OH MERCY
(1989, Columbia Records)
MY DINNER
Malai kofta, basmati rice, side of nana with...
...side of bhel puri.
WELCOME BACK my post-Holiday Dinner with Dylan warriors. I call you all warriors because we collectively made it through another holiday season, and you have returned to another showing, after a string of some really, really, REALLY wretched Bob "The Master of Zim"Zimmerman Dylan albums. I barely survived, taking nearly a year to make it from Blood on the Tracks to where we find ourselves now. Ladies and germs, you we have arrived at turn of the decade Dylan; aka THE REDEMPTION of Dylan! Praise the Lawd!
After a string of abysmal throwaways, bad ideas, practically no ideas, and horrid production, Dylan sat down in early 1988 to do something that seemed to evade him in recent times; write a solid batch of songs. Dylan described the songs as "stream-of-consciousness" songs, and MOST come out winners!
As the story goes, Dylan played a bunch of home recorded demos he made in his California painting studio for a guy named Bono. You might remember Bono for being the world ambassador of lame shades, and for fronting the band who famously forced their LP onto all iPhones; U2.
From this meeting with Bono, everyone's favorite Irishman, turned Dylan onto producer Daniel Lanois. Dylan meeting with Lanois is thought of in the "Circle Of Dyl" (conversing Dylan fans, who stand in a circle), as something magical like this:
After a string of abysmal throwaways, bad ideas, practically no ideas, and horrid production, Dylan sat down in early 1988 to do something that seemed to evade him in recent times; write a solid batch of songs. Dylan described the songs as "stream-of-consciousness" songs, and MOST come out winners!
As the story goes, Dylan played a bunch of home recorded demos he made in his California painting studio for a guy named Bono. You might remember Bono for being the world ambassador of lame shades, and for fronting the band who famously forced their LP onto all iPhones; U2.
("I'm Always Sunny" Bono with Bob Dylan, circa 1988)
From this meeting with Bono, everyone's favorite Irishman, turned Dylan onto producer Daniel Lanois. Dylan meeting with Lanois is thought of in the "Circle Of Dyl" (conversing Dylan fans, who stand in a circle), as something magical like this:
(Dick and Elv)
(Nelson and Sunny)
(Chaplin and Gandhi)
(Friends)
In other words... very important, and life changing for both men involved.
Producer, Lanois, had just gotten through with "Sunny" Bono and his friend, The Edge, working with them on 1987's The Joshua Tree. Being that the album would eventually go on to sell more copies than The Bible (not yet a title of a U2 album), Dylan thought "Well, hot damn, lemme give this guy a call." Lanois eventually invited Dylan down to his New Orleans recording studio, and a match made in the bayou was formed. Lanois helped Dylan find smatterings of his old self, while adding some bayou charm. Yes, Lanois and Dylan went together like shrimp and a fine sausage gumbo!
(Dylan and Lanois together recording Oh Mercy. Not my dinner.)
The Lanois/Dylan team recaptured some of old Dylan's magic, one swampy moment at a time. Yes, it took Louisiana native Lanois to... wait, what's that? Really? Okay. Copy that.... It took Quebec native, Daniel Lanois, to capture that true swamp blues sound in the grooves of the record, helping resuscitate broken-beaten '80s Zimmy, into Bayou Zimmy.
(Exhibit A (from back cover of Oh Mercy); Bayou Zimmy is 60% sweatier than broken-beaten '80s Zimmy)
So, how good is this COMEBACK record? Being that this is Bayou Zim's 26th studio LP, and his 15th or 16th "comeback" record, the whole affair is pretty damn solid. When compared to his output from the previous 10+ years, it's the fucking HOLY GRAIL!!! It's so important, Bayou Zim even included the making of this record as 1 of 3 chapters in his 2004 memoir Chronicles Volume One. Being that, to this day, Volume Two has yet to surface, this record really means something to Dylan. You don't see him writing about Empire Burlesque now do ya?
NOW, to touch on tonight's dinner. Did I plan myself a homemade feast of Bayou pleasures? Of course not, because I'm bad at planning ahead. Instead, I have some delicious vegetarian friendly Indian take-out from an place called Nirvani's in New Brunswick, NJ. Nirvana was one of the most famous rock bands of all-time, so let's see if this FOOD is worth it. You've got a lot to live up to, naming your restaurant after one of the most famous rock bands of all-time, Nirvani's.
(One of Nirvana's most iconic moments... let's see if the food lives up to the hype!)
