The 80's were not kind to Bob Dylan or Neil Young. So, who sucked more in the 80's? Here's a reminder of the stuff they both produced during that decade.

Neil Young

Where The Buffalo Roam-1980
Hawks & Doves-1980
Re-ac-tor-1981
Trans-1983
Everybody's Rockin'-1983
Old Ways-1985
Landing on Water-1986
Life-1987
This Note's For You-1988
Freedom-1989

Bob Dylan

Saved-1980
Shot of Love-1981
Infidels-1983
Real Live-1984
Empire Burlesque-1985
Knocked Out Loaded-1986
Down In The Groove-1988
Dylan and the Dead-1989
Oh Mercy-1989

I'm going with Neil Young. Those early 80's albums are damn near unforgivable. Both of them showed flashes of brilliance among the dreck but I think Young's output was sooo bad. Albums like "Trans" and "Re-Ac-Tor".......I mean spelling out reactor alone is deplorable.

Dylan probably put out the worst thing of both though with the Dylan and the Dead debacle but I think Infidels and Empire Burlesque are salvagable and Oh Mercy contains one of my favorite Dylan songs in "Most of the Time".

I haven't heard any of the Dylan stuff, but I'd still bet that Neil Young was worse. Of his stuff, I've only heard the Lucky Thirteen comp, and it's almost without redemption. The best songs on it are probably the ones from Trans (which actually aren't that bad).

as far as im concerned, freedom makes up for any crap neil young put out in the 80s. therefore, bob dylan gets my vote.

My guess is I am the only one on the board who owns, likes and has listened to Landing on Water in the last 5 years.

And actually 5 0f the 9 Dylans are good... in 20 years time 6 of these 19 will be remembered and appreciated while Psych Furs, Peter Gabriel, Joe Jackson, Culture Club, Bronski Beat, G n R, Human League, Aztec Camera, Cars, OMD, Husker Du, Cure, X, Thompson Twins, Metalica, Squeeze, New Order, Van Halen, Kate Bush, ABC, 'Mats, Depeche Mode, Simple Minds... oh wait a minute, never mind.

Where and how does Husker Du get thrown in with crap like ABC and the Thompson Twins?

Its already been 20 years and Zen Arcade has held up a fuckload better than 80's Dylan. This is from someone who puts 60's and early 70's Dylan in their favorite music of all time.

Afraid I have to say that Power Corruptiion and Lies and Low Life are better records than anything Dylan made in teh 80's as well.


As to the original question, its a push and a sad one too.

I was about to say the exact same thing.

This note's for you is good, too.

Listening to Freedom today, so it kinda inspired the idea for the poll. Yup, he definitely finished up the decade on a high.

Goin' w/ Bobby. I loves me some Trans every now and then. "Sample And Hold" used to find its way onto the airwaves periodically when I had my show.

i haven't heard enough of those albums to say - but just from the few Dylan songs I know from that period which are pretty good I will go with Neil Young

I'll always have a soft spot for Life and Trans, too. I can understand why most people think these albums are trash, but I don't agree.

I am also an unabashed fan of Landing on Water, and listened to it just last month!!!