Red Mosquito

Has anyone with Apple Music listened to the Bruce pod this week with Ed and Grohl etc??

LetMeSleep wrote:Has anyone with Apple Music listened to the Bruce pod this week with Ed and Grohl etc??

Planning on doing this tomorrow

After another 2 listens to LtY, that middle section is the weak point and all three stay in the same sonic territory. Tracks 1-4 then 9-12 are all good songs. Not great but not skip material.

I don't think it's downright bad like WOAD or High Hopes. It just seems a bit lightweight coming off from Western Stars.

My favourite on this is One Minute You're Here - probably because it sounds like it should be on Western Stars.

I now have given this a few listens. It's a real mixed bag. The tracklisting is all over the place and some songs clearly don't belong on this album (or anywhere else). Most of the songs run a bit long and lack any sort of instrumental flair. His voice sounds absolutely wonderful throughout and the production really makes some of the live takes shine. It is clear the Broadway stand has led Bruce to explore every nook and cranny of his instrument.

One Minute You're Here
A fine song. Not a great choice for an opener. Seems more like a dreamy interlude for later.

Letter to You
This has grown on me. Mixes some elements of Magic/Western Stars. I bet this one works live really well.

Burnin' Train
Now we are talking. Has a late 80s/early 90s/Gypsy Biker vibe to it that he should explore more. This would work much better as the opener.

Janey Shooter
So much organ. It sort of hurts my ears. This is too long, but has some drama to it and Bruce sells it like a pro. Great chorus.

Last Man Standing
Seems like he wrote it using a glossary of tropes and cliches. The music is fine and I know what he is going for here, but it falls short.

The Power of Prayer
This is legitimately terrible. I have deleted it. Throw it on the trash pile along with Queen of the Supermarket.

House of a Thousand Guitars
The piano is lovely, but the "House of a Thousand Guitars" line is so overused. It seems like a placeholder lyric that he never came back to fix. This could have been so much better.

Rainmaker
Sounds it like it could belong on the Rising. I like it, but it doesn't stand out.

If I Was the Priest
We now know what Magic would sound like if Jason Isbell made it. This is so great. Too long.

Ghosts
Catchy and a nice single.

Song for Orphans
Pretty samey throughout and a little long, but I like the space it occupies.

I'll See You in My Dreams
Forgettable. Not offensive, but doesn't add anything.

I'm working on an 8 song version that could really be terrific once I get the track listing figured out.

I gave it two listens today and i'm actually really digging this one.

First 4 tracks are all standouts, IMO...particularly One Minute You're Here and Burnin' Train.

The Power of Prayer and House of A Thousand Guitars both admittedly kind of suck.

If I Was The Priest is a fucking revelation...i can't get enough and might just be my favorite song of his on anything post-Magic. The albums ends strong too. Its light years better than Working On A Dream & High Hopes.

I agree whole heartedly with both of you guys. Ditch those 3 middle tracks and get a darker and grittier rock song in there and this would have been a great album.

I woke this morning with Rainmaker in my head.

I'm about 2/3 of the way through this -- I don't hate it, but only because something so bland is undeserving of an emotion as strong as hatred. Every song so far just feels like it's just (a) Bruce's voice, and then (b) the same nondescript, undefined wall of sound in the background. I'm still absorbing but this is a bottom tier Bruce album for me so far.

Kevin Davis wrote:I'm about 2/3 of the way through this -- I don't hate it, but only because something so bland is undeserving of an emotion as strong as hatred. Every song so far just feels like it's just (a) Bruce's voice, and then (b) the same nondescript, undefined wall of sound in the background. I'm still absorbing but this is a bottom tier Bruce album for me so far.

Kevin Davis wrote:I'm about 2/3 of the way through this -- I don't hate it, but only because something so bland is undeserving of an emotion as strong as hatred. Every song so far just feels like it's just (a) Bruce's voice, and then (b) the same nondescript, undefined wall of sound in the background. I'm still absorbing but this is a bottom tier Bruce album for me so far.

This isn't necessarily wrong.

Monkey_Driven wrote:

Kevin Davis wrote:I'm about 2/3 of the way through this -- I don't hate it, but only because something so bland is undeserving of an emotion as strong as hatred. Every song so far just feels like it's just (a) Bruce's voice, and then (b) the same nondescript, undefined wall of sound in the background. I'm still absorbing but this is a bottom tier Bruce album for me so far.

This isn't necessarily wrong.

Everyone brought what was expected of them and nothing more. It is going through the motions. But he sounds great and the live feeling does get me.

I dont care that If I Was the Priest was written 50 years ago. Its inclusion on this record and the performance and arrangement is just incredible and when i listen to it i sometimes wonder if I just got done with a top tier bruce song.

Man alive.

Just finished the documentary on AppleTV+



I think i like the album even more watching this.

Shut up and let me enjoy the glow of a new Bruce and E Street album.

Strat wrote:Just finished the documentary on AppleTV+



I think i like the album even more watching this.

Shut up and let me enjoy the glow of a new Bruce and E Street album.

Wish it wasn't an Apple TV thing.

Monkey_Driven wrote:

Strat wrote:Just finished the documentary on AppleTV+



I think i like the album even more watching this.

Shut up and let me enjoy the glow of a new Bruce and E Street album.

Wish it wasn't an Apple TV thing.

I believe you can get a free 1 week trial. Then its $5/month.

you can also torrent it...ive been thinking of watching this one.

Max Weinberg is old and overweight. Its weird. He is wearing pants that are 3 sizes too big for him cinched tightly with a belt with his gut hanging over.


He can still drum like a monster though!

I am listening to this album in spurts today because of my schedule. I am on Ghosts.

My abridged version:

Burnin' Train
Letter To You
Janey Needs a Shooter
Song For Orphans
Ghosts
Rainmaker
If I Was the Priest
One Minute You're Here

Strat wrote:I dont care that If I Was the Priest was written 50 years ago. Its inclusion on this record and the performance and arrangement is just incredible and when i listen to it i sometimes wonder if I just got done with a top tier bruce song.

Man alive.

I am 100% with you on this. I think its easily my favorite song he's released post-Magic.