First impressions: that production! It’s perfect. I wish he’d re-record Magic like this. It’s live-sounding, organic, deep, and even in its noisier moments weirdly intimate.
No epic stand-out solos. I would have liked one or two, but okay, we’ve moved on. An ensemble piece, with every musician locking into his part. Bittan’s playing defines The E Street Band – restrained, emotive, powerful, beautiful.
Compositionally, it’s a new hand from an old, old deck, so no points for spotting similar phrases or chords from his own huge catalogue or rock music in general. It sounds like what it is – a Springsteen/E St. album. Not self-referential, not going through the motions, not a cookie-cutter exercise. The real deal. What we were hoping for.
The three old songs are going to take a while for me. I’m familiar with them from bootlegs. Their tone is very much the New Dylan wordsmith he was back then, and although musically they fit better than might be expected – why? and why these? It’ll not be noticeable, perhaps, if you don’t know the original versions. Like all Springsteen albums since ’74, it’ll take a while to settle with me.
The reviews seem to be overwhelmingly positive. And there are songs here that are the equal to anything he’s done.
But? No buts. It’s the album we wanted. The Boss is back in town.
>
I’m not really sure why I’m replying to this, except I just checked in to the site while waiting for the tray bake chicken to cook. And I’ve had a few glasses of red. But this phrase in your OP stood out, HP – “similar phrases or chords from his own huge catalogue or rock music in general”.
This is precisely the reason why Bruce bores me shitless. His whole oeuvre is “similar phrases or chords from his own huge catalogue or rock music in general”. And yes, no points for this observation.
But before you all leap on your keyboards and fire slings and arrows to defend Mr Bruce to the death, just let me have my say. I know half the world loves him and I’m in the other half. That’s OK. I don’t mind. But really, “similar phrases or chords from his own huge catalogue or rock music in general” does not, for me, induce me to listen to this record.
Anyway that’s all.
Have a good night everyone.
Cheers
Ooooh! Gwampa Gwumpytwousers!
Baked chicken and red wine? Heathen.
Don’t forget that chicken in the oven before you turn out the lights Mousey. You know what you’re like after a few glasses.
I’m no Bruce fan either, but don’t most perforrmers turn out better or worse versions of their single album to some extent after a while? I revere Richard Thompson but don’t expect consistent originality, in fact recognising the familiar song template or guitar sting is all part of the pleasure for the long-term fan.
Gatz, yes, exactly. If you sit down to play cards, you don’t complain that your hand contains the same four suits as last time. You see if it’s a good hand or not.
I agree. How many successful rockers do something radically different every time? And how many do it successfully.
Fact is that a lot of successful acts find something they’re good at and rework, with little differences and changes of nuance, and the good ones bring in enough that is fresh to make it work. I’d cite Bruce as an example of that.
Where did you hear this?
Ha ha can imagine @Dai going nuts.
Hard to respond to an unheard album. I am expecting a succession of Broos tropes.
Time for a new Rod Stewart.
Eeeeeeels everywhere!
U implying you’ve got the new Eels album in the back of your virtual van, Moosey?
No, that implies money is involved. Other than, er, the money poor old Bruce spent making the bloody thing in the first place.
It’s all over the internet like a rash.
The internet is a big place
One and a three and another three and a seven. Maybe add gd.
One listen and I’m not convinced but then I’m a bit slow, sometimes even Wrong
Check your PMs.
Thank you, merci, danke, diolch!
Slippery slope, Dai. Expect PMs starting ” Bit short of cash right now, send money to Royal Bank of Thailand or else”.
Well, I can’t find it.
I just found it in less than ten seconds. A site that reminds one of gin’n’tonic.
Missed an x after the last 7
Hmmm does this mean I now want a Trump victory?
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/bruce-springsteen-trump-election-vote-born-in-the-usa-australia-b1068330.html
Tell him Canada is a lot closer …
I think that’s his point. As far away as possible.
Love the “like all Springsteen albums since 1974…” line. For me, it’s all been downhill since The Castiles *sniffs*.
First listen, thanks to @H.P.Saucecraft , not doing a vast amount for me so far. His vocals seem a bit strained and the tunes are lacking. Does remind me a bit of Lucky Town (yes, I know that was not an E St record), the last one probably that was recorded very quickly.
Needs a few more listens but Janey Needs a Shooter stands out, I quite liked the opener, singles are ok, “1000 guitars” was terrible.
Way below Western Stars for me, I reserve the right to change my mind at a later date…
There’s always a complete clunker on a Bruce album, but here we agree – 1000 Guitars is terrible. It’s in the bin along with Cowboy Pete, Born In The U.S.A., Joe Biden’s Café, and all the others, never to be played again. Have to disagree about it not sounding like the E Street Band, though – it sounds more like them, thanks to the fantastic production and live feel, than any album since [*your favourite last real E St. Band album here*]. And his vocals (nearly) always sounded strained! Right from Born To Run, people took a dislike to that, said he couldn’t sing.
