Springsteen's magic

[helliott]

Any other Bruce fans out there? New album Oct. and tour coming, probably last one for the band. I'm a diehard and will catch a few concerts at least. Anyone else?

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Helliot, I am a pretty big fan! Here a a couple threads I started.


http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php?t=2793&highlight=springsteen
http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php?t=2865&highlight=springsteen

I like most all of the band's work up through The River, then it is hit and miss with me. Love his songwriting, and love the big band esp. when Clarence has his chops on.

If they come close enough I might try to catch it. Depends on price. GAS might prevent the big concert expense.

 

[Nelskie]

Felt kind of the same way when Clapton rolled into town a few months ago. I've seen him a number of times, and when my wife asked me if I wanted to go, I feigned interest. "Well if I get tickets, would you go?", and with that, I responded, "well . . . OK."

So we get to the show, and immediately Clapton's touring band roars through the better part of the Derek & The Dominos Live at the Fillmore set, with Doyle Bramhall II and Eric trading extended solos throughout the first three or four numbers. After re-attaching my jaw from its floor-bound position, my wife smiles at me, and says, "Aren't you glad I talked you into coming?"

"Yeah, baby, I sure am."

There'll always be gear to buy, Sun . . . but only a finite amount of times that the Boss and Co. will be on tour. Put that next purchase on hold, and get out and see him. Those memories will be with you forever. J.

 

[helliott]

I get the inconsistency thing with Bruce. Some of my album buys and concert things have been more out of loyalty than anything. But I hear that this one is the real deal, with a rock and roll sensibility that we haven't seen for a bit. I read on the annoying fansite that making this album, most of the band came in and did their things with O'Brien, but Bruce insisted on being there to work with Clarence. That made me think this could be the real deal -- Bruce getting back to the essence. We'll see what the music brings, but out of loyalty or sheer love and enthusiasm, I'm probably doing some serious driving for the upcoming tour, the last for the E Streeters probably.

 

[SuperSwede]

Felt kind of the same way when Clapton rolled into town a few months ago. I've seen him a number of times, and when my wife asked me if I wanted to go, I feigned interest. "Well if I get tickets, would you go?", and with that, I responded, "well . . . OK."

So we get to the show, and immediately Clapton's touring band roars through the better part of the Derek & The Dominos Live at the Fillmore set, with Doyle Bramhall II and Eric trading extended solos throughout the first three or four numbers. After re-attaching my jaw from its floor-bound position, my wife smiles at me, and says, "Aren't you glad I talked you into coming?"

"Yeah, baby, I sure am."

There'll always be gear to buy, Sun . . . but only a finite amount of times that the Boss and Co. will be on tour. Put that next purchase on hold, and get out and see him. Those memories will be with you forever. J.

Nelskie... BABY! Your back!

 

[oldguy]

Nelskie... BABY! Your back!

PARTAAAYYY!!!TIME!!WOOOHOO!! HI,NELS :R R

 

[Mark]

Felt kind of the same way when Clapton rolled into town a few months ago. I've seen him a number of times, and when my wife asked me if I wanted to go, I feigned interest. "Well if I get tickets, would you go?", and with that, I responded, "well . . . OK."

So we get to the show, and immediately Clapton's touring band roars through the better part of the Derek & The Dominos Live at the Fillmore set, with Doyle Bramhall II and Eric trading extended solos throughout the first three or four numbers. After re-attaching my jaw from its floor-bound position, my wife smiles at me, and says, "Aren't you glad I talked you into coming?"

"Yeah, baby, I sure am."

There'll always be gear to buy, Sun . . . but only a finite amount of times that the Boss and Co. will be on tour. Put that next purchase on hold, and get out and see him. Those memories will be with you forever. J.

Lookie here what the cat done dragged in.........Ole Nelski aint seen you since Moby Dick was a minnow...hope all is cool in your little corner of this here planetary orb!

I caught EC on this last tour as well great show but the sound cound have been better. Bruce ...well I havent kept up with him liked the early stuff then he seemed to go in a darker depressing vibe for a while. Guess I have to revisit his tuneage to form a current opinion.

 

[R_of_G]

Grew up in NJ, and I am a big Springsteen fan. Haven't seen him in years, but man does that guy ever know how to put on a show. Some of his albums I love and some not so much, but I'm always willing to give his new efforts a listen.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Mr. King used to quote his lyrics once in a while back in the day at the beginning of chapters. Happen to know you are a King fan. ;-) If he comes to SLC, I will probably try to go. In addition to his older stuff I reference above, I also really liked "The Rising" after it came out. It somehow really hit with me after the tragedy of 9/11.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Felt kind of the same way when Clapton rolled into town a few months ago. I've seen him a number of times, and when my wife asked me if I wanted to go, I feigned interest. "Well if I get tickets, would you go?", and with that, I responded, "well . . . OK."

So we get to the show, and immediately Clapton's touring band roars through the better part of the Derek & The Dominos Live at the Fillmore set, with Doyle Bramhall II and Eric trading extended solos throughout the first three or four numbers. After re-attaching my jaw from its floor-bound position, my wife smiles at me, and says, "Aren't you glad I talked you into coming?"

"Yeah, baby, I sure am."

There'll always be gear to buy, Sun . . . but only a finite amount of times that the Boss and Co. will be on tour. Put that next purchase on hold, and get out and see him. Those memories will be with you forever. J.

