"Infidels"

[b.dfzo]

Slowly getting into this Dylan album.  Favorite tracks so far: "Neighborhood Bully" and "License To Kill", in spite of his belief that man has actually landed on the moon...still, good tune.  Wasn't "Blind Willie McTell" supposed to appear on Infidels?

[I. Spaceman]

Yes, McTell and Foot Of Pride were recorded for this album, two of Dylan's greatest songs. This was definitely one of the worst-chosen track selections in Dylan history, no mean feat. It's a good LP, but suffers due to bad 80's sound and a few weak tunes. But it's a frickin' masterpiece in comparison to the next few he put out.

[b.dfzo]

Yes, McTell and Foot Of Pride were recorded for this album, two of Dylan's greatest songs. This was definitely one of the worst-chosen track selections in Dylan history, no mean feat. It's a good LP, but suffers due to bad 80's sound and a few weak tunes. But it's a frickin' masterpiece in comparison to the next few he put out.

Wasn't Mark Knopfler supposed to do the final mix, but was on tour at the time, so Dylan had some engineer do a rough mix, which ended up as the final mix?  That would make sense.

[I. Spaceman]

Well, I'm no Knopfler fan either. To me it sounds like a Straits record.

[b.dfzo]

Well, I'm no Knopfler fan either. To me it sounds like a Straits record.

I think Mark Knopfler was the producer of the "Infidels" sessions; for sure, he played guitar.

[I. Spaceman]

Yes, he did indeed produce, unfortunately. 

[b.dfzo]

Yes, he did indeed produce, unfortunately. 

I like the sound on "Neighborhood Bully".  IMO.

[Jason]

Yes, McTell and Foot Of Pride were recorded for this album, two of Dylan's greatest songs. This was definitely one of the worst-chosen track selections in Dylan history, no mean feat. It's a good LP, but suffers due to bad 80's sound and a few weak tunes. But it's a frickin' masterpiece in comparison to the next few he put out.

See Ian, this is where we have to disagree. I don't like a single record Dylan did in the 80s. Not even Infidels. The 90s are barely preferred over this horrible decade, if only for Time Out Of Mind.

Give me Dylan from 1963-76 and then we'll talk.

[b.dfzo]

Yes, McTell and Foot Of Pride were recorded for this album, two of Dylan's greatest songs. This was definitely one of the worst-chosen track selections in Dylan history, no mean feat. It's a good LP, but suffers due to bad 80's sound and a few weak tunes. But it's a frickin' masterpiece in comparison to the next few he put out.

See Ian, this is where we have to disagree. I don't like a single record Dylan did in the 80s. Not even Infidels. The 90s are barely preferred over this horrible decade, if only for Time Out Of Mind.

Give me Dylan from 1963-73 and then we'll talk.

Wha...?  No "Blood On The Tracks", "Desire", "Street Legal", "Slow Train Coming", etc.

[Jason]

I edited my post. Nope, no Street Legal or Slow Train Coming here. Absolutely not. Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! Step away from the sh*t! There is nothing to see here!

[the captain]

I dislike the '80s Dylan stuff, too. Of course, I actually don't like much Dylan after the late '60s up until Love & Theft, which I LOVE, and rank among his top 5-10 discs ever.

(Yes, I do like Blood on the Tracks, and yes, I do know it was released in the aforementioned dry period. That's why I said "much." But, just to piss someone or another off, I do hate Desire.)

[b.dfzo]

I edited my post. Nope, no Street Legal or Slow Train Coming here. Absolutely not.

You're crazy.  If Street Legal or Slow Train had been released as the debut album(s) for any other artist, meaning without the stigma of Dylan's earlier work, they would get the respect they each deserve.  What is so bad, to you, about these two albums, independent of Dylan?

[b.dfzo]

I dislike the '80s Dylan stuff, too. Of course, I actually don't like much Dylan after the late '60s up until Love & Theft, which I LOVE, and rank among his top 5-10 discs ever.

