Bob Dylan
Under The Red Sky

Under The Red Sky, released in September 1990, is one of the most cryptic and controversial albums in a Dylan's career that seems almost intentionally to record a minor album after the great Oh Mercy; in this direction, the choice not to rehire Lanois and to call on brothers Don and David Was and Jack Frost (actually a pseudonym of the artist himself) as well as a series of excellent guests was certainly made. The lyrics are like children's nursery rhymes probably meant for the enjoyment of children and endowed with a subtle sense of humour (the album is dedicated to "Gabby Goo Goo," the nickname of his fourteen-year-old daughter).

The album starts with "Wiggle Wiggle", even voted as one of the worst songs made by a great artist: indeed, the intrusive rhythm section with Slash's guitar certainly doesn't improve the track's fate. The title track with its biblical references is a slow rock that vaguely recalls the past with a good slide performance by George Harrison, while "Unbelievable" is a classic rock'n'roll song that anticipates certain solutions of the latest Dylan. "Born in Time", an outtake from Oh Mercy, is a fairly interesting piece that tries, without fully succeeding, to follow in the footsteps of the previous album and boasts the presence of David Crosby on vocal harmonies and Bruce Hornsby on piano, the latter also present in the subsequent and smooth "T.V. Talkin' Song"; in "10,000 Men", a traditional rock & blues song, we notice the presence of David Lindley on guitars and Stevie Ray Vaughan in one of his last recordings. "2 x 2" is a slow track that even features Elton John on piano and the same Lindley tackling the bouzouki, introducing us to "God Knows", an outtake from Oh Mercy with vaguely Sixties atmospheres. "Handy Dandy" with Dylan himself on piano is clearly meant for lighthearted humming, while the conclusion is entrusted to "Cat's In The Well", another chaotic rock & blues with contributions from sax and trumpet.

It would take seven years for us to see the unveiling of a new album of unreleased songs, the immense "Time Out Of Mind".