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Amazon.co.uk Review
Dylan shows an unlikely innocence and a greater sense of the world around him on this 1976 follow-up to the more cynical and introspective Blood on the Tracks. Working with lyricist Jacques Levy, Dylan offers a work with rougher edges and greater urgency that is distinguished by the prominence of Scarlet Rivera's melancholy violin and Emmylou Harris's bare harmonies. The album features two of Dylan's famous wrongly accused-and-misunderstood-criminal sagas but truly peaks elsewhere. Exotic imagery meshes with simple melody on "Isis," one of Dylan's most appealing rambles. The droning piano and plodding drums propel a mystical journey that contains some of his most insightful (and most ridiculous) lyrics about paranoia, trust, betrayal, and, of course, desire. ("What drives me to you is what drives me insane.") In the end Dylan shows no signs of being jaded by love's fickleness. Delicate and heartbreaking, the finale "Sara" is a gift to his ex-wife that eloquently recounts the wonders of a relationship, perhaps in an attempt to revive it. --Marc Greilsamer
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I came to listen to 'Desire' with no previous knowledge of Bob
Dylan's music. Of course, I had heard of him and was aware that he had written a number of classic songs, but I had never heard his music.
Anyway, 'Desire' is now one of the best albums in my collection, and is unfairly overshadowed by 1975's 'Blood on the Tracks', the second Dylan album I heard.
'Desire' features some original violin from Scarlet Rivera, and haunting harmonies from country singer Emmylou Harris. But it is Dylan's songs that stand out. He certainly does not have the most conventional of voices, but he works around this and produces a stellar collection of songs - I wouldn't want it any other way.
"Hurricane" and "Joey" tell of gangster land and murders, both apparently true stories and both told with Dylan's opinions (he strenuously protests boxer Hurricane Carter's innocence after he was accused of a triple murder back in the 1960s) in mind. "Mozambique" and "Oh, Sister" are both highly pleasant songs and highlights, but they aren't as powerful or immediately awe-inspiring as the rest of the material.
"One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below)" is haunting and sounds mildly Eastern, with great harmonies from Emmylou Harris. "Black Diamond Bay" is upbeat and breathlessly tells a story set in Greece, while the Latin-flavoured "Romance in Durango" shows how diverse Bob Dylan can be.
"Isis" is a major highlight of the record, with some mystical imagery and a lingering melody. Finally, "Sara" features some of Dylan's most tuneful vocals and is a heartfelt ode to his wife, whom he separated before the making of 'Desire'. The album also carries a gypsy vibe, in part thanks to the Rolling Thunder Revue of 1975, a travelling medicine show with a number of highly regarded musicians including Dylan, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell.
'Desire' is certainly one of Bob Dylan's greatest records and just as good, if not better, than 'Blood on the Tracks'.
Dylan's music. Of course, I had heard of him and was aware that he had written a number of classic songs, but I had never heard his music.
Anyway, 'Desire' is now one of the best albums in my collection, and is unfairly overshadowed by 1975's 'Blood on the Tracks', the second Dylan album I heard.
'Desire' features some original violin from Scarlet Rivera, and haunting harmonies from country singer Emmylou Harris. But it is Dylan's songs that stand out. He certainly does not have the most conventional of voices, but he works around this and produces a stellar collection of songs - I wouldn't want it any other way.
"Hurricane" and "Joey" tell of gangster land and murders, both apparently true stories and both told with Dylan's opinions (he strenuously protests boxer Hurricane Carter's innocence after he was accused of a triple murder back in the 1960s) in mind. "Mozambique" and "Oh, Sister" are both highly pleasant songs and highlights, but they aren't as powerful or immediately awe-inspiring as the rest of the material.
"One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below)" is haunting and sounds mildly Eastern, with great harmonies from Emmylou Harris. "Black Diamond Bay" is upbeat and breathlessly tells a story set in Greece, while the Latin-flavoured "Romance in Durango" shows how diverse Bob Dylan can be.
"Isis" is a major highlight of the record, with some mystical imagery and a lingering melody. Finally, "Sara" features some of Dylan's most tuneful vocals and is a heartfelt ode to his wife, whom he separated before the making of 'Desire'. The album also carries a gypsy vibe, in part thanks to the Rolling Thunder Revue of 1975, a travelling medicine show with a number of highly regarded musicians including Dylan, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell.
