New solo Springsteen record coming in June

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... lm-857487/

Bruce Springsteen was driving back from the gym this morning when he called up SiriusXM’s E Street Radio to chat with hosts Dave Marsh and Jim Rotolo. During the ten-minute conversation, he revealed that filmmaker Thom Zimny shot a film where he plays his new record Western Stars from start to finish.

“We knew we weren’t going to tour,” Springsteen said, “so I was looking for a way to get some of the music live to an audience and so we figured that was the best way to do it. We’re looking forward to getting it to the fans when we can.” Springsteen has done no interviews since Western Stars came out on June 14th and this is the first confirmation that there will be no tour of any kind in support of it.

And here's the trailer for the film

[Clams]

So I've finally listened to Western Stars enough to feel like I can comment on it, subject to the general caveat that my critical listening ear has admittedly atrophied in recent years.

I am tempted to say that I am baffled by this album, but that's not it at all. I get what Springsteen's trying to do here and to the extent I get it I think it's fair to say he nailed it. In one sense, that should be the end of a very brief discussion. But...

The bottom line for me, the real acid test for any new album by any artist I'm familiar with is what would I think if I didn't know who the artist is? On that basis this album fails abysmally because my best guess is that I wouldn't make it through one whole listen if I didn't know it was Bruce Springsteen. I find the music unappealing, not up my alley and mostly boring.

But the actual truth is somewhere in the middle: There are some really good songs here. Enough to form the basis of a really good album if the songs were done in the styles I want them done in (that's a joke folks). Several songs here, e.g. the one about Tuscon and Western Stars would imho be great Nebraska style. Another one the name of which escapes me at the moment struck me immediately as one that should have been done more like The Wild, The Innocent (possibly "chasing wild horses"?). The last song ('moonlight motel" or ssomething close to that) seems to me to be potentially a great song if it wasn't done in the Glen Campbell-like style it was intentionally done in.

So, Springsteen made the album he wanted to make and good for him. I didn't care for that album, which is my choice/taste. Me and Bruce, we used to be in perfect sync, but you know, those glory days, they fade.

I'm with you, bubba. For me at least, here's the real test of how much I like any new record: I haven't listened to Western Stars since the first weekend it came out.

[Flea]

I've listened to this twice. The first time I thought it sucked. The second time, I still thought it sucked, but less hard. I doubt it gets a third try.

[Rocky]

This is something that fascinates me about music.

I think Magic, Working On A Dream and High Hopes are completely without merit. Not one redeemable quality to any of them.

I think the first and last songs and the title track of Western Stars are some of the best Springsteen songs in over a decade.

Smart people, music lovers and casual listeners can have differing opinions on music and it's perfectly OK.

[beantownbubba]

Glory days don't fade, they pass you by.

Point taken.

I think Magic, Working On A Dream and High Hopes are completely without merit. Not one redeemable quality to any of them.

I would literally have to look them up to remember what's on each of these albums, which I guess is support for your statement by itself. But beyond that, I'm pretty sure most of the world agrees w/ you about Working on a Dream. If memory serves, imho Magic has some good moments, maybe even enough to call it a solid album and High Hopes has a couple of worthwhile songs. But in the context of Springsteen that's damning w/ pretty faint praise. And yes it's perfectly ok to have differing opinions on music as long as we recognize that mine is the true opinion.

[Flea]

This is something that fascinates me about music.

I think Magic, Working On A Dream and High Hopes are completely without merit. Not one redeemable quality to any of them.

I think the first and last songs and the title track of Western Stars are some of the best Springsteen songs in over a decade.

Smart people, music lovers and casual listeners can have differing opinions on music and it's perfectly OK.

I think Magic is his best work since Tunnel Of Love!

[Clams]

This unexpectedly just showed up in my spotify feed today. Live recordings going all the way back to the 70s thru 2016. Really really good.

[Zip Up to Michigan]

This is something that fascinates me about music.

I think Magic, Working On A Dream and High Hopes are completely without merit. Not one redeemable quality to any of them.

I think the first and last songs and the title track of Western Stars are some of the best Springsteen songs in over a decade.

Smart people, music lovers and casual listeners can have differing opinions on music and it's perfectly OK.

I think Magic is his best work since Tunnel Of Love!

Same. It's an exceptional record with some brilliant song writing. "Long Walk Home," "Devil's Arcade," "Magic" ....simply some of the best songs in his career.

The production blows. It's a terrible sounding record. Once you get over that, it's pretty damn good.

Dream and HH... abominations.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

[Flea]

I just can't get past the orchestration. Makes me wish I were deaf.

[Clams]

I just can't get past the orchestration. Makes me wish I were deaf.

Not to mention that he keeps pretending to be an actual cowboy.

[Rocky]

Yeah the orchestration is a little too much.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

Not to mention that he keeps pretending to be an actual cowboy.

(1) he has seen a million faces and rocked each and every one



(2) he's been known to walk streets with a loaded 6-string on his back



(3) he rides a horse that is made of steel





so what's yer fuckin' point?

[RolanK]

I've been to New Jersey. Didn't see many cattle there.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

Springsteen's newest gig: filmmaker

[pearlbeer]

Because the Night, Isbell and the 400 Unit

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

[Flea]

I prefer this cover. Still can't get past the strings.