Bruce Springsteen

I haven't actually sat down to watch Passion yet, so I’ll hold off for now. Besides, you pretty much hit the nail on the head with everything you said. Springsteen was obsessed with von Trips since he was just a kid, which is why he went through all that trouble for the movie—getting those exact replicas made of the old cars The German used to drive back in the day...

What's the verdict on Bruce Springsteen (vol.2)?

I already covered all the essentials in my last post, but I'll just add this: I'm still going to his concert. I love his music, regardless of what anyone else thinks about it...

I’ve honestly grown quite fond of this musician. I only stumbled upon his stuff a few months back, but I’ve been totally hooked ever since. There’s just this raw sincerity in his songwriting that you don't see much anymore. He doesn't feel commercial at all... it's like he isn't just churning out tracks just to chase a paycheck. I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that he announces a tour soon.

I've always had a soft spot for Bruce Springsteen too—he's such a great musician. I actually first stumbled upon him when that Auberge video was playing on MTV... been hooked ever since.

Nobody seems to have mentioned that he's way more than just a casual car guy: I actually caught a race where he was behind the wheel (pretty sure it was a Porsche Carrera. He didn't exactly take home the trophy, but man, it was cool enough just seeing him out there, you know?).

Anyway, you rarely come across a bassline as infectious as the one in The Road to Hell.

Bruce Springsteen 👍

1978 - Whatever Happened to Buddy Holly (a bit generic and monotonous, but a decent start)
1979 - Delta Airlines (similar vibe to the first one, but way more diverse and better overall)
1980 - Tennis
1982 - Bruce Springsteen (a forgotten and underrated pop masterpiece; just simple, unpretentious love songs with an 80s feel and perfect melodies that actually hit you right where they should—straight in the heart... man, I wish there were more albums like this today)
1983 - Aquarius (a little overproduced, but varied and very easy listening)
1984 - Fly Me to the Moon (slightly experimental and a relatively interesting listen)
1985 - Rumours (potentially a perfect album that falls short because some of the tracks aren't great, but the original versions of Josephine, The Supremes, and All Summer Long, along with a few other solid tunes, make this a really good record. I get the feeling Springsteen was trying to get a bit too complicated with the melodies here, and unfortunately, he lost himself a little in the process)
1986 - On the Beach (probably the best summer album ever recorded; it’s the kind of album you play while lounging in the heat, staring at the waves, and just chilling... personally, I think it's one of the best-produced albums EVER. Phenomenal vocals and beautiful melodies. My personal favorites are On the Beach, Little Blond Plaits, Giverny, It's All Gone, Hello Friend, Light of Hope, and Forever and Ever—the rest of the album isn't any less perfect)
1987 - Dancing with Strangers (kind of a lost cause and not particularly interesting. Best track is Curse of the Traveler)
1989 - The Road to Hell (his most famous work, though I don't find it all that exciting because the personal experiences in the songs feel a bit artificial to me, sounding watered down and repetitive... however, The Road to Hell combined with Tell Me There's a Heaven are undeniable masterpieces. That's What They Always Say, You Must Be Evil, and Daytona are solid enough)
1991 - Auberge (definitely one of Springsteen's best... aside from the pretty mediocre You're Not a Number, Red Shoes, and the average Every Second Counts, the rest of the tracks are heavy hitters that leave a strong impression on me... a very inspired album)
1992 - God's Great Banana Skin (the title track, Nothing to Fear, 90s Blues, and Too Much Pride are excellent, and the rest of the album is solid)
1993 - Espresso Logic (the beginning of the loss of inspiration; a fairly washed-out and aimless album, though it has a few gems like Julia, Espresso Logic, and the spoken "She Closed Her Eyes," which really makes you stop and reflect on your own life)
1998 - The Blue Cafe (Springsteen tries to fake some inspiration and uses a more aggressive approach here, almost tricking his opponent—me—into thinking this is a good album... the songs are simpler, yet still atmospheric and somewhat interesting... the title track is great, and honestly the only truly great thing on the whole record)
1999 - The Road to Hell (an average album where Springsteen fails somewhat in his attempts to experiment)
2000 - King of the Beach (sterile, melody-free garbage that Springsteen somehow convinced people was a return to those "On the Beach" vibes... boring, uninspired, bloodless... in other words, crap)
2002 - The Stony Road (this is the first time Springsteen does exactly what he wants, and he actually pulls it off quite well. Even though I'm not a huge fan of minimalist blues and prefer his earlier stuff, it's an album that isn't totally throwaway)

I haven't gotten around to rating the newer albums yet.

Springsteen is really great. Josephine is the best 🙂

Brian Reyes41 said:I genuinely love this musician. I only discovered him a few months back, but his music really resonates with me. There’s an honesty in his songs that you just don't find often. He isn't commercial... he doesn't just write songs for the paycheck. I'm hoping he announces a tour soon.

He was "recently" in New York City back in March.

The biggest tragedy is that thirty years ago, there was actually a real shot at seeing a legendary new musician emerge. Nowadays, those opportunities are dead because the whole atmosphere is toxic and people have such a warped perspective on what music should be. Bruce Springsteen is honestly the gold standard for pop-rock-blues, and if you actually wanted to grasp the sheer depth of his quality, you’d really need to own his entire discography—which, judging by this forum, nobody here seems to have. If you want to start somewhere, I highly recommend checking out On the Beach, Auberge, Springsteen, and The Road to Hell.

