Somewhat confused collection of covers, outtakes and additions to popular songs, but much better than expected

Somewhat confused collection of covers, outtakes and additions to popular songs, but much better than expected

High Hopes (Limited Edition) incl. DVD (audio CD)

Customer Review

Rating: 4 Stars

Short version: My expectations for this album were not particularly high. However, these were clearly exceeded. A little wild, piecemeal-like collection of partly slightly overproduced songs without thematic context, musically very varied, but great fun except for the slow start. The existing well at my skepticism about the presence of over Tom Morello was unfounded, long Springsteen has therefore no longer sounded so rocky. The sound / production sound thanks to producer Ron Aniello very fresh and modern, but is not necessarily for everyone.

Long version: It makes little sense in my view, to compare this album with the 17 previously published Bruce studio albums. Each album stands on its own and should be evaluated as such also singular, ie it makes m. E. little sense masterpieces as Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town compare over songs like Born to Run, Jungleland or Racing in the Street with albums by now. The albums by Springsteen have always been especially distinguished itself, that each album was different, the only true law on High Hopes to. Ultimately, this diversity is also what me as a fan of Springsteen so fascinated: There are very few artists who so consistently evolve as Springsteen. He is due to its versatility even today not only lyrically, but also musically still relevant, what you can not say of many superstars who are still on the way since the 60's or 70's today and fill stadiums and usually live the glory days of old. The fact that this versatility also something is what some of the fans might not like it, this is completely normal. Once again, there will again be some who say that High Hopes would not serve up some masterpieces from the 70s and 80s and Springsteen have brought more since the 80s no ordinary album about. Also like my early albums in total certainly better than the albums since the 90s, and yet I would not have missed a single album of the 90s and 00s, because even the rather average albums like Human Touch, Devils and Dust, Working on a Dream, or even to Part The Rising all contain plenty of good songs. And that also applies to the songs from High Hopes, written for the most part a long time ago. Rather, I expect Springsteen precisely this versatility, the unpredictability and this innovative very high and would find it absurd if he would try again today to copy albums as Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town; both lyrically and musically, I would not relieve him of the day. His credibility, his courage to continually develop and also to make things that do not just expect the fan especially as far as the sound makes any Springsteen release so exciting.

This time it has Springsteen managed to surprise me positively, even though I was very skeptical to the end, and this skepticism was even greater when I heard that he is still to use an in my opinion extremely weak song like High Hopes a cover as the title track and Tom Morello would play an important role. The fact is for me, Springsteen manages even today, to write songs that touch me and simply usually liked me good to very. Also on High Hopes some songs are included once again that I do not want to miss from now on.

About the motives that Springsteen could have enticed to take such an album, one can only speculate (apparently infected Tom Morello behind, is said to have inspired such Bruce). Z. B. is also rumored that this is this is a transitional album to still meet the expiring mega deal with Sony. While other artists for this purpose usually raushauen little innovative Best-Ofs, the promotional products may still contain then one or the other new song, Springsteen has once again chosen a very different approach and published a collection of songs that are more on track, The Promise or Disc 3 Essentials remembered as a real new album. As a fan, I should be very pretty this approach. His new producer since Wrecking Ball, Ron Aniello, has also divulged in an interview that he would just work on around 40 completely new songs for a genuine new Bruce album that will be released this year. It will be interesting what will happen.

Back to High Hopes: With High Hopes of the now 64-year-old Springsteen has now for the first time recorded an album in different studios - consisting of a somewhat confused mix of covers, outtakes and additions to already known (live) songs of the last 15 years. That Bruce resorts to older songs that did not make it to earlier albums, is not necessarily new (The River is full of them, as Devils and Dust). Therefore, one should songs like Harry's Place or Down in the Hole (both written for The Rising) also rightly not called Outtakes, any more than the songs on the album The Promise genuine outtakes were who did not make it to the respective albums, not because they were not good enough, but because they just did not fit thematically. Completely new is the fact that Bruce Cover grabs on a studio album (apart from the Seeger Sessions) and then three of them. This could be described as Einfalllosigkeit. But to him these songs were obviously too important and with the exception of the title track, the cover are also good.

