The comeback is on. Bob Dylan hit out with Time Out of Mind and returned to a wonderful form not heard since the early 1980s. His live sets improved, and the sharpness heard on this unofficial compilation, From New Orleans to New Jerusalem, does well to collect the best. The never-ending tour is given a shot of new, crucial material. Time Out of Mind spurs on the best of Dylan in the 1990s and his live performances are a real showcase of this. Collecting the shows in the unofficial From New Orleans to New Jerusalem bootleg is an exceptional way to experience these gigs. Time Out of Mind marks the largest cultural shift from Dylan since Desire. He would crash through again with the popularity and swing of a seasoned veteran with Rough and Rowdy Ways. Enjoy those experiences – they come around frequently but fluidly in bootleg form.
For From New Orleans to New Jerusalem, the focus is on the songs before those Time Out of Mind tracks. Dylan is given the energy and focus from his audience which was lacking in previous releases. Oh Mercy is paid its dues with Shooting Star. It marks a stripped-back beginning for Dylan here, the live performances were not the booming periods of fatigue-riddled showcases in the 1980s. His tact has changed since Dylan and The Dead. Though unofficial, these live bootlegs present a timely reminder of Dylan as an artist who desires reinvention. It is not enough to play the hits. He digs deep into the backlog and out comes the likes of I & I or Obviously Five Believers. Both are of exceptional quality and are rewarding listens. Every listen of I & I, whatever the bootleg, cements it further as one of Dylan’s best.
Maggie’s Farm is given some clear vocal treatment. Dylan has a cutting focus on this collection. The instrumental flourish is of the same quality. Expectedly strong showcases of the backing band Dylan would come to rely on throughout the 1990s. A rare cover of Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin’s Long Black Veil can be found within. It is of an intense quality. All those classics included in From New Orleans to New Jerusalem are given a kick of joy now Dylan finds himself back in favourable company. His Time Out of Mind release was a hit, and new listeners were inbound. It moulds these performances wonderfully and the acoustic warmth given to Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright, is a tremendous joy.
Take care with closers like God Knows. Under the Red Sky is given charming inclusions on these unofficial bootlegs. They earn their spot despite the weaknesses of their studio releases. For God Knows the focus is on the instrumentals, a neat change of pace which can be heard in a handful of these performances. From New Orleans to New Jerusalem mentions those spots of the world Dylan performed in but they have very little impact on the quality of the performance or recording. An exceptional compilation of tracks is on offer here and they do not disappoint. A neat slice of the post-Time Out of Mind joy Dylan experienced. What a time it was for him, and Love and Theft would boom through just a few years later.
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