"Infidels" is Not as "Secular" as It's Paraded To Be

It's baffling that any critic can call 1983's "Infidels" a return to "secular recording" for Bob Dylan. After three straight Christian albums, the record was certainly more broad in its horizons, at least when compared to its predecessor, the rollicking "Shot of Love" or the second Born-Again album "Saved," but its attitude is still as straightforward and uncompromising as Dylan's first Christian release, "Slow Train Coming."

He may look ticked on the album cover, but in truth, Bob Dylan sounds musically and lyrically comfortable all throughout the wittingly titled "Infidels", and artistically he is still as free as he sounded on his Born-Again albums. But his lyricism here is much more deliciously complex than on the three predecessors; a glance at 'Don't Fall Apart On Me Tonight' may suggest that its a cliched song about sex, but it's not, it's much deeper and much more creative than that. 'Jokerman' boasts a slight reggae influence and Dylan's alluring attempt to try and reveal false prophets, as he does elsewhere when he clearly states that sometimes Satan disguises himself as a 'Man of Peace.' The driving 'Neighborhood Bully' reminds one of the rocking "Shot of Love," but with a much more complex political message, unlike the straightforward social statements of 'License To Kill' and 'Union Sundown.' And like 'Don't Fall Apart On Me Tonight,' the second track 'Sweetheart Like You' may have a cliched title, but the content within is bursting with originality and mystery, much like 'I and I.'

Ironically titled, this album is a must-have in Dylan's cannon and arguably the last great album he made for years, as critics claim he went into an up-and-down spin throughout the rest of the 80s. The different spiritual elements that make up "Infidels" (Christianity and Judaism among them) would put many other artists in a creative pretzel-twist, but here Bob Dylan handles them all with integrity and delivers one of his most effective albums.

A Contrarian's View of Dylan

While no work of art should be judged on the basis of what it isn't, no album is more defined by what isn't on it as much as Infidels. At first this was a good thing, because what isn't on it are any songs with an overtly Christian message. Except for "Man Of Peace" which everybody chose to ignore (maybe the blatantly pro-Israel "Neighborhood Bully" canceled it out). But as reports surfaced of even greater songs being recorded and not released on this record, its reputation sank. While there are rumors of superior versions of almost every album Bob recorded languishing in the vaults, from the most beloved (the original pressing of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, the New York version of Blood On The Tracks) to the most despised (the Argentinean misprint of Down In The Groove with "Important Words" on it) none have suffered so much in comparison to what it could have been as Infidels. And it's not hard to see why. Not only is "Foot Of Pride" easily the equal of anything on that album, but "Blind Willie McTell" is as superior to the rest of Infidels as "Knocking On Heaven's Door" is to the remainder of ­Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid. Although, I suppose it could always be worse, the few good songs on Infidels could've been replaced with "Julius And Ethel" or "Death Is Not The End" or "Lord, Save My Child". In fact "Blind Willie McTell" and "Foot Of Pride" manage to be some of the best things on The Bootleg Series 1-3 on which they finally do appear. "Blind Willie McTell" is now played live far more often than anything that did end up on the album (which didn't even get the same sort of historical revisionism that added "The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar" do Shot Of Love). But, what of the actual album that was released? "Sweetheart Like You", "Don't Fall Apart On Me Tonight", "Neighborhood Bully", and "Man Of Peace" are all about as unremarkable and pedestrian as anything on Planet Waves. "License To Kill" actually is a good song, but I had no idea until I heard Tom Petty singing it at the 30th Anniversary Celebration. This version does it no justice. Regardless if you agree with the politics behind the rather trite and simplistic lyrics of "Union Sundown" it is actually fairly good rocking tune from a musical point of view. The only track on here that can go toe-to-toe with "Foot Of Pride" (if not "Blind Willie McTell") is "I And I". I have no idea what it's about, but I like it. I don't know why "Jokerman" was picked to be the single, and is still used in all the subsequent compilations (Greatest Hits Vol. III, The Essential Bob Dylan). The whoa-oh-oh-ohs that Bob sings before the title are not only completely off, which isn't a horrible or surprising sin for Bob, but it doesn't even sound like he's missing the same notes each time. Maybe he's going for that kind of vocal extemporizing I don't even like in the R&B singers who can really do it. Whatever it is, it ruins the song for me. And like the rest of Infidels, it's a disappointment.

