This album took centre stage in Springsteen’s tour of 2013, which I saw in Cardiff in July of that year. Songs here pull no punches and are enhanced by stomping, thunderous arrangements. On the evidence of what is here, the man shows no signs of slowing down.
Stand-Out Track: Shackled and Drawn
Easily overlooked in the Boss’s discography (especially as it followed on from ‘Born In The USA), but some real gems here. ‘Brilliant Disguise’ is the obvious choice, with ‘Valentine’s Day’ not far behind. However, my favourite is the quiet, introspective ….
Stand-Out Track: Two Faces
Seminal albums don’t come more seminal than this one. A double album where the focus is the struggles of recession-hit US society, with songs like the title track, written for Springsteen’s brother-in-law who had recently lost his job. Even with great songs like ‘Point Blank’ and ‘You Can Look’, it is still hard to get past ‘Hungry Heart’.
Stand-Out Track: Hungry Heart
A gap of seven years between studio albums was ended in 2002, when Springsteen chose to principally reflect on the 9/11 attacks in the US. A wealth of material with a long shelf life here yet again (for example ‘The Rising’, ‘Countin’ On A Miracle’ and ‘Mary’s Place’), but the nod goes to ‘Waiting on a Sunny Day’ which has become a real crowd pleaser at concerts thanks to young guest vocalists from the audience. Watch this video and if you don’t feel better afterwards, then you must have a heart of stone, my friend 🙂
Stand-Out Track: Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
A concentration of Springsteen coming up – 3 albums in the next 4 days. We start with ‘The Promise’, a set of songs taken from the sessions when ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’ was recorded. Remember, this is the material that didn’t make the cut for that album and yet it fills a 2CD set here. The man is a legend.
Stand-Out Track: Someday (We’ll Be Together)
So, half way through the year. Not a bad one to celebrate this milestone. After a 5 year gap, the release of a new Springsteen album was heralded by this cracker …
Stand-Out Track: Radio Nowhere
A full-on, rock-fuelled, lung-busting outing from Mr Springsteen and the boys and girls of the E Street Band. Hard to find a duff track amongst them, let alone choose a favourite.
However, I’m going to plump for …
Stand-Out Track: Jungleland
The ‘lost’ album. Recordings from the early 90’s that were moth-balled (mostly due to record company meddling, from what I remember), which were dusted down and brought blinking back into the sunlight in 2009.
With a back catalogue to rival Mr Springsteen, Paddy McAloon can draw on masses of material that is high on quality, hitting the mark every time.
Try this for size …
Stand-Out Track: Earth: The Story So Far
This year’s release from The Boss. ‘New light through old windows’, as all of these tracks are updates of previously issued material or outtakes. The addition of Tom Morello (guitarist ex-Rage Against The Machine) adds spice (sometimes a little too much for my taste).
As with ’18 Tracks’ (see 7th January) the Springsteen back-catalogue outshines the best of many others.
There’s a good mixture here – stadium rockers and candle-wavers stand side-by-side
Stand-out Track: Heaven’s Wall
Reflective Bruce, rather than rocking Bruce.
Stand Out Track: The Ghost of Tom Joad
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