What can anybody say about an album as wildly creative and crazy as “Desire”, especially being released on the heels of “Blood on the Tracks”?

This album is almost batshit crazy in comparison to its predecessor, and that’s what makes it so fascinating, frustrating, compelling, and undeniably great. You simply can’t turn away from it, because there it is. It’s Dylan and dammit, it’s amazing…sort of…most of the time…if you’re open-minded.

Seemingly overnight (once again), Dylan drastically changed his writing style, this time moving from a Rorschach-ian Impressionism to a harsh, biting realism that is unnerving. There’s really no sense in arguing its validity or truthfulness, because Dylan does all the talking - a full hour of it - and it never gets dull. It certainly gets weird in places, but that is why I sometimes consider this to be one of my favorite albums of his; because I’m listening to a genius songwriter rip through his own raw thoughts, adding more than a dash of creative license as he spews opinions, wild tales of romance and destruction, and then closes with a deeply personal goodbye note. All I can say in return is either ‘wow’ or ‘bravo’.

Featured Tracks:

Hurricane

Isis

Mozambique

One More Cup of Coffee

Oh, Sister

Joey

Romance in Durango

Black Diamond Bay

Sara

January 1976 - Billboard Charted #1