set them apart. With a lineup featuring veterans like Dave Gellis and Garden Kent, their latest work taps into decades of experience without feeling weighed down by it.
Things Have Changed is available to stream on Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast