What kind of a Bruce Springsteen fan am I?
Am I a casual fan who enjoys the big hits like "Dancing In The Dark" and "Glory Days?" Or do I only want to hear the hard hitting, down and out stories about
factory workers, relatives who are criminals, and devastating
drives through the backwoods of New Jersey? Do I prefer the dark material on "The River" or the beach party rockers? I'm a fan of it all, actually, though not all of the rockers work on "The River" just like not all of the bleakness translates on "Devils & Dust." (I do love every single ballad and slow burner on "The River.")
Have you seen the E Street Band live? Didn’t you enjoy the "Detroit Medley" all these
years? Or "Pretty Flamingo?" When Bruce called an audible, weren't you relieved when it was "634-5789" as opposed to "Matamoros Banks?" Think of this new covers record as a collection of all those years of encores and audibles recorded for posterity. If you stop trying so hard to figure out why he chose to make this covers record, you just might enjoy this covers record.
"Only The Strong Survive" isn't perfect. Like most cover records, it's hit and miss. But Bruce hits more than a few out of the park. Nitpicking about "7 Rooms Of Gloom" being a bit too fast is just starting trouble, and no one likes a troublemaker.
The arrangements of these songs aren't so far removed from the arrangements on the classic E Street Band records everyone loves. That the songs themselves are Motown and soul covers and not Bruce originals shouldn't be a deterrent. "Forgot To Be Your Lover" isn't much different than Bruce's deep cut classic, "Back In Your Arms." "Any Other Way" is pretty close to "E Street Shuffle," just a bit slower. This record sounds more like the Bruce Springsteen everyone complains about no longer hearing than four of his last five records.
If the songs selected for "Only The Strong Survive" are sacred to you, as a few of them are to me---"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" is in my all time Top 5, with "I Wish It Would Rain" not far behind---then I can understand wincing occasionally or just not caring one way or the other. Nothing and no one will top The Walker Brothers version of "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" and Bruce's take is one of the misses for me. He over-enunciates almost to the point of parody, though the modulation at the end was a nice touch. Getting angry over this record just means you have something else going on. Asking Bruce to go away or "shut the fuck up" because he recorded two Four Tops songs has nothing to do with the music on this record.
I've read a number of reviews that mention the word karaoke.
Have you ever been to a karaoke bar? It isn't much fun unless those singing are laughably bad. If you're going to get up there and play it straight with a solid version of "My Girl," it's no longer karaoke. It's cabaret.
The new Bruce Springsteen record is not an exercise in karaoke.
Mary J. Blige has made a career out of being a horrible singer who gets away with it because "she means it." One of the many things Springsteen's new covers record "Only The Strong Survive" has going for it is that he means it. And guess what? He can sing.
Don't mistake faithful interpretation as "phoning it in" just because you can recognize all of the songs he covers. Bruce loves these songs and you can hear it in every note sung. An ironic, slow-ass acoustic version of "When She Was My Girl" is far more offensive than a worthy, heartfelt remake.
"Only The Strong Survive" is exactly what I hoped it would be- a perfect diversion from all that is wrong in the world. It's an hour of pure musical joy. Songs I love by an artist I love. I'll take the lows because there are more highs, which is more than I can say about most records these days.
Bring on Volume 2.
40 comments:
Whew - this is a tough one for me.
First - I'm a Bruce fan, always. It's hard to pick a favorite song overall, in 50 years of loving music, but I usually say Rosalita.
And of course, I love many, many of his songs and LPs since then, right thru my favorite song of 2020, by anyone, "Ghosts."
I love Bruce's soul covers. I also love Bruce's soul songs, of which I might even include Rosalita, and certainly I'd include 10th Avenue Freeze-Out, right up thru Meet Me At Mary's Place and beyond.
So I'm on board with the whole package. I get it.
But this record ... it's just not moving me. I think a big problem is the videos. I usually ignore all visuals associated with an album (I have DVDs that have come with box sets that I've never watched) ... and in this case, that would have been the right move.
