FWIW, I listened to "Time Out Of Mind" today.
What stands out to me is that DL was trying to get a certain type of sound, say from an era gone by, (hence the title of the lp) as opposed to an audiophile approved sounding lp. This can be off-putting in the sense that it kind of accentuates the digital nature of this recording on some tracks more than others. The content, however is excellent, IMO.
Comparing "Oh Mercy" and "Time Out of Mind" on sonic qualities alone,
"Oh Mercy" is consistently superior.
Thanks for bringing this lp up in the conversation. I will enjoy listening to it again.