Now back to Springsteen, I really wish he would stay out of politics. Just shut up and sing. I don't think Springsteen is washed up musically at all. "Ghost of Tom Joad", "Tunnel of Love" and "The Rising" are just three great albums released since most of you all have him washed up.
That said, I truly detest the man for not only his crappy politics but for his hypocrisy and the way he shamelessly lectures his audiences during concerts. For that reason, I haven't attended a Springsteen concert since 1981 and I'll never attend one again, though I'll still buy his albums where I can appreciate the music without the editorial comment.
The hypocrisy of these recording artists astounds me. Whether it's Springsteen, Bono (of U2) or Pearl Jam, they charge hundreds of dollars for shows, travel around in limos and private jets, wrap themselves in bubbles where they never have to stand in a line or otherwise associate with us "peasants" yet they try to come across as champions of the working class. Give me a break.
Now I have no problem with rock stars getting rich and living the rock and roll lifestyle, but please knock it off with the sanctimonious preaching and pretending that you are something that you are not.
Not me... his guitar playing is crap...
Amen, You said it perfectly.
Aside from a random song here & there I think Springsteen’s music after “The River” has been second rate. A lot of the folk-Celtic stuff he puts out is like what a drunk Van Morrison would sound like....horrible junk. There’s NO excuse for him getting into politics from the stage like he does.
[[ Now back to Springsteen, I really wish he would stay out of politics. Just shut up and sing. I don’t think Springsteen is washed up musically at all. “Ghost of Tom Joad”, “Tunnel of Love” and “The Rising” are just three great albums released since most of you all have him washed up.
That said, I truly detest the man for not only his crappy politics but for his hypocrisy and the way he shamelessly lectures his audiences during concerts. ]]
I agree. Great songwriter, crappy politics.
Back around 1980, I wouldn’t listen to Springsteen because of the [then] hype that had been published about him. I thought of him as “Bruce Smokescreen”.
Then I actually listened to some of the songs. And I was bowled over. His ballads and acoustic-tinged songs were as good as anything that had been written in the acoustic/electric realm, often far better.
“The River” was one of the best albums I ever heard (although it could have been even better as a single, condensed album). Whether he was working-class or not (his dad was a bus driver, IIRC), he could write material that captured the cultural gestalt better than anyone else. He may indeed be politically naive, but when it comes to songwriting, he has “the gift”.
Songs like “Promised Land”, “Racing in the Streets”, “Point Blank”, “The River”, “The Price You Pay” — no one else today comes close, not even Bob Dylan (arguably the best songwriter of the 20th Century).
And his songs work for others, too. Seek out the bluegrass band “Blue Moon Rising” and their version of Springsteen’s “Youngstown” — powerful stuff.
Too bad he doesn’t have the good sense of Ted Nugent!