Post by Jeff on Oct 15, 2005 1:15:27 GMT -5
I finally listened to Bruce Springsteen’s 1982 album “Nebraska” from beginning to end. Several people told me that this is the one, that if I could honestly listen to it and still dis the Boss then I was entitled. It took a while to find the right moment, so it sat on my harddrive for several months. Tonight Jenn and the girls went to bed early, and I felt nothing in particular. I had spoken to both my brothers and my mom’s health seems to be improving. I even was able to set aside my family’s dire financial circumstances, and this without alcohol—I can’t afford to drink a beer every day and yesterday I had my sip.
So I sat here and listened to it. The house was dark and still is.
I still think this is as pretentious as it gets. Glam rock-operas are more honest because they are disclosing the shtick with garish winks and emotional hyperbole. But here the dishonesty is so deep. Americana just doesn't do much for me, because most people who wear cowboy hats aren’t cowboys. Of course, I sympathize with the liberal outrage, but a retreat into a liberal vision of wheat fields and labor unions is still a retreat. And hasn’t it all been said before? The vicious cycles of poverty and crime have been studied endlessly. I do not need justifications for anti-heroes in my pop music. What is the difference between this and gangsta rap, other than the fact that the latter is more optimistic?
On the other hand, I knew going in that two of my favorite Springsteen songs were among this collection: Highway Patrolman and My Father’s House. What I discovered was that the placement of these two gems on the CD gives them devastating impact. In fact, the entire CD is so coherent that the first-time listener is perpetually searching for meta-narratives. Of course, the socio-political one is never far from the surface, but there are others, e.g., the idea of flight, especially of being chased by an authority, legitimate or not, occurs over and over, even creeps into the urgency of the guitar work. The artistic vision here is admirable. It is hard to think of a more coherent aim and execution.
If you’ve never heard this CD from beginning to end, kick back with a beer AND NO DISTRACTIONS OF ANY KIND and listen. My verdict is that I have to lighten up on the Boss. Anyone who could accomplish this level of art can't be all bad. (But I still think I'd prefer Roxy Music's 1982 CD Avalon to this one. I say that because the contrast is sharp.)
Lyrics here: www.brucespringsteen.net/albums/nebraska.html
How it was done--Justin and Ryan this is cool: www.tascam.com/Press/UserStories/Bruce_Springsteins_Nebraska.html
So I sat here and listened to it. The house was dark and still is.
I still think this is as pretentious as it gets. Glam rock-operas are more honest because they are disclosing the shtick with garish winks and emotional hyperbole. But here the dishonesty is so deep. Americana just doesn't do much for me, because most people who wear cowboy hats aren’t cowboys. Of course, I sympathize with the liberal outrage, but a retreat into a liberal vision of wheat fields and labor unions is still a retreat. And hasn’t it all been said before? The vicious cycles of poverty and crime have been studied endlessly. I do not need justifications for anti-heroes in my pop music. What is the difference between this and gangsta rap, other than the fact that the latter is more optimistic?
On the other hand, I knew going in that two of my favorite Springsteen songs were among this collection: Highway Patrolman and My Father’s House. What I discovered was that the placement of these two gems on the CD gives them devastating impact. In fact, the entire CD is so coherent that the first-time listener is perpetually searching for meta-narratives. Of course, the socio-political one is never far from the surface, but there are others, e.g., the idea of flight, especially of being chased by an authority, legitimate or not, occurs over and over, even creeps into the urgency of the guitar work. The artistic vision here is admirable. It is hard to think of a more coherent aim and execution.
If you’ve never heard this CD from beginning to end, kick back with a beer AND NO DISTRACTIONS OF ANY KIND and listen. My verdict is that I have to lighten up on the Boss. Anyone who could accomplish this level of art can't be all bad. (But I still think I'd prefer Roxy Music's 1982 CD Avalon to this one. I say that because the contrast is sharp.)
Lyrics here: www.brucespringsteen.net/albums/nebraska.html
How it was done--Justin and Ryan this is cool: www.tascam.com/Press/UserStories/Bruce_Springsteins_Nebraska.html
