A couple of months ago I ran across a fairly new blog about Springsteen and his music, but one with a definite twist. Soul Boogie Alex has created Boss Tracks and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
What makes Alex's blog different is that it focuses on two unusual aspects of the Springsteen fan experience. First, he gives background in amazing detail of the cover songs Bruce has done through his career, usually posting both an MP3 of the original and an MP3 of a Bruce cover version from one of the bootlegs. Second, for those of us who collect bootleg Springsteen recordings, Alex gives us detailed reviews of both old and new releases. While we disagree on which era of Springsteen's career might have been the best (Alex leans toward the Born to Run tour, while I tend to prefer the Darkness tour recordings), the reviews are invaluable to a collector -- especially one like me who wants to own every great bootleg release, but not necessarily every release.
To steal from Stephen Colbert, I send a "Tip of my hat" to Alex and urge all you Springsteen fans to check out Boss Tracks. You'll find it well worth your time!
With that said, here's a new Bruce video for you -- "Mary's Place" from the July 19, 2008 show at Camp Nou in Barcelona. It doesn't have great sound quality, but it definitely captures the experience of seeing a great live Bruce performance. Hope you enjoy it!!
Monday, July 28, 2008
A must for all Bruce fans!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy Birthday, USA!
Hello, I'm back again after a considerable absence while looking for work. Let me tell you, this economy really sucks -- especially trying to find a job where I reside. Oh well, enough of that...on to more important things.
First, today's video is from July 1988, a rousing version of Born In The U.S.A. performed in East Berlin. It seemed appropriate, especially since Bruce opened his show in Gothenburg, Sweden, today with the song. I looked for a full clip of that but couldn't find it -- but this is an great substitution (and check out the audience and their participation)!
Next, it's time for me to express my intense disapproval of Barack Obama's decision to support the "compromise" FISA bill. When I use the term "compromise" it should actually read "Democratic capitulation to the lame-duck Bush administration and fear-mongering Republicans." Don't get me wrong, I'm still supporting Obama -- but this stance seems antithetical to everything I've thought the man was standing for and it pisses me off to no end. I know that a Dem has to move to the center to a degree to have any chance of winning in the general election, but this abandonment of the Constitution by a Constitutional Law professor in order to draw some "moderates" is wrong, no matter how you look at it. Come back Barack from wherever it is you've gone -- we need the guy who got me to overcome my cynicism and believe in hope again, not the one caving into the Repubs for fear of looking weak on terror.
