Ace said:

purplethunder3121 said:

^^^ That was a great book.

I never read it (or saw the movie). I just like the title!

Didn't knpw there was a movie.

I like it. It's a bit more stripped down than some of his recent stuff. Has a kinda slow-borning intensity to it. It's taken me a few listens but I really dig it.

purplethunder3121 said:

I've gotta think that this is rewritten for the album. I can't see him putting it on a record - never mind making it the title track - with all the references (however ambiguous) to Giants Stadium. It's just not a Bruce thing to do.

"Wrecking Ball" is a GREAT song!

"We Take Care of Our Own" is a GREAT title, but only an OK song!

"Land of Hope and Dreams" is an OLD song and an ALREADY RELEASED song!

But it's Bruce! I'm stoked!!!!!!

Here are the complete tour dates for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's 2012 U.S. tour.

March 18 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena (on sale Feb 4)

March 19 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum (on sale Feb 3)

March 23 – Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Times Forum (on sale Jan 28)

March 26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden (on sale Jan 28)

March 28 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)

March 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)

April 1 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center (on sale Jan 28)

April 3 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)

April 4 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)

April 6 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)

April 9 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)

April 12 – Detroit, MI – The Palace of Auburn Hills (on sale Jan 28)

April 13 – Buffalo, NY – First Niagara Center (on sale Jan 28)

April 16 – Albany, NY – Times Union Center (on sale Jan 28)

April 17 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena (on sale Jan 28)

April 24 – San Jose, CA – HP Pavilion (on sale Feb 3)

April 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

April 29 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (on sale now)

May 2 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center (on sale Jan 27)

Identity said:

Here are the complete tour dates for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's 2012 U.S. tour.

March 18 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena (on sale Feb 4)

March 19 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum (on sale Feb 3)

March 23 – Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Times Forum (on sale Jan 28)

March 26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden (on sale Jan 28)

March 28 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)

March 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)

April 1 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center (on sale Jan 28)

April 3 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)

April 4 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)

April 6 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)

April 9 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)

April 12 – Detroit, MI – The Palace of Auburn Hills (on sale Jan 28)

April 13 – Buffalo, NY – First Niagara Center (on sale Jan 28)

April 16 – Albany, NY – Times Union Center (on sale Jan 28)

April 17 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena (on sale Jan 28)

April 24 – San Jose, CA – HP Pavilion (on sale Feb 3)

April 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

April 29 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (on sale now)

May 2 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center (on sale Jan 27)

Shocked that Toronto's not a part of this leg. It's a stronghold for him and has only been bypassed twice (Tunnel of Love Express Tour and the "Sessions Band" tour). I would bet that there'll be a second North American leg. That's the way it usually goes with Bruce.

Official video for "We Take Care..."

Message is Subtitled in Bruce Springsteen's ''Take Care of Our Own''

Feb 11, 2012

Link

The video for Bruce Springsteen's "We Take Care of Our Own" was released Friday morning in advance of the artist's appearance Sunday at the Grammy Awards. It corrects at least one basic misunderstanding about the song.

By superimposing the lyrics over the mostly stark, black-and-white images -- music video-speak for 'this is important' -- the clip makes it clear that this is no uplifting anthem, despite the song's tour-ready shout-outs to American cities and repeated flag-waving imagery.

The first single from Springsteen's upcoming "Wrecking Ball," due March 6, "We Take Care of Our Own" is a reason to be optimistic for the forthcoming release, albeit tentatively so. It sees Springsteen in social commentary mode, which is welcome for these recessionary times, but opts for broad vagueries rather than a clear statement.

In fact, the song's hair-raising riff, hand-claps and Springsteen's chest-pumps in the video, make it too easy to miss the message. "The cavalry stayed home," Springsteen sings after two references to New Orleans. Still, after the nod to Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, Springsteen largely stays clear of politics.

Springsteen's tour is selling out as tickets go on sale, and "We Take Care of Our Own" is a satisfactory teaser for the arena-rock experience. It's designed for mass appeal, built with sing-songy lyrics such as "from sea to shining sea" and bright keyboard accents. Ultimately, the song and the video play into Springsteen's working-class hero image, yet the common-man approach ultimately obscures the song's more progressive tendencies.

