Springsteen...I just don't get it.

Roy Munson

Tenth Avenue Freeze Out, Jungleland, Backstreets, Thunder Road, BTR..great album that's aged very well and would rank very high on my personal all time list.

While I haven't been into much of what Springsteen does these days (the last album I purchased was Tunnel of Love) his 70's output is great and as said his live performances are unmatched.

You could say I dig Springsteen.

mhardy6647

George Grand wrote: »

That's why I don't like music with lyrics, and if a good song has them, I ignore them. I couldn't tell you WTF he's singing about on that song, but he sure meant it whatever it was.

That's a great review of that song!

Yeah, it is a pretty good album.
In his younger days, Bruce had a way with words (albeit a somewhat affected way with 'em). Blinded by the Light has one of my favorite stanzas, period.

And some kidnapped handicap
was complainin' that he caught the clap
from some mousetrap he bought last night
Well, I unsnapped his skull cap
and between his ears I saw a gap
and figured he'd be all right

He was just blinded by the light
Cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Mama always told me not to look into the sights of the sun
Oh, but Mama, that's where the fun is...

Polkie2009

I really liked his first 3 albums then I lost interest. Even BITUSA couldn't compare to the early stuff,YMMV. I really lost interest in him after 9/11, guess I became more conservative and old.

AudioGenics

it's a Jersey shore thing....

mhardy6647

Born in the USA was exceedingly commercial (to my ears, any way).

indyhawg

The most interested I ever got into Springsteen was watching a young Courtney Cox dance on stage in the 'Dancing in the Dark' video.

Timothy Smith

Never could stand him moaning and groaning through a song.

I don't like his faux populist pose. A millionaire celebrity, with cookie-cutter liberal views who cheats on his wife and presents himself as a working class hero who speaks for the "little guy".

I have heard friends rave about him since he first came out in the 70's, so there must be something there for some people.

My $.02

Toolfan66

Can one get banned for Band Bashing????








The Boss SUCKS!!!! IMO!!!:biggrin:

mhardy6647

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Can one get banned for Band Bashing????

Jeepers I hope not... but maybe, just to be on the safe side, I'll hold my virtual tongue the next time someone starts talking about how great Rush is :-P

Sami

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Can one get banned for Band Bashing????

No, feel free but now go back to your Justin Bieber albums!

WilliamM2

kevhed72 wrote: »

I guess him documentary / release based on the 70's album "Darkness on the Edge of Town" is coming out. This is getting alot of publicity - yesterday there was an interview on NPR, there was an HBO special, and on and on. Just an opinion, but am I the only one who doesn't understand what is so 'great' or 'complex' or 'engaging' about his music...I know this is very subjective, but I have always viewed his music more as "pop", or even generic "rock", sounding.
Anyone else...

Never could stand the sound of his "singing". I've never known anyone else who likes him either. Odd for such a popular artist, maybe it's all payola.

sda2mike

WilliamM2 wrote: »

Never could stand the sound of his "singing". I've never known anyone else who likes him either. Odd for such a popular artist, maybe it's all payola.

maybe they were going with the hype that his 'discoverer' john hammond (?) was marketing...bruce is the next bob dylan...or something like that:rolleyes: i think he also said..i have seen the future of R&R and his name is BS...yeah right:biggrin:

jgido759

sda2mike wrote: »

maybe they were going with the hype that his 'discoverer' john hammond (?) was marketing...bruce is the next bob dylan...or something like that:rolleyes: i think he also said..i have seen the future of R&R and his name is BS...yeah right:biggrin:

It was actually Jon Landau, in a 1974 article for The Real Paper, that made that statement. He later went on to become Springsteen's manager.

Snowdogyyz

Yeah, I don't get it either. But to some, he's the cat's meow. To each their own!

Rev. Hayes

Gotta join the "I don't get it" crowd. E Street is uber talented and PAINFULLY sterile.
Pair that with vocal styling akin to Charlie Brown's teacher and you've got something I don't want.

That said, Nebraska is chock full of true soul and inspired song writing (and horrible recording). Love it. All the rest is for the birds.....

obieone

Bruce sux. His music, and him. Period.

mrbigbluelight

I'll admit it: I just don't get it.

I'm sure he's talented, by all accounts, but ...... kind of falls into the "Ehhh" category for me.

Kind of "Ditto" for the E-Street Band, too. No doubt they're talented, too. Lots of people justifiably like them, everybody and their brother has used them for backup, but ...... "Ehhh".

Timothy Smith

WilliamM2 wrote: »

Never could stand the sound of his "singing". I've never known anyone else who likes him either. Odd for such a popular artist, maybe it's all payola.

Me neither, but I think he somehow combines the annoying nasal twang of Bob Dylan with the beer-breath bellowing of Bob Seger.

wayne3burk

there should be a poll at the beginning of this thread so we can see the yays vs. nays

put me down in the Nay column

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109484

Cosmic_American

Wow, that's a whole lot of Bruce bashing. I gotta stick up for the BOSS.

