Production holds up actually
5
By Melanie Falsepercy
I know there is a tendency to say this record is dated and "too Lanios" but if you're gonna get produced then you could certainly be in worse hands. To me, most of these songs are amplified by Lanios' sensibility, while others not helped as much, but you'd be hard pressed to say any of them were overtly hurt by it. And hisorians of the future at least have the interference pattern of two great audio artists to deconstruct. For myself, the late 80s analog vibe, sense of place, and arrangement blend in a way that simply could not be otherwise. In a word, an unlikely classic.
Arguably his best album ever
5
By nook
Stunning work of brilliance between Dylan and Lanois. Never gets old. Man in the long black coat is the bomb
Great album still!
5
By Cat for the Tillerman
I finally bought a copy of this, I've heard most of it for several years, especially alternate versions from Bootleg Vol. 8 and a couple songs used on soundtracks in the '90's. This album, along with Time Out of Mind and Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs, are my favorite albums from his recent work (most favorite being Time Out of Mind), until Tempest.
One of my favorites
5
By sheworelemon909
I’ll start with the disclaimer that I just discovered Dylan about a year ago (don’t throw things at me)…that being said, I’ve been on a binge ever since. When I first heard Man In The Long Black Coat it was on the Chimes of Freedom album, (go buy it right now), which is a collection of amazing covers, Dylan approved too. Anyways, hearing the cover sent me straight to the original which still blows my mind. Political World is excellent as well…the whole record is phenomenal. Of his 80s records, this one is my favorite.
One of Bob's Best
5
By cleaning windows
Dylan and producer Daniel Lanois made this one of the best albums of the 80s. It came out just as the decade was ending, but it's a timeless collection of songs, that to me have not only withstood the test of time, but have somehow gotten better with age (meaning I've come to appreciate them more over the years.)
I not only highly recommend Oh Mercy, but also the unreleased outtakes from the Oh Mercy sessions: Dignity, Series of Dreams, Born in Time, and God Knows. They available on "Tell Tale Signs." When you add those discarded beauties into the mix, Oh Mercy is one of Dylan's top 5 albums in my opinion.
Wow!
5
By JWLA
I've recently really dug into Bob's catalog and just listened to Oh Mercy for the first time all the way through today and this album is powerful. Love it. Shooting Star is such a beautiful tune, going back to the fact that not only does Bob write great lyrics but he writes melodies as well as anyone.
oh mercy this is great
5
By Jsmooth2332
listened to this album for the first time a couple of nights ago and it blew me away.great album
Oh Mercy Me!
5
By Everhat
I just bought this album, just listened through it once and am listening through it again simply because I HAVE to.
My goodness, this is a great album.
Upbeat tunes, slow-down songs and and overall wonderful pace.
And Mr. Dylan's lyrics ring, and then they sneak up on you and ring again.
"Ring Them Bells"
"Everything Is Broken"
"What Good Am I"
"Man In The Long Black Coat"
...oh heck, list all of the songs - they are all fantastic.
How Mr. Dylan does it, crafting songs then crafting an album with those songs....
All of these songs work like they were built for this album and not any other album of his - even though all the songs are undeniably Bob Dylan.
I've heard this album twice now and already feel like I have been away somewhere brand new, and delivered back again.
Sign me up for another return trip.
Mercy! Give this one a listen -
Oh Mercy: A-
5
By Lunchbox Steve
Would anybody expect a bad album from Bob Dylan? No. That would be an Impossibility. Dylan does not dissapoint in this 1989 gem of an album. Doesn't beat Highway 61 Revisited by a long shot but it is still one of the better of Dylan's ovwer 30 albums! Here's my Track-By-Track Review:
#1 Political World: Addictive, great lyrics as usual. 5 / 5
#2 Where Teardrops Fall: 4.5 / 5
#3 Everything Is Broken: 4.75 / 5
#4 Ring Them Bells: 4.5 / 5
#5 Man In The Long Black Coat: Creepy, sounds like a r****t. 4.25 / 5
#6 Most of the Time: 4.75 / 5
#7 What Good Am I?: A melancholy self depricating ballad. 4.75 / 5
#8 Disease of Conceit: 4.75 / 5
#9 What Was It You Wanted: 4.5 / 5
#10 Shooting Star: 4.5 / 5
Grade: A-
Essential Tracks: Political World, Everything Is Broken, Disease of Conceit
Rolling Stone: 4 / 5
Terrific material
4
By mattkeeley
Oh Mercy may not reach the lyrical heights of Dylan's 60s material, but any comparison is irrelevant. Oh Mercy is a wonderful album in its own right, combining thoughtful lyrics with terrific production. Some of the songs here rank with Dylan's very best. My personal favorties are Man in the Long Black Coat, Most of the Time, What Good Am I, and especially the heartbreaking Shooting Star.
DYLAN AND LANOIS, PART 1
5
By BwanaEast
Spot-on itunes review. Political World always felt like a relatively weak opening track, but other than that minor flaw, most of the rest is brilliant. Ring Them Bells is one of the best Bob Dylan songs of all time, while Most of the Time, Man in the Long Black Coat, and What Was It You Wanted are eerily gorgeous; great songs made even greater by Daniel Lanois' haunting sonic landscapes.
Oh, mercy!
5
By cduck
That phrase describes exactly how I feel about this album. Oh mercy, because I'm struck speechless by the power in Bob's songs on this album. This really is an under-appreciated album; I don't care what anyone says, this is just as good as anything he created in the 60s, just as powerful and memorable. Man In The Long Black Coat is the true stand-out song, but every other song is just as extraordinary. I got this album because of Dylan's extensive comments on this album in the first part of his autobiography, Chronicles Vol. 1, and I'm really amazed by this album, which from what he wrote seemed so hard to create. (By the way, any Dylan fan should pick the book up, it's great and reveals how much of a musical genius Dylan really is.)
A hidden gem
4
By Uphereinmytree
His albums prior and immediately after this weren't up to par, but Oh Mercy is a great album. Most of the Time is probably the highlight of the album.
One Of My Favorite Dylan Albums...
5
By Blackelsluck
"Political World" jumps out as the first cut. The only other cut that might have been radio friendly was "Everything Is Broken". The balance of the album is mostly introspective.
Bob Dylan has the credibility to put out songs analyzing the inner man with both honesty and hope in the lyrics. "Most Of The Time", "What Good Am I?", and "Disease Of Conceit" are a core of "Biblical / Book Of Ecclessiates" styled compositions. "Shooting Star" offers a glint of hope for the future, as he reminisces about the past.
Oh Mercy, I'll take it...
5
By DrPhz
I think Bob recaptured a vibe with this album that he hadnt't shown in a while. I mean there are no stand out, super great songs, but the album as a whole is perfectly balanced and blended. I believe this is due three things: inspired songwriting on Bob's part, Daniel Lanois's great production and the stellar musicians that Bob has playing on this album (e.g. Tony Hall's bass on Most of the Time). I really love this album.
Oh Mercy
5
By Tallman57
Having listened to Bob Dylan since the 1960's, I've seen (or heard) him at his best and his worst...this is one of his best. Man in the Long Black Coat will haunt you long after you hear it. Most of the Time is as near perfect a description of how one feels after a breakup-good or bad-as I've ever heard. Great music from a master.
