Bob Dylan by 
RockyRaccoon 
One day I really will write notes for each album. One day.
- Chart updated: 02/22/2023 14:15
- (Created: 09/29/2015 20:42).
- Chart size: 35 albums.
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What a gem of an album in a really weird, difficult time for Bob Dylan. After a string of pretty disappointing albums (save for Infidels) and amid a time of personal turmoil where Dylan was just constantly touring to avoid dealing with his personal life, Oh Mercy comes out and it's lowkey one of Dylan's best albums.
I think the star here is Daniel Lanois' production. I can see the throughline between this album and Time Out of Mind (which Lanois also produced) because the sound and feel is really similar. The atmospheric, sort of dreamy production really suits where Dylan's voice was at during this period, a bit raspier, older, wearier, and it works beautifully.
And I mean, it helps that we have some brilliant songwriting from Dylan here. Most of the Time is one of the best songs he's ever written. It's a breakup song, and it perfectly encapsulates the whole "I'm fine! I don't need her! I'll be perfectly happy on my own!" sort of denial that we often go through following a heartbreak. That defensiveness that kicks in to try and avoid the pain.
But this song sort of acknowledges that that's all bullshit really with a perfect turn at the end of every verse: most of the time.
"I don't build up illusion till it makes me sick
I ain't afraid of confusion no matter how thick
I can smile in the face of mankind
Don't even remember what her lips felt like on mine
Most of the time"
Also quick shoutout to the bassline on that song. The little riff in between each verse is just fantastic.
But Oh Mercy isn't just that song, there's a ton of great stuff on it. What Was it You Wanted, Shooting Star, Everything is Broken are all great. Man in the Long Black Coat sounds like "film noir: the song." But what kills me is what Dylan left off, specifically Series of Dreams. That was recorded during the Oh Mercy sessions and was only ever released on the first Bootleg Series set, and man is it a killer track. Lanois described it as "turbulent" and that's the perfect word for it, it's a brilliant song and would've really made this already great album even greater.
It's so funny how this album is like a weird little blip reminding us how incredible Dylan can be amid his string of rough albums. And not-so-great albums came after too. He followed this up with Under the Red Sky, which got (rightfully) panned, and then two albums of folk covers until we got Time Out of Mind eight years after Oh Mercy. But never let someone tell you 80s Dylan is all bad, because this album is fantastic. [First added to this chart: 09/29/2015]
I think the star here is Daniel Lanois' production. I can see the throughline between this album and Time Out of Mind (which Lanois also produced) because the sound and feel is really similar. The atmospheric, sort of dreamy production really suits where Dylan's voice was at during this period, a bit raspier, older, wearier, and it works beautifully.
And I mean, it helps that we have some brilliant songwriting from Dylan here. Most of the Time is one of the best songs he's ever written. It's a breakup song, and it perfectly encapsulates the whole "I'm fine! I don't need her! I'll be perfectly happy on my own!" sort of denial that we often go through following a heartbreak. That defensiveness that kicks in to try and avoid the pain.
But this song sort of acknowledges that that's all bullshit really with a perfect turn at the end of every verse: most of the time.
"I don't build up illusion till it makes me sick
I ain't afraid of confusion no matter how thick
I can smile in the face of mankind
Don't even remember what her lips felt like on mine
Most of the time"
Also quick shoutout to the bassline on that song. The little riff in between each verse is just fantastic.
But Oh Mercy isn't just that song, there's a ton of great stuff on it. What Was it You Wanted, Shooting Star, Everything is Broken are all great. Man in the Long Black Coat sounds like "film noir: the song." But what kills me is what Dylan left off, specifically Series of Dreams. That was recorded during the Oh Mercy sessions and was only ever released on the first Bootleg Series set, and man is it a killer track. Lanois described it as "turbulent" and that's the perfect word for it, it's a brilliant song and would've really made this already great album even greater.
It's so funny how this album is like a weird little blip reminding us how incredible Dylan can be amid his string of rough albums. And not-so-great albums came after too. He followed this up with Under the Red Sky, which got (rightfully) panned, and then two albums of folk covers until we got Time Out of Mind eight years after Oh Mercy. But never let someone tell you 80s Dylan is all bad, because this album is fantastic. [First added to this chart: 09/29/2015]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,295
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
9
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[First added to this chart: 09/29/2015]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
478
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 09/29/2015]
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[First added to this chart: 09/29/2015]
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[First added to this chart: 09/29/2015]
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[First added to this chart: 10/12/2015]
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[First added to this chart: 10/12/2015]
Total albums: 7. Page 1 of 1
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Bob Dylan composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 9 | 26% | |
| 1970s | 10 | 29% | |
| 1980s | 7 | 20% | |
| 1990s | 4 | 11% | |
| 2000s | 3 | 9% | |
| 2010s | 1 | 3% | |
| 2020s | 1 | 3% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Bob Dylan | 33 | 94% | |
| Bob Dylan & The Band | 2 | 6% |
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| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100/100  | 02/22/2023 15:10 |  Repo | | 100/100 |
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