This abnormal approach at High Hopes how Springsteen has described the album himself in an interview, however, causes the album this time has no central theme, followed no real concept. So far, in fact most of Bruce albums had a specific topic, such as the last genius Wrecking Ball, which addressed the financial crisis. In the WB song order was therefore also crucial: It started with angry, biting lyrics, and ended with hopeful, optimistic songs. When HH the order, however, is of secondary importance, only Dream Baby Dream finally makes sense, especially in an album, that is High Hopes.

Conclusion: High Hopes is better than expected, an album that simply is fun, but the album had m. E. should not be called a new album, rather than what it is: A collection of covers, outtakes (or whatever one of these songs were also called) and studio recordings known live songs. So in advance only false expectations have been aroused. The songs are good, but partly overproduced, although modern manufacturing many songs more interesting and certainly more makes (American Skin z. B.). Nevertheless, sometimes a little less would have been more (Down in the Hole), as with Wrecking Ball. Despite the many sound-Schnick-Schnack, it has become a very rocking, modern music and far fewer folk and Seeger heavy as Wrecking Ball without sounding like the early rock albums by Springsteen. Overall, a fine, solid complement the already extensive Springsteen catalog. Another masterpiece but it will not be, despite some outstanding songs certainly.

Track-by-track review:

High Hopes: For me to be one of the weakest songs I've ever heard of Springsteen. Already in 1995 included on the EP Blood Brother, I have never found access to this song, have him therefore never misses even all these years. It is probably due to Tom Morello, who suggested the song Bruce, after which the song was then performs a few times live in Australia. The new version with Tom Morello is better than the 1995 version, but it is and remains a just below average song, which moreover is still too long. 2/5

Harry's Place: Has Mary's Place nothing in common except that both songs for The Rising were provided. But if Harry's Place sounds, will quickly see that the song would not have fitted on The Rising, neither textually nor musically. The production sounds very 80s-like, especially the sax of Clarence Big Man Clemons, musical HP is a blend of The Fuse (The Rising album), Calling Elvis (Dire Straits) and You Belong to the City (Glenn Frey) , lyrically very bleak. Rather uncharacteristically, getting used to, quite danceable Bruce song, in the '80s with hit potential certainly: 2.5 / 5

American Skin (41 Shots): The well-known since the Reunion-Tour 2000 song which deals with the execution by 41 shots of a color unarmed boys in NY by the NYPD receives here a sensational makeover, similar to Land of Hope and Dreams from WB album, which I find very successful. Once again Tom Morello may shine here. If you do not already know the song so good, you'd know him certainly in this version even more appreciated. Is certainly one of the best songs that Bruce wrote since 1999. Even more so in this version: 5/5

Just Like Fire Would: Excellent cover of Australian punk band The Saints, but could also come from the pen of Springsteen. The version corresponds almost exactly to the live version that Bruce performs last year in Australia, plus the added mixed wonderfully raspy vocals of Little Steven. However, the song is strongly reminiscent of John Mellencamp's Smalltown, but I like anyway :-). Song is fun, would like may be a little longer. 4/5.

Down In The Hole: Another outtake from the Rising sessions. Toller, atmospherically-dense song, somewhat overproduced, strongly reminiscent of I'm on Fire, but also on Magic (the song). In addition, some sites remember individual songs from The Rising. Wonderful background vocals from Patti Scialfa (and all three children of Springsteen / Scialfa), accompanied by a delicately plucked banjo. Definitely an asset of the Springsteen song repertoire. Great: 4.5 / 5

Heaven's Wall: Bruce spoke indeed times of wanting to record a gospel album. This song could have been intended for such album. Reminds me a little of What Love Can Do from Woad album. Go tidy to the point, great groove, I could well imagine as a show opener. Raise your hand and also otherwise very Biblical text, even if given the Genuschels hardly understands. Certainly not for everyone, I like it 4/5

Frankie Fell In Love: Magic-outtake, one of my highlights of the album, although quite simple 08-15-pop-rock song would also wonderful on The River fitted, lyrically. Reminds musically something to Crush On You or You Can Look, But also to My Lucky Day. The song just makes good humor and has something nostalgic. I like very much: 4/5