As always, lets discuss the record cover before diving into the record. Like such classics as Knocked Out Loaded, this record DOES NOT contain a picture of aging Dylan on the front. Instead, we have a picture of some folks dancing, New Orleans style! A perfect night out on the French Quarter, drinking Hurricanes from a whale bone glass! WRONG!!! In fact, this is some cool NY street art that Bob Dylan found while riding his bike! And I'm talking "bike," as in bicycle.
("Beep beep. Move out of the way, children. Looking for album cover art"- Bob Dylan, 1989)
Yes, the cover is a mural painted by NYC street artist known only as Trotsky. If you look really, really hard... you might be able to see it in the distance as you pedal your own bike up 9th Ave...
There it is... getting closer now... WOW!
But today, thankfully, this has been wiped away, and cleaned up so future generations can just "forget about it already, and move on from this unsightly street art"- probably something former Mayor Rudy Giuliani said.
(As it appears today, at Georgio's Country Grill)
Enough reminiscing about the way things used to be, and on with the music! AND THE MEAL!!!
Side A:
Political World- 4 Not to get all political or anything, but Bob Dylan is BACK, with a song called "Political World"! Yes, for the 26th time in his studio career, but more importanltly, with a little piss and vinegar, and less Jesus, running through his veins. It's like Ol' Zim was all like, "Hey, I'm only gettin' older. Let me take this horrid '80s gold ring out of my ear, and give it a shot here." With a warm Crawfish Po Boy bubbling in his bowels, Zim Orleans kicks things off with some fire on this one. Percussive, driving, a bit dissonant, undeniable twang, and straight up pissed. What is Dylan really saying here though? "We live in a political world," he sings. Yes, this has been true since the first amoeba first ran for president of the petri dish. Still, this song is got some Cajun fire by way of NYC, or wherever the hell Zim Orleans was calling home in '89.
Where Teardrops Fall- 3 A slide guitar moment to die for. Yes, that sure is teardrop inducing. The whole song shuffles about in a standard upbeat waltz, but with melancholy heavy heartedness. A bit dated, but Lanois makes this work production wise (sans those wimpy drums). If on, say, Knocked Out and Loaded, this song would be a literally pile of puke dribbling out of ones speaker. Here, it's a platter of schmaltz you'll gladly grab a spoon for and grab a second helping of!
Speaking of second helping, I haven't even had a FIRST helping of my delight. Okay, I lied. During this song I went heavily into my appetizer; the bhel puri. Bhel puri is an Indian delight of puffed rice, tamarind sauce, and some other crispy goodness and various chutneys. Originating as a street cart snack, this has become one of my favorite delights at local Indian restaurants. This is my first time indulging in Nirvani's take on it. It's up there, but lacks something? Is it the sweetness? It certainly is crunchy, with a nice medium spice that makes the nostril a bit weepy. Not bad, but I've had better. Now on to my main course; the Malai Kofta. Nice try Nirvani's.
Speaking of second helping, I haven't even had a FIRST helping of my delight. Okay, I lied. During this song I went heavily into my appetizer; the bhel puri. Bhel puri is an Indian delight of puffed rice, tamarind sauce, and some other crispy goodness and various chutneys. Originating as a street cart snack, this has become one of my favorite delights at local Indian restaurants. This is my first time indulging in Nirvani's take on it. It's up there, but lacks something? Is it the sweetness? It certainly is crunchy, with a nice medium spice that makes the nostril a bit weepy. Not bad, but I've had better. Now on to my main course; the Malai Kofta. Nice try Nirvani's.
(another unforgettable moment from Nirvana)
Everything is Broken- 3 Bayou Zimmy practically hits us with sweat drops flying out of the speakers, introducing the first of the late night, sweaty blues bar rockers with this number. A spy-tinged (thanks to that sneaky bass) blues romp fit for a beer commercial. Luckily, this songs feels almost a bit tongue-in-cheek, even if unintentional. I mean, the rhyme scheme alone, c'mon!? Fun enough, if not somewhat forgettable.
Ring Them Bells- 5 Piano lead lushly and patiently opens up into a gospel-type/folk protest song. Only thing missing is that classic Dylan protest-folk acoustic guitar. Dylan's vocals sound raw, emotion-braised. WOW, Dylan is awake from his coma known as the '80s. Arise!!! Simply stated, this is the most affecting track of the whole LP, the truest return to form, even if it's got Billy-Joel-80's piano in place of Dylan guitar work. Empowering! Take the ride. MERCY! Take the ride.
