If
Good as I Been to You
was a strong traditionalist folk record,
World Gone Wrong
was an exceptional one, boasting an exceptional set of songs given performances so fully realized that they seemed like modern protest songs. Much of this record is fairly obscure to anyone outside of dedicated folk fans;
"Delia"
(covered by
Johnny Cash
the following year) and
"Stack-A-Lee"
are the most familiar items, yet they're given traditional readings, meaning that the latter doesn't quite seem like
"Stagger Lee."
But even if these are traditionalist, they're spirited and lively renditions, and
Dylan
seems more connected to the music than he has in years. That sense of connection, plus the terrific choice of songs, makes this one of his best, strongest albums of the second half of his career. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine