Springsteen on Broadway

Help!I'maRock!

Help!I'maRock!

Mediocringly Derivative
I tried to get tickets multiple times but could never get the cheap seats. As we had designs on moving since the show was announced, spending $400 or whatever on a decent seat, plus babysitting and whatnot, just wasn't justifiable. So I was very happy when this was released on Friday.

I've never been the biggest Bruce fan. I don't like his big arrangements and that's usually what he goes for. But every so often, and with regularity throughout his career, he puts out a one-man show or small group thing I dig much better. This is Springsteen on Broadway.

I've been listening to it, 20 minutes at a time, on my commute to and from work since Friday. And I can honestly say it's the greatest thing he's ever done. Not because I enjoy his gravelly voice or his ham fisted guitar playing. Because he weaves his story in and out of the songs and paints a picture of a time and place I never had, and that I'm trying to give to my kid. I've had some pretty emotional reactions to many of the songs, and I'm really not a huge fan. And I really like his arrangements. Especially of "Born in the USA".

So yeah, go listen to it or watch it on Netflix. Album of the year.
 
I concur, although I am at least a slightly bigger fan.

I have been listening to bits and pieces of this on his SXM channel, and even more than the songs, the stories behind them are enthralling.
 
Oh, and I mentioned it at the time, but my daughter was lucky enough to score face value balcony seats when the second block went on sale. She loved the show, but said nearby audience members were boorish assholes, which nearly ruined the experience.
 
I will have to give it a try. Like you, I am not a fan of the big arrangements he usually goes for. I heard a clip from the show on Fresh Air and thought it had promise.
 
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dmn23 said:
Hammersmith Odeon, London '75 should be on just about anyone's greatest live albums list. You don't have to be a fan to be in awe.
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This. And ditto for Live/1975-1985.

Live in Dublin is a really cool listen.

I enjoyed Broadway a lot. But as a pure listening, I definitely wouldn’t rank it among his best. Not by a long shot. He’s been doing that solo slide guitar arrangement of ‘Born in the USA’ for decades now.
 
Flamencology said:
This. And ditto for Live/1975-1985.

Live in Dublin is a really cool listen.

I enjoyed Broadway a lot. But as a pure listening, I definitely wouldn’t rank it among his best. Not by a long shot. He’s been doing that solo slide guitar arrangement of ‘Born in the USA’ for decades now.
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Next let's talk about how Nebraska is genius.
 
My neighbors are from England. They’re here for work for a few years. The husband, is a huge Springsteen fan, and was in some kind of lottery to be able to purchase tickets. He got in it when they were back home, hoping he would be able to get off work for a week to fly to the states for it. He finally won about a year ago and he was already here for work. He said it was an awesome show. And felt extremely lucky that he was here when he was able to get tickets.
 
I'm not a huge fan either. Don't hate his stuff but don't tend to go out of my way to listen. I saw an ad for it and wondered if it was good or hokey so I'm glad you posted this. I'll definitely check it out.
 
Listening to the Broadway record, I mostly thought about how I was glad that Dylan hasn’t (and likely won’t) diminished his magic by explaining it away. I thought a lot of Bruce’s spiel was corny and rote and unfortunately what I hate knowing about rock and roll though I occasionally like feeling it. Small stakes baloney about getting out from under your immediate adolescent circumstances. Yawn.

I feel Bruce is best understood as a kind of American Morrissey. An interpreter of mid-century glamor and outre masculinity. A romantic with a social realist’s obsessions. A distant, sensitive person’s mask fashioned into what he thinks an outgoing, big-hearted rough-and-tumble person should be.

Also, “The Rising” is a garbage song and Bruce is a lousy consoler. His best work features a lot of pointing out how shitty and doomed things are so we better suck it up or run away or explode in a paroxysm of pointless violence. Don’t give me fake Catholic bullshit and trout twitching on the end of the line, Boss. RAISE THE BLACK FLAG AND START DRAWING BLOOD. Otherwise you just sound like my dad.
 
Peen Simmons said:
Also, “The Rising” is a garbage song and Bruce is a lousy consoler. His best work features a lot of pointing out how shitty and doomed things are so we better suck it up or run away or explode in a paroxysm of pointless violence. Don’t give me fake Catholic bullshit and trout twitching on the end of the line, Boss. RAISE THE BLACK FLAG AND START DRAWING BLOOD. Otherwise you just sound like my dad.
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This is why "My City of Ruin" is a much better song.
 
Huh, interesting review, thanks Howie.

I was thinking I might take a pass on this one - I'm a moderate fan and like *normal* live performances, so I didn't know what to make of this one.

Maybe I'll snag the download tonight. :thu:
 
Help!I'maRock! said:
This is why "My City of Ruin" is a much better song.
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I don’t like that one either. It lacks the excellently observed specificity that made the personal universal in Springsteen’s best work.

Frankly, I’m not certain that post-Rock-era pop music can really handle actual tragedy. It’s a petty, personal form that makes not getting to second base after prom into something out of Greek mythology. Actual horror just winds up looking stupid.
 
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