Yes I now have.
Absolutely nothing on there should have seen official release bar maybe four songs. Just like Tracks 1 really.
People will lap any old rubbish nowadays and make claims for it which just aren’t sustainable. At best these should have been a chapter in a biography or several paragraphs spread across several chapters.
Good at least you now have. One wonders if you disklike it so much how you managed to force yourself to sit through it all.
I have not listened to them all yet but what I have done so far I like. Some of it may grow on me after a few more plays like “Western Stars” did for me I did not like that album much at first. It is of far greater quality in the main than the first Tracks collection. It also differs from the first Tracks in that it is far less of a collection of songs but more a set of distinct albums.
In general few double albums and especially triples or more sustain a high standard across all tracks. Some may argue they should have been edited down to a single or double. However, part of the purpose of an album is to tell a story or create a theme and so the weaker tracks are not necessarily there to just fill the space but continue and add to the story or theme of the album.
No artist with such a large output of studio albums can hit the mark on every track or please everyone but to a fan and follower of said artist, those people are interested in the work more than enough to have it in their collection.
It is up to the label and the artist to decide what is worthy to release (and price in the case of the label) and the public to decide to buy and if they like it.
Personally I do not think what I have heard so far is “any old rubbish” as you put it.
I was a big fan of Bruce from Nebraska up to Tunnel Of Love, when they came out in my late teens onwards. I then heard Darkness On The Edge of Town, and that’s stayed for decades as one of my favourite albums, at least in my memory, more than actually playing it for the last ten years or so.
I have a few friends in my two different work spheres who are huge devotees, so I’ve been around and absorbed their pre-Tracks II anticipation/excitement.
I’ve listened to it all now once, and three of the albums several times, and I’m pretty much blown away by it. Partly perhaps because I had low to neutral expectation of it being something I’d be bothered about, and partly because I’ve barely heard anything from any of his studio albums since 1987!
The Streets of Philadelphia, North of Nashville and Twlight Hours albums are fantastic. Full of both Bruce tropes and some unexpected stylings, musically and lyrically.
Notwithstanding the absurd CD box pricing, it’s already becoming one of the big sets I’ll actually play rather than simply own.
You do know what a genuinely odd comment this is? Predicated on the ludicrous assumption that I decided to listen to something despite having decided in advance of listening to it that I wouldn’t like it. I used to be a freelance music journalist so, yeah, obviously I’d do that 
I’d like to say much more as I find the comment ludicrous and defensive but I’m going to show some restraint. It is perfectly okay to accept that your heroes sometimes turn out stuff that is poor quality. No artist in history has failed to produce some toss at some point. Springsteen now has a lot more of it in the market than decent albums which is a real shame.
That would presumably be as opposed to being interested in it because in part it covers a period when Springsteen quality control was excellent.
There is some “interesting” stuff in there and, on a superficial level, some stuff that’s fun to listen to for a moment or two but even the best stuff in there, the Streets Of Philadelphia Sessions, is pretty mundane and absolutely none of it ought to have seen an official release. The lyrical cliche within is the sound of the same phrases and ideas being recycled.
Springsteen’s issue, although I’m sure he wouldn’t see it as such, is that from Greetings to Born In The USA the quality control was him, Stevie, the band, Appel and then Landau. Songs were worked out live and in the studio as a unit. There were few yes men around. The moment he got his own recording space, Stevie left the band and he then binned the band for a period, he was suddenly the only voice along with Landau deciding what was worthy of release.
That produced Tunnel, an alleged five star album, which plainly offers up awful cliche and stuff that’s equally plainly unfinished and demo quality. Sketches of songs. Alongside several songs which were decent e.g. Tougher Than The Rest you had the likes of “Spare Parts”, being fairly close to tuneless and with lyrics which aim for the conciseness of Nebraska but could have been written by Shakin’ Stevens.
That was followed by the worst sequence of albums of his career in Human Touch, Lucky Town and the melodically unmemorable Tom Joad. The Rising was excellent - but no surprise there as you had a new producer with whose own reputation would plummet if he’d let quality control dip. Then it’s back downhill with Devils And Dust. Four decent songs and not much else. I doubt Black Cowboys has featured much in the live set since being recorded.
The Seeger Sessions, which required others to chip in with arrangement suggestions, upped the quality control again but since then the closest he’s come to a decent album is half of The Promise and the Broadway album. Had he gathered up the demoes of the many great songs he’d gifted to Southside and others in the period 74 to 78 and omitted the chaff on The Promise he’d have arguably created a great record.
Tracks II contains absolutely nothing of the standard of the stuff he gave away to Southside and that says all you need to know really.
Oh dear please refrain from making this personal but I guess we should all be grateful for your “restraint”
All of what you say is your opinion (and it’s OK to hold it) but it is not fact.
I based my comment on what you posted previously before you had listened to the recordings. Also you will need to forgive me for not following the ins and outs of your life or indeed any knowledge of what you do/did.
You gave your opinion and I have given mine above that’s all there is I was not being defensive nor ludicrous unless that is what you call everyone that disagrees with your opinion.
I shall carry on listening and forming my opinion.
It’s not “personal” in the least.
