Chasing Some Mirage: The Boss Tourney. LMS & Born To Run win

[scottmusic]

There are so many great songs left to pick. There are still even a few albums that haven't even been touched yet (Lucky Town, High Hopes). Can we extend this to 10 rounds?

[guestT]

Is it my turn? Coffee hasn't kicked in yet and I forgot which direction we're going.

[LoathedVermin72]

There are so many great songs left to pick. There are still even a few albums that haven't even been touched yet (Lucky Town, High Hopes). Can we extend this to 10 rounds?

NO

[guestT]

OK, I'll break the seal on Lucky Town. I don't know what the general consensus is on this album but it's a sentimental favorite. Discovered it post-divorce, right before I met my wife. We walked down the aisle to "If I Should Fall Behind" and have the lyrics framed in our house, but this song has always been more meaningful to me personally:

[Higgs]

Is it my turn? Coffee hasn't kicked in yet and I forgot which direction we're going.

I believe it is.

[evenslow]

Seems the Boss has really soundtracked some marriages around here. Can you imagine doing that for countless people? And them coming up to you all the time telling you personal stories about something YOU wrote? That's a good life.

[epilogue]

OK, I'll break the seal on Lucky Town. I don't know what the general consensus is on this album but it's a sentimental favorite. Discovered it post-divorce, right before I met my wife. We walked down the aisle to "If I Should Fall Behind" and have the lyrics framed in our house, but this song has always been more meaningful to me personally:[/youtube]

I went back and forth between this and The Rising with my last pick. Ultimately, I like The Rising more which is why I took it. But I was really hoping this would last until my next pick.

But it seems like it means a lot to you. So, I'm gad I held off so that it could fall to you.

[bada]

My appreciation for Bruce has definitely risen the last few years but I still don't have much use for the Tunnel of Love/Human Touch/Lucky Town run. I think it's more the adult contemporary production as much as the songs. I can happily skip those solo years though KD is right some of the outtakes from those albums are pretty good.

[evenslow]

My appreciation for Bruce has definitely risen the last few years but I still don't have much use for the Tunnel of Love/Human Touch/Lucky Town run. I think it's more the adult contemporary production as much as the songs. I can happily skip those solo years though KD is right some of the outtakes from those albums are pretty good.

I would separate ToL from those other two but I take your point about the production.

[Monkey_Driven]

My appreciation for Bruce has definitely risen the last few years but I still don't have much use for the Tunnel of Love/Human Touch/Lucky Town run. I think it's more the adult contemporary production as much as the songs. I can happily skip those solo years though KD is right some of the outtakes from those albums are pretty good.

I would separate ToL from those other two but I take your point about the production.

Same. Tunnel of Love has some excellent songs with lackluster production. The other two have bad songs (for the most part) with similar production.

[bada]

My appreciation for Bruce has definitely risen the last few years but I still don't have much use for the Tunnel of Love/Human Touch/Lucky Town run. I think it's more the adult contemporary production as much as the songs. I can happily skip those solo years though KD is right some of the outtakes from those albums are pretty good.

I would separate ToL from those other two but I take your point about the production.

One Step Up is a prefect example of a song I like but the production make me nauseous. It just feels like when your a kid and you're in your friends mom's car and she puts on her songs and you wanna die cause you can't say anything.

[evenslow]

My appreciation for Bruce has definitely risen the last few years but I still don't have much use for the Tunnel of Love/Human Touch/Lucky Town run. I think it's more the adult contemporary production as much as the songs. I can happily skip those solo years though KD is right some of the outtakes from those albums are pretty good.

I would separate ToL from those other two but I take your point about the production.

One Step Up is a prefect example of a song I like but the production make me nauseous. It just feels like when your a kid and you're in your friends mom's car and she puts on her songs and you wanna die cause you can't say anything.

Yeah that stopped me for years of getting into ToL. Then I got older and identified with the themes more and just decided to look past the production. But I'll admit it's not easy on some of the songs.

[guestT]

I only just discovered ToL through this tourny. I agree that overall the songs are better on ToL than LT and HT. I don't mind the production on LT, though. Doesn't seem any more egregiously overproduced than Born in the USA or his post-Rising stuff.

I'll also go to the mat for the Live MTV Plugged album. Even Red Headed Woman.

[epilogue]

I'm finding a ton of stuff to love on all of his records. This has been a fun discovery experience.

[bada]

Doesn't seem any more egregiously overproduced than Born in the USA

There was something that happened with pop album production around '86. Previous years had that 80's production feel but then it seemed to multiply by 2. I think you can hear the difference with most artists that had a albums out in say 83/84 compared to their 86/87 release.

[LoathedVermin72]

There's a handful of really good songs on Human Touch.

[evenslow]

There's a handful of really good songs on Human Touch.

"Human Touch" itself is pretty damn good.

[evenslow]

Doesn't seem any more egregiously overproduced than Born in the USA

There was something that happened with pop album production around '86. Previous years had that 80's production feel but then it seemed to multiply by 2. I think you can hear the difference with most artists that had a albums out in say 83/84 compared to their 86/87 release.

Yeah the amount of reverb on the drums is almost immediately disqualifying to a lot of that era. So hard to listen to.

[Kevin Davis]

"Tunnel of Love" is an excellent album, not accurately grouped with "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town" at all. The production on "Tunnel of Love" is no more '80's-tinged than "Born in the USA," it just feels more conspicuous because it's essentially half-comprised of folk songs that feel like they should be completely sparse. But it is one of his most thematically realized albums, full of well-crafted tunes and sophisticated, emotionally honest writing. If Bruce has a "Blood on the Tracks," this is it.

[evenslow]

"Tunnel of Love" is an excellent album, not accurately grouped with "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town" at all. The production on "Tunnel of Love" is no more '80's-tinged than "Born in the USA," it just feels more conspicuous because it's essentially half-comprised of folk songs that feel like they should be completely sparse. But it is one of his most thematically realized albums, full of well-crafted tunes and sophisticated, emotionally honest writing. If Bruce has a "Blood on the Tracks," this is it.

And even more impressive and ballsy coming off the world beating Born In the USA album and tour.