This Is Your Sword: With under three minutes rather short, Irish folky song with catchy warranty, backed by a bagpipe. Nice sound, but somehow something inconsequential. 3/5

Hunter of Invisible Game: Begins as film music, very nice, Waltz-like song in the style of Terry's Song, but less acoustically but with orchestral accompaniment. Production reminiscent of the Woad album. Not as catchy as the two songs before, but for me one of the best songs on HH. 4.5 / 5

The Ghost Of Tom Joad: The with over 7 minutes too long skirt version of the same name 1995 masterpiece, here almost exactly as performs as at live appearances since 2008. Thus, with Tom Morello, of the with his guitar and even more with his getting used to singing Song dislike for anyone really improve. The live version is I did not like its time for TM, but at this studio rock version I have, despite Morello - become accustomed and have to admit that the song so rock and I always like better in this version: 4.5 / . 5

The Wall: After American Skin best song on the album that has the makings of a classic, especially with berührendem text about a Vietnam War veteran from New Jersey. Sounds partly slightly Fields of Gold by Sting. According to Ron Aniello next Just Like Fire Would the only song in which the E Street Band in full during the recording was also present in the studio. Very pleasant, thrifty instrumentation, the end of the wonderful trumpet of Curt Ramm, melancholic, great: 5/5

Dream Baby Dream: The song, a cover of the New Yorker Wave punk band Suicide, Bruce has played every evening as the last song at the end of the Devils and Dust Tour 2005. The constantly recurring, very simple text goes together with the escalating instrumentation right under the skin, especially when the accompanying video (on YouTube !!!), the Bruce has made as a thank you for the fans of the Wrecking Ball Tour , has in mind. Isolated as a single certainly unsuitable, but as a conclusion of an album quite fitting and then 3.5 /. 5

Length of the album: 56:31 minutes

As with Springsteen usual, there is again a fine booklet with all lyrics, some pictures and information about the individual recordings and worth reading liner notes. Unfortunately, the CD inserted again in a non-tear-resistant paperboard sleeve. The bonus DVD is only settled, although is a little cheap route for a limited edition, but has the advantage that it is easy to remove.

Bonus-DVD: As a bonus, there are in the Limited Edition of the hour-long part of the concert the Wrecking Ball Tour from 30.6.2013 from the London Olympic Park, where the complete Born in the USA album (all 12 songs out of 29 songs that were played that night) was listed. At this price, you should not be too critical and as a fan you take with of course, what you can get, BUT: It is now the third Bruce live DVD from the Hard Rock Calling Festival (HRC) in London (after the DVD London Calling from the HRC in 2009, the 6 tracks on the DVD Springsteen & I from HRC 2012). On the other hand would not be faulted if HRC would each have been exceptional concerts. Was it but not this time! There is hardly a lahmeres audience than that at this festival and the performance was for Springsteen ratios this evening not the best that could have been lying, among other things the fact that the previous evening in Paris also the Born in the USA album in full was performed, which is rather unusual for Springsteen and is lost through this album shows a lot of spontaneity that make Bruce concerts always so unique. If even a music show, then I would have the desired of Milan (with the world's fanatischstem audience) or the like in Munich, where in each case also the Biusa album was performed. But that would be much more complex (= expensive) have been for the company Bruce Springsteen. After all, this show was in London, were in Bruce's 87-year-old mom and his sister Pamela on stage. ;-)

The Born in the USA album is also in this year 30 years old and we fans are hoping for a decent BITUSA-anniversary box set, as she has given to the albums Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town, and I would but somewhat disappointed when this half-baked bonus DVD would serve as a substitute for such a box. As a bonus DVD, as I said, completely OK! Sound and image are good.

nice but no real protection Rank: 3/5
April 16
cables neatly Rank: 5/5
January 1
Superb bag 1 Rank: 5/5
January 18
exciting! 40 Rank: 4/5
January 16
great idea! 19 Rank: 5/5
September 5
Full, cheap except port frait Rank: 4/5
February 6

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