Bob Dylan warnings of todays problems

After reading some of the reviews, I understand this most people don't get the lyrics or the subetlies of Mark Knopfler playing which is usually in the back, beneath the overall sound with Mick Taylors guitar playing out in front. knopflers leads take quite a few listens to even hear. Lets get beyond that and get to the lyrics Jokerman is a masterpiece warning of the coming of the beast( a woman gave birth to a priest today dressed in scarlett)the only real question i have about the song is what is the Jokerman ? A country, mankind as a whole or the devil in disguise. Yes this album is full of biblical and social commentary. Neighborhood Bully is about a large portion of the worlds perception of Isarael, Man of Peace is about how the devil disguises himself, current president Bush, Arafat and host of others who seem to give goodwill in the their perception of peace. License to Kill is about man's obssesion to dominate through force and his clear abandonment of Gods laws. I and I is man inner struggle with the forces of good and evil. This Cd I have owned for over 20 years and his (Dylans) genius at wordcraft and music never fails to amaze me. For those who have'nt heard it buy it for those who have listen again and ask yourself what do you think he was refferring to when he sings the book of Leviticus and Deutoromy,the law of the jungle and the sea are your only keeper means?

Dylan's Heady, Caribbean Rock N' Roll

With a sound reminiscent of a Jamacian Bar Band (albeit, with several rock all-stars including Mark Knopfler and Mick Taylor), Dylan dropped this plaintative collection of Caribbean tinged rock n' roll tunes. The sound here is near-contemporary, yet with a defiant strut and precocious attitude that marks the music as trademark Dylan. While many celebrated this as a return to secular songwriting, there was still plenty of journeyman lyrics and biblical dabbling involved to keep this from being a neutral affair. The suberb "Jokerman" talks fervently of false prophets, martyrs, and Sodom and Gomorrah. Suprisingly, that song is arguably one of the best and most engaging works in his storied arsenal. Meanwhile "Man of Peace" warns that sometimes "Satan comes as a man of peace," proving that Dylan was more than game to explore holy themes. However, it's unfair to focus primarily on the intellectualizing when there's a fair share of hip shaking boogie to go around on "Neighborhood Bully" and "Union Sundown." The latter track, like much of the album, makes forays into political and social commentary that re-visit Dylan's musical muckraking days. Although this album is no BLOOD ON THE TRACKS or BLONDE ON BLONDE in terms of its prominence, INFIDELS still stands out as a highlight amongst the Dylan catalog and is easily one of his most underrated efforts.

For the tired revolutionary

This is Bob Dylan for late at night. You've just gotten home after a long, pleasent evening and you are tired. You wanna listen to some music. How about Bob Dylan? Nah, don't wanna get to riled up right now...Put on Infidels. It is the 'chillest' Dylan out there (at least that I know of). When you don't want to think (Highway 61 Revisited), don't want to experiment (Another Side of Bob Dylan/Self Potrait) this is great.

Three best songs:

3: I and I. Very chill, reggae-ish. I'm looking forward to the version on "Is It Rolling, Bob?" the Dylan reggae tribute.

2. Jokerman. Ultimate relaxation right here. Jokerman dance...

1. Neighborhood Bully. A true rocker. The one way this album reminds me of that underappreciated (at least in my opinion) Dylan album Shot of Love is that they both have one song that everyone must agree rocks. "Neighborhood Bully" is that song.

Mixed feelings about this one...

I have very mixed feelings about "Infidels". I definitely think it is much better than the 2 albums that preceeded it, the painfully mediocre "Saved" and "Shot of Love" which came after the beautiful "Slow Train Coming". The lyrics are here are top-notch, and some of Dylan's best of the 70's. Elegiac, mournful, poetic and ironic in the vein of his best stuff. My main problem here is with the music. Too many of the songs are forgettable and lack interesting melodies and choruses. You listen to it a couple of time and nothing really sticks (except for the masterpiece "Jokerman"). Definitely will not dissapoint hardcore fans, but I'd recommend "Real Live" from 1984 which has Dylan doing a live show with the same band from "Infidels" except much better.

You've gone to sodom & gomorrah, but what do you care?

first of all, a swift clarification as regards the previous review. bob dylan, thanks be to god, NEVER sang 'where have all the flowers gone? it was written by pete seeger & championed by every well-intentioned but naive, rotten doctor commie rat thereafter.

what of infidels then? highs & lows. some of the lows, very low, depth plumming moments probably. dylan himslef is in great voice, the poetry is rich & vibrant and the musicians are first class, & unlike most albums recorded in the early to mid 80's, infidels seems to have aged quite well.

'jokerman' is a masterpiece in every sense of the word, &

'I&I' a brooding, spooky, introspective journey.

the sentiments expressed in 'sweetheart like you' may be a little cheesy, even sexist, but some of the song's lines literally leap out of the speakers at you - 'just how much abuse will you be able to take? ain't no way to tell by that first kiss... bone chilling stuff...

I recommend that you buy this record, then edit out 'man of peace', 'neighborhood bully' & 'union sundown' & replace them with 'foot of pride', 'lord protect my child', 'blind willie mctell' & 'death is not the end'. then you will have a truly mighty album in your hands...

'ain't nobody there would want to marry your sister'...