That's because a) the E Street's not here, and the videos make that plain, but mostly b) because the videos really scream showbiz to me.
Which Bruce has always had some element of - how can he not? But this frontloads it in a way that's tough for me.
So - in the end, I'm sure I'll pick a few of my fave songs from this and put them in my Bruce mixes and move on. But getting this album and listening to it going forward? For me, I don't see it.
- Noel (formerly known here as A Walk In The Woods, for any who notice or care! :) )
What a great way to start my Monday. I spent time this weekend trying to "defend" the new Bruce to a number of people. You nailed it - all that is right with it (and some that is wrong). Lastly, if people don't respect that he is 73 and loving music, they are people I don't need right now.
Yes and my other problem with the videos is that they don’t mention the original artists or credit the songwriters - while printing all the lyrics! Weird oversight
I guess I'm a troublemaker because for me, if I want to listen to covers by Bruce, I go to Spotify ("or wherever you stream your music") and seek out "Bruce Springsteen: the Live Series: Songs Undercover" which has more than all the bootlegs I bought from you. It's almost like too much candy. Lonely Teardrops, Drift Away, yes, but also London Calling, Rebel Rebel, Royals....all with the stylings of the E Street Band or just solo, instead of a slick Shayne Fontayneish studio band. I admire your ability to embrace everything by your heroes. And glad it's helping your mood!
For the record, David, I don't embrace everything by my heroes. I'm the first to call out Todd Rundgren, David Bowie, Dylan, Costello and Bruce for releasing crap. I just listen to the records first and then decide. This record was over for many the day it was announced. That is something I don't get.
I listened to this over the weekend. For me, it was an OK covers album that didn't seem to add or detract from any of the songs he chose. The band was top notch and the arrangements were by-the-book, but I don't know if it's something I'd ever seek out again. It was better than Paul Stanley's attempt at a soul covers album, though, I'll give you that.
(And I'm a not a giant Springsteen fan, but also not somebody that dislikes him either.)
Not liking the record as much as you do, Sal, but totally agree with your take. First time I saw Springsteen, he and the band played for roughly 3.5 hours and he only had 2 lps out with a 3rd about to be released, so he obviously did a hell of a lot of covers: Detroit medley, Pickett and Buddy Holly are the ones I still distinctly recall from that night. This fits in with that sensibility, except that its not a ragged r'n r band performing, its more symphonic. And today, after being literally up all night dealing with a hospitalized father, and a fing Catholic/Jewish guilt trip inflicting mother, I needed some comfort music to right my state of mind. Yeah, I listened to this lp again.
I'm a Springsteen fan through and through. I was lucky enough to see him live in the UK before it became watching miles away on a big screen. As always I listened to the album more than once before making an early decision.
Before the first listen, I thought what's the point of this album. I finished thinking there is no point, it is to sum up, pointless. When he covered similar songs live, there was an urgency to the ramshackle performances that fitted in beautifully with his own songs.
This album is just polished up nothingness. Bruce is at a stage in his career where he can do whatever he wants and fair play to him. I ask myself why do I want to listen to one of the great songwriters cover Soul and Motown songs. Surely that is what Karaoke is for?
While i do enjoy the "everything but the kitchen sink" productions in some of Bruce's work, i find this to have two kitchen sinks covered with pyrite foil. the "band" is basically one person and it shows. no edges, no interplay, no excitement. ideally, this set done live with his band could have been great, but for me, this just feels fake.
"To sum up, pointless."
No record by any artist, if inspired to record, is pointless.
If you have no place for a covers records, then so be it.
The disdain, an actual venom spewed over this record is far more pointless, and quite frankly mind-boggling. Is it "Darkness On The Edge Of Town?" Of course not. But it is hardly the lazy, uninspired karaoke krap of say Rod Stewart's Great American Songbooks.
My real problem is that the same Bruce fans spewing the venom, also spewed the same venom for most of his records since "Nebraska!"
Well said Sal.