It seems to me that most people have an inherent distaste for Bruce Springsteen, just something about how he comes off I guess, but I usually find that their knowledge of his music begins and ends with his mega hit album, Born in the U.S.A.

If one digs a little deeper he has a quite spectacular and varied discography. His second album is a gem that sounds nothing like BTR or U.S.A.

Timothy Smith wrote: »

Never could stand him moaning and groaning through a song.

I don't like his faux populist pose. A millionaire celebrity, with cookie-cutter liberal views who cheats on his wife and presents himself as a working class hero who speaks for the "little guy".

I have heard friends rave about him since he first came out in the 70's, so there must be something there for some people.

My $.02

I understand that his voice isn't for everyone, but I've never once doubted his conviction or working class cred. He grew up in a working class family and he understands the type of s#$t people go through. He has an uncanny ability to write songs that sound like they could have happened to anybody, and I think a lot of his popularity comes from that.

So maybe he is super rich, and maybe cheated on his wife, and yeah his new albums are pointless with virtually no redeeming qualities, but I implore those of you who have dismissed Springsteen because of the few songs you've heard on the radio to seek out The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle, and Born to Run if you haven't heard it.

At least he got recognition for putting on a great show: he's kept the same band together (the original drummer and keyboardist departed before BTR was released) for better than three decades and they still put on a great f#$%^&g rock and roll concert (vastly better than the various stadium rock acts who continue to tour)

I can't wait for the Darkness reissue. I'm excited for the remaster, the making-of doc, and all the outtakes (2 discs worth!) but the real treat is the live footage from circa 1978. The Hammersmith Odeon show that was released on the BTR reissue is one of the greatest rock shows ever filmed, and I can't wait for more early E Street footage!

SCompRacer

dkg999 wrote: »

.....although I'm not a huge Springsteen fan....

Our first in person was me buying a Springsteen 1/2 speed mastered Born To Run LP from you. That said, I like some of his stuff, some I don't. I think he is a good lyrics writer, but sometimes prefer his songs when covered in a different style. Manfred Mann instantly pops into mind.

ben62670

BS is a feaken pervert.

George Grand

SCompRacer wrote: »

... but sometimes prefer his songs when covered in a different style. Manfred Mann instantly pops into mind.

Excellent point, I like that song when MM does it.

Some can't seem to fathom others dislike for him. Well, how about this? First time I ever saw a picture of the guy, a thought flashed through my mind. It seems the very same thought flashed through the minds of his high school graduating class, which voted him "Most Likely to Smell Bad" if I'm not mistaken.

ben62670

Hey little girl is your daddy home
Did he go away and leave you all alone
I got a bad desire
I'm on fire

Tell me now baby is he good to you
Can he do to you the things that I do
I can take you higher
I'm on fire

Sometimes it's like someone took a knife baby
edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley
through the middle of my soul

At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet
and a freight train running through the middle of my head
Only you can cool my desire
I'm on fire

Cosmic_American

I encourage everyone to give the song New York City Serenade a listen, probably not much like the Bruce most think of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EooiBaW1BA

TroyD

See, I despise the MM version of Blinded by the Light....

BDT

hockeyboy

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Can one get banned for Band Bashing????

The Boss SUCKS!!!! IMO!!!:biggrin:

I'm with Tool man. Can't believe the guy is so POPular.:biggrin:

Roy Munson

With all the hate for Bruce here, you'd think he never sold a record! lol

See, I despise the MM version of Blinded by the Light....

^^^ditto^^^

mrbigbluelight

Cosmic, I gave that video a good couple of listens.

Sitting here at work, munching on my QT Turkey Club sandwich during my lunchbreak, over a set of Cheapo Cambridge Soundworks computer speakers.

Even with the less than stellar gear , I imagined myself sitting in an easy chair at home, listening to this cut.
Was very favorably impressed ..... ..... for the first 2 minutes or so.
Then .... well ..... I don't honestly hate BS, but ..... dangit, when his vocals started up ....... well ....... I just don't get it ! :redface:

Tried to pretend that it was someone else I was listening to (the illigitimate son of Bruce Hornsby and Bob Dylan ?) but that didn't work either.

A lot of people like him. Not arguing that they're wrong. He has talent. Not arguing that, either. (shows up to various degrees in diffent offerings).

There are a few artists/groups that possess the ability to split people into 2 entirely and completely separate camps, the "Love" and the "Hate/Just-Don't-Get" camps.

Bruce is one of them, I guess. I still don't get it.

pmckeealaska

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Jeepers I hope not... but maybe, just to be on the safe side, I'll hold my virtual tongue the next time someone starts talking about how great Rush is :-P

Careful. Don't tread on my holy trinity!!