Thursday, November 09, 2006

Bruce Springsteen – We shall overcome (the songs of Pete Seeger)


To me the more quiet moments of this singer songwriter were always his best. In 2002 he released a truly moving document of September 11, entitled ‘The Rising’. It featured some of his best songwriting in years, and reunited him with the E Street band for the first time in the studio since ‘Born in the USA’. Then 2005’s ‘Devils and Dust’ album combined his acoustic side with the rich layered Americana sound that he is best loved for. On we shall overcome Bruce invited a quite a few good musician friends from New York with rootsy instruments like banjos and fiddles to cover the songs of political folk legend Pete Seeger. This was recorded with no rehearsals or overdubs during a 3-day session at his New Jersey farm. The music comes off rough and natural, and his voice on the almost unfamiliar backing reminds one of Tom Waits or the Pogues. This is new territory for him, but Springsteen treads masterfully.

No comments: