• Voto:
Under The Red Sky, pubblicato nel settembre del 1990, è uno dei dischi più criptici e controversi della carriera di un Dylan che sembra quasi voler registrare volutamente un disco minore dopo il grande Oh Mercy; in questa direzione si colloca sicuramente la scelta di non riconfermare Lanois e chiamare alla produzione i fratelli Don e David Was e Jack Frost (in realtà pseudonimo dello stesso artista) oltre a una serie di ospiti eccellenti. I testi sono delle filastrocche infantili probabilmente pensate per il divertimento dei bambini e dotate di un velato sense of humour (l'album è dedicato a "Gabby Goo Goo", soprannome della figlia quattordicenne).
Il disco parte con "Wiggle Wiggle", addirittura votata come una delle peggiori canzoni realizzate da un grande artista: in effetti la invadente sezione ritmica con la chitarra di Slash non risolleva certamente le sorti del brano. La title-track dai rimandi biblici è uno slow rock che ricorda vagamente al passato con la buona prestazione alla slide di George Harrison, mentre "Unbelievable" è una classicissima rock'n'roll song che anticipa certe soluzioni dell'ultimo Dylan. "Born in Time", scarto da Oh Mercy, è un pezzo abbastanza interessante che prova senza riuscirci del tutto a inserirsi nel solco del precedente disco e vanta la presenza di David Crosby alle armonie vocali e di Bruce Hornsby al piano, quest'ultimo presente anche nella successiva e scorrevole "T.V. Talkin' Song"; in "10,000 Men", canonica canzone rock & blues, notiamo la presenza alle chitarre di David Lindley e di un Stevie Ray Vaughan in una delle sue ultime registrazioni. "2 x 2" è un lento che vede addirittura la presenza di Elton John al piano e lo stesso Lindley alle prese con il bouzouki e ci introduce a "God Knows", outtake di Oh Mercy dalle atmosfere vagamente Sixties. "Handy Dandy" con lo stesso Dylan al piano è chiaramente pensata per canticchiare spensieratamente, mentre la conclusione è affidata a "Cat's In The Well", un altro caotico rock & blues con apporto di sax e tromba.
Ci vorranno sette anni per vedere alla luce un suo nuovo disco di inediti, l'immenso "Time Out Of Mind".
Elenco tracce testi e samples
03 Unbelievable (04:06)
It's unbelievable, it's strange but true,
It's inconceivable it could happen to you.
You go north and you go south
Just like bait in the fish's mouth.
Ya must be livin' in the shadow of some kind of evil star.
It's unbelievable it would get this far.
It's undeniable what they'd have you to think,
It's indescribable it can drive you to drink.
They said it was the land of milk and honey,
now they say it's the land of money.
Who ever thought they could ever make that stick.
It's unbelievable you can get this quick.
Bridge #1:
Every head is so dignified, every moon is so sanctified,
Every urge is so satisfied as long as you're with me.
All the silver, all the gold, all the sweethearts you can hold
That don't come back with stories untold, are hanging on a tree.
It's unbelievable like a lead balloon,
It's so impossible to even learn the tune.
Kill that beast and feed that swine,
Scale that wall and smoke that vine,
Feed that horse and saddle up the drum.
It's unbelievable, the day would finally come.
Bridge #2:
Once there was a man who had no eyes,
Every lady in the land told him lies,
He stood beneath the silver skies
And his heart began to bleed.
Every brain is civilized,
Every nerve is analyzed,
Everything is criticized when you are in need.
It's unbelievable, it's fancy-free,
So interchangeable, so delightful to see.
Turn your back, wash your hands,
There's always someone who understands
It don't matter no more what you got to say
It's unbelievable it would go down this way.
10 Cat's in the Well (03:21)
The cat's in the well, the wolf is looking down.
The cat's in the well, the wolf is looking down.
He got his big bushy tail dragging all over the ground.
The cat's in the well, the gentle lady is asleep.
Cat's in the well, the gentle lady is asleep.
She ain't hearing a thing, the silence is a-stickin' her deep.
Bridge #1:
The cat's in the well and grief is showing its face
The world's being slaughtered and it's such a bloody disgrace.
The cat's in the well, the horse is going bumpety bump.
The cat's in the well, and the horse is going bumpety bump.
Back alley Sally is doing the American jump.
Bridge #2:
The cat's in the well, and pappa is reading the news.
His hair is falling out and all of his daughters need shoes.
The cat's in the well and the barn is full of bull
The cat's in the well and the barn is full of bull
The night is so long and the table is oh, so full
Bridge #3:
The cat's in the well and the servant is at the door.
The drinks are ready and the dogs are going to war.
The cat's in the well, the leaves are starting to fall
The cat's in the well, leaves are starting to fall
Goodnight, my love, may the lord have mercy on us all.
Carico i commenti... con calma
