Artist Archives
August 19, 2007
The Best Boss in the World
Two of my favourite artists fall into that category of "you either get it or you don't". One, who I'll talk a lot more about later, is Neil Young. And the other is "The Boss", Bruce Springsteen. When I tell people I listen to Bruce and the E Street Band, I keep getting a negative reaction (much to my surprise). Whether they don't care for the voice, can't relate to the music, or conjure up unflattering images of men in their forties in white t-shirts and bandanas belting out "BAAAHRN IN THA U-S-A!" some people just don't like Bruce.
To me, of course, Springsteen's appeal is obvious. First off, the sound of his music is unbelievable. The sheer size of the E Street Band creates a wall of music that could easily blow your speakers. And it's not just quantity of musicians; it's quality as well. Each member of the band is legendary in their own craft; after all, there is only one Max Weinberg, one Clarence "Big Man" Clemons, and only one Stevie Van Zandt.
The songs themselves are masterful too. Bruce has created an entire world within his music. There aren't many songwriters who are storytellers of his calibre, and the distinction suits him. Almost every song is a narrative with distinct and separate characters, and the listener is really brought into the world of the protagonist. All the hopes, fears and challenges that they face becomes familiar, and you can identify with them. The fact that they are almost entirely about a blue-collar character is the real key to how he became the hero of the working class. The great thing is that not only are the stories meaningful, they are credible. They tell of things that can and do happen; they also have a grandiose feel to them. Rather than a pop song about meeting a girl at a party, the songs are more about sacrificing to make a life for a family.
The backdrop for the songs can only be described as an industrial utopia. He sings of lovers who meet "in the field behind the dynamo", or a "giant Exxon sign" which gives light to a "fair city". It's about finding those small scraps of beauty within a world of grime and despair. Even the people are realistic. In Thunder Road, he sings "you ain't a beauty, but hey, you're alright." Not a goddess, not a Barbie doll, but an average looking woman who means everything.
The biggest divide between lovers and haters is energy. When I first started listening to Springsteen, I pictured a stoic man rasping out these songs of yearning and hope in the darkness. But then I saw live footage of Bruce and the E Street Band, and it changed my life. Never before have I seen such raw energy and power coming from a group of performers. All of them look as if they're playing a local rowdy bar: dancing around, standing on the pianos and speakers, pumping their fists; you almost forget they are in front of a thousand people in a stadium.
Rest assured, I will be reviewing actual songs and albums in the near future. And I'm very excited to say that Bruce and the band are releasing a new album in early-mid October, called "Magic". And there are rumours of a tour. And here I thought I'd never get to see the Boss and the E Street Band live. I guess when it comes to Bruce Springsteen, whether in his songs or in real life, there's always hope.
Until next time,
JW
Posted by JW on August 19, 2007 7:46 PM | Permalink
October 1, 2007
1, 2, 3, 4 steps for listening to Feist
I never thought I'd get into Feist. I heard the buzz, but she didn't seem to be my sort of music. Then I discovered these four easy steps to start listening to Feist...
1. Hear a song, think it's kinda catchy
2. See 1, 2, 3, 4 on the ipod commercial, get it stuck in your head every time you watch tv
3. Find out she used to be in Broken Social Scene
4. Buy album and be completely blown away
I have to admit, I like Feist far more than I thought I would. Beyond the catchy tunes you hear in the singles, she has a fantastic range that I never could have expected. From the soft, slow tunes like Gatekeeper to the upbeat, vielle Français style tune of L'amour ne dure pas toujours, she seems to escape being pigeonholed into one particular style of music, which is a huge plus in my books. Her voice is absolutely fantastic, and is as varied as her musical styles. Quiet and soft one moment, then strong and bouncy the next, it's hard to get bored of her singing. Her origins in indie group Broken Social Scene are particularly evident in many songs, while others seem completely removed, so fans of BSS should certainly check her out, without worrying that she's just recycling old styles.
A particular favourite of mine is One Evening, a new-jazz style song that reminds me of another great, Steely Dan. It has a distinct funk/jazz feel to it not often found in the mainstream.
A short review, considering I cannot say enough about this act. She will certainly find her way into my regular rotation on the old iPod, despite the upcoming releases of Bruce and Neil's new albums expected this month.
Until next time,
JW
Posted by JW on October 1, 2007 12:21 PM | Permalink
November 15, 2007
Neilstones
One of the great things about Neil Young is the fact that his songs often reflect milestones in a person's life. There are plenty of songs that achieve this goal, but the ones I really want to point out are the "coming of age songs" that pinpoint exact ages, and I think really capture the feeling you get when you hit that time in your life.
Sugar Mountain
When you're turning twenty, you know you're reaching a new part of your life. No longer a teenager, you have more responsibilities; you've been out on your own for a bit, and now you're starting to feel it. This is a time to really reflect on the past, and realize that even though you were in a rush to grow up, you start to realize that hey, maybe being young wasn't so bad after all...and you maybe miss it more than you think
Oh, to live on Sugar Mountain, with the barkers and the coloured balloons. You can't be twenty on Sugar Mountain, though you're thinkin' that you're leaving there too soon.
Powderfinger
This isn't just one of my favourite songs of all time, it's also a great coming of age song. It's an allegory for suddenly finding yourself responsible for dealing with some big crisis or just life in general, and realizing that you're on your own; nobody's around to take care of it for you anymore. It's that first big step into the real world. When you're 22, that's when a lot of people are hitting that big career step; you're wrapping up school, or an apprenticeship, or maybe you're finally ready to start your own thing. And you find out in a big way that maybe you weren't as ready as you thought you were, but there's no turning back.
Daddy's gone, my brother's out huntin' in the mountains; Big John's been drinkin' since the river took Emmy Lou. So the powers that be left me here to do the thinkin'. And I just turned twenty-two, I was wonderin' what to do, and the closer they got, the more those feelings grew.
Old Man
The last of the milestones is 24. You've been out in the world and experienced a bit, and you start to identify a little more with your elders. You maybe see parents or other authority figures in a new light, especially as you start to find yourself in those very roles, and the roles you maybe resented when you were younger. It's finding that maybe you finally 'get' adults, if only a little. I waited to do this post until now, because today is the last of my Neil milestones. I turn 24 years old today, and I have to say, every one of these songs has more meaning for me having experienced what they seem to get at. If you haven't heard them, give them a shot; you may agree with what Neil's saying. I know I do.
Old man, look at my life, twenty-four and there's so much more. Live alone in a paradise that makes me think of two. Love lost, such a cost, give me things that don't get lost. Like a coin that won't get tossed, rolling home to you. Old man, take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you. I need someone to love me the whole day through. Ah, one look at my life, you can tell that's true.
Until next time,
JW
