A Contrarian's View of Dylan

While it may not be as good as Oh Mercy!, I don't understand why Under The Red Sky has such a bad reputation. Sure those looking for lyrical profundity are going to be disappointed. Almost all of the songs feature the title phrase, or some variation thereof, repeated at the beginning of each line (or every other line). Even the title track features each couplet sung twice once right after the first time. Only "Born In Time" and "TV Talkin' Song" avoid this kind of repetitiveness. But really, it's Bob's most silly, fun, straightforward, rocking album ever. "Wiggle Wiggle" may inspire even fewer people to do a Dylan dance that "The Wilbury Twist", but still the idea is too funny! And having Slash play on it cinches the deal. I think "Unbelievable" was an inspired choice for the single, and I'm kind of disappointed that the title track was used instead on The Greatest Hits, Vol. III. "Under The Red Sky" may feature a great George Harrison guitar solo, but it is not only the slowest song on here, but other than "2 X 2", the only slow song on the album. It's not very representative. "God Knows" sounds like it's going to be another song composed entirely of an intro (much like those on Down In The Groove) so that when the real tune does belatedly kick in, it's a bit of a surprise as well as a relief. "TV Talkin' Song" may be Bob's most musically unsophisticated, featuring only one chord, but it's played hard and strong and isn't very long, so it's hard to quibble. While not perfect, this is the kind of album that I really wish Bob would make more of. Unfortunately the reception to this album was so chilly that Dylan radically changed gears again.

Bob's worst

I'm a huge Dylan fan---own everything he ever released.



In my humble opinion, this is Bob's worst. Just a really bad CD.



'Nuff said.

Don't bother.

About the kindest remark you can say about this album is that it's not as bad as "Knocked Out Loaded". (He phoned that album in). I do think he really was trying here on "Red Sky". There are actually some decent melodic ideas and the production is quite good. There are lots of big name guest musicians. (And for the first time a long while, no over-the-top annoying backing singers.) Lyrically, this album is weak - and lyrics, of course, are supposed to be Bob's strong suit. The killer, however, is his voice. It is an unlistenable hoarse rasp here. His vocals on the title track in particular, are shockingly bad. I love Dylan at his best but I really cannot recommend this album, mainly because of the horrid vocals.