I've always enjoyed Bruce Springsteen's quieter darker albums. These include the seminal "Nebraska" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Perhaps "enjoyed" is the wrong word. Some of the songs on these albums are dark & foreboding and some are downright depressing. Maybe it's cathartic for me, maybe I'm just relieved that the police aren't after me and I'm not on death row.
Naturally I picked up his latest album, "Devils and Dust", a couple of weeks ago. Like the other albums I mentioned it's pretty dark. You won't find loud rocker anthems like "Born in the U.S.A." What you find is powerfully poetic lyrically driven ballads without a lot of happy endings. For example, check out the chorus from the title track.
You've probably heard the album mentioned on the news as Starbucks won't carry it due to a song about prostitution called "Reno". It's an uncomfortable song to listen to, no doubt about it. At the same time it conveys a kind of lonely sadness that has few rivals. Reminds me a little of "Leaving Las Vegas" with Nicholas Cage. Odd to hear a song as graphic as this one paired with Jesus Was an Only Son and Leah later on the same album.
In the end, "Nebraska" is still my favorite Springsteen album, but there are some great songs on "Devils & Dust" which will stay on my playlist for a long time. My favorites include "The Hitter", "Black Cowboys", "All I'm Thinkin' About" & "Matamoros Banks. I liked "Devils & Dust", but I'm prone to like depressing music so what do I know?
P.S. Thanks to Gretchen's pointer, I found a segment with Mr. Springsteen on NPR. It includes some background on the songs as well as some streaming songs. Most interestingly was the fact that "Devils & Dust" was written from the point of view of a checkpoint gaurd in Iraq. Thanks Gretchen.
Speaking of Nebraska, 89.3 has been playing a song by a local group called Halloween, Alaska. They have an awesome cover of "State Trooper" by Bruce Springsteen. You can even stream the whole song from their website if you click on "music" and have something that will play Shoutcast streams. They are playing Friday, June 10th Cedar Cultural Center. I think I'll be there.
We've got God on my side I'm just trying to survive What if what you do to survive Kills the things you love Fear's a powerful thing It can turn your heart black you can trust It'll take your God filled soul And fill it with devils and dust--Devils & Dust, Bruce Springsteen
Speaking of Nebraska, 89.3 has been playing a song by a local group called Halloween, Alaska. They have an awesome cover of "State Trooper" by Bruce Springsteen. You can even stream the whole song from their website if you click on "music" and have something that will play Shoutcast streams. They are playing Friday, June 10th Cedar Cultural Center. I think I'll be there.
Ha! I found you, or your blog, rather. I was very moved by the song Devils and Dust. Did you hear it played on NPR and what Springsteen was trying to get across?
Otherwise, not necessarily a big fan of Springsteen. And thank goodness I could find the lyrics. He really mumbles in that song.
I hadn't heard that story on NPR. It was a great interview, thanks again for pointing me in that direction.