In what way is he arrogant? What makes him a clown? As for his albums, continuing to do political material would have made him a bore. Don't get me wrong, I of course agree that branching out and doing interesting work as an actor is completely unacceptable.
Arrogant or not is of course a matter of opinion. For the last 10 years (give or take a couple) I have found him arrogant and full of himself on twitter and in interview remarks on different subjects. When he's playing live with The E Street Band I get the impression that he's ill prepared.
On Steven - At the time I prefered Men Without Women over Born in the USA. On the following albums I thought the music took a back seat for the politics but it was still ok. Then came the Sopranos. Steven got fat and lost all political interest what so ever. Today, he's an arrogant clown in my eyes. It's hard to believe it's the same person.
I'm guilty of having lost track of Steven's work. But I saw a live show from a recent tour on TV a few months ago, and it was a lot of fun. And I still enjoy listening to Men Without Women and, especially, Voice of America.
I don't think I am terribly keen on anybody mentioned in this thread, Bob Seeger being the one exception, although I haven't listened to him in years. Either I have never really listened to them, John Mellencamp, am indifferent to, SSJ and SVZ (apart from when he"s with ESB, obvs) or actively dislike, U2, Bon Jovi, The Killers and was Billy Joel mentioned somewhere?
I am actually beginning to feel as if my tastes are too narrow!
Of those listed above, I’ve always struggled with U2, but I love Seeger, Mellancamp, Southside and SRV. Completely indifferent to Bon Jovi and The Killers.
I can't stand The Killers save for a couple of tunes but one band Bruce fans seem to really love that I wasn't keen on but growing into a bit of a fan is War On Drugs. The more I hear some of the non-radio tracks the more I hear the greatness.
@Bill Zebub Pleased to hear this... He has released many great records over the years but I absolutely concur that Life, Death, Love and Freedom is a recent near masterpiece. One of my top 3 of his for sure. Must have been a great show. He is not Bruce on stage, for sure, but as you say his band is superb, many (the guitarist for one) having been with him for decades and it's all about the music for him. No fancy lights or theatrics.
Going way back, I had no use for Mellencamp. But in 2009 he and Willie Nelson were the opening acts for a Bob Dylan show that took place in my hometown of New Britain, CT. He played for about 45 minutes, and was funny and self-deprecating. His band was hot, the show was well-paced, and while he could easily have burned through 45 minutes of hits, he featured songs from his most recent album. The album was Life, Death, Love and Freedom, and when he mentioned that it was produced by T-Bone Burnett, I decided to buy it. The next day I drove around listening and shaking my head. I not only bought a 'Cougar' album but was really enjoying it and relating to it? Yow. I didn't go back and explore the back catalog, but I have respect for the guy.
Mellencamp in interviews make me laugh my ass off, he is so freaking funny. And self-deprecating is right, makes fun of himself all the time. The sincerity of it all makes it funnier.
Heck of a lot of people on here with cloth lugs. Wink wink.
Mark/Welby sent me some stuff by The Hold Steady ... just didn't do anything for me. A lot of Lakers sent me stuff back in the day, reckoning that I would really like particular bands/artists if I gave them a listen.
Rarely happened but I've still got a few of the things that were sent for sentimental reasons. Actually, Tom Waits was the exception.
I live on Long Island where he is Saint Billy .......He has some great songs especially his early Piano driven stuff....But i do find him pretty overrated and all i can think is why can't it be the ESB at MSG every month ....
Concur re: Jason Isbell, if there's a better songwriter turning out music just now I haven't heard him/her.........I reserve the right to re-visit that statement on 23rd October.
Gaslight's first three albums work for me, 59 Sound is a modern classic, but they lost their way badly thereafter. (I guess that'll happen when things go bad between the lead singer and his wife and said wife is the bass player's sister, but I digress.....)
And you and I could fall out if you start talking smack about the mighty Hold Steady.
But if GA doesn't float your boat I'd still recommend checking out Brian Fallon's solo work.
Hold Steady are a band I should like. But I just don’t. For some reason... Sometimes it takes me years to really establish an emotional connection with a band. It took me years to do that with Nick Cave, for example. And just recently I was listening to Jason Isbell (which I had a lot before without ever really connecting) and suddenly I got it. Maybe the same will happen with Hold Steady...
@Tom Joad I struggle with Cave and Hold Steady, but it was love at first listen with Jason Isbell, I don’t think anyone’s writing better songs than him at the moment.