Honestly, I'm not sure if Springsteen leans left or actually takes the right at the intersection, but hey—it’s a historical topic considering how long it's been since the last post here. I don't know how much you guys listen to him, but he's definitely one of my low-key favorites. He's been on repeat for me for years now—someone who just never gets old. I guess it's because he has that soothing, relaxing voice, and his songs are just so full of sadness and melancholy. Perfect for this time of year 😁

I should also mention that this is one of those rare threads where I actually liked how the opening post was written, so a late shout-out to the OP 😁
It's just a shame more threads about musicians or bands aren't started in a similar way. This feels way better and more interesting than the usual: "Anyone listening to this guy?"

He’s a legend in my book too... though I have to be honest, aside from those hits from the 80s and early 90s, I never really dove deep into his discography (much to my regret) until I finally picked up the Blue Guitar Box set recently. Either way, I can't recommend this collection enough for anyone who appreciates music with a real sense of atmosphere.

I've listened to his entire discography. Vocally, he really reminds me of Knopfler, and even his musical style feels familiar to me. Personally, though, I think Knopfler’s solos are better.

analogbear40 said:He's a legend to me too... though I have to be honest—aside from those singles from the 80s and early 90s, I haven't really dug deep into his discography (unfortunately), until recently when I picked up the Blue Guitar Box. Anyway, I'd highly recommend that set if you're into atmospheric music.

I'm not exactly an expert on his later stuff either—for me, it's mostly just that same stretch from the 80s and early 90s. The guy put out a massive amount of albums, so even with 5 or 6 listens under my belt, I feel like I've barely scratched the surface..
And if I'm reading this right, the Blue Guitar Box is basically its own little universe since it packs in 11 albums and 123 songs altogether 🙏

Jack Morgan2, even though I personally find Knopfler to be the better musician and guitarist, I’d still pick Springsteen's voice. In that regard, he's just special to me—different from everyone else, including Knopfler. I can see the similarities in their musical style, but honestly, I don't hear much overlap in their voices. Maybe you meant more in terms of their actual singing style?
As for how much of his discography I've actually heard 👍

I have such immense respect for this musician. Sadly, he’s also been through an incredibly tough battle with his health. Back around 2000, he nearly lost his life during a long, high-stakes surgery to deal with pancreatic cancer. Then in 2016, he suffered a stroke that stripped away his ability to move or speak normally, though thankfully he did manage to recover after some time. In December 2017, he actually collapsed right in the middle of a concert before being stabilized. Honestly, it’s nothing short of a miracle that the man is still with us today.
I have to admit, I haven't been particularly fond of his more recent work. Here is how I'd rate most of his albums:

Charles Ramos4 said:I’m not exactly an expert on his later stuff either; I tend to gravitate toward that same era from the 80s and early 90s. The guy released a massive amount of music, so having only listened to five or six albums means I’ve barely even scratched the surface...

And if I'm reading this right, this Blue Guitar Box set is basically its own little discography—it’s a whole world unto itself since it packs in 11 albums and 123 songs total. 🙏

Jack Morgan2, even though I personally find Knopfler to be the better musician and guitarist, I’ll still pick Springsteen’s voice over him any day. When it comes to vocals, he’s just in a league of his own, different from everyone else, Knopfler included. As far as musical style goes, sure, they have some similarities, but honestly, I don't see much overlap in their actual voices. Maybe you were aiming more at the way they deliver the lyrics?

As for how much of his catalog I've actually heard... 👍

I was thinking more about that laid-back singing style; that’s when Knopfler and Springsteen immediately come to mind for me. Or even someone like Billy Joel. They can always pull those songs off because they aren't overly demanding vocally—they don't go for those crazy vocal acrobatics that wouldn't fit their sound anyway—yet they still maintain such a distinct and specific tone.

The Blue Cafe.👍...

Jack Morgan2 said:I was thinking about that certain laid-back singing style—Mark Knopfler and Bruce Springsteen are the first ones that come to mind for me. As for our guys, maybe Marijan Ban. They can always pull those songs off because they aren't overly demanding vocally; they don't do all these vocal acrobatics that wouldn't fit their music anyway, yet they still have such a recognizable and specific tone to their voices.

I think I get what you're getting at 👍 but even if Mark Knopfler has a really distinct, unique voice (though I guess you could say that about pretty much any singer), it just doesn't hit me quite the same way Bruce Springsteen's does. If he sang lyrics about a mustard jar or something, I feel like I could just listen to him forever—I'm not sure I can say the same for Knopfler or anyone else. This is just my own take on those two as vocalists, though, without getting into anything else.

I heard about Soul's health issues and how things are looking pretty bad right now... I mean, someone always goes before someone else, I guess, but in the end, he's got plenty to look back on because his legacy is permanent.

Blue Note is excellent. Here is one from me that isn't as well-known
One Sweet Kiss
And this one has always been a favorite of mine too Buy a Hat The recording isn't the best, but it's enough to show the quality and how they sound live.

Just wanted to take a moment to revisit some of his most cherished and slightly bittersweet tracks:

Seabird

Loving You

You Light of Hopa

The Mention of Your Name

Tell Me There's a Heaven

Heaven

By the way, the production on the 'On the Beach' album is just flawless. It’s that kind of Virtuoso playing—super skilled, yet incredibly subtle—that creates such a beautiful atmosphere. Honestly, it might even be the best-produced album I've ever listened to. Just don't go comparing it to his 'King of the Beach' release from fifteen years later; that one was a total snooze fest.

All Summer Long...