Bruce Springsteen Explains His Experimental New Album

February 18, 2012

Link

Two years ago Bruce Springsteen told Rolling Stone that he had just written his first song about a "guy that wears a tie." The songwriter had spent much of his career writing about characters struggling in tough economic times, but the financial crisis convinced him it was time to write about the people and forces that brought America to this ugly point.

The result was Wrecking Ball, a scathing indictment of Wall Street greed and corruption and a look into the devastation it has wrought. "This is as direct a record as I ever made," Springsteen tells Rolling Stone. "That's with the possible exception of Nebraska, which this record has a lot in common with."

he stark subject matter is paired with an experimental sonic palette that Springsteen created with producer Ron Aniello. "The record basically started out as folk music – just me and a guitar singing these songs," says Springsteen. "Then Ron brought a large library of sound that allowed me to explore – like maybe a hip-hop drum loop or country-blues stomp loop. The actual drums came later. There was no preconceived set of instruments that needed to be used, I could go anywhere, do anything, use anything. It was very wide open."

Album opener "We Take Care of Our Own" poses a question: Do Americans take care of their own? The songs that follow make the answer clear: The narrator of the slow waltz "Jack of All Trades" struggles to find work, while the anti-hero of the country-folk stomper "Easy Money" decides to imitate "all them fat cats" on Wall Street by turning to crime. The similarly uptempo "Shackled and Drawn," meanwhile, offers a political analysis worthy of Woody Guthrie: "Gambling man rolls the dice, workingman pays the bill/ It’s still fat and easy up on banker’s hill/ Up on banker’s hill, the party’s going strong/ Down here below we’re shackled and drawn."

The album's themes shift midway through, as economic despair gives way to a quest for spiritual redemption. It ends on a hopeful note with the ambitious "We Are Alive." The song takes on an Irish-wake feel, as Springsteen celebrates Americans (and aspiring ones) who died fighting for progress: "I was killed in Maryland in 1877/ When the railroad workers made their stand/ I was killed in 1963 one Sunday morning in Birmingham/ I died last year crossing the Southern desert my children left behind in San Pablo… We are alive/ And though we lie alone here in the dark/ Our souls will rise/ To carry the fire and light the spark/ To fight shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart."

There are genuine musical surprises throughout. The cinematic "Rocky Ground" expands on the hip-hop-inspired vibe of "Streets of Philadelphia," while prominently featuring the voice of gospel singer Michelle Moore, who even delivers a brief, apparently Springsteen-penned rap.

"Death To My Hometown" is a Celtic-influenced foot-stomper that wouldn't sound out of place on a Dropkick Murphys album. "We Are Alive" borrows the horn riff from Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire," while "Land Of Hope And Dreams" (originally written and played live with the E Street Band in 1999) has been re-worked with electronic drums and a gospel choir.

"Hope and Dreams" also has a saxophone solo by the late Clarence Clemons. The Big Man’s sax can also be heard on "Wrecking Ball," alongside trumpeter Curt Ramm – who will be in the five-piece horn section (which also includes Clemons' nephew Jake) that will be hitting the road with Springsteen on his upcoming tour.

cd has fully leaked....

I'll preview the leaked tracks and buy the deluxe album edition.

Bruce Springsteen To Take Over 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon' Next Week
Feb 25, 2012

Link

From Rolling Stone Magazine:

''We Take Care Of Our Own" The lead-off single Springsteen and the E Streeters debuted with vitality at the Grammys, this pounding, patriotic rocker serves as the album's moral compass and seems a likely cut to open shows on the upcoming tour.

"Easy Money" Rootsy and percussive, "Easy Money" features one of Springsteen's more charismatic vocals and free-wheelin' lyrics but, with its talk of Smith & Wessons and burnin' hellfire, the song's undercurrent of rough intentions belies its jaunty musicality and bright choral arrangement.

"Shackled And Drawn" Cajun inflections and a sprightly rhythm power this workingman anthem, but once again Springsteen juxtaposes the music against frustration and powerlessness. Another top-shelf vocal, spiced with whoops and shouts.

"Jack Of All Trades" A gorgeous, piano-based ballad meant to inspire and encourage, a man assuring his love he's willing to do whatever labor necessary for them to get by. He sounds unconvinced of his own promises of "we'll be alright," and it's clear bad things could happen. Killer guitar coda.

"Death To My Hometown" Another pounding, rhythmic piece, featuring African rhythms blended with a Celtic-tinged melody and vocal, almost a battle march. One of the most descriptive lyrics on the record.

"This Depression" The biggest downer on the album, and a role reversal of "Jack Of All Trades." Seldom has Springsteen displayed this much vulnerability, and this funeral dirge boasts inspired guitar work from Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine).

"Wrecking Ball" First heard by fans on 2009's "Working On A Dream" tour as a rousing send-off for New Jersey's Giants Stadium, "Wrecking Ball" takes on a whole new life in the context of this record. This is an entity, human or otherwise, reconciled to its fate but ever defiant. One of only two tracks on the album to include Clemons' saxophone, with its refrain of "hard times come and hard times go," Wrecking Ball" is destined to become a classic.

"You Got It" Wrecking Ball's lightest moment, this is a lusty, bluesy mid-tempo that would go over equally well in a wedding chapel or back seat.

"Rocky Ground" Musically ambitious and completely captivating, "Rocky Ground" thematically fits perfectly with the tone of the album. But, with its inspired vocal arrangement, gospel underpinnings and Michelle Moore rap, it is unlike anything Springsteen has done before.

"Land Of Hope And Dreams" Another song familiar to Springsteen fans, this one has been a live staple since the late '90s and finds a fitting home here in a rare optimistic turn. A broad, anthemic slice of Americana, the characters could be the ones from "Thunder Road" some 30 years on, unbowed.

"We Are Alive" Could be alternatively titled "Tales From a Graveyard" (and slyly does come to a whistling conclusion) this is a strange one, but nonetheless fascinating. "We Are Alive" includes descriptive lyrics and a credited melodic line from the Johnny Cash classic "Ring Of Fire," and is ultimately optimistic, a fitting close to one of Springsteen's best albums.

I'm the biggest Bruce fan you can find....

But eh this disc is ok, i didn't care much for his last either. I think Bruce from his first album Greeting from Asbury Park all the way to Tunnel Of Love where all solid albums imo

Bruce made 8 great albums in a row to me, and that is not easy for an artist to. But after 8 great albums(Not to mention the live album) Human Touch came and it was kind of like Bruce where you sleeping? but hey as said making 8 great albums then 1 dud it was bound to happen.

Since then he has been off and on, The Rising was to me his last great record. And i would be happy if it was his last to.

Springsteen will stream the entire album on Monday (Mar 5) at his official website, BruceSpringsteen.net.

itunes version

1 We Take Care of Our Own
2 Easy Money
3 Shackled and Drawn
4 Jack of All Trades
5 Death to My Hometown
6 This Depression
7 Wrecking Ball
8 You’ve Got It
9 Rocky Ground
10 Land of Hope and Dreams
11 We Are Alive
12 Swallowed Up (In the Belly of the Whale)
13 American Land

JoeTyler said:

not excited, the song is ok, NOT a new classic

on paper the album looks like the third part of Magic-Working on a Dream, murky and repetitive albums

and the E Street without Clarence is pointless

then again, the last Springsteen album that I liked was The Rising...

and Land of Hope and Dreams??? again? is it the studio version?

and btw I'M TIRED of the BOSS tryin' to speak for the whole country (world) everytime he releases a new album, he has been doing the same thing since the Ghost of Tom Joad (95), I mean, it's predictable and pointless: Magic (these are dark, nasty times, fuck yo Bush), WOAD (We can do it people, Obama you rock), WB (ahhh the country is still a mess, but pain will make us stronger, and screw the rotten souls who ignited the crisis to begin with).

