Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)When Bruce Springsteen reformed the E Street Band to mount a world tour that would stretch out over the course of 1999 & 2000, amid the ecstasy of it all, there were some questions surrounding the tour. It had been twelve years since the band played a full tour together and with most of the band pushing fifty would they still have the spark and fire that made them the most cohesive and electrifying live act in music. Well any questions that were out there were quickly erased the moment they hit the stage. Like a fine wine, the band has gotten better with time. They may not be able to put on the four hour marathons they once did, but they were much tighter than they had ever been, making the music crisper and more passionate. This live set is taken from the last two shows on the final stop of the tour, Madison Square Garden, New York City and are the basis for his first televised concert performance on HBO. As Mr. Springsteen often does, he reworks songs in concert, giving them a different edge. "Youngstown" is transformed from the quiet acoustic number on The Ghost Of Tom Joad into a searing, blazing rocker marked by a buzzsaw guitar solo by Nils Lofgren which segues perfectly into another burner, "Murder Incorporated". "Born In The USA" is done in its original early Nebraska version with some impressive slide acoustic guitar by Mr. Springsteen. The song takes on a starker quality and strips away any confusion about what the song is about. "If I Should Fall Behind" finds Little Steven, Patti Scialfa, Mr. Lofgren and the Big Man, Clarence Clemons sharing the mic with Mr. Springsteen in one of the most poignant moments from the shows. "Tenth Avenue Freezeout" becomes a r&b soaked, sermon about the rededication and respiritualization of the band where Mr. Springsteen involves the crowd in a singalong and introduces the band members. "The River" is still the somber tale of despair but Mr. Clemons sax solo cuts through it like a beacon of light. The rest of the album is superb including rousing versions of "My Love Will Not Let You Down", "Out In The Street", "Ramrod", "Two Hearts" which has great harmonization between Mr. Springsteen & Little Steven, a stirring "Lost In the Flood" and a powerful "Atlantic City". The album also contains two songs specifically written for the tour. "The Land Of Hope & Dreams" closed out most shows on the tour and in it Mr. Springsteen sings of a train that is open to everyone, saints and sinners alike, that will carry you to the promised land if you are willing to board it. The song has a driving beat and is uplifting. "American Skin (41 Shots)" is the controversial song about the police shooting of Amadou Diallo. In it, Mr. Springsteen assumes the voice of an African-American mother who cautions her son that even doing nothing can get you killed. The song is classic Springsteen and with it he shows that he still has his finger on the pulse of current events and his music not only entertains, but also informs and makes you think. It's hard to believe that it's been fifteen years since the release of his first live album, the sprawling Live 1975-1985, but Live in New York City shows that Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band are still the best live act in music and probably the greatest of all time.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Live In New York City (2CD)
Click here for more information about Live In New York City (2CD)
0 comments:
Post a Comment