I found Bruce Springsteen’s “High Hopes” on Spotify today providing me an early opportunity to listen to it as it was not available at my local CD store.
I’d read a few reviews in the lead up to the release of this album and they hadn’t necessarily been fulsome in their praise. As a result I was a little uneasy as I hit the play button on my iPhone.
A sense of relief overcame me as I listened to the title track and progressed through the album. It probably won’t be regarded as a classic but it’s definitely one to be reckoned with. “High Hopes” is a CD which is a collection of songs and as such isn’t cohesive. I don’t think it matters. As Springsteen said himself in a promo from his website, the album is made up of songs that he’d kept going back too. I can understand why with concert classics like the stunning American Skin (41 Shots) and The Ghost of Tom Joad providing a sound base along with others which had been recorded previously but hadn’t made the cut until their rework for this album.
For me, the stand out is the Saints classic Just Like Fire and Would. Awesome is not too strong a word for it. An Australian classic recorded by The Boss and a feature in his last Australian Tour although not the night I saw him.
The album closes out with Dream Baby Dream which might just be seen as a classic in years to come.
As I said at the outset this isn’t going to be a Born to Run, but let’s face it nothing ever will be, nor is it even a Wrecking Ball but there is plenty here to enjoy.
Other reviews
– Bruce Springsteen’s album of offcuts, covers and reworkings adds up to a slice of the Boss at his best
Thank you so much for replying to my post on “Rosalita.” It’s refreshing to find out someone read something you wrote without you sending you sending him an e-mail and basically FORCING him to read it. Blogging is so bizarre… but your e-mail sort of gave me hope.
And speaking of “hope”… I wanted you to know that I enjoyed your “High Hopes” post. I have to admit, I was a little dubious about getting it (the praise hasn’t been necessarily “fulsome,” as you so brilliantly put it), but your review turned me around.
One last thing: my brother told me he saw a Springsteen cover band last week in Boston. The last two songs were my favorites: “Trapped” (rarely played, but awesome) leading into “Rosalita.” How awesome is that.
Thanks again, and keep up the good work!
I should also have said our dog Rosie, is named after Rosalita!
As for High Hopes, it’s continued to grow on me with every listen.
Only just over two weeks til Springsteen is in Adlaide, but whose counting!
Thanks also for your comments.