I like the record; I'm not sure this is my favourite Springsteen album but the letters to the editor at Modern Jackass Magazine make it sound like he's Screaming Lord Such!
One very happy dividend for me is enjoying Bruce's versions and then going into my library for other artists' takes. I shocked myself that I have SIX artists doing Don't Play That Song -- Bruce, Aretha, Lou Johnson, Derrick Morgan, Ben E. King, and maybe my fav, Jackie Shane (who Bruce also shouts out with Any Other Way).
The record is on the playlist here at Casa COVID!
I actually like and still play Nebraska regularly. I actually like Bruce with and without band too. I just don't like this album, it seems a complete waste of Electricity when Electricity is expensive.
Of course I am right and so are you. You like it that's fine, I don't that's fine too. But you are in a danger of thinking you are the only person who is right. By all means disagree with all those who don't like it by arguing your case, but don't get personal because they don't agree with you.
It's great that you like it and I respect that. I don't so respect that if you will.
No one is getting personal, Anything Should Happen.
I argued my case in the post. I offered a difference between karaoke and cabaret and a covers album. I don't mind if people don't like the record. I am here to talk about music and get down to the whys and why nots. If it's all just "you like it, I don't," who needs a blog?
Nothing was directed at you personally. I just replied to you talking about the various complaints over the years about Bruce, which I also covered in the last post when the first single was dropped.
Really not sure how what I wrote irked you as personal. It certainly was not, and if it came off as disrespecful, then I apologize. I thought a good heated debate on music was the mission statement of Burning Wood.
No one can deny the years of negativity regarding Bruce, Elvis C., Bob Dylan, David Bowie, etc. It seems like the artists grew up but the fans did not. "Costello hasn't made a good record since Bruce Thomas left." Bowie's last good record was "Scary Monsters." "Wrecking Ball" was trashed by some, for Pete's sake.
This new covers record is fine! I don't love it or think it's a masterpiece. I said in the post it has highs and lows, and he hits more than a few out of the park. But it sure feels like a lot of crtics had their obituaries all written up before anyone died.
I agree that it's not karaoke but an homage to the music that spawned him and I thought it enjoyable but that's it. Nothing great, nothing awful, just okay. The production is spot on and Bruce is singing his heart out but he's not reaching mine with this collection. If Volume 2 does come out I'll probably get it as well because this is, after all, a finely crafted album. It's just missing a little bit of soul.
I'll go with the mind boggling comment. Can't a guy just have some fun and record some tunes he enjoys. Practically every one has recorded a covers record and they are just that "cover" records. An artist having some fun and maybe paying a little tribute and giving something back. And speaking of cover records/bands, Hard Copies forever.
P
One thing I appreciate about this blog is that, nearly all of the time, people actually listen to the record under discussion and give their (hopefully) honest opinions on it. Rarely, if ever, does someone come on here and say "Bruce sucks, hasn't had a good album since Darkness, etc". What I see here today is that some people like it and some people don't (or don't get why he would do it in the first place). But I haven't really seen any outright dismissal of it.
I played it a couple of times over the weekend and I generally like it. A couple of stellar, get-the-blood-pumping cuts, a couple of misses, and a whole lot in between. I don't think it will ever be considered an essential part of his catalog, but it's nice to see him having fun. And lots of times these days, that can be enough.
"I'll go with the mind boggling comment. Can't a guy just have some fun and record some tunes he enjoys."
No. he can't. And he can't record techno album, or album with a string quartet, or a collaboration with Allen Toussaint, or an album paying tribute to Pete Seeger, or a sweeping Laurel Canyon western pop album, or..or...or.... No artist can record anything except his most famous album over and over and over.
:)
Troy,
The dismissals were elsewhere, read before I wrote this up.
I saw those too, especially in an online community that I've been part of for 20 years. :(
Bruce should probably send Sal a thank you note.
I personally am pretty amazed that a Bruce covers record (or anybody's covers record) should illicit this much deeply felt emotion.
