I’ll admit it up front: I’m a romantic. I’m not talking about chocolates and candlelight, either. I’m talking about epic battles against impossible odds. About the little guy fighting against the man. About Lawrence of Arabia, Linux vs. Microsoft, Juniper vs. Cisco. About the dogs on Main Street howling because they believe in the promised land. So if the image of Mary standing on the porch watching the ghosts of her spurned lovers roar off down the highway leaves you cold… well, you can always catch up with Brittney Spears’ antics in the latest issue of People.
But if your soul is moved by Springsteen’s characters and his music, maybe it’s time to revisit those CDs gathering dust underneath your back issues of Martha Stewart Living.
Think about it. Has any rock artist, ever, had a series of albums so strong, so connected in theme and character, so evolutionary in approach, as Springsteen did from the mid 1970′s to the mid 1980′s? Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River, Nebraska, Born in the U.S.A.. Wow.
Here’s how to get reconnected. Put away, for the moment, the song “Born To Run”. Awesome, but overplayed. Get deeper into the music right away. Drop the needle, perhaps, on “Night”. My God. The energy and enthusiasm, the joy and power. You’re just “a prisoner of your dreams, holding on for your life”, working “nine to five, and somehow you survive ’till the night.” After that you’re swept into “Backstreets” and can’t get out until the hopeful “Meeting Across the River” and epic, triumphant “Jungleland” let you off the ride through the corridors lined chromed invaders all struggling to make something for themselves.
It’s okay, you can admit it. You like Springsteen.
The Boss indeed! I’m quite excited about the fact that Bruce is starting his 47 day world tour right here in San Jose on April 1st, 2008(http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C004237A019421D?artistid=860453&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1)