I was expecting to see a dedicated thread here after the few titbits Bruce let slip on E Street Radio. I didn't hear it as I can't get it, but here is the real juicy bits as quoted on Backstreets
"Vault projects There are things we're working on. We have something that's going to come out in the fall; I don't know if it's been announced yet [It has not. —Ed.]… I've got projects I've been working on, basically, that are slated for release either next year or in the fall. Not new records, but things that fans I think are really going to be interested in.… I think these are things that the fans will have fun with, coming up. We've worked on a lot of things from the vault… well, I'll let it be a surprise."
So possibly Tracks 2, either sooner or later. Who knows? TBH, at this stage I think Bruce has thrown these types of little quotes in many interviews in the last decade without it coming to much. So, for mine until there is an official press release from JLM the speculation should be fun but nothing is certain.
"Killers in the sun
I did a nice thing with Brandon Flowers, with The Killers… they're a terrific band, and we did something together that I think is going to come out soon. Like, in a week or so! So I've been staying busy."
This is pretty funny now. As a Killers fan I follow them on Facebook, they started a whole 'guess the artist who joined us' marketing build up dropping clues about this new song and offering prizes to fans who could guess. After Bruce's quote, they just posted the following... "Looks like the cat’s out of the bag. When The Boss decides it’s time to make an announcement, it’s time to make an announcement." Gold.
I think they just thought it would be fun to do and why not? My son, who is a Killers fan and obviously a Bruce fan, thinks it's pretty good.
Yes, extremely small sample. Brandon loves to introduce his favourite music to their fans ... Romeo & Juliet cover for instance. Bruce and Brandon obviously enjoyed doing this song together and most of us are extremely thankful they did.
I'm a Killers fan. I think on some of their music, they walk an interesting line between the overblown but effective bombast of Jim Steinman and the more grounded music of Bruce. The original Dustland Fairytale does that well for mine. I really love the depth their original film clip brings to the song.
I like how in this new version, Bruce maybe takes the place of Brandon's father sort of talking to him (as the original was based on Brandon reflecting on his parents meeting as I understand it). So on that level, I don't mind it.
But does it add anything to Bruce's legacy? I don't think so. Does it even add to The Killers legacy, at least in their fans eyes? Again, I suspect not so much. The Bleachers 'Chinatown' song at least involved an artist whose audience may have never heard much Bruce being introduced to him... I doubt that applies to The Killers.
Maybe in reverse The Killers thought some Bruce fans who hadn't heard them before might check them out after this... the admittedly extremely small sample above suggests not...
One listen. Shan’t bother again. But fuck me, if I look half that good at his age my Mrs will be well chuffed.
I like Chinatown better, as far as recent collaborations go...
I like more and more, but it's not that special.
Wow! That’s one bad song.
Doesn't do anything for me I'm afraid. I've listened twice but doubt I will listen a third time.
I've listened to this three times.
The first I wasn't impressed by Bruce's part in it. The lyrics aren't his kind of lyrics and to hear him sing them didn't sound right.
For the second i watched the video and was immediately sold by the transition of young Brandon to old Bruce, giving the idea of the protagonist singing this at the time and then looking back years later.
The third, just there, I started thinking about the context Brandon gives in the post above, and whether Bruce knew about this and wanted to sing it with him as part of his own coping process in relation to his mam?
It's here.
So much better when they can be seen as well as heard. My two favourite, wonderful men. Absolutely divine.
'I have always sought to find and reflect that elusive light in my songs. It’s a trait I inherited from my mother Jean. She died from a brain tumor back in 2010 at the age of 64… Sixty Four! I’m turning 40 next week and I’m starting to realize just how young that is. Too young. She was married to my father Terry for 44 of those years. Dustland was written in the middle of her battle with cancer. It was an attempt to better understand my dad, who is sometimes a mystery to me. To grieve for my mother. To acknowledge their sacrifices and maybe even catch a glimpse of just how strong love needs to be to make it in this world. It was my therapy. It was cathartic.
That’s where Bruce comes in. Before I really became a fan of his, I was in the business of stadium-size everything. Larger than life EVERYTHING. Certainly larger than the lives of Jeannie and Terry Flowers. But Bruce has written a lot about people like my parents and found a whole lot of beauty in otherwise invisible people’s hopes and dreams. Their struggles, and their losses.
I’m grateful to him for opening this door for me. I’m grateful to my parents for their example to me. Now go find something new out about your dad, give your mom a big hug, and for god’s sake listen to Bruce Springsteen.'
Bruce told Brandon he'd love to join them on Dustland Fairytale after watching their set at Glastonbury.
Keep up, Bruce. 😉