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jpbergjr wrote:

no, it's not where you're raised. it's what you like. as jrich says, music hits nerves. that's the point. springsteen's been wowing crowds since his days in asbury park. but that doesn't mean the godfather of soul hasn't been, too. or that hendrix didn't or pink floyd or adrian belew or neil young or ... whoever. find what does it for you and get blown away.

life is too short to dance to ugly bands?

trekhead wrote:

No offense, but by everyone who constantly refers to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 as "9-11". It's become a catch-phrase, and thereby a marketing term, political tool, religious weapon, bumper sticker, (another reality show?), etc.

As I said, no disrespect intended, the phrase has become commonplace, but don't let it devolve into just a phrase.

Thanks.

C.

PS, that said, this song only ever sounded good when it was performed by Bruce on TV just after Sept. 11. Then it brought tears to my eyes.

this song is getting new life as the theme song on the Democratic campaign stops

stinky wrote:
Ouch! How does one get nine-elevened OUT?

I love the album The Rising, but I'm not sure why radio stations would play this song when there are at least 6 or 7 better songs on the album. This is in fact one of the weaker tracks on the album, in my opinion. :???:

One of the better tracks from "The Rising." On the whole, the disc is hit-and-miss, but this is one of the stronger tracks (IMO). I'm not a big Sprinsteen fan, but the accusations that he's "cashing in" on 9/11 are curious at best. By now Springsteen is Springsteen. I doubt people are changing their opions of him based on this offering, or "discovering" his work for the first time. So where's the justification behind such claims?

Recently, the NYT did an article about this album. Say what you want about Springsteen, but this was a well-researched, thoughtful album. There is likely a lot of opportunity to cash-in on a horrific event, but what happened in NY happened to people who are Bruce fans. People died who had been to 20+ concerts of his, had collections, etc. His band is composed of some of the industry's most respected session artists alive. All in all, you don't have to like Springsteen, but you don't rail away on pure emotion. (Or, then again, maybe that's what music is all about...elicting emotion and getting a reaction..... :oops: )

BOOOOO BOOOOOO BOOOOO

Me too, but maybe it is because I was not raised in NJ and can not relate to his stories that well. As far as great live, on any given night James Brown and his boys would wipe the E-Street band back to the back roads.

If this is his best, we could all have a laalaaalaugh at his worst! If not for recent tragic events this song would have been dumped long ago.

That's something I read and heard often in relation to Springsteen and the E streetband. Maybe they should record more live.
I think all the tricks you can use in studios, especially nowadays, may work well for artists like Peter Gabriel and U2 and of course all Techno acts, but not that much for someone who's more a rock traditionalist like Springsteen. Just good acoustics, the right atmosphere and a producer to capture that, will do his songs justice, just like his live shows, IMO.

Again, I am shocked by the amount of mindless comments that come from what I believed to be an intelligent RP audience. Springsteen has always had a lot of depth to his music. It's too bad so many aren't listening.

It's unfortunate that so many people are dismissing "The Rising" and the other songs from this album as "sounds the same", "overproduced", "aaaaaaaa!" or "I hate Bruce so it can't POSSIBLY be a good album". The album clocks in a little long, but the overall mood and message of the album is second-to-none. Most of the album is, as has been mentioned, a response to September 11th. He uses his trademark storytelling skills on "The Rising", "Empty Sky", "You're Missing" and the more upbeat "Mary's Place" to give us his glimpses into the lives and emotions of those affected by that day.

Most of the perfection of this album is in the ordering and placement of the songs on the album, taking us from a high to a low back to an emotional high again. The entire album isn't a morose eulogy to those who were lost, nor is it an upbeat, "everything's great!" collection of pop throwaway tunes. It strikes just the right chord for the current mood of a country just starting to deal with the longer-term effects of what September 11th means.

I just saw him along with the E Street Band live in Kansas City, and after hearing 11 of the new songs live, I will admit that the album itself doesn't do justice to the songs. Now that he's had some time to perfect the sentiment and mood of the various songs on the album, the live versions are more powerful and less, as many of you claim the album to be, "overproduced". The arrangements are less weighty and grinding than some of their album counterparts. I loved the album versions of the songs, but now I'm trying to find myself a recording of the tour show because THOSE are the versions of the songs I want to listen to. Though I find that's the case with many of Springsteen's songs. I love the album versions of most of his work, but REALLY love the live versions more.

And a quick final comment to "stinky" from their September 10th post about being "nine-elevened out". While I understand your sentiment, you're going to have to deal with nine-eleven-related material for years to come. Only now, a year later, are we starting to see products that have gone through the whole production cycle from our artists (musicians, actors, writers, etc) ... there will be more to come.

I've decided I can't grade this song right now. It's still growing on me. I admit, the first time I heard it I came in in the middle, and the Li-li-li's didn't impress me very much. But lately, heard from the beginning and in its entirety, and having had a chance to hear (and read) the lyrics, this song is getting better with each hearing. I just don't know where it will end up on my music meter ... yet.

Reading the comments on this board it is clear that there has been an upRISING against Bruce. Clearly his music has affected you, the mark of a good artist.

Ok, that was a little tongue-in-cheek - but still. This is not my favorite Bruce song either but his appeal is the energy he puts into all his performances and the fact that the subject matter of his music very very often appeals to the sensiblilities of a wide range of people. What rock and roll is all about.

Clearly someone who's never seen him play guitar, hasn't heard Bruce's best Roy Orbison like falsetto(shocked the sh*t out of me), and has never read his lyrics.

I'm not saying the Rising is a great song, although I don't hate it as much as people here, but Thunder Road alone shows he can write lyrics, and the melody ain't bad either.

Scientific fact: 9 out of 10 Springsteen fans have more testosterone than brain cells.

AGAIN! Come on, you have forced me to endure this garbage too much for one week!


PLEASE, WE NEED LESS BRUCE!

lalalalaboboborring

Thank you --I gotta agree

Enough already. Bruce was doing his best stuff 25 years ago. Another overplayed song. While we're at it, I'm a bit nine-elevened out.

LMAO

I REALLY don't understand this guy's appeal. :???:

I'd say it was some kind of American/cultural thing, but they play it over and over again like monkeys drunk on moonshine up here too.

He sings like his tongue has been stapled down and his songs sound like a thirty-second recording looped a dozen times over. Please stop the madness.

YEAH !
THE BOSS !

PLEASE SHOOT ME NOW!

Springsteen wouldn't be so annoying if he could sing, play the guitar, or write music. Unfortunately, he lacks all of these skills.

I think it's more the overproduction that makes them sound this way. The song would be a lot better if it were simpler and less conciously Bruce's anthem.

aaaaagh!!!

the one thing that's more annoying than bruce, is his self indulging backup band. yikes, do they grind me.