Your comment certainly edged it in that direction and was wholly unwarranted even based on my initial comment, given that that initial comment was very clearly qualified by reference to the fact that at that time I’d not listened to the whole thing.
You seem overly keen to stick the knife into anyone who disagrees that the sun shines out of an artists arse at all times for someone only expressing an opinion. When Bruce once again produces work of the standard he’s certainly capable of when pushed and not surrounded by yes men I’ll absolutely be the first to say so.
I think you need to go back and read all of my post, rather than the sentence that you are sensitive to. As you admit, previously, you had made comments without listening to the recordings. It is supposed to be about the music.
I said about Springsteen’s (or any artist’s) releases are all of the same standard, and some are weaker than others. There are those that I like and those I do not much care for, and some that, on further play, have grown on me. I did not say or allude to that the sun shines out of anyone’s orifice. I am not into the cult of celebrity as I pointed out above, I don’t care much about the individual and their lives but I do about the music, and yes, I have been a fan of that (mostly) since the early/mid 70s.
And back at you with the “oh dear”.
“I think you need to go back and read all of my post, rather than the sentence that you are sensitive to. As you admit, previously, you had made comments without listening to the recordings. It is supposed to be about the music.”
As I’ve explained at least twice on here I am sight-impaired. The nature of that means that before ever commenting on a post I will have read it more times than the person who posted it.
I’d love to see you quote where I say I was commenting without having heard it. Such is your struggle with the opinions of others that you’re now making stuff up.
Find the quote. Post it up. Be my guest.
It is noticeable that you’ve disagreed with two or three others on this thread and your argument was also that they’d not listened to the music and it should only be about the music. Then, when someone posts about the music…
It may surprise you, but I don’t read every post you write. In this thread, I can’t be sure but I don’t think you have mentioned that other than now, but I will try and keep it in mind.
How about “Yes, I now have.” in relation to the release after other comments about the release and how it may be sub-standard based on what seems there is a reason why they have not been released before, implying that they are not much good.
It is for me about the music and it is fine if people (having listened to it) don’t like the release I have no issue with that, at all but what I do take some exception to if people criticise when it seems they have not listened first before giving a verdict. I can also disagree with those who do not like it.
Anyway, you have your opinion and I have mine, as I have said above. I think it is time to leave it there and go our merry ways, genuinely, have a good evening.
This is specifically what you said. It is, I repeat, a complete lie. I made no such admission. I would appreciate you withdrawing the assertion and apologising. A far better outcome than blatantly lying and trying to brazen it out.
I doubt anyone reading my posts on this thread could come to any conclusion other than “He heard three albums and commented on just those and then, having heard the rest, commented further.”
Whether you’ve read all my posts is a straw man here. You have asserted that you read one which made it clear to you I was commenting having not listened to the music. Find that one and quote it.
If you discover, as you will, that there was no such post then kindly withdraw the assertion and apologise.
Look, I tried to draw a line but you have not grasped the opportunity. I can’t apologise for a wrong I have not committed. No straw men either I responded to a point you made about your condition.
I am sorry you can’t let it go though and as I have tried to say I offer no ill will to you. I’ll try again and wish you a nice evening.
Nope, not having that. You asserted something factually incorrect. Evidence it in full or withdraw and apologise.
Trying to look the better man by wishing me no ill will and a good evening is just passive aggressive nonsense. Good attempt at distraction but it’s not going to happen.
This is not a long thread. My posts are easy to find. Show some honesty. Read each of them and then demonstrate to me and the few remaining readers of this thread where I said what you say I said. Then let’s see how confident you are in making your case.
This is not “Oh woe is me, let’s agree to disagree territory”. I’m really comfortable with the words “you lied” here and I absolutely stand by them.
You can interpret it how you wish I was not being “passive aggressive”. It was not about trying to be better than anyone. Whether you are having it or not you will just have to live with it.
I shan’t post again in response so have the last word if you wish.
So to be clear, you’d not read all my posts on this thread, refuse to do so, finding it easier to exit than even cautiously check back to ensure you’d not made a mistake in accusing me of something utterly ludicrous and plainly wrong but you’re 100% confident in your position?
Okay then, I think we’re sorted.
Man writes songs. Man records songs. Man releases songs.
Record company buys songs. Record company markets songs. Record company sells songs.
Some songs are better than others.
Embarrassing in the extreme…
Having read the book “Deliver Me From Nowhere” I’m afraid I have zero hopes for the film. The book is superb. One of the very best you’ll ever read on music full stop, whether you like Springsteen or not.
It’s not however a book which makes a film. A documentary maybe but a film? No. This film then looks understandably like the only thing it has in common with the book is the title.
His review of the boxed set seems fair to me. “Nobody need spend long panning for gold here.” sums it up very nicely indeed.
I’ve been dipping in and out of this since it was released via Qobuz streaming and my conclusion is similar to many others. There are tracks that I quite like and others not so much. I would be happy to add it to my cd collection but don’t consider it essential. So it really comes down to price and my personal valuation. Would I pay £200+ ? Definitely not. £100 or less.? Yes. And a price in between would depend on my mood at the time.
Try the Selections single cd. A decent listen.
