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Rating: * * * * *
The ongoing series of unreleased/rare/alternative versions under the imprint The Bootleg Series hits another peak with this exceptional collection, Volume 8. It covers Dylan's recent return to form and sessions where he and producer Daniel Lanois appeared to be taking more care in the studio than Dylan had for some time.
The period-focus also means the strong material feels as if it is all coming from the same emotional place, and there are more than a few songs here that could have taken their place alongside the best on the albums Oh Mercy and Time Out of Mind, notably the remarkable Red River Shore, Born in Time (a mature revisit to the track on the mostly dreadful Under the Red Sky) and Dreamin' of You.
Here, too, are songs from soundtracks (the glorious Tell Ol' Bill from North Country and the exceptional Huck's Tune from Lucky You), Dylan in a dark, folk-country mood (the closer is a live version of High Water For Charley Patton) and everywhere there is a sense of foreboding in his storytelling and imagery.
If the last volume in this series - which was the tie-in with Martin Scorsese's doco of Dylan's formative years - was one to perhaps pass on, this extraordinary collection of late-period genius is definitely one to return for.
Throwaways never sounded so good.
Graham Reid