(Yes, I do like Blood on the Tracks, and yes, I do know it was released in the aforementioned dry period. That's why I said "much." But, just to piss someone or another off, I do hate Desire.)

Hate is such a strong word!  I know a stronger one; I love "Desire"!

[Jason]

Street Legal has (shudder) a fodaing HORN SECTION. Sounds like Zimm is trying to be a bit adult contemporary. He does pull it together with Baby Stop Crying. Slow Train Coming was the beginning of the end of the Bob Dylan I always loved (I went through his catalog album by album). I'm not a prejudicial person, but I preferred Bob Dylan as a Jewish man. Slow Train Coming was the first of his three Christian albums and while it's the best of the three, it's hardly exemplary. Sounded like Dylan needed more than faith to save his career after what must have been unanimous disapproval for these albums.

Infidels and Empire Burlesque were steps in the right direction, but they too, mostly stank. Do I really need to mention his late 80s albums?

[the captain]

Hate is such a strong word!  I know a stronger one; I love "Desire"!

I don't know if either is a stronger word, necessarily. Maybe you should have tried something like "I super-love Desire!" You know...just to be sure.

[b.dfzo]

Hate is such a strong word!  I know a stronger one; I love "Desire"!

I don't know if either is a stronger word, necessarily. Maybe you should have tried something like "I super-love Desire!" You know...just to be sure.

I don't know...I think "love" IS stronger than "hate"...can I get a witness?

[I. Spaceman]

I witness. And all you said is totally correct.

[b.dfzo]

Street Legal has (shudder) a fodaing HORN SECTION. Sounds like Zimm is trying to be a bit adult contemporary. He does pull it together with Baby Stop Crying. Slow Train Coming was the beginning of the end of the Bob Dylan I always loved (I went through his catalog album by album). I'm not a prejudicial person, but I preferred Bob Dylan as a Jewish man. Slow Train Coming was the first of his three Christian albums and while it's the best of the three, it's hardly exemplary. Sounded like Dylan needed more than faith to save his career after what must have been unanimous disapproval for these albums.

Infidels and Empire Burlesque were steps in the right direction, but they too, mostly stank. Do I really need to mention his late 80s albums?

Something tells me that you also don't like 70's era Elvis...

[I. Spaceman]

Let's not talk Elvis here, please.

[b.dfzo]

Let's not talk Elvis here, please.

...Wwwwwwhy?  He was the king!  ...And he, like Dylan, was as singular a rock star as one could get in his prime.

[Jeff Mason]

Infidels is nice but not exceptional.  And I adore Slow Train, but then I agree with its message which helps.  I can tell you that in Christian music circles, it is considered one of the greatest albums of that type of music ever and is held in high regard.

Late 80's -- I *love* Oh Mercy.  Sorry if you all don't.  That whole vibe is eerie but right.  Great album.  I agree that the time between that and Infidels stunk as did most of the stuff from Oh Mercy to Time Out of Mind.

[I. Spaceman]

I know. I am the biggest E fan on the planet. I just don't want it to get off the Dylan thing.
Yes, Dylan sucked a bit in the 80's, but everyone did. McCartney, Neil Young, Lou, everyone. He also did some of his best work in the 80's.
McTell, Every Grain of Sand etc.

And Oh Mercy is wonderful. Deal with it.

[b.dfzo]

I agree with youse guys: Oh Mercy is the bomb.

And also true: Everything IS broken.

And another thing: I like Neighborhood Bully independent of whatever/whoever people say is the intended protagonist.  Great lyrics:

The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land,
He's wandered the earth an exiled man.
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn,
He's always on trial for just being born.
He's the neighborhood bully.

[Jason]

Something tells me that you also don't like 70's era Elvis...

Some.

[the captain]

Hate is such a strong word!  I know a stronger one; I love "Desire"!

I don't know if either is a stronger word, necessarily. Maybe you should have tried something like "I super-love Desire!" You know...just to be sure.

I don't know...I think "love" IS stronger than "hate"...can I get a witness?

Stronger concept doesn't make stronger word.