It sounds forced, really, and it kinda erases the power of the music...the Boss used to find the perfect balance between rock power, fun, personal lyrics, drama, anger and political stuff...NOT ANYMORE

[Edited 1/20/12 9:55am]

not entirely true, with Lucky Town and Human Touch he was trying a different tact and the result was commercially disasterous although I happen to think that "With Every Wish" belongs up there with his best ballads. He's complained that his fans don't like it when he's happy, it's true, and like Prince or any longtime superstar he can't really please anyone. My take? Working on A Dream was pretty weak, The Rising was pretty weak overall, Magic shocked me with Radio Nowhere, the only song which you could say he turned back time and had the passion of anything in his prime. that's the thing, with that kind of talent you really have to take what you get because at any moment they can hit you with brilliance, Prince can do it, Elvis could do it to death and Bruce can do it.

Ace said:

My belief is that writers almost always get better as they age. But I also believe in what Paul Simon said (that you only have a certain store of melody in you and that that tends to get used up in your younger days). Springsteen is fully capable of writing his best work ever now, but he's too worried about placating the nostalgia buffs in his audience (and they are legion).

That's very interesting because I honestly believed the Capeman album had some of the most brilliant stuff I've ever heard from anyone, too bad it was sunk by the dumb play. Prince said the whole "one person can muster so much" before.

I'm really liking the album, like i've said, artists of his calibre don't put out bad albums. I'm really liking it so far. I could do without the production, but i've said that 50 times so far.

petes2 said:

I'm really liking the album, like i've said, artists of his calibre don't put out bad albums. I'm really liking it so far. I could do without the production, but i've said that 50 times so far.

I'm really liking most of the songs on this album, too, so far. And I'm hard to please--I caught him live in '88. Great concert.

Identity said:

Message is Subtitled in Bruce Springsteen's ''Take Care of Our Own''

Feb 11, 2012

Link

The video for Bruce Springsteen's "We Take Care of Our Own" was released Friday morning in advance of the artist's appearance Sunday at the Grammy Awards. It corrects at least one basic misunderstanding about the song.

By superimposing the lyrics over the mostly stark, black-and-white images -- music video-speak for 'this is important' -- the clip makes it clear that this is no uplifting anthem, despite the song's tour-ready shout-outs to American cities and repeated flag-waving imagery.

The first single from Springsteen's upcoming "Wrecking Ball," due March 6, "We Take Care of Our Own" is a reason to be optimistic for the forthcoming release, albeit tentatively so. It sees Springsteen in social commentary mode, which is welcome for these recessionary times, but opts for broad vagueries rather than a clear statement.

In fact, the song's hair-raising riff, hand-claps and Springsteen's chest-pumps in the video, make it too easy to miss the message. "The cavalry stayed home," Springsteen sings after two references to New Orleans. Still, after the nod to Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, Springsteen largely stays clear of politics.

Springsteen's tour is selling out as tickets go on sale, and "We Take Care of Our Own" is a satisfactory teaser for the arena-rock experience. It's designed for mass appeal, built with sing-songy lyrics such as "from sea to shining sea" and bright keyboard accents. Ultimately, the song and the video play into Springsteen's working-class hero image, yet the common-man approach ultimately obscures the song's more progressive tendencies.

The real shame is that the general public has become so damn stupid that they have to be fed the lyrics to understand that this ISNT a happy pop tune. But its what Bruce does best, getting jocks to sing bout their glory days or the gop to sing bout americana.

purplethunder3121 said:

petes2 said:

I'm really liking the album, like i've said, artists of his calibre don't put out bad albums. I'm really liking it so far. I could do without the production, but i've said that 50 times so far.

I'm really liking most of the songs on this album, too, so far. And I'm hard to please--I caught him live in '88. Great concert.

It's no Born To Run but it's pretty damned good, I've listed to it in total about 8-10 times. I still say he doesn't need the hip hop beats or the slick production. The rap bit wasn't as bad as some reviewers said though, he had the sense to get a rapper and not try it himself. The songs are strong and so far as I can tell, it's his strongest album since maybe Tunnel. I've seen lukewarm reviews and seen many fan/former fan comments which were just vicious but I don't really see their merit other than to say we are living in the most cynical times of my lifetime in the US. A common complaint is that Bruce is a millionaire and a "one percenter" and plays his fans for suckers. I say, none of us know the man and we should just be grateful for new music from a treasure like him.

petes2 said:

purplethunder3121 said:

I'm really liking most of the songs on this album, too, so far. And I'm hard to please--I caught him live in '88. Great concert.

