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Rating: "Oh Mercy" is one of those albums you don't expect, that you think could never arrive and then, all of a sudden, you find it on your doorstep without even understanding why or how, but you like it, and that's enough for you. A bit too elaborate? Maybe, but absolutely true. Because it's not an isolated opinion to hear many old Dylan fans say: "After 'Infidels', Bob never got another album right", and for those who know "Oh Mercy", chills come instantly.
From the meeting of David Lanois (historic co-producer of U2, creator of the great success of "The Joshua Tree") and Bob Dylan, practically the legend of folk songwriting, a masterpiece could not but be born, as promptly happened. In fact, the moods and musical harmonies pursued by Lanois are well-known to Dylan: few know it, but some interesting musical collaborations saw the light between Dylan and U2 (for Bono's band, Dylan will even improvise as a skilful organ player). And so, when the 1980s are inevitably coming to an end, Dylan's lion's paw appears, if possible, even more vigorous and incisive. And while in Italy they were asking "What will remain of these Eighties?" (not much, truthfully), Bob Dylan sang "Where Teardrop Falls". Understand the difference?
"Oh Mercy" is a double album, in the sense that it presents two musical conditions: rhythmic and classical in the first part, slower and more intimate in the second. Dylan draws on old youthful loves: from Creedence Clearwater Revival atmospheres to old myths like Guthrie or Hank Williams. The tracks are all impeccable and sumptuous, often even disorienting: "Political World" is a distorted and fascinating blues, "Everything Is Broken" should, and I emphasize should, be the pivotal track of the entire album, but, although stunning, it is neither better nor worse than others, perhaps just a bit more rhythmic and pressing. But it would be a mistake to ignore ballads like "Ring Them Bells", tender and concise, fast and essential. Emotions return prominently with the beautiful "Man In The Long Black Coat", and this time, as in a sort of miraculous vocal transformation, Dylan even sings in a clean and stable manner. The voice is rough, yet clear and punctual, precise in sketching sounds and smells of a damp and wet story, as is the America sung, always with participation and never with detachment, by a Dylan in a bubbling state of grace.
The second part, indeed. We said slow pieces, yet again stunning. He could be accused of inconclusiveness and one might even say that all the tracks in this second part somewhat resemble each other (and in part, it's true), but the compositional freshness and newfound musical serenity prevent any negative criticism. "What Was It You Wanted" is beautiful, but the melancholic "Shooting Star" excels, one of the most beautiful tracks signed by Bob Dylan in many years. Lanois's hand is present, but it's not a burden: under the expert guidance of a shrewd and astute producer, Dylan finally manages to rediscover his songwriting vein, albeit aching and aged (but it's predictable), compared to the times when he incited the crowds with "The times they are a-changin". One can thus calmly shout a miracle, but it’s a pity that the subsequent album, "Under The Red Sky", is vacuous and at times even pitiful. "Oh Mercy" is the last great move of a Dylan who, for a moment, seems to have found his best form again. Which he will squander, as often has happened in these recent years, in a jiffy.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
03 Everything Is Broken (03:15)
Broken lines, broken strings,
Broken threads, broken springs,
Broken idols, broken heads,
People sleeping in broken beds.
Ain't no use jiving
Ain't no use joking
Everything is broken.
Broken bottles, broken plates,
Broken switches, broken gates,
Broken dishes, broken parts,
Streets are filled with broken hearts.
Broken words never meant to be spoken,
Everything is broken.
Bridge: Seem like every time you stop and turn around
Something else just hit the ground
Broken cutters, broken saws,
Broken buckles, broken laws,
Broken bodies, broken bones,
Broken voices on broken phones.
Take a deep breath, feel like you're chokin',
Everything is broken.
Bridge: Every time you leave and go off someplace
Things fall to pieces in my face
Broken hands on broken ploughs,
Broken treaties, broken vows,
Broken pipes, broken tools,
People bending broken rules.
