I’ve lots of the Dylan bootleg stuff. There is always something of genuine quality on each but if you had to push me then there’s only Blind Willie McTell and I could have happily lived without the rest.
I doubt many who bought the Beatles 3x anthologies now believe they bought critical artefacts. We basically learned very quickly that their quality control was exceptional and consistent. Everything which hadn’t been released had very much not been released for a reason.
In the case of Springsteen then in recent years we have had the magnificent song The Promise as the only essential unreleased track.
Why ask a question when you already know the answer other than trolling. Who decided Dark Side was a classic, Autobhan, Darkness, Exile, OK Computer etc?
Some people may not like them, and that’s fine, but they are objectively accepted as great/significant records regardless because enough people have listened and recognised their qualities. People, thank goodness, vote with their ears.
Back on track to this thread and what you, objectively, have is a series of great reviews by media who have a vested interest because their specific readership wants to hear about Bruce. Out in the rest of the world you then have a series of reviews from less interested parties or parties whose focus lies elsewhere, the Stereophile review being but a small example. They say, no, this stuff is what you’d expect. No more no less. It’s nowhere near the standard of his best stuff and, whilst bits are “interesting” we shouldn’t confuse that with good. These things were not released for a reason.
So, critically, zero consensus on whether this thing is any good.
Where it then gets interesting is the backlash from hardcore fans. Is it an overwhelming majority? Absolutely not. Is it more than a significant minority? Enough to be genuinely surprising? Yes.
If people want to fall on the side of “this is fun” that’s fine but let’s at least start by acknowledging it’s a much lesser form of fun than on many of the official releases. If people want to make claims that several of these songs are of a higher quality than some official releases let’s be a tad more realistic. If you like them that’s also fine but spinning that into “I like them therefore they are excellent” is ear syringing time.
And at no point have I said otherwise so your point is…. ?
I accept That Dark Side is a classic. I can barely listen to it. My view on it doesn’t stop it being a classic. In reverse, people saying Tracks 2 is every shade of wonderful also doesn’t make it so.
Faithless is one of the albums that may need to grow on me. It’s not bad but it does not quite get to me at the moment. I think it is quite well done but perhaps because it is a supplied (by the movie producers etc.) theme and concept rather Springsteen’s own inception.
It’s all down to personal taste though what I like or don’t won’t be the same for others.
Somewhere North of Nashville - this open opened up with me going “uh, oh - here’s where the wheels fall off.” Assume there’s a side one and side two and not sure I’d have ever gotten to side two. Repo Man, Tiger Rose - just sounds like he’s forcing it. Bruce as a traditional C&W singer is not great. Campy. Even a tune like Poor Side of Town (full disclosure, I heart Johnny Rivers - and love that tune) he just mangles. Not to mention Detail Man is just Repo Man with different lyrics? Although many of them the same. 2-for-1 discount on the word ‘man’ at the songwriter cornershop maybe?
At that point I had the same reaction as I normally do with Elvis Costello’s Almost Blue. Some material he can make work and other’s he’s totally out of his depth.
Things get interesting on the flip side. I really liked Silver Mt, Janey, and YGMMWIG. A really nice three song stretch that gets him back to a space where he sounds natural and familiar. Sure the steel guitars on this side give it the C&W flair, but these now sound like Bruce songs - Stand on It has some of the DNA of You Can Look.
An interesting contrast. I can see why he may have been hesitant to put this one out. The stronger material just doesn’t make a case to cover for the weaker.
Think I’m with you - actively listening the first time was ok, but just having it on in the background as ambient music before the tennis was much more enjoyable. Kind of confirming to me that it’ more of a ‘soundtrack’ album.
Is that where we’re at then? The desperation to insist that everything the Boss does is great in some way is reduced to “if you turn it down it works much better”.
Why not just buy a library CD of lift music and be done with it?
I know what you mean but I quite liked repo man even if it was that it is a different perspective for Springsteen. Normally such a song is likely to be written from the perspective of the person getting getting the car repossessed rather than the Repo man himself.
I don’t mind the C&W format from Springsteen although I did not like Western Stars at first but it grew on me and of his more modern releases it is one of my favourites. In particular I like the “Songs from the film” semi-live version. I really liked it ending with the additional Rhinestone cowboy cover. It seems a fitting end to the album.
I gave it another go today - still coming up with the same reaction; side one campy - side two much better. Maybe we get Bruce to cover a bunch of Hank Williams tunes and see what that sounds like! With his gravely voice today, that could be something different
So two months in and I’m still digging into these albums on a regular basis. There’s enough musical diversity here to find something for almost every mood.
I’ve probably now gone through Streets Sessions 15 times. Keeps getting better - predominantly because I think Springsteen actively chose to keep it on the shelf. It’s just in a completely different direction from where he’d go for the next 10 years. The single for the film is fine, but I probably would have been scratching my head if this whole album came out in '94.
30 years of perspective definitely gives it new life.
Does anyone have an opinion on the overall SQ? I am definitely buying this set - it’s just too good to not own. But debating CD vs vinyl and not sure which one. Leaning vinyl, unless the sound is just meh. It sounds decent on Tidal but not great.
The LPs sound pretty good to me. Some better than others but overall quite a good standard. Particularly when you think that several of his early albums where not the best production.
thanks. I wasn’t expecting grade-A production and mastering, just didn’t know if they came across as basement tapes or something of the sort. the streams sound pretty good. with that price I saw, I think I’ll buy the vinyl and be done with it
