Sweet Papa Crimbo

I didn't have the presence of mind to pull out the cell phone for pics...

Major parent thoughts, prayers, vibes...

While this song isn't about passing on per se, it speaks to that certain longing: Bruce Springsteen Across the Border Tonight my bag is packed Tomorrow I'll walk these tracks That will lead me across the border Tomorrow my love and I Will sleep 'neath auburn skies Somewhere across the border We'll leave behind my dear The pain and sadness we found here And we'll drink from the Bravo's muddy waters Where the sky grows grey and white We'll meet on the other side There across the border For you I'll build a house High up on a grassy hill Somewhere across the border Where pain and m

On the way home from work this afternoon, a tornoado passed about 150 yards from me. Surprisingly, it wasn't as scary or ominous as I would have thought. It wasn't "Dear God, there is a tornado! I'm in danger!. It was more like "Holy Shit. That's a Tornado. Not very impressive." I worry about myself sometimes.

I think this passage is key to understanding Jeff today. He made records in order to survive as an artist (AM); he made records to prove something and tell the detractors to piss off (Being There); he made records in the depths of co-dependency and depression (Summerteeth); he made records reclaiming his mind and soul (YHF and A Ghost is Born); and he has finally made records he wants to (Sky Blue Sky and Wilco). I think Jeff has finally moved completely beyond feeling superior and is having a kick-ass time. Now...if only the fans could do the same.

Not to digress here but one of the most fascinating things in history is not only is there an event called 'The Defenestration of Prague" there are two such named events. Those wacky Bohemians...

Ahhh...defenestration

So freaking cool... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I09hqp_KYv4

Yeah...we all know about how players who take out catchers when they don't have too are jerks...

Nick Drake --- Pink Moon Alejandro Escovedo --- 13 years

The Call --- Let the Day Begin Wilco --- I thought I held You Neil Young --- A Man Needs a Maid/Heart of Gold Jason and the Scorchers --- Harvest Moon Bob Dylan --- Big River 2 JayZ/Danger Mouse --- Moment of Clarity/Happiness is a Warm Gun (Or as I like to call it "Happiness is a Moment of Clarity") Cheap Trick --- So Good to See You The Raconteurs -- Level The Rolling Stones --- When the Whip comes Down Bob Dylan & the Band --- Yea! Heave and a Bottle of Bread

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85hU1151P2Q

Mario Batalli is liable to get twice the audience that Blue Oyster Cult will. He is a SUPERSTAR Chef...an Iron Chef.

Technically and factually, Tommy isn't an original member

Big Star (Third/Sister Lovers) --- O, Dana Lucinda Williams (Live at the Fillmore)--- Fruits of My Labor Alejandro Escovedo (With These Hands) --- Pissed off 2AM Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (Live 1975-1985) --- It's Hard to be a Saint in the City Rolling Stones (Stick Fingers) --- Dead Flowers Bob Dylan (The Genuine Basement Tapes) --- Santa Fe Warren Zevon (Stand in the Fire) --- The Sin Jimi Hendrix (Live at Berkeley, 2nd Show) --- Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) Fruit Bats (The Ruminant Band) --- FEather Bed Paul McCartney and Wings (Wings Over America) --- Let Me Roll it.

The arrangements, instrumentation, pacing on Human Touch was absolutely HORRID. It's as close to Michael Bolton territory as an artist can get to. It managed to obscure the greatness of several beautiful songs (Soul Drive, Human Touch, Real World) under layers of synthesizer, cheesy background vocals...ugh. Lucky Town was infinitely more appealing, but portions of it come off just a bit half-baked.

I was going to say after IMAGINE, but MIND GAMES has some really moving stuff. SOMETIME IN NEW YORK CITY is embarrassing. It's like he took the New York Times and tried to write a song about EVERY issue he could find. It reeks of insincereity and trendiness.

Certainly a reason for not playing it, but I would have to assert that Magic is a really good record. Working on a Dream has its moments, but I don't think Bruce was that happy with most of the record (witness that he hardly played any of it on the last tour).

I think O'Brien's production on the recent Rock records (The Rising, Magic, Working on a Dream) are a definite improvement over Human Touch and Lucky Town (the last studio records Landau and Chuck Plotkin were involved in). I'm not sure if there is anything that could have helped Devils and Dust. It was a place holder cobbled together from a handful of new tunes and things that were at least 10 years old. (Long Time Coming had been a staple in the Ghost of Tom Joad Tour). Some of the songs on there should have been saved for a rocking E-Street Band record and others he should have simply had

All you need to know about Bruce is the 80's is that he couldn't find a place on any record for Murder Incorporated, Replaced Drop on Down with Down, Down, Down and gave away Protection. He was not well served by Jon Landau in an artistic sense, although he did make him a multi-millionaire.

i'm also curious about the above statement. did landaou steer bruce in a more pop direction? I don't know...it may have had the same ultimate outcome. But Bruce got into a very distinctive rut in the 80's. The production values of his records has always left a lot to be desired. I'm thinking a manager who ran the business side and left the production to the professionals might have been a better move.

Sounds like this one is on Cederstrom, not Manny.

I suppose I am in the decided minority here as I find most of Lennon's work after Mind Games to be inane.

"So you have somewhat of a career" "Yeah, I mean, I guess...I've made about Seven Records so far" "Is that with this Band?" LOL...at least Jeff didn't have to hear the obligatory "Rising from the ashes of Uncle Tupelo"

I was thinking along the same lines. The River, if it gets a similar treatment, could be absolutely epic. Electric Nebraska has been absolutely the holy grail for Springsteen fans (althought much of it has leaked in the past), but there would be no corresponding concert release as Bruce did no touring behind Nebraska. It won't get a remix either (isn't really possible in the manner it was recorded). Born in the USA would probably get the mythic treatment its reputation has earned. I don't know if Bruce is considering retirement and trying to cement his legacy, feeling the cold hand of mortalit