Hound dog howling, bull frog croaking,
Everything is broken.
04 Ring Them Bells (03:00)
Ring them bells, ye heathen
From the city that dreams,
Ring them bells from the sanctuaries
Cross the valleys and streams,
For they're deep and they're wide
And the world's on its side
And time is running backwards
And so is the bride.
Ring them bells St. Peter
Where the four winds blow,
Ring them bells with an iron hand
So the people will know.
Oh it's rush hour now
On the wheel and the plow
And the sun is going down
Upon the sacred cow.
Ring them bells Sweet Martha,
For the poor man's son,
Ring them bells so the world will know
That God is one.
Oh the shepherd is asleep
Where the willows weep
And the mountains are filled
With lost sheep.
Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf,
Ring them bells for all of us who are left,
Ring them bells for the chosen few
Who will judge the many when the game is through.
Ring them bells, for the time that flies,
For the child that cries
When innocence dies.
Ring them bells St. Catherine
From the top of the room,
Ring them from the fortress
For the lilies that bloom.
Oh the lines are long
And the fighting is strong
And they're breaking down the distance
Between right and wrong.
08 Disease of Conceit (03:43)
There's a whole lot of people suffering tonight
From the disease of conceit.
Whole lot of people struggling tonight
From the disease of conceit.
Comes right down the highway,
Straight down the line,
Rips into your senses
Through your body and your mind.
Nothing about it that's sweet,
The disease of conceit.
There's a whole lot of hearts breaking tonight
From the disease of conceit,
Whole lot of hearts shaking tonight
From the disease of conceit.
Steps into your room,
Eats your soul,
Over your senses
You have no control.
Ain't nothing too discreet
About of disease of conceit.
There's a whole lot of people dying tonight
From the disease of conceit,
Whole lot of people crying tonight
From the disease of conceit,
Comes right out of nowhere
And you're down for the count
From the outside world,
The pressure will mount,
Turn you into a piece of meat,
The disease of conceit.
Conceit is a disease
That the doctors got no cure
They've done a lot of research on it
But what it is, they're still not sure
There's a whole lot of people in trouble tonight
From the disease of conceit,
Whole lot of people seeing double tonight
From the disease of conceit,
Give ya delusions of grandeur
And a evil eye
Give you idea that
You're too good to die,
Then they bury you from your head to your feet
From the disease of conceit.
09 What Was It You Wanted (05:02)
What was it you wanted?
Tell me again so I'll know.
What's happening in there,
What's going on in your show.
What was it you wanted,
Could you say it again?
I'll be back in a minute
You can get it together by then.
What was it you wanted
You can tell me, I'm back,
We can start it all over
Get it back on the track,
You got my attention,
Go ahead, speak.
What was it you wanted
When you were kissing my cheek?
Was there somebody looking
When you give me that kiss
Someone there in the shadows
Someone that I might have missed?
Is there something you needed,
Something I don't understand.
What was it you wanted,
Do I have it here in my hand?
Whatever you wanted
Slipped out of my mind,
Would you remind me again
If you'd be so kind.
Has the record been breaking,
Did the needle just skip,
Is there somebody waitin',
Was there a slip of the lip?
What was it you wanted
I ain't keepin' score
Are you the same person
That was here before?
Is it something important?
Maybe not.
What was it you wanted?
Tell me again I forgot.
Whatever you wanted
What could it be
Did somebody tell you
That you could get it from me,
Is it something that comes natural
Is it easy to say,
Why do you want it,
Who are you anyway?
Is the scenery changing,
Am I getting it wrong,
Is the whole thing going backwards,
Are they playing our song?
Where were you when it started
Do you want it for free
What was it you wanted
Are you talking to me?
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By benzo24
"From the very first notes, the listener is introduced to a magical world, made of dense and warm sounds."
"A world overshadowed by the figure of the man in the long black coat, thief of dreams, thief of love, leaving us alone with our regrets and memories."
