[adventures in Spotify] Bruce Springsteen

[inulro]

Unfortunately, I first became aware of Bruce Springsteen when "Born in the USA" was everywhere. Even then I knew that it wasn't what all the airheads at school thought it was, but the associations were such that I would run a mile.

Then I was into the New Music and arty punky stuff.

I've always been enough of a music nerd to know that a lot of musicians I respect have the big love for Bruce, and understood on an intellectual level that he's good.

A few years ago there was an episode of Cold Case where all the music was Springsteen and it really got my attention.

Embarrassingly enough, today is the first time I've ever sat down to listen to any of albums in their entirety. I started with Born to Run because I love that song. The whole thing is astonishingly good! That's me busy for the rest of the week.

Edit: Until today, I'd only heard the David Bowie version of It's Hard to be a Saint in the City. I have to concede that the original is superior. (Though the cover is hardly Bowie's finest moment).

Comments

[whotheheckami.livejournal.com]

Nebraska *nods*

[reddragdiva]

What exploded my head was Bruce doing "Dream Baby Dream" by Suicide. On foot-pumped harmonium. In his check-flannel shirt.

(Explosion helped by having seen Nico in 1986, gig centring around a similar foot-pumped harmonium.)

The important point is that he's really a check-flannel folkie, and his '80s stardom is most reasonably understood as a career aberration.