N-man!!! Wassup, Bro'?? Just passing through or think you might stop back in kind of regular-like? We miss your strong views and inimitable writing talents, ya know!! Been kinda like steak without the A-1 around here without ya....

 

[helliott]

I'm guilty. Someone sent me a link to the leaked mp3 of the first single from Magic, Radio Nowhere. I absolutely love it. Driving guitar, wailing sax solo, great Max power drumming. If this is what the album promises, I'm thrilled.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

There'll always be gear to buy, Sun . . . but only a finite amount of times that the Boss and Co. will be on tour. Put that next purchase on hold, and get out and see him. Those memories will be with you forever. J.

Hi Nelskie, nice to hear from you. If the opportunity arises, I just may take that advice. Hope to hear more from you soon!

 

[R_of_G]

Picked up the album this weekend. Certainly nothing on there that I would consdier a "classic," but I don't hold songwriters to having to write "classics" every time they put out a new collection. Most of these are very good songs, and it's great to hear Bruce writing songs like this again, as well as unleashing the E Street Band on this kind of material. None of the songs may be classics, but many harken back to the classic sound of Springsteen, and that makes this album a very enjoyable listen. Basically, if you like Bruce, you'll like this.

 

[helliott]

Very good analysis, I think. You can hear stuff from nearly all of this periods, from The River right up to The Rising, even a hint of Greetings from Asbury Park (Living in the Future).
I like that he sings more. Haven't heard him use his voice this way before, as he does on tracks such as You'll be Comin Down and Your Own Worst Enemy. Also, while the lyrics are not super strong on this record, there are some gems, including,
"Then just about sundown
You come walking' through town
Your boot heels clickin'
Like the barrel of a pistol spinnin' 'round

And, my favourite to date, from I'll Work for your Love
"Pour me a drink Theresa
In one of those glasses you dust off
And I'll watch the bones in your back
Like the Stations of the Cross."

I find it interesting that one of the criticisms being levelled at him is that this album sounds derivative. Yeah, it does, derivative of his earlier work. The guy gets slammed for sounding too much like himself. To me, that's kinda like criticizing the Beatles for not naming The White Album.

Anyway, it's pretty clear I have a rather strong bias. I like the album a lot, and can't wait to see the show Oct. 15 in Toronto. First of two Phillie shows on the weekend was pretty rough, apparently, and the second was a knockout punch, according to press and fan reviews.

 

[R_of_G]

I am sure some of the same critics disparaging Bruce for sounding too much like his old self are the same ones who have spent the last ten years disparaging albums like "The Ghost of Tom Joad" and "Devils & Dust" as sounding not enough like his old self. There are those that offer educated analyses and there are those that simply criticize negatively because they think they are supposed to. My thoughts are that Bruce's latest output, while derivative of his own material, is still better than the slew of bands [ie. The Killers] who are simply ripping off Bruce's old sound.

 

[helliott]

Too true. They guy is blessed to have such a loyal fan base, but by the same token they (we?) can also be the most hypercritical. Mixed blessing I guess.

 

[R_of_G]

Too true. They guy is blessed to have such a loyal fan base, but by the same token they (we?) can also be the most hypercritical. Mixed blessing I guess.

And I have no problem admitting that I am among the most hypercritical of them all [in fact, I pride myself on it]. I think it's a matter of putting things in their proper contexts. If Springsteen was promoting this as his "greatest album since Born to Run" then I'd be all over him. He's not though. It's just a new album with his classic sound. If that's all you expect from the album, it won't disappoint.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

I never cared much for Springsteen, I always found him a bit boring.

I did, however, take a wiz next to him at an Elvis Costello concert. After we exited the bathroom a friend of mine asked him when his next album was coming out; he said soon. That was Born in the USA. After we were done chatting a chick (yes, Strumster she was a chick) looked at us with wide eyes & asked if *that was the Boss?!?* We nodded & she dashed up the stairs after him. :rotflmao:

But the most important part of this thread is that there was a Nelskie sighting that I somehow missed.

Come on back Nelsk!

 

[R_of_G]

I never cared much for Springsteen, I always found him a bit boring.

I did, however, take a wiz next to him at an Elvis Costello concert. After we exited the bathroom a friend of mine asked him when his next album was coming out; he said soon. That was Born in the USA. After we were done chatting a chick (yes, Strumster she was a chick) looked at us with wide eyes & asked if *that was the Boss?!?* We nodded & she dashed up the stairs after him. :rotflmao:

But the most important part of this thread is that there was a Nelskie citing that I somehow missed.

Come on back Nelsk!

Reminds me of a time a friend of mine was in a bathroom with Keyshawn Johnson [who was playing for the Bucs at the time]. As soon as Key was done at the urinal another guy in the bathroom asked for an autograph, to which Key responded "Do you mind if I wash my hands first?"

 

[t_ross33]

Got it. Like it. I agree that it has the "classic" E Street vibe to it. Time will tell if stands up to becoming a capital-C Classic, but given the environment in which it was released (i.e. the biz nowadays), I doubt it will reach the legendary status of Born to Run, The River etc.

Bruce has been kinda hit and miss for me too. After the outstanding commercial success of Born in the USA, I picked up the Live box set and found I got "Bruced-out" and haven't really given him much thought. I did like "The Rising" and with this album, the Boss has recaptured a fan.

I give it :AOK:

Trev

 

[Toaster]

The Pete Seeger Sessions was really good too if you're into the American rootsy folk scene.