Backstage at this year's Grammy's, Bono boasted that U2 were "not a rock band," but instead, the "loudest folk band." Clearly, Bono wasn't prepared for the E Street's treatment of the most-covered folk songwriter this side of Bob Dylan. Long a folkie with classic rock leanings, Bruce Springsteen's reputation as songwriter for the working class was honed over several stellar albums and an exhausting tour schedule. After a downturn in the nineties, some wondered whether The Boss still had it in him. He silenced most with his 9/11 inspired-The Rising followed with the dark Devils and Dust, much in the vein of his classic Nebraska. Despite those previous returns to form, it is The Seeger Sessions that truly soldifies Springsteen as an absolute powerhouse. Though it all was recorded mostly live and in few takes, the lush instrumentation sounds anything but sloppy - though it can barely containing the force that is Springsteen's voice. Whether singing for the mother of a dead soldier on "John Henry," or just wailing through "Erie Canal" accompanied by cabaret horns, Springsteen and his band sound as if they are at once having a blast, while speaking to something greater. The plea for peace on "We Shall Overcome" is a far more poignant statement against our present war than any of Neil Young's more literal compositions on Living With War. Though decades old, Seeger's words still hold great meaning, and sung with the fire that Springsteen has, they sound all the more relevant.
4.5 (out of 5)
::Video::
"Oh Mary, Don't You Weep" (Live on Good Morning America)
3 comments:
I'm a sucker for those gospel/folk sing-alongs. I liked the juxtaposition of big band, jazz band, folk and working class blues in that number. Should have been a mess, but it was anything but.
Bruce has still got the pipes, hasn't he? No wonder he gets compared to Bry Webb of Constantines all the time. If he keeps it up, this Springsteen fellow may become as popular as the Constantines yet.
Totally, Barbara. I was surprised how well it worked and how much I liked it. I found it all very inspiring, though I don't know if The Boss can be as big as the Constantines. We'll have to see.
Excellent post for an excellent cd.
Just thought I'd float a suggestion as I pass through. If you enjoy the new Bruce disc check out Josh Ritter. His new cd "The Animal Years," in particular his song "Girl in the War," would fit rit in with a listening of the Seeger Sessions. All in all a great folk act.
http://www.joshritter.com/album_animal.shtml
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