“Empire Burlesque” by Bob Dylan

A misunderstood gem in Dylan's catalog.

Programming note: It’s 80s week! I'm spotlighting some of my favorite records released between 1980 and 1989. Like previous decade-themed newsletter posts, I've selected albums that cover multiple genres and deliberately avoided the well-worn titles that top all "best of" lists for this decade. In other words, no Thriller*,* Purple Rain*, and so on.*

If you love 80s music, check out other write-ups I’ve done on classic albums or songs from that decade.

Hope you enjoy it!

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Hello! 😊👋

Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!

Today’s music pick is a hidden gem in the legendary singer’s catalog, full of intriguing, indigo-tinged moments.

Genre: Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Label: Columbia

Release Date: June 10, 1985

Vibe: 🌌

Empire Burlesque is a perpetually underrated entry in Bob Dylan’s discography, primarily due to the material that came shortly before and after its release. Fans of his 1970s output may cite Blood on the Tracks, Slow Train Coming, and even Desire among his (and the decade’s) best pop-rock releases. Starting with Time Out of Mind, Dylan’s output at the turn of the century is similarly lauded. But Burlesque deserves more recognition as a quality entry in the Bard’s wide-ranging body of work. Assembled from casual recording sessions that spanned nearly a year, the record updates his sound for the MTV era, replete with thick, gated drums and smooth harmonies. At the album’s center, Dylan proved he still had a lot of offer as a vocalist and songwriter, quietly producing some of his very best work.

Burlesque’s detractors often cite the somewhat bizarre production choices as a negative, particularly in its first half on tracks like “Seeing The Real You At Last.” However, with the benefit of hindsight, it’s no less jarring (if you’d even call it that) than what the Rolling Stones did during the same period. It’s a little more frenetic pace-wise, perhaps a little more on-the-nose sonically, but what would you reasonably expect from the decade famous for its excesses?

Ultimately, the material that stands out the most is the ballads, with two cuts that merit consideration on Dylan’s “best lyrics” list (wouldn’t that be something to read…). “Emotionally Yours” features some of the singer’s most unabashedly romantic writing, with lines like: “I could be dreaming, but I keep believing you’re the one I’m living for/And I will always be emotionally yours.” However, here and throughout the record, he keeps the objects of his desire at arm’s length, like an old Bogart character about to slip away into the neon-tinged shadows—maybe for good.

As he’s so often done, he saves the most stunning moments for last on “Dark Eyes.” Stripped down and equally moody and whimsical, it’s a slice of Dylan at his most observant and idiosyncratic. A worthy closer for an album that, like much of his “post-prime” work, only gets better with repeated listens.

👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