Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska

[Junk Bond Sam]

http://www.springsteenlyrics.com/lyrics/h/highwaypatrolman_alb-n.jpg


Yes! This record is so fucking brilliant it deserves it's own thread.

I know it's nothing new but it's new to me. I've never been much of a Bruce Springsteen fan, I think I heard Born in the USA, hated the album cover and that was the end of my Springsteen.

So I got Nebraska today and the writing is completely inspiring. The characters and the stories! The instrumentation is stripped down and it's almost a lo-fi sounding record. I think this sound suits him better than the over arranged, super produced records. His songs and lyrics stand out more in minimal arrangement.

So first off, anybody who was like me and talked shit on Springsteen, give him a second chance. See if this record will change your opinion.

Second, for all of you hip to Springsteen’s greatness, can you recommend where I should go from here? What albums of his are lyrically on this level?

[satisfied mind]

I was in a similar boat when I first heard that album. Didn't give him the time of day before it. I listen to it all the time now.

[XXX]

i'd say all of his early stuff is lyrically on the same level as nebraska...
maybe they arent as dreary and hopeless, but really, stylistically, bruce lyrics are bruce lyrics...
the stories and characters you speak of are on all of his records (even Born in the USA [which for the record i still cant listen to without gagging... except "i'm on fire" which is amazing])
anyways,
i'd say get darkness on the edge of town next...
maybe???
earlystylebruce is all good, but you have to your ears to either like or at least not-mind the slick seventies production...
oh and the seeger sessions which came out a couple years ago... bruce for people who hate bruce.

[XXX]

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:cry:

[XXX]

OH! and there was a DVD that came out a couple years ago...
live at hammersith
WONDERFUL stuff... should appeal to those who like their rock music HIGH on drama

[XXX]

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[Junk Bond Sam]

right on :yes:

[donnyidk]

haha i am in the exact same boat. except i only listened to nebraska once, thoguht "hmm, maybe it'll grow" and then put it aside for later.

:yes: great minds.

[KidsOnHoliday]

That line in Atlantic City, "Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night, now they blew up his house too."
Anyway, that line refers to the Philadelphia mob boss Phil Testa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Testa
Who, oddly enough, was dating my mom when the infamous nail bombing incident occurred.
That's all I have to contribute to this thread, I've never actually listened to the album, probably should.
I just always get excited when Bruce Springsteen comes up in conversations at parties and stuff, cause then I get to tell the story about how my mom used to date a mob boss.

[El Scorcho]

haha.
rad.


I like to sing atlantic city to my dog when I'm drinking alone.

[ktothebbc]

Great album. Great, great, great. It's a good gateway for people just discovering Bruce, because of its stripped down nature.

For quality Bruce around that time period, I would recommend the following:
- Darkness on the Edge of Town
- The River

For more stark music of the Nebraska nature, I'd recommend (both are more recent):
- Ghost of Tom Joad
- Devils and Dust

For more great Bruce music, I would recommend:
- The rest of his catalog!

It's funny, once you get into him and you develop a taste for the time he released the music in, as well as his own personal style, you don't mind the cheesiness of some stuff. Hell, I've even gotten to the point where I love Lucky Town and Tunnel of Love!

I think the Tracks box set is actually a great place to develop a taste for the Boss, because it spans his whole catalog and some of his b-sides were mindblowing! If you've ever heard the original acoustic version of Born in the USA, it helps you appreciate the irony of the full-on cheese rock version that Ronal Reagan mistakenly used in his presidential campaign. A great song is a great song.

Bruce is the way forward. It just takes some time to see that. But don't worry, he'll be there for you once you figure it out! :yes:

[El Scorcho]

Yep. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZE7OchG3DY)

[lost cause]

Ah, finally an opportunity for me to show off my sweet new cuff!

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/gauntr00lz/Photo258.jpg
:heart:


For quality Bruce around that time period, I would recommend the following:
- Darkness on the Edge of Town
- The River

It's funny, once you get into him and you develop a taste for the time he released the music in, as well as his own personal style, you don't mind the cheesiness of some stuff.

Agreed. Though since I spent several of my young formative years less than fifteen minutes away from Asbury, I am required by law to at least appreciate Bruce :D

[LewdReed]

would definitely recommend "darkness on the edge of town" and also, it'll take some digging to find, but there is a fabulous 2 disc set of nebraska outtakes and demos entitled "how nebraska was born" that i would also highly recommend.

[lisa]

i second everything kevin said.

im a lifelong bruce fan and will likely have a hilarious dance to dancin in the dark with my dad at my wedding should i ever be married.


i dont know how many times ive tried to force bruce haters to listen to nebraska.

im semi glad hes kinda hip now (again?) because people my age are finally getting over the stigma.

when i saw him last time (in oct) it was a full on rock show with the e street and it was so much fun. he did state trooper (by far my favorite track of his) again! just a different version... i did prefer it the way he did when i saw him solo but yeah, amazing.

if you ever get a chance to see him solo it is worth every expensive penny... with the estreet too if youre up for some intense (older ppl) rockin


kurt that im on fire vid :cry: that was my childhood.

and lol at andy dick as the steelworker... my dad (an actual steelworker) would totally fall for that.

[mobygrape]

well it seems like the american landscape is very similar as to when the lp was first published . this is probably the best time in years to dig it out and give it a spin