How to Survive The Eighties With Bob Dylan

Here's how to buy the best albums from Bob Dylan's least popular decade, the eighties.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Buy "Infidels" from 1983.
   
   Infidels is a great album. The songs are profound, and a great rebound for Dylan as an artist. Unfortunately, the studio out-takes known as the Outfidels Intakes would have made a much better final album.

2. Buy "Down In The Groove" from 1988.
   
   On Down In The Groove, Dylan finally got some control of the album's sound. Unfortunately, the tide had already turned against him. Love or hate this album, but songs like Silvio, and Death Is Not The End have a completely apocalyptic sound.

3. Buy "Dylan & The Dead" from 1989.
   
   A lot of people put this down as one of the worst Dylan albums ever. It's a funny thing, because this album is a long shot from being the worst ever. Dylan plays with the Grateful Dead in a fairly cohesive manner. The only song you might want to skip is the version of "Joey" because it sounds so much like the original version. Standouts include "Queen Jane Approximately" and "Knocking On Heaven's Door." Again, hatred of this album is a little far off and based on the fact that it used to be one of the only Dylan CD's available on those CD of the month clubs.

4. Buy "Oh, Mercy" from 1989.
   
   This album is one of Dylan's great eighties albums. The songs are moody and contemplative, as if they were written by a sad 49er (the gold rush kind). Shooting Star is an all time Dylan classic.

5. I'm going to cheat and let you pick the last album in the five. Shot of Love (1981) would be my best suggestion, although Empire Burlesque (1985) is extremely well written. Sadly, it's marred by the worst production of any Dylan studio album ever.