Speaking of bells... let's talk about balls for a minute. I'm talking Malai Kofta balls baby! Quick lesson, Malai Kofta is one of my favorite Indian dishes. A creamy, mild sauce complete with vegetable balls. The balls themselves vary from place to place, ranging from tasteless rubber to savory and delectable beyond belief. WELL, this malai kofta ranks up there with some of the best I've had! OMG... Nice job NIRVANI!!!
(Another classic Nirvana moment... who can forget the time Prince came out and played "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, threw his guitar up in the air...)
Speaking of bells... let's talk about balls for a minute. I'm talking Malai Kofta balls baby! Quick lesson, Malai Kofta is one of my favorite Indian dishes. A creamy, mild sauce complete with vegetable balls. The balls themselves vary from place to place, ranging from tasteless rubber to savory and delectable beyond belief. WELL, this malai kofta ranks up there with some of the best I've had! OMG... Nice job NIRVANI!!!
(... and it landed on Krist Novoselic's forehead 19 years earlier. Classic)
Man in a Long Black Coat- 4 Yes, this Malai Kofta is fantastic. Now, for all of you New Year's resolution health seekers, eating buttery, creamy rich sauce over piping hot buttery basmati rice, and casing it with naan bread is NOT the way to achieve that perfect body you want. But, when you're sitting around reviewing Dylan records, it's not a bad meal to eat for the rest of your life. You WON'T regret it!
The song? This is a humid trudge track. Sparse and dusty. A little twang in music and voice, as a Dylan finds himself in sweaty preaching storyteller mode . The Crawfish Po Boy is rumbling in his soul here.... Haunting. If Johnny Cash did this on one of his 16 Rick Rubin comeback albums, this would with a Grammy AND a Golden Globe award because people like to give trophies to old white guys who don't really deserve them.
The song? This is a humid trudge track. Sparse and dusty. A little twang in music and voice, as a Dylan finds himself in sweaty preaching storyteller mode . The Crawfish Po Boy is rumbling in his soul here.... Haunting. If Johnny Cash did this on one of his 16 Rick Rubin comeback albums, this would with a Grammy AND a Golden Globe award because people like to give trophies to old white guys who don't really deserve them.
(Johnny Cash, accepting his Oscar for Walk the Line... another stunning moment by Nirvana)
SIDE B:
Most of the Time- 5 Musically, this is somewhere between "dated" and "the direction of future Dylan." On one hand, it's sounds slightly laughable, too precious. But, listening in, the song takes hold. It evolves slightly past the somewhat dated sound, past the initial reaction of "is this cheesy?," and the song hooks you in. Dylan would later perfect this sound with Lanois on Time Out of Mind. Here, we get an early glimpse of this suave tag-team at work. Dylan's vocals are raw, smokey, and cool. I find myself coming back to this one more and more. Also, wisely used during the movie High Fidelity, so bonus points to that.
I myself, and quite full on my Malai Kofta. While I often find myself done with my food at this point in the record, this food is proving almost TOO rich for me. Again, the vegetable balls in this are really delicious. Also, they're quite filling. Add the sauce in and DAMN! Filling. I rank this a solid Malai Kofta showing from Nirvani's in New Brunswick, NJ. Nice!
I myself, and quite full on my Malai Kofta. While I often find myself done with my food at this point in the record, this food is proving almost TOO rich for me. Again, the vegetable balls in this are really delicious. Also, they're quite filling. Add the sauce in and DAMN! Filling. I rank this a solid Malai Kofta showing from Nirvani's in New Brunswick, NJ. Nice!
(Some people say THIS is a "solid showing" from Nirvana)
What Good Am I?- 4 Was it the humidity? Did a raven sized mosquito inject some West Nile into Zim Orleans? One too many cocktails from Pat O'Brien's? Another "slower" number from Dylan. Yes, Side 2 is starting to give me the impression that a middle aged man fell asleep in the sun underneath a weeping willow and remembered he had 5 more tunes to write. Regardless, this prickly ballad is so chill, I'm feeling it run up my spine. This album got some flak for not delivering on the "groundbreaking" goods, but sometimes, you just gotta ride that sunburnt, middle age vibe and let it take you away.
(how it feels just succumbing to those Oh Mercy vibes)
Disease of Conceit- 3 Alright, someone wake Zim UP!!! Another slower schmaltzy piece that feels like the sendoff music from Saturday Night Live. GE Smith, this ones for you!
