I'm Actually Pretty into Two Bruce Springsteen Albums

A week ago I wrote about Bruce Springsteen. I talked about how I appreciate his writing, his work ethic and the breadth of his career. But I also let it be known that I could not get into his music. Try as I might, it just didn;t work for me. Well, I have a little bit of a rebuttal today though.

The podcast about Springsteen is still going on, I'm still listening, and I am still finding it hard to get it. He makes adult contemporary music because his fans are contemporary adults. But in going back there are two records that I do like. There are two records that I can listen to and find myself enjoying what I'm hearing. Those records are "The Ghost of Tom Joad" and "Nebraska".

I have found my listening and repeat listening to these records to be quite enjoyable. They are dynamite, especially "Nebraska". That album is a masterpiece. I also think, despite its grueling lyrics, "The Ghost of Tom Joad" to be a very good record. So when I was listening to "Nebraska" this morning with my dad, we had a little chat. He asked why I was listening to Springsteen if I didn't like him. He reads some of my stuff. As I sat there and contemplated his question, while listening to "Nebraska" with him, it dawned on me. I know why I like these two albums, why I'm able to overlook what I consider misgivings. These records are so good for me, as a listener of music, because they are so stripped back and minimal. These records are like folk records that I adore from the 60's. The record has three musical elements on it, as opposed to his other records that have a full band and a string ensemble. These two records have acoustic guitar, harmonica and Springsteen doing a folky voice. There may be a drum machine here and there, and he may even play piano a bit, but it is very, very stripped down. I love acoustic music. It is one of my favorite styles of music to listen to. I love the barebones of an acoustic guitar. I also like how the acoustic guitar shows an artist's warts. It makes me appreciate the artist even more when they are proficient on an acoustic guitar. I have always loved Bob Dylan, so when you throw a harmonica in with the acoustic guitar, I am even more in. I enjoy the harmonica. And when Springsteen does that folky voice, it works for me. I like when he takes on that voice and really gives it a go. I like folk music, and when Springsteen uses it, singing his very well written words, it is obviously going to work for me. And that is the thing too with these records, the words. These songs tell vivid and enthralling stories. I can let myself get very heavily involved in the stories that are being told when Springsteen is singing. The stories are a drag, but I like stuff like that. I like to be transported into a dark world. It is a nice break for a few minutes.

"The Ghost of Tom Joad" is great, but "Nebraska" is a masterpiece. And it is seemingly an accidental masterpiece. "Nebraska" was just kind of slapped together by Springsteen himself in a farmhouse he was staying in, and it sounds that way. I love the archaic way he recorded that whole record. "The Ghost of Tom Joad" is very stripped down too, but it is mixed and produced by professionals. And that is fine, but it is missing the charm of "Nebraska". That record is amazing.

So, if you agreed with my first piece on Springsteen, but want to give him another shot, listen to "Nebraska" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Yes they have Springsteen's voice, but they are both stripped down, small records in comparison to his other stuff, and that is what makes them great. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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