'Desire' is certainly one of Bob Dylan's greatest records and just as good, if not better, than 'Blood on the Tracks'.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought Desire in a state of fever pitch excitement, having been blown away by Hurricane on Radio Luxembourg (unbleeped version!)
Having heard the whole album, I came to the conclusion that Dylan was relaxing at long last and putting that legendary imagination to startling use with some sparkling and atmospheric narratives like Romance in Durango (you can just imagine yourself in Mexico), Isis, Joey (tribute to a dead gangster, no less!) and the truly wonderful story related in Black Diamond Bay.
Dylan sounds lyrically mature and right at his peak here. An extra dimension is added by clever use of instrumentation, notably Scarlett Riviera's violin.
That said, this collection also includes the crackling tension of Sara. Stark simplicity of guitar and voice was all this song needed.
If you're sold on Dylan's folky roots or country period, this is ideal mid-period Dylan to plot the course of his development.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
These tracks aren't as anthemic or immediately accessible as some of Bob Dylan's more familiar classics, so it takes some time for them to sink in. Hurricane is a torrent of a song in what sounds to me a stream-of-consciousness style, whilst Isis is likewise dense and profound, quite an epic with vivid imagery. Mozambique has a lovely melody and a lilting tropical beat, and is the only song here that exudes joy and happiness. Closest to his earlier folk style, Oh Sister is introspective, heartfelt and moving. Romance In Durango is the tragic story of an outlaw fleeing from the law but not making it and saying his farewells to his wife and child - it has a beautiful soaring Spanish chorus and a vaguely Latin flavour. Black Diamond Bay is a powerful and intense rock ballad whilst the autobiographical Sara makes reference to Dylan's earlier song Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands; it's a flowing conversational ballad with lots of charm. The musical and lyrical variety on Desire ensures a captivating listening experience. I think this album holds up well in Dylan's great body of work. Perhaps not one of his top 5 albums, but a work of enduring value containing at least four classic songs.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Desire
I knew all the content of the album having previously purchased it on vinyl but due to the retirement of my record player I had not had the pleasure of hearing any of the content... Read more
Published 3 months ago by C Brown
at his best
best dylan album you can by i never cease the amazment of it however many times i listen to it.
Published 10 months ago by peter
A lovely sound
Totally different sound to the previous year's Blood On The Tracks, this is a much freer and happier sounding Dylan, not tied to some emotional mission like he was on BOTT. Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2010 by Lou Knee
Music of the Gods
Dylan may have made a better album but I don't know what it is, and more than anything else I have heard, 'Desire' deserves a place at the high table of rock 'n' roll masterworks... Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2009 by J. A. Harvey
IMO, Isis & Sara are two of Dylan`s strongest songs
This album does not sit alongside "Blood On The Tracks" in my opinion. I don`t look forward to every song, whilst regretting the fact the last one has finished, like I do with... Read more
Published on 2 July 2009 by Little Cat Voom
HIS BEST ALBUM ?
I came to Bob Dylan back in 1975 through the opening track on this album, the superb song 'Hurricane' when radio stations were playing it as his new single. Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2009 by Michael Nicholl
Classic Dylan
I have to admit that I am not a great Dylan fan. I adore Jimi Hendrix version of 'All Along the Watchtower' and Nina Simone's version of 'I Shall Be Released'. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2008 by M. Shankland
Washing the blood down the drain
After the obliqueness of his mid 1960s work and the personal sketches of 'Blood on the Tracks', 'Desire' ranks as one of Dylan's surprises. Read more
Published on 23 July 2008 by D. J. H. Thorn
Don't read reviews
I don't normally write reviews, but I couldn't help it reading what some people think about this album. Read more
Published on 18 Oct 2007 by Guido
Dylan resumes the emotional veil he let down for BLOOD
Mostly known for the track "Hurricane," this album, coming from the same man who had such an intense emotional outpouring on his last LP BLOOD ON THE TRACKS, this release sounds... Read more
Published on 2 Oct 2007 by Mike London
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