RE: Bruce & The E St. Band. backing J.F.
Best band he's ever played with??? HaHa.
Hardly. John has used Booker T.& The MGs
as a backing band before,which is a huge
jump in talent & class away from Brucie
Sprinklestein and Co. Which I am fairly
sure that even Brucie could not deny.
With all due respect Mr.E, I must beg to
differ.

It's important to point out that this tour is not primarily about music - it's about politics. Music is a tool that these "artists" are using to promote their agenda. They are entitled to their opinion, but it diminishes my appreciation of their music when it is used in this way. Not only because I disagree strongly with what they are advocating, but because they take something that was "pure" and turn it into marketing material. It's the same thing as if they allowed their art to be used to sell soap, except that soap doesn't give aid and comfort to our enemies.

How can anybody think that bruce springsteen actually has an ounce of musical talent. This is the same guy who exploited all the 911 victims so he could make money. Springsteen is the worst songwriter ever.

I agree with him being a bad songwriter. The only decent song he ever did was Streets of Philadelphia. It amazes me that his fans still stick up for him after he said he hated police officers and exploited 911.

I see that the kiddies are big enough to type now. Run along and listen to Britney or Seether or Nirvana and let the adults talk.

I'm not saying "Springsteen Sux" or that he has no talent. He's one of my favorites. But there's a taint to his music for me now. I can't enjoy listening to him the way I once did. If your contribution to this discussion is going to be that he's a terrible songwriter or that he hates cops, don't bother, because neither one is true.

I grew up in the 80s..how can you even compare police officer basher and awful songwriter Bruce Springsteen to someone as brilliant as Kurt Kobain, Prince, or Axle Rose. Keep in mind...these three artists NEVER needed to exploit a tradjedy like 911 in order to sell records because they are truly gifted artists.

Yeah..Prince is much better than Bruce Springsteen. Prince's album is going double platinum based on quality. Bruce's album went double platinum based on exploitation. Prince's album is still in the top 10 after all these weeks!

I'm really amused that people saying that Bruce exploited the victims of 9/11 for his last album. Do you guys think that Picasso was exploiting the victims of Guernica for his masterpiece painting? Just a question.

I am astonished by the Bruce bashing. First, clearly anyone who says he isn't a great songwriter, can't sing, can't play guitar, and is a lesser talent than Axl Rose hasn't listened to much Springsteen, and surely hasn't seen him live.

Second, at least this tour is honest and upfront about its aims, and as such can be confronted head on. I understand the point about the music being tainted, and on a personal level I agree to certain extent, but these guys are being honest and I have no reason to believe they aren't sincere. It has no bearing on their musical talent. And Springsteen has been a populist for a long time.

The Rising was intended to give voice to the tragedy of 9/11 on a personal rather than global scale. Springsteen's work has always sought to address larger issues through the telling of personal stories, it's what he's good at. The songs that work well on this album accomplish that objective, I think, and some of them are very moving performed live. I'm not sure why people see that as exploitation. The album's narrative thread is about loss and grief, followed by hope (hence the title track). Have any of you actually listened to it?

As for him hating the police, cite some references, please. If you actually listened to American Skin, you'd know that that's not what he said, and if you're comfortable with what happened to Amidou Diallo, there's not much point in talking to you anyway.

good points all, DA, thanks!

HW, you know my respect for your musical acumen is vast, but are you not a fan of the E Street Band? I love Booker T and the MGs, but surely there will be more flexibility and punch from the E street Band than the 4-piece MGs.

Howdy Eric, I honestly do like Bruce and
The E St. gang. I think the first 5 LP's
were great. I really dig "Nebraska" and
the stark minimal feel of that as well.

I just have trouble seeing them as the
backing band for John who has always
been such a minimalist. In making my
hasty judgement, I was just basically
comparing the rhythm sections man to
man.Steve Cropper VS Stevie Van Zandt
Max W. VS Al Jackson Jr (I believe Max would gladly defer on this 'un),etc and
the idea of a big band backing JC just
didn't seem to sound right.

In retrospect though and given Bruce's
reverence for CCR it may well just work
out fine. I hope so anyway,as Creedence
has always been a favorite band of mine.

Springsteen has really good taste in his
choice of musicians,cover songs and alot
of reverence for the artists that layed
the foundations upon which he built his
own style.

To wit:I love the way he lifted the horn
lines from "Monkey Time" by Major Lance
for "10th Ave Freeze Out" and the drum
intro from "Tears Of A Clown" by Smokey
R. for "Hungry Heart". Subtle as can be
without being plagaristic.Real hard to do.

Anyway, I hope it comes across well and
that someone will be taping these shows
for posterity.

Over and out. Peace and Happy 2nd B Day
to Blogcritics. 2 years & rocking, WOW!

Thanks HW, I can't argue with any of that, and your point about minimalism is well taken: with a mob the size of the current E Street Band there is always the possibility of bloat and overkill. It could really be great, though, and Creedence is one of my faves also

I am a police officer and HATE Bruce Springsteen with every bone in my body. Yes, I've listened to the poorly written "41 Shots" and even though he doesn't directly criticize police officers, the song is an exploitation of the event and poured salt into the wounds of this event. Besides that, I think any artist who uses the grief of dead people (911) to sell an album is beyond pathetic. I hope he and his ugly son Evan get hit by a terrorist.

Intersting thread. Bruce isn't the Devil that most people make him out to be (most people I know think he is Satan in disguise) but I think his songwriting skills are really poor. His singing...well, um...no comment. But he does have a right to speak out about anything he wants.

Artists are SUPPOSED to respond to earth-shattering events like 9/11 - are you Bruce-haters responding to the actual songs (which I can't imagine being interpreted as exploitative) or simply the idea of it? My guess is the latter.

And isanyone actually defending the Diallo incident - at best it was a tragic mistake, no room for artistic comment there, either?

nope, artists are supposed to shut the fuck up!

...unless they're saying stuff like "support our troops".

Okay, I think my next post to BC will be a review of The Rising. I'm willing to bet that not one of you who are criticizing it as exploitative has even listened to it.

Oh, and toughcop, that's a nice sentiment at the very end of your post. I'm glad you're patrolling our streets.

What I would like to know is? Is this going to get young people to vote? Or is just to make it easier to get laid?

bob

i h8 brucespringsteen so much he cant evan sing i will be glad when he is dead.thtas my opinion

Really people? Is it that necessary to criticize someone who is clearly looked up to by so many people...Bruce was a major help in getting me through things you couldn't imagine going through. There is no need to say ridiculous things about him...You can just listen to your music and us bruce fans will listen to ours.