Street Legal
The last album released before Dylan's late '70s/early '80s three-album foray into Christian music,Street Legalis both fascinating and flawed. At the time, Dylan was enthralled with the slick stage presentation ofNeil Diamond, which he clumsily attempted to re-create on this 1978 collection. Say what you will about Diamond, but he ran a tight ship; the clunky drumming and rudimentary brass that mar these nine tracks reflect a misbegotten attempt to make Dylan's wing-it studio approach work for an underrehearsed 12-member backing group. Songwise,Street Legalis a mixed bag. Despite a few missteps ("Is Your Love in Vain?" is embarrassingly... well, vain), the wordsmith navigates dense terrain in the masterful "Senior" and the open wound of a closer, "Where Are You Tonight?"--Steven Stolder