This album is a lot like that.
It is both holy and profane. It has the hushed tones of the haughtiest church, and the wild secularism of the Saturday night brothel. Springsteen is the preacher, the poet, the sinner, and shaman. He stands on the altar giving salvation to the listener. It is a big tent revival, a barn burner. The band is full of the holy spirit of rock music and it’s the judgment day.
There isn’t a song to highlight; there is nothing that stands out above the rest. As I listened for the first time, I kept thinking it couldn’t get any better than the song playing. I was proven wrong 14 times until the CD stopped playing. Every song is perfect, every note spot on.
Take “Shenandoah,” it is one of the few songs that can make me weep every time. No matter where I am when the first longing notes begin to play I must pause and feel the weight of life sweep away. Bruce simply nails it. He stares into the deep darkness, like the cold Missouri waters he sings about and sees the mysteries, and finds truth.
This album, this collection of songs, pushes aside all that is wrong with music and the industry it supports. It cracks the hard, crusty casing of pop music and finds something new, something mysterious. If you look hard enough, if you stare into its cold dark waters you might just find a little sliver of truth yourself.
Article comments
1 - Rebecca
I just might have to buy this one. I was ambivalent after his last release, Devils and Dust. I thought it was just terrible. Your review has intrigued me about his interpatations of Seeger's music.
2 - Mat Brewster
I haven't heard a note of Devils and Dust. I'm not a springsteen fan, so I come to this disk a lot differently than probably most.
But its a great freaking record. It's a back yard disk, where it sounds like a whole bunch of musicians getting together in somebodys house, plaing music they love for the heck of it.
3 - Mary K. Williams
Oh, Sir Mat -
This was fantastic. You really should be proud of this.
4 - Lisa McKay
So you link to the Roundtable piece and I don't even get a shout-out? ;-)
Seriously, I'm glad you enjoyed the album, Mat -- if there's to be another leg to the tour and the opportunity presents itself, I strongly recommend catching a show. If you like the album, you'll be totally blown away by the live performance.
5 - DJRadiohead
Sir Brewster, well done. Sir Saleski and I shouted, "AMEN!" after reading this last night.
I'm glad to hear you dug the album and that The Roundtable could loan an assist. Truly some inspired and excellent moments to behold.
6 - Aaron Fleming
An excellent and passionate review here, your enthusiasm shines up over each word like a rising sun. I'm not really into Seeger or Springsteen, but don't I now have the urge to listen to this record!
7 - Mark Saleski
i passed the following along to lisa and the dj yesterday. it's from singer Marc Anthony Thompson (also known as Chocolate Genius), who is in the Seeger Sessions live band.
it's his take on the shows:
The shows have been transcendent. Like your first trip to the circus, or a Baptist church where Ikea used to be, or like when you open your dad's closet door and out pops a snake charmer, or sort of like when you go to the barn for a smoke and find Shangri La and the girl that got away, or it's like finding 400 dollars in an old suit after you pay the rent, or like kissing the fisherman's wife because he asked you to, or riding 3rd point without having to paddle out, like magic without mirrors, like sex and sweat and sugar and smiles and sirens and sunshine and spit, like...well, like messy balls out love with everyone you've ever known.
Well, that's the first ten minutes anyway.
8 - Mat Brewster
Thanks one and all.
Lisa, I am very sorry I didn't give you a shout. Twas a wonderful piece and you certainly played a large part in. When I wrote the piece I could have sworn DJ wrote a seperate review himself. Then when I got to looking for a link all I could find was the roundtable, and thus I just linked there. So consider yourself shouted, Lisa.
I just checked and the band isn't coming anywhere near me.
Sir Fleming I'd give it a listen. I believe the Duke has a copy so just bum it off of him.