I didn’t say it didn’t sound like the E St Band, I am talking about, I guess a more garage-y sound than usual for obvious reasons. I think his vocals on Western Stars were wonderful, he just seems to be stretching a bit much here at times.
My vinyl should arrive on Friday I will hold off further plays until then.
And Born in the USA is superb! Glory Days is the one to delete off that fine album. No clunkers on Born to Run or Darkness, might even add Magic to that list, along with Nebraska and Tunnel of Love.
And I have changed my mind! After hearing the vinyl and watching the excellent (and moving) documentary, it is going up in my estimation considerably. Possibly a great album.
Very happy for you Dai. He’s delivered exactly what we wanted from an E Street Band album, and after Western Stars, his finest solo album, he’s leaving us on a high. Realistically, given his age and the times we live in – spoiler; going to get worse before they get better – we’d be lucky to get another album or attend another show. He’s filled the stadium of our hearts, and if that makes you snort your morning cuppa (not you, Dai), you’ve probably never been to one of his shows. Maybe the last great rock n’ roll album from the last great rock n’ roller, and thank god I can use those terms without irony. Thank god for the guitars and the good times.
Bruce fans are often guilty of hyperbole when defending their man, but in this case I’m in full agreement with you. It beats me why Letter to You has been met with something of a lukewarm reception on here. It’s one of the best things he has ever done. I too found the documentary very moving, particularly Jon Landau’s tearful reaction to I’ll See You In My Dreams. Okay, so Bruce overdid some of the voiceover profundity, but the whole thing was heartfelt and immensely touching. The musicianship of the E Street Band was faultless. I read somewhere else that Bruce has written his own epitaph with Letter To You. It’s a truly fabulous album.
I have no way of adequately evoking his Hammermith Odeon (a cinema, let’s not forget) gig in ’75. Hyperbole underplays the effect he had on us. I’d already been swept away by “The Wild …”, but that night formed a bond that remains unbroken. I remember the rush of emotion, the unbelievable excitement, that turned the gig into something genuinely spiritual without religion. How can something as noisy and earthy and basic as a rock n’ roll concert do this? I still don’t know. It’s the only time in my life that sense of one-ness with the crowd and the guys up on stage has been so elevating. We were lifted up, is the closest I can get, not in adoration but in sheer stand-up joy, lifted up out of our lives, out of ourselves. After the show, everyone spilled into the street, nerves buzzing but exhausted. Quiet, exchanging stupid, wordless grins. Not wanting to go home, the whole world out there. Alive with the light of of the spirit in the night.
Lovely post. Personally been to 30 of his shows and the last one I saw with the E St Band (Philadelphia 2016) was pretty much as good as any of them and a perfect way to end it for me if that is how it turns out. The one other show I saw afterwards on Broadway in a tiny theatre with 900 odd people also felt like a summing up. We shall see.
Thanks Dai. Not many people saw him back then, but I found myself living next door to one of them in Paris (a Brit). He saw both shows – I saw the second. I was a couple of rows behind Peter Gabriel, who also raved about it.
I saw the third show, you know -the one he did after deciding the first two just weren’t good enough. Two o’clock in the morning and only a couple of dozen of us there to watch The Boss come of age. The after gig party was great as well though Peter Gabriel did go on a bit about the second show and how some berk a couple of rows behind him “didn’t just shut the fuck up”.
Just played it through for the first time – first impression – Glorious! It’s that got that great E Street feel that doesn’t seem to appear often enough for my liking.
Agree completely with the OP comments on production, I had to turn it up to about twice the volume I usually play stuff while working at home and for a while I was back in the Stafford Bingley Hall in 1980(ish). Which might not always be very appealing, but in this case was a very good thing indeed.
Songs – pretty strong all the way through for me except that much as I really wanted to like a song called 1000 Guitars, it feels unfinished, like he ran out of ideas for lyrics but bashed on with it because it’s a good title.
My only other comment to add to the various reviews above is that until I turned it up a bit louder I was very surprised to hear Bruce asking “…take me on your Bum Train…” – the man needs to enunciate properly 🙂
This puts me in the mood to investigate more recent Bruce albums, haven’t heard much of his stuff from the last 10-15 years – what would anybody recommend?
I was at Stafford Bingley Hall too! (May 20th 1981)
As for recommendations.
Magic is the best songwriting wise, but sounds terrible. Otherwise Western Stars and (possibly) Wrecking Ball. Of course also The Rising but that is outside 15 years.
For recommendations, I really like High Hopes, but I know that isn’t everyone’s opinion. Wrecking Ball and Western Stars for sure.
Speaking of Bruce Springsteen, and for people who listen the Word podcast, has anyone noticed how Dave and Mark shoehorn in a mention of Bruce in EVERY episode? I don’t know if it’s unintentional or meant as a joke.
I’ve been listening to it for a couple of days now. Not much to add to the previous comments, not as immediate as Western Stars but a fine E Street album. The surprise for me was Janey Needs A Shooter. Not, as I expecting, Bruce’s take on the Warren Zevon Co-write but a whole new song with the only connection being a similar title, and as @Dai points out, one of the standout tracks on the album.