It's no Born To Run but it's pretty damned good, I've listed to it in total about 8-10 times. I still say he doesn't need the hip hop beats or the slick production. The rap bit wasn't as bad as some reviewers said though, he had the sense to get a rapper and not try it himself. The songs are strong and so far as I can tell, it's his strongest album since maybe Tunnel. I've seen lukewarm reviews and seen many fan/former fan comments which were just vicious but I don't really see their merit other than to say we are living in the most cynical times of my lifetime in the US. A common complaint is that Bruce is a millionaire and a "one percenter" and plays his fans for suckers. I say, none of us know the man and we should just be grateful for new music from a treasure like him.

From what I've seen of his ticket prices for this tour, he is one of the most fair with the prices, compared to other top selling artists this go around.

purplethunder3121 said:

petes2 said:

It's no Born To Run but it's pretty damned good, I've listed to it in total about 8-10 times. I still say he doesn't need the hip hop beats or the slick production. The rap bit wasn't as bad as some reviewers said though, he had the sense to get a rapper and not try it himself. The songs are strong and so far as I can tell, it's his strongest album since maybe Tunnel. I've seen lukewarm reviews and seen many fan/former fan comments which were just vicious but I don't really see their merit other than to say we are living in the most cynical times of my lifetime in the US. A common complaint is that Bruce is a millionaire and a "one percenter" and plays his fans for suckers. I say, none of us know the man and we should just be grateful for new music from a treasure like him.

From what I've seen of his ticket prices for this tour, he is one of the most fair with the prices, compared to other top selling artists this go around.

I don't know what people expect from him really, he's blessed with the talent and done the work to make that money what's he suppossed to do work for free? Many fans have turned on him over the years but to me that's just an immaturity on the part of the fan. I mean, the negativity of a Charles Cross in response to every Bruce question is a sign that he hasn't grown up.

petes2 said:

purplethunder3121 said:

From what I've seen of his ticket prices for this tour, he is one of the most fair with the prices, compared to other top selling artists this go around.

I don't know what people expect from him really, he's blessed with the talent and done the work to make that money what's he suppossed to do work for free? Many fans have turned on him over the years but to me that's just an immaturity on the part of the fan. I mean, the negativity of a Charles Cross in response to every Bruce question is a sign that he hasn't grown up.

Quite frankly, I like this album more than a few I have heard in years. Whether it contains new or old material is immaterial to me.

purplethunder3121 said:

petes2 said:

I don't know what people expect from him really, he's blessed with the talent and done the work to make that money what's he suppossed to do work for free? Many fans have turned on him over the years but to me that's just an immaturity on the part of the fan. I mean, the negativity of a Charles Cross in response to every Bruce question is a sign that he hasn't grown up.

Quite frankly, I like this album more than a few I have heard in years. Whether it contains new or old material is immaterial to me.

ya, i'm loving it too, i'm starting to agree with the people who were saying it's one of his best. I think it puts his last few to shame. I loved the Seeger sessions but that wasn't really a bruce album as such. I thought magic had it's moments as did the rising and working on a dream. No one can turn a phrase like bruce even at his worst, you know the song in the wrestler that goes "if you've ever seen a one legged dog you've seen me" sincere or not those kinds of lines still have the power to choke me up. No one else can do it like that. No one. It's his own peculiar voice and gift.

Springsteen Scores Ninth No 1 Album in UK

March 12, 2012

Wrecking Bal is The Boss' ninth chart-topping U.K. album, a sequence dating back 28 years to 1984'sBorn In The U.S.A., and first-week sales for the new set were close to the 77,000 he recorded for 2007's Magic, reports the Official Charts Company. (Via Billboard)

I'd like to thank Barnes And Noble for punishing me for several moments when they played cuts from this shit. Springbean has written one unlistenable disk. Give me Tom Joad any day.