In fact, Mr. Smith WAS touring with Dylan at this time. Perhaps a little SNL vibe did sneak its way onto the record after all! Very sparse, piano heavy, as Bayou Zimmy crams too many words into the mix. Feels too garbled, like a mouthful of Crawfish. Still, a harmless piano track with some brittle, echo slathered leads of guitar pain reverberating in the far distance. Also, bonus points for Dylan naming this song after the greatest hardcore punk band that never was.
("SURPRISE. It's ME!"- GE Smith)
In fact, Mr. Smith WAS touring with Dylan at this time. Perhaps a little SNL vibe did sneak its way onto the record after all! Very sparse, piano heavy, as Bayou Zimmy crams too many words into the mix. Feels too garbled, like a mouthful of Crawfish. Still, a harmless piano track with some brittle, echo slathered leads of guitar pain reverberating in the far distance. Also, bonus points for Dylan naming this song after the greatest hardcore punk band that never was.
(the vocal technique used on "Disease of Conceit")
What Was It You Wanted- 3 This songs got some cool, slick southern attitude to it. Minimal drum stomp, bass bending, brittle guitar. The whole song is a bit subdued, but it works! The harmonica sounds like southern sin, for jumping Jesus sake! Zimmy said he fired this one off fast when writing it. Sounds that way, but has enough to sink your teeth into.
Shooting Star- 4 Speaking of "Shooting Star," I'm going to down the rest of my Malai Kofta. Again, sometimes loading up on the creamy carbs of these deletable Indian sauces takes some preparation. For all you Indian food newbies, there are PLENTY of healthy, tasty dishes out there for you to try. This particular evening, I chose to punish myself, as I often do. Yes, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Zim Orleans takes one last bite out of New Orleans and says goodnight. Reminiscing on a "Shooting Star' that he sees, this feels like a wedding song one could dance to in '91. In reality, Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" had decades earlier blocked any chance of that happening. WHAT A DICK! Dylan said he wrote this one while riding on his motorcycle along Mississippi when he... WAIT! Zimmy is STILL on that suicide machine, nearly 20 years AFTER breaking his dang neck!?Well, Dilly, that's downright silly!
YUM!
Zim Orleans takes one last bite out of New Orleans and says goodnight. Reminiscing on a "Shooting Star' that he sees, this feels like a wedding song one could dance to in '91. In reality, Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" had decades earlier blocked any chance of that happening. WHAT A DICK! Dylan said he wrote this one while riding on his motorcycle along Mississippi when he... WAIT! Zimmy is STILL on that suicide machine, nearly 20 years AFTER breaking his dang neck!?Well, Dilly, that's downright silly!
(It's the responsibility of the fans to stop this man)
Anyway, if Dylan was out risking his neck, I guess this little balad of a biblical (?) closer would never have existed. A perfect note to finish up on, leaving us all wanting more!
Thankfully, Bayou Bob wouldn't take long to release his next one. Thank goodness, he's back yet again, awaiting to release the unforgettable... Oh fuck. Oh CHRIST NO!!!! Not another one of these lead balloon farts of an album!?
Yes! Another one of those lead balloon farts of an album!
Alright all you math fans; Here's a simple equation to help us transition to our next Dinner With Dylan adventure. Ready?
+
=
So for all you math and Dylan fans alike, join me next time as I take a bite out of yet another clunker in the catalog, Under the Red Sky. Until next time, I'M OFF...to start my hardcore band: Disease of Conceit. See ya!
NYXHC
YUM!
I agree, Dylan's best 80s album and a minor masterpiece - glad you like this one! The first half is very strong, climaxing with the killer 1-2-3 punch of "Ring Them Bells", "Man In the Long Black Coat" and "Most of the Time" - classic Bob performances all. The second half, as you say, loses some steam - too many slow tracks in a row - but the songs are still very good.
ReplyDeleteAh, but what if Dylan had dropped one or two of the weaker songs here, and replaced them with some of the album's outtakes, such as "Series of Dreams", "Dignity", and "Born In Time" (all of which can be heard on Bootleg Series #8)? Why, then you would have had one of the greatest Dylan albums of all time, I think.... (sigh)
But to me, the best thing about "Oh Mercy" is that Dylan finally embraced his gravelly, ruined voice and quit trying to cover it up with the pinched nasal whine he used through much of the 80s. From here on out, it's pretty much the Late Dylan Growl all the way.... a voice that I personally love to death, although some fans can't stand it.