|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Boss and O'Brien Sprinkle More Magic Dust Kweevak.com Music News Bruce Springsteen understands division.
 The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is coming off of an overt four year political stand on the side of the Democrats. He first had the dream to see John Kerry oust Bush in '04 to no avail and he was out there again in 2008 supporting Barack Obama. Springsteen backed the candidate in song and words at campaign rallies leading up to last November's elections. His help and faith in the candidate was rewarded with a central role in the "Concert For Hope" production seen around the world on HBO. The one they call The Boss also had a front row seat at the 44th's President's inauguration. So, Springsteen has been receiving high level training in the world of politics by taking part in the process first hand - and all during a time when the two parties have never been more divided.
It's no wonder then that Springsteen's fan base currently seems more split than the blues and the reds. His pending release Working On A Dream has caused quite a stir on fan sites as many of his adherents don't seem to know what to make of Bruce's current effort that some have called his "White Album" or "Pet Sounds" for musical exploration and variety of song styles. For the most part, we'll leave that controversy aside. Springsteen has released other divisive records in the decade like 2006's Seeger Sessions project - with a large ensemble band that was not E Street - and 2005's anti-war Devils and Dust. Springsteen has been a busy man and one who has been challenged by history and current events to do something in the world. Following 9/11 a fan implored him to get involved and Springsteen responded by writing and recording The Rising which marked a return to work with the boys and girls of E Street. The themes were heavy and the mood sometimes angry or somber. Having risen to one challenge he returned with Devils and Dust before taking on the Bush Administration with his Magic - a commentary on the swing to the right and a warning against the loss of civil liberties. The title refers to the deceptive ways of the power that was. So you can excuse the man for taking a break from the heavy and sullen subject matter for a while. Now there was something to celebrate. With his candidate just winning the big prize you can tell Working on A Dream wants to walk on the sunny side. But along the way life happened. Springsteen lost two dear friends in personal assistant Terry McGovern and bandmate, keyboard player Danny Federici - to whom the album is dedicated to. These personal losses were playing on his mind during the making of this disc and they would determine a less bright, more reflective direction for the undertaking. I was able to take advantage of the free streams of WOAD on the NPR website - in addition to checking out the many free MP3 downloads offered before the January 27, 2009 release of the CD. These efficient promotions via the advance marketing effort for Working On A Dream got the fans chattering early and often - and gave me a chance to get aquatinted with the product before getting a preview copy today (01/24/09) of WOAD as it has become known for short. Here's the rundown... Opening with a western rock narrative called "Outlaw Pete" it's clear that this song is an autobiography of Bruce and his road warriors - the E Street Band. During the tale he even loses a buddy named Dan. Pete is Springsteen and he has ridden for forty days and nights - more like nearly 40 years with the ESB. Then Pete finds a Navajo partner and together they head out west. Bruce also sings how Pete and his pony are said to have been lost or been frozen in time. Well Springsteen and company are about to take center stage again for a worldwide audience of a billion or more during the half-time show of Super Bowl 43 - perhaps thawing the trail for another run at the big big time. Repeatedly Springsteen cries, "I'm Outlaw Pete, can you hear me?" Yes, Bruce - we do. Right off the bat "My Lucky Day" and "What Love Can Do" sound like hits. If this record was a six shooter - these are the best shots, er songs - to fire at the global marketplace in order to start riding the high plains again. This album is also about Bruce's elevated musical journey. In the past few years, Springsteen has played with many of his musical heroes and contemporaries including Brian Wilson and Roger McGuinn - and those influences can be heard on WOAD. Lush harmonies and Beach Boy style production abound on "This Life" filling the track with so much optimism that finds the singer counting on the next life, too. The quirky "Queen Of The Supermarket" finds an abundance of sounds and a fine selection of voices packed into Springsteen's ode to a checkout girl and prosperous consumerism. "What Love Can Do" is a solid rocker and another potential hit with a bullet with Byrdesque phrasing. The homage continues with the reverse guitar solo on "Life Itself" that'll take you eight miles high while pondering the meaning of life and all its vital wonders. Over the past few years - and beginning with the D&D Tour in 2005 - Springsteen has incorporated the "bullet mic" for renegade bluesy versions of his back catalogue. The technique makes its recorded debut with "Good Eye" which also has a shot of receiving radio airplay since it's pleasing to the ears. "Kingdom of Days" is prayerful and polished in pop - rounding out a quartet of songs that contemplate the human journey and future incarnations. Appreciation for the gift of life and recognizing its fragility finds Springsteen humble and reflective - happy for the time he's had to labor in faith. I've had the pleasure of seeing Springsteen many times this decade and the sounds on this CD do seem to capture the feel of where Bruce took his music to on many nights during extended jams, intros, outros and codas with the band in concert. The excitable live sound and the new musical styles explored on this CD point to an E Street Band sound that is no longer frozen in time. "The Last Carnival" is also certainly for Dan Federici with imagery recalling the early E Street song "Wild Billy's Circus Story". This cut goes on to name check a train, and that's got to be the same locomotive revealed in the that other famous autobiographical song about Bruce and his band of world travelers - "Land of Hope and Dreams" - a track that signified a return to his work with E Street that made its debut on the Reunion tour now ten years ago. The lasting impact of Working On A Dream is the new musical direction the band is moving in. Many fans were surprised that Springsteen followed up the Magic work with another CD and scheduled tour dates so quickly. But this train has a dream destination and they're still working on getting there. There's still time to get your ticket! 11-17-08: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S DREAM IS COMING TRUE! Bruce Springsteen's new album "Working on a Dream" has been set for a January 27 release on Columbia Records. "Working on a Dream" was recorded with the E Street Band and features twelve new Springsteen compositions plus two bonus tracks. It is the fourth collaboration between Springsteen and Brendan O'Brien, who produced and mixed the album.
"Working on a Dream" Song Titles: Bruce Springsteen said, "Towards the end of recording 'Magic,' excited by the return to pop production sounds, I continued writing. When my friend producer Brendan O'Brien heard the new songs, he said, 'Let's keep going.' Over the course of the next year, that's just what we did, recording with the E Street Band during the breaks on last year's tour. I hope 'Working on a Dream' has caught the energy of the band fresh off the road from some of the most exciting shows we've ever done. All the songs were written quickly, we usually used one of our first few takes, and we all had a blast making this one from beginning to end. "Working on a Dream" is Bruce Springsteen's twenty-fourth album and was recorded and mixed at Southern Tracks in Atlanta, GA with additional recording in New York City, Los Angeles, and New Jersey. More at BruceSpringsteen.net
MORE WOAD COVERAGE:
Related Links:
For more information on BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links --
BruceSpringsteen.net |
Search "Bruce Springsteen" Originally Published: 11/17/2008 on Kweevak.com |
|
Please SUPPORT THIS SITE and Please add a link to KWEEVAK.COM today! For music promotion and advertising information: PLEASE CONTACT US AT -- PHONE: 973.556.5400|E-MAIL
CD Reviews - NEW | CD Reviews - ARCHIVE | Concert Calendar | Concert Tickets | DVD Reviews | Featured Acts Indie Insider | Make A Donation | MP3 & Audio Guide | Music Community | NEW Members | Radio Show | Send Us Music
• MORE: Buy Tickets | Concert Calendar | Add Ticket Co. Listing
© 1999 - 2010 Kweevak.com | All Rights Reserved Kweevak.com - Established 1999 |