@Tom Joad The Hold Steady should be my favorite band of this century: two of their major touchstones are Springsteen and the Replacements, my favorite solo artist and second-favorite American band of all time. And yet.
In what way is he arrogant? What makes him a clown? As for his albums, continuing to do political material would have made him a bore. Don't get me wrong, I of course agree that branching out and doing interesting work as an actor is completely unacceptable.
On Steven - At the time I prefered Men Without Women over Born in the USA. On the following albums I thought the music took a back seat for the politics but it was still ok. Then came the Sopranos. Steven got fat and lost all political interest what so ever. Today, he's an arrogant clown in my eyes. It's hard to believe it's the same person.
I'm guilty of having lost track of Steven's work. But I saw a live show from a recent tour on TV a few months ago, and it was a lot of fun. And I still enjoy listening to Men Without Women and, especially, Voice of America.
I'm just gonna sit over here with my Seger, Mellencamp, Southside Johnny and Little Steven records and glare at a few of you.
I don't think I am terribly keen on anybody mentioned in this thread, Bob Seeger being the one exception, although I haven't listened to him in years. Either I have never really listened to them, John Mellencamp, am indifferent to, SSJ and SVZ (apart from when he"s with ESB, obvs) or actively dislike, U2, Bon Jovi, The Killers and was Billy Joel mentioned somewhere?
I am actually beginning to feel as if my tastes are too narrow!
Of those listed above, I’ve always struggled with U2, but I love Seeger, Mellancamp, Southside and SRV. Completely indifferent to Bon Jovi and The Killers.
Bob Seger has been mentioned before but I'd like to mention him again to rub it in. Then Southside Johnny of course.
I can't stand The Killers save for a couple of tunes but one band Bruce fans seem to really love that I wasn't keen on but growing into a bit of a fan is War On Drugs. The more I hear some of the non-radio tracks the more I hear the greatness.
@Bill Zebub Pleased to hear this... He has released many great records over the years but I absolutely concur that Life, Death, Love and Freedom is a recent near masterpiece. One of my top 3 of his for sure. Must have been a great show. He is not Bruce on stage, for sure, but as you say his band is superb, many (the guitarist for one) having been with him for decades and it's all about the music for him. No fancy lights or theatrics.
Going way back, I had no use for Mellencamp. But in 2009 he and Willie Nelson were the opening acts for a Bob Dylan show that took place in my hometown of New Britain, CT. He played for about 45 minutes, and was funny and self-deprecating. His band was hot, the show was well-paced, and while he could easily have burned through 45 minutes of hits, he featured songs from his most recent album. The album was Life, Death, Love and Freedom, and when he mentioned that it was produced by T-Bone Burnett, I decided to buy it. The next day I drove around listening and shaking my head. I not only bought a 'Cougar' album but was really enjoying it and relating to it? Yow. I didn't go back and explore the back catalog, but I have respect for the guy.
SteveInJoburg
A bit surprised about Seger and Mellencamp. I confess to being a big fan and appreciator of both. Where are you on Petty?
I like Petty.
I meant SVZ.
Bob Seger. John Melloncamp. Bon Jovi. Billy Joel. And SRV.
Oh, I absolutely can’t stand U2.
I am probably pushing the boundaries here but...
Well...
I just can't get into the Disciples of Soul stuff...
I'll get my coat.
Heck of a lot of people on here with cloth lugs. Wink wink.
Mark/Welby sent me some stuff by The Hold Steady ... just didn't do anything for me. A lot of Lakers sent me stuff back in the day, reckoning that I would really like particular bands/artists if I gave them a listen.
Rarely happened but I've still got a few of the things that were sent for sentimental reasons. Actually, Tom Waits was the exception.
Rarely do my eyes roll up into my forehead as they do when someone mentions Billy Joel in the same breath as Bruce.
Concur re: Jason Isbell, if there's a better songwriter turning out music just now I haven't heard him/her.........I reserve the right to re-visit that statement on 23rd October.
Gaslight's first three albums work for me, 59 Sound is a modern classic, but they lost their way badly thereafter. (I guess that'll happen when things go bad between the lead singer and his wife and said wife is the bass player's sister, but I digress.....)
And you and I could fall out if you start talking smack about the mighty Hold Steady.
But if GA doesn't float your boat I'd still recommend checking out Brian Fallon's solo work.
His most recent, "Local Honey", is just lovely.
I like SSJ but Gaslight Anthem and the Killers, I've tried but no.