I like what Troy wrote, and its absolutley true. I get more informed criticisms/analysis of music here than I do in most music pubs these days. And, its 99.999% of the time done in a very respectful manner (present company obviosuly excepted). Thanks everyone.
Now, a little more liquid fortification before I have to deal with my Catholic mother, Mrs. Schwartz.
If Steve Simels was well enough to weigh in, he'd probably say the record sucks and then call me an asshole on top of it. Then, I'd send him a note telling him to fuck off, and by tomorrow we'd be laughing and onto something else.
You know me well enough to know that I'm Springsteen obsessed. I will wrestle any strange on the street to the ground to make them listen to "Magic", an album I think is as good as "The River". I thought "Hello Sunshine" was one of the best songs I've heard in 20 years, and there were several others on "Western Stars" that are almost its equal.
But this record has largely left me cold. I hate to say that and I hate to be in the negative column. "Too polished" is close to my criticism as well. Anyone who is in a band with Stevie Van Zandt and Garry Tallent (never mind also having Southside Johnny Lyon's phone number) and DOESN'T use them on a soul covers album is making a mistake, in my opinion. I listen to Bruce's live covers of "Lonely Teardrops" and "Higher and Higher" on a weekly basis, because the performances are full of life, and life-affirming. I miss a bit of that in this record.
Well Mr. Wood I guess I can't argue with that. Poor Neil Young.
That sounds like I hoped it would. Bravo!
I can understand not being over the moon but the trashing is perplexing. By any stretch of objective criticism it’s a well crafted piece. It may not be a Lamborghini but at the very least it’s a Luxury Volvo.
Bruce Springsteen doin a great take of the Northern Soul Classic of Frank Wilson is one of the greatest things of the year so far! Do I Love You? Yes,i Do.
I don't consider myself a big Bruce fan. But I get happy when he puts out something I like. Which he does occasionally. If were a big Bruce fan I would have to be disappointed with this record. A favorite songwriter putting out an album of covers can't be the best of news. Add that to his "dynamic pricing" routine, it can't be the best of times for Springsteen lovers. I'm not surprised you love it, Sal. I remember a few years back your year end best-of list consisted of mostly covers albums.
I don't love it! I never said I loved it. Nowhere, not even in the comments do I say I love it.
I said it's got highs and lows. I said it is hit and miss.
I said a perfect diversion in a world gone wrong.
Even when I said pure joy, I mention taking the lows because there were enough highs!
There is nothing wrong with a legendary songwriter making covers record.
Why the fuck not?
Even his most loyal fans were disappointed with his original albums because they were forays into different styles.
Jeez!!
I dont hate it! It didn't make me angry like it did so many. It's not garbage.
That is all.
Maybe I am a shitty writer who can't get my point across.
"I'm not surprised you love it, Sal. I remember a few years back your year end best-of list consisted of mostly covers albums."
Well, maybe we need better songwriters.
I gave it one listen so far, I liked it, it won't be my favorite all-time Bruce album, but it's certainly far from being bad or even meh. I would have preferred more obscurities, some of the songs are so ingrained that no one can equal them. But it's obvious that Bruce loves these songs, and that comes through. So... where's the bootleg with Sam Moore singing all the lead vocals?
I'm 66 & From N.J., been following him since my High School days & even met him 2xs. Been thru the highs & lows but this guy gave me the audio blueprint of my formative years for sure. With all that said. his later years have soured me quite a bit from his politics especially. But I will always cut him a break simply due to the peaks he's climbed. With this release, I thought long. It's easy to cut him down but again I'll give'em a break. The choices of material at times surprised me but on more than a few his vocals are quite good for a man his age. I doubt they'd hold up live but Bruce gives it the Broadway break a leg treatment always. 1 thing I'm not gonna hold back on though is the production. It's quite lame at times & ya can't blame Bruce for that but he could've dumped the producer & re-recorded or even re-mixed a lot here. Overall, I believe he had a good intentions going into this but I feel rush'n to get this out before Xmas when it was not polished enough, he pulled a Boner and it's certainly not mine
Lively discussion Sal, good job! I give all these guys the benefit of the doubt; when you're 73 and feel enthusiastic about something, hell yeah go for it. You've given us more than we could have hoped for, you've created stories that helped us understand life a little more.
