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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Joined: February 21 2004
Location: Scotland
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Points: 15585
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Topic: Bruce Springsteen - The Seeger Sessions Posted: May 02 2006 at 15:33 |
Just picked up a copy of this album.
For me, it is the best thing the Boss has done in years, perhaps ever. None of the depressive Tom Joad mutterings here, this has real energy.
Anyone familiar with Johnny Cash's great version of "John Henry" should make sure and hear Bruces's interpretation. He turns it into a giant knees up, a veritable celebration of the story. The Negro spirituals "O Mary don't you weep" and "Jacob's ladder" have a gospel feel, and New Orleans jazz supports "My Oklahoma home" and "Eyes on the prize". On "Eyes on the prize", Springsteen does a wonderful (if not deliberate) impersonation of Leonard Cohen.
The songs may have their roots in American folk, but Springsteen has personalised them, and given each a fresh new lick of paint.
Springsteen met the supporting band at a fiesta he attended in a field near his New York farm, giving the album a home grown feel. The recording is effectively live, Bruce shouting out to the required instrumentalist when they are to come in.
The version I have, which seems to be the standard release, is a dual disc, with the entire album in PCM stereo on the DVD side, together with a 30 minute film about the making of the album, and filmed performances of of the songs.
I don't often feel inspired to recommend a non-prog album in these parts, but this is simply wonderful!
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FragileDT
Forum Senior Member
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Joined: June 20 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1485
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Posted: May 06 2006 at 00:13 |
Wow. I'm a moderately big Springsteen fan (love his earlier works and his lyrics) and was a little skeptical about picking this one up. I did pick up "Devils and Dust" and it is "ok." A good acoustic album with a lot of folkish tunes. I think this review of it might have urged me to pick it up this weekend.
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One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity
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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Joined: February 21 2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 15585
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Posted: May 06 2006 at 04:26 |
Thanks for the response FragileDT, I was beginning to think I was talking to myself!
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
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Syzygy
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: December 16 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 7003
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Posted: May 06 2006 at 16:59 |
I'd be interested to hear it - though I remember hearing high praise for The Ghost Of Tom Joad and being disappointed.
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'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom
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kenmeyerjr
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 30 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 235
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Posted: June 03 2006 at 19:13 |
I don't get it, to be honest...Tom Joad is one of his best albums, in my opinion. Geez, not every song has to be an upbeat anthem!
I have the new Seeger sessions and, although I have not really listened to it enough, it doesn't work for me, and I am a huge Springsteen fan. Although he has done some great covers (War and Jersey Girl, for example), I think he is at his best doing his own stuff.
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If you like art of musicians, check my site (the music section) and tell me what you think! http://www.kenmeyerjr.com
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Chicapah
Prog Reviewer
Joined: February 14 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 8238
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Posted: June 07 2006 at 14:20 |
I'm still on the fence about the new cd. I LOVED Tom Joad because the lyrics were so infreakingcredible and went straight to the heart. Devils and Dust was in that same mode but was not as consistent from song to song. I guess I just need to hear more of this album of covers before shelling out the bucks for it. Usually his new releases go right to the top of my wish list but there are some others ahead of it this time.
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"Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value" - Mark Twain
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Jim Garten
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin & Razor Guru
Joined: February 02 2004
Location: South England
Status: Offline
Points: 14693
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Posted: June 08 2006 at 12:45 |
I saw Bruce Springsteen in concert on (I think) BBC4 a couple of weeks back with the Seeger Sessions band; I've never been a major fan of the man myself, so I went in with a completely open mind - it was an astonishingly good gig; full of energy, high spirits, humour & BS looking better than I've seen him for a long time - I defy anyone to see that lineup live and not dance like a maniac.
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Kord
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 23 2006
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 329
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Posted: June 18 2006 at 09:00 |
I am a great fan of the boss, the new album is not bad, but I really prefer the old ones (darkness on the edge of town above all)...
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[IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5f/Genesis_Group.jpg" border">
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Teaflax
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 26 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 1225
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Posted: June 18 2006 at 11:04 |
Kord wrote:
I am a great fan of the boss. |
Figures. :P
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Mlaen
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 28 2005
Location: Croatia
Status: Offline
Points: 377
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Posted: September 24 2006 at 06:41 |
Another masterpiece! He really is the Boss.
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