It’s an old song actually, predates his first album.
I stand corrected. (Still a great song though.)
Absolutely brilliant song, it seems Warren heard Bruce’s original and was inspired to write his own version.
It’s credited as a co-write. From the Wiki:
“Zevon had heard of this Bruce Springsteen song title from his manager, Jon Landau. Warren once said he asked Springsteen about it “many times” until Springsteen said, “You like it so much, why don’t you write it?” Zevon wrote a few lines and cut a track and then showed up to Springsteen’s house in the middle of the night. Springsteen was asleep on the sofa. Warren played what he had. Springsteen then said “It’s nice, but where are all the other verses?”
They went on to finish it together.
For the benefit of anyone still interested:
In other news. A nice piece in The Atlantic a couple of days ago:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/bruce-springsteen-and-art-aging-well/616826/
That is a good piece. It’s refreshing to see the Pale, Stale & Male demographic (a charming term) being given some appreciation. The “review” in the Guardian was predictably tone-deaf – a middle-class young white woman smirking cleverly about “old white men” (she clearly hadn’t a clue about Jake Clemons’ involvement), and giving the album four stars to counteract the two stars implied in the text. One commenter wrote that “this review seems to have been written by a group of people who all hate each other”.
There’s a brilliant interview with the man elsewhere on The Atlantic, which again shows what a careful, considerate, and articulate man he is:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/bruce-springsteens-playlist/613378/
Given it a few listens. Sound is great- got a bit of bite to it. Props to Bruce for doing all his vocals one take.
Not one song stands out as great. Thousand guitars is awful.
3 stars
Gee whiz.
It’s been on constant rotation in our house since Friday, which doesn’t happen that often these days. It is terrific; there are great tracks here – the title track, Ghosts, Birnin’ Train, Janey….even the wordy old song works. It has an immediacy and those E Street flourishes that connect it to his classic work. Fantastic.
Yes like Ghosts and Burnin Train, the latter edging closer to a classic.
OK, I will give it a few more goes – too many people on here, whose opinions I respect, are talking it up.
Give it a little time between plays, Junes. Let it do its work rather than trying to make it work for you.
Too late spinnin (metaphorically) as I type. I don’t rate the first 2 tracks and that could be where me and this record got of on a bad step. Burnin, Janey, Last Man v good. Power of prayer ok. As discussed thousand guitars clunker, Rainmaker love it
Ghosts good altho I still can’t stop singing steve Earle I aint Ever Satisfied to it.
Ditto Song For Orphans I just keep singing Dylan’s My Back Pages Included below for ease of reference. I’ll See You in My Dreams pretty good.
Props to Bruce for singing a bit higher when most artists sing lower as they get older. The vocal mannerisms seem more iterative on this than others but yeah better as I listen -especially if I start at track 3.
I have to say that “Mighty” Max plays an absolute blinder.
Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t Bruce almost give Max the heave-ho in the early days?
Mac didn’t drum on the first 2 albums or the song Born to Run which was recorded before the rest of the album. He then replaced Ernest Carter and played on the rest of the album in 75. I think at one point (maybe 80s?), Bruce was a little unhappy with him and told him to go away, practise and get better. He did that.
Vini Lopez on the first two.
Yes “Mad Dog”, that should read “Max” above of course
He does, and it’s nice to hear the drums sounding like a drum kit not field artillery.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/bruce-springsteen-and-art-aging-well/616826/
Oops doubled up.
Soz
I think it’s a wonderful album.
Watched the documentary yesterday which made an awful lot more sense of some of the songs.
Classic.
I’ve listened to most of it and really like it. It’s been interrupted by inconvenient meetings etc. A mile better than the dull Western Stars which you all seem to like – an album of songs he didn’t want to put out with strings added. Bleah. But hey, if it makes you happy.
This sounds, dare I say it, a bit Darknessy which is how I like my Bruce.
Did you see him interviewed by Stephen Colbert? He said these songs were a mediation on mortality. Ain’t nothing darker than the dark.
I feel like he’s been doing that since Born to Run. Perhaps before it was theatre.
You’re quite perceptive aren’t you.
This is a riff on John and Ringo.
He has certainly carried over a lot of the vocal stylings from Western Stars. I listen to Wetern Stars for the strings – very Elmer Bernstein. The songs themselves are very samey. Letter To You has more variety
I notice no one has commented on the similarity to My Back Pages, at least to these ears. It is not a criticism- I am not saying it is a conscious “lift” but it is all I can hear given my familiarity with the Dylan song.
I generally don’t like strings. OK in certain circs or when very lean such as the double quartets the Beatles used. When they’re to add a bit of kitschy drama to otherwise dull material I don’t like them even more. See also that awful Bacharach/Costello album.
This “dropped” today. For those not in the know, Bleachers is the band project of Jack Antonoff, who co-wrote all those Taylor Swift, Lorde and Lana Del Rey songs you love so much