What Are You Listening To Right This Very Second?

[dave from knoxville]

Yeah, I don't know what to think of it either.

[fonpr]

We Take Care Of Our Own (With Lyrics) - Bruce Springsteen

What are the thoughts on the new Bruce single?

I LOVE IT! You all know a lot more about music production and arrangement than me but this has so many things to it that I'm picking up.

1) The first few seconds or so has a guitar that subtle sounds like an alarm. It kind of reminds me of London Calling a bit -- it has big marching drums and a guitar that sounds like an alarm sound, but then the melody comes in and overtakes it.

2) I love Bruce's pitch, especially when he references the Superdome/Katrina. it's down a notch (I think) from where it was a bit earlier in the song.

3) AWESOME HAND CLAPS! Such an awesome touch for a song about community togetherness. This could also show up again at the end when backup voices join in.

4) I love the repetition of the "Where's the promise from sea to shining sea" line -- it really tells you what the song is about. Times get tough for us Americans, but we take care of each other and can get past awful times.

5) I'm really looking forward for this song to be used as political propoganda throughout November!

The synth line pushes me away.  The message however is timely and timeless.

[Mr. Colin]

I have been going to neilyoung.com over and over today and having my mind blown.  There will surely be a crappy record to follow, but what is up there now is GORGEOUS.

[Barry in Ireland]

I don't mean to brag or nothin', but I just changed the E string on my violin (that's right) and then listened to myself pick out a pretty great rendition of "Rock and Roll Dreams Will Come Through". Stephane Grappelli, over here.

[dave from knoxville]

We Take Care Of Our Own (With Lyrics) - Bruce Springsteen

What are the thoughts on the new Bruce single?

I LOVE IT! You all know a lot more about music production and arrangement than me but this has so many things to it that I'm picking up.

1) The first few seconds or so has a guitar that subtle sounds like an alarm. It kind of reminds me of London Calling a bit -- it has big marching drums and a guitar that sounds like an alarm sound, but then the melody comes in and overtakes it.

2) I love Bruce's pitch, especially when he references the Superdome/Katrina. it's down a notch (I think) from where it was a bit earlier in the song.

3) AWESOME HAND CLAPS! Such an awesome touch for a song about community togetherness. This could also show up again at the end when backup voices join in.

4) I love the repetition of the "Where's the promise from sea to shining sea" line -- it really tells you what the song is about. Times get tough for us Americans, but we take care of each other and can get past awful times.

5) I'm really looking forward for this song to be used as political propoganda throughout November!

The synth line pushes me away.  The message however is timely and timeless.

I might argue pointy and pointless.

[cavorting with nudists]

I might argue pointy and pointless.

A regular Christgau ovah here.

[nec13]

[B_Buster]

We Take Care Of Our Own (With Lyrics) - Bruce Springsteen

What are the thoughts on the new Bruce single?

I LOVE IT! You all know a lot more about music production and arrangement than me but this has so many things to it that I'm picking up.

1) The first few seconds or so has a guitar that subtle sounds like an alarm. It kind of reminds me of London Calling a bit -- it has big marching drums and a guitar that sounds like an alarm sound, but then the melody comes in and overtakes it.

2) I love Bruce's pitch, especially when he references the Superdome/Katrina. it's down a notch (I think) from where it was a bit earlier in the song.

3) AWESOME HAND CLAPS! Such an awesome touch for a song about community togetherness. This could also show up again at the end when backup voices join in.

4) I love the repetition of the "Where's the promise from sea to shining sea" line -- it really tells you what the song is about. Times get tough for us Americans, but we take care of each other and can get past awful times.

5) I'm really looking forward for this song to be used as political propoganda throughout November!

I think Bruce has finally written an anthem for corporate America. "We Take Care of Our Own"?! Really? Kinda sounds like a fuck you to everyone else, no? Wouldn't "We Take Care of Each Other" been a much better sentiment?

[B_Buster]

The new Leonard Cohen and Tindersticks. It can't be a coincidence that they both have new records out at the same time, can it?

[fonpr]

1. "We Take Care of Our Own"?


 2.  "We Take Care of Each Other"  a much better sentiment?

1.  Evolutionary biology.
     I took the title to as he was addressing Americans.  I might have missed something.  The synths... you know.

2.  A tad heavy-handed don't you think?

[B_Buster]

C'mon, Fredericks, Bruce isn't exactly known for his subtle approach. I just think it would have sounded a little less America first. A little less selfish, you know?

[fonpr]

Point taken.

However, if he's trying to make real change, he has to consider his target audience: Americans.

[B_Buster]

C'mon, Fredericks, no one's ever made real change in a pop song.

[Mr. Colin]

In "Raspberry Beret", Prince begins the song working at a five and dime; presumably, this would have required him to make change constantly.

[fonpr]

C'mon, Fredericks, no one's ever made real change in a pop song.

Oh Buster you're so cynical. 

This probably won't change your thinking but I ask you to give it a look. http://blogcritics.org/music/article/is-popular-music-an-effective-vehicle/page-5/

You can read sentences like this: However, popular music is an extremely effective vehicle for political discourse, acting as a tremendously powerful weapon in bringing about social change, and in documenting that change.