Infidels (studio album) by Bob Dylan

Este es mi álbum favorito de Dylan posterior a los 70.

This was the first Dylan album I bought on the day it came out. I can still remember the excitement. Although it's never been amongst my very favourite I have always remained fond of it.

From Larcx13 06/22/2020 16:43

A very refreshing Dylan record at the time after a string of gospel-rock type of albums. #10 on my list of best Dylan records. Notable tracks: Jokerman, Neighborhood Bully, Union Sundown.

One of the better 80s albums from the growler. 80s production issues aside, this is a decent collection of songs, and Dylan seems to actually be bothered enough to perform them. Standout tracks are Sweetheart Like You (if you can get past the horrifically sexist lyrics), Man of Peace and Union Sundown.

From rockinsteve 07/17/2018 01:31

Decent album by Mr. Dylan. The best part of this one is the guitar work by Mark Knopfler. The slide guitar on "Union Sundown" is VERY nice! If you're a fan of Bob's work, pick this one up.

From Sandrof1969 02/09/2018 22:20

"Neighborhood bully" my favorite...

Dylan's first album after his bible bashing trilogy. It's a very slick record with a pop sheen production by Mark Knopfler. It's gone for the kind of sound he had on slow train coming. It's an album of two halves in a way, four good songs and four so-so tracks. Best of the bunch is opener, jokerman. It's Dylan using poetic imagery again. Despite a terrible synthesized harmonica solo, it's a wonderful song. Also very good is, sweetheart like you, with some nice guitar from Knopfler. I and I, and, licence to kill are other standouts. The rest is ok. Neighborhood bully is boring, and union sundown's not great. Man of peace, is alright, and, don't fall apart on me tonight, is Dylan's attempt at a power ballad. It's incredible to think that blind Willie mcctell, was recorded at the sessions, but not issued on the album. Odd, as it's one of Bob's strongest songs of the eighties. All in all, somewhere in between not bad and good.

Personally, I would say that Dylan's infamous 80's period contains just as strong song writing as any other period in his long career. The big difference with this decade though, is the production. We all know there was a lot of pressure on artists to conform to the newest trends - those being the frequented use of computers, drum machines, synthesizers, etc. The use of these tools in the studio - though benefiting other artists of the decade - was not a strong suit to Dylan's music. A raw, personal, more heartfelt sound has always been his home. And though he eventually learnt to use the 80's sound to a lesser degree with 'Oh Mercy! (1989) - proving to be quite successful - it was really only a matter of time till he returned to his true, talent showing production, as used on 'Time Out of Mind' - as well as his subsequent albums.

I feel this theory of mine is best proven when looking back on the tracks that somehow managed to escape the '80's sound'. And none managed this moreso than his belated release of the apparent "demo" of 'Blind Willie Mctell' - a true revelation of Dylan's continual song writing talent, well throughout the 80's, and beyond.

In conclusion, 'Infidels' - along with some of the other 80's albums - is not a bad album. Not at all. Rather, it is a badly produced album - in a most unflattering way. And personally, I think Dylan should return to the studio from whence it came, and redeem it.

From greatson 02/11/2015 12:54

average dylan album

From Brandon8 01/05/2015 04:22

Jokerman is one of my favorite Dylan songs. I enjoy the album as a whole and do not believe there are any weak tracks. I would rank it higher than it is on this site.