Bruce Springsteen

[liebzz]

Yeah I saw those. I want the full shows without separately purchasing them and having them at the ready in a convenient manner.

Such a simple request

I don't stream personally, I could set up my Synology to stream my personal collection but eh. Listening to the '12 Apollo show now, I think the Boss and Isbell camps might be the best at mixing live releases currently.

I get it, but the way I look at is this. Before Spotify, I bought an album in physical form only and maybe 5 or 6 a year based on what I really wanted. Let’s say I paid 1
$15 per release that’s like $75-90 a year. I pay $10 monthly for Spotify which is $120 a year (this makes perfect economic sense primarily because my access and use of music has expanded probably 10 fold as a result).

But since I pay more for music now than before, I have my pie in the sky wished while I am currently not willing to spend 100% more on music than I currently do.

[oasisfan35]

Yeah I saw those. I want the full shows without separately purchasing them and having them at the ready in a convenient manner.

Such a simple request

I don't stream personally, I could set up my Synology to stream my personal collection but eh. Listening to the '12 Apollo show now, I think the Boss and Isbell camps might be the best at mixing live releases currently.

I get it, but the way I look at is this. Before Spotify, I bought an album in physical form only and maybe 5 or 6 a year based on what I really wanted. Let’s say I paid 1
$15 per release that’s like $75-90 a year. I pay $10 monthly for Spotify which is $120 a year (this makes perfect economic sense primarily because my access and use of music has expanded probably 10 fold as a result).

But since I pay more for music now than before, I have my pie in the sky wished while I am currently not willing to spend 100% more on music than I currently do.

That wasn't a dig at streaming and certainly not you personally, I had been advocating for such models (for both audio and video media) since high school when higher than dial-up speeds were hitting residential areas; I just choose not to as a manner of listening.

[liebzz]

Oh I didn’t take it that way. Mostly just explaining myself.

It is a shame too. I feel like much of the hardcore Springsteen audience connects as much with this archival stuff as the Grateful Dead, but the latter has been so much more open and willing to crash the vaults to satiate fan wishes. Springsteen sticking to nugs (and Pearl Jam for that matter too) limits the exposure for what makes them truly transcendent artists.

[oasisfan35]

Oh I didn’t take it that way. Mostly just explaining myself.

It is a shame too. I feel like much of the hardcore Springsteen audience connects as much with this archival stuff as the Grateful Dead, but the latter has been so much more open and willing to crash the vaults to satiate fan wishes. Springsteen sticking to nugs (and Pearl Jam for that matter too) limits the exposure for what makes them truly transcendent artists.

At least the effort in the releases is there, this is where the DMB camp excels at an astoundingly maddening level.

[LetMeSleep]

Hey I have all but one of the Boss boots so I can send a few your way. They are all available at some time in certain places.

[liebzz]

Thanks! I really wanted to stream them mostly so I don’t have to use any unnecessary space but perhaps one day or I’ll just eventually bite the bullet and get nugs since the same can be said for Pearl Jam.

[lecherouslittlestump]

The album's out there.

First listen, it's...ok. Bruce sounds good, the band sound good. It's probably the most E-Street-sounding record he's made since The River or Born In The USA.

I don't like the 3 songs from the 70s, but I've never been a fan of those outtakes anyway. Meanindering and plodding. If you liked them then, you'll probably like them now.

Highlights for me are Rainmaker (which sounds like it's from the 00s - definitely not a modern Bruce vocal) and Burnin' Train.

Last Man Standing > Power of Prayer > 1,000 Guitars is a snooze-fest, the songs literally sound exactly the same.

I'll give it a few more listens. I think Western Stars is a masterpiece; this isn't grabbing me like that album did.

[liebzz]

It’s out next week. For some reason I thought it was today. Looking forward to it. I love the twists and turns that the songs took in that Greetings/Wild era.

[i got bugs]

Its not close to western stars, but its one of his better newer era albums

[Strat]

Western Stars might be one of his top 3-5 best records ever. Thats a high bar i dont feel this new album needs to hit.

[i got bugs]

Yeah its def top 5 for me

I didnt expect that, but what I meant was its pretty good

[Monkey_Driven]

How widely available is this leak?

[liebzz]

Western Stars would be something like #7 or 8 for me. I don’t have any expectations good or bad for this one. From what I read I am probably going to like it in the vein of how I enjoy Magic, which also belongs in my Springsteen top 10 or so. That would be great.

[lecherouslittlestump]

Your view may vary but this isn't a patch on Magic. It's just too lightweight and middle of the road.

The only song that comes close is Rainmaker, which I think is a Magic outtake anyway.

[liebzz]

Ghosts has a Magic like quality to it.

[oasisfan35]

I only got through this once but it kind of felt a bit cobbled together. I know he has been tinkering with mixed era material for a while now but I don't feel it really came together this time. Definitely need a few more listens regardless but that was really my first take-away... other than the fact that he sounds stunning for his age and career.

[LetMeSleep]

Bit of a snooze. Only 8 tracks in. The first 2 songs released were nice enough but I don't think I ever listened to them all the way through. Strangely, Janie was the one that stood out.

More listens will happen though.

[lecherouslittlestump]

Having spent a few days with this...it's a dud! Seems rushed and unfocussed. Maybe it will grow on me but this is currently Human Touch/Working On A Dream territory.

Oh well, they can't all be winners.

[Strat]

Man your reviews are depressing me as i was so looking forward to this!

[liebzz]

Yeah, though I will give it an honest listen - probably a few.