I love Western Stars, and Letter For You is a damn fine record, uneven and imperfect and ballsy to be cut in such a short time period and against all his perfectionistic instincts. His output over the last 20 years is authentically Bruce and what he fully believed in when he put it out. He still has the courage to defy expectations, and that has to be respected.
With all that said, it's so hard to put aside the thoughts of what this record could have been. His vocals are great, his energy is fantastic, and the music behind him just feels like it doesn't match the vocals. The backing tracks just feel so throwaway and processed, it's hard to understand from someone who reveres this music. Any of this material he does on tour will be lights out, I'm fully confident. He's not trying to change the world with this album, just uplift people. It feels like a missed opportunity with really good intentions.
Bryan
Thanks Bryan. I think you nailed a few of the things I apparently could not get across with my style. I don't necessarily disagree with your comments or anyone's comments about having the E Street Band behind him for this project, but as someone who loves the art of making records, I don't think it's fair to completely trash the production either. It may not be what you prefer, but it's hardly second rate.
one more thing. Ron Aniello is the worst thing to ever happen to Mr.Springsteen.
@vincentsear
Ron Aniello might be the worst thing to ever happen to this covers album, but he did produced "Wrecking Ball," one of the best of Bruce's career, and "Letter To You," a very fine E Street album recorded in difficult times.
Like many have said there are some highlights and some meh. I’d rather hear this than High Hopes or WOAD any day. It’s a fun listen. His voice sounds good for 73. I too would have loved a little harder edge via the ESB, but it is what he wanted. Do I Love You is pretty infectious.
Do I need the vinyl? Probably not, but it’s worth a download for sure.
My thought after listening was
Is he making music
or is he making money?
Noel M, keep reminding us you're A Walk In The Woods! It'll take me a year to get that right.
Brendan O'Brien is my least-favorite producer of Bruce. The vocals sound terrible to me on the albums he's involved in.
Here, I was poisoned a bit by Ron Aniello doing all the backing instruments. Wish I hadn't known that going in because it seemed the wrong choice and against the spirit of those classic soul records, somehow. But it sounds fine production-wise. And the vocals are great -- Bruce sounds loose and happy and the vibes are infectious. His last covers album -- the Seeger Sessions -- is one of my absolute favorites. I think it helps that I'm NOT a big fan of Pete Seeger as a recording artist. Bruce brought a meaty sound with great arrangements and rocked the songs while still being faithful to their folkie origins.
Here I think people mention karaoke because for the most part the arrangements here are very faithful to the originals -- hence the feeling of his vocals being dropped into the original track. I think that's all -- they're not reimagined the way the Seeger collection did to a degree. That's an observation not a criticism. It does raise the bar in terms of making an impression since he's competing with the originals and not slowing things down or speeding them or somehow rethinking them to make them his own.
And yet despite all the great covers over the years, I didn't quite expect him to be so comfortable in this vein. But of course I should have expected that. Duh!
It's a fun, joyful record. Only more spins will tell if it grows on me. I've made a playlist of the originals and will tackle that after a break. If he had a bunch of horns and back-up singers and toured with this and reimagined versions of his own songs that would fit in? I'd be first in line and bet it would kick the album's ass, just like Elvis Costello KILLED it in concert when he toured with the Brodsky Quartet behind "The Juliet Letters." Live he really found his groove and the album proved just a warm-up.
Finally I think in the press at least that most legacy acts get treated with tremendous respect. I used to be annoyed that Rolling Stone ALWAYS gave at least four stars to any and every album by th Stones et al. But hey, when you love an act. Me, I'm always thrilled when I'm not BONKERS for a new Richard Thompson album. I feel like I can still think carefully about the work of someone I love. On the other hand, that cautiousness means I hesitated a few years before realizing 13 Rivers is his latest masterpiece!
One love!
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