Bruce Springsteen - Letter to You (October 23, 2020) Album • Page 4

I don’t really compare artists new albums to their older albums. Especially with an artist that’s been going as long as Springsteen. This album is really great and I’m going to listen to it a lot! All I need to know.

I think some people ruin their own enjoyment of things by comparing to what came before. (I completely get why people do it though!)

 

I already think this is on the level of Magic, which is my favorite of his later (post-Tunnel) career. I just really hope he's able to tour this with the band at some point.

 

I think its just as good as Magic.

 

Only way to answer this question is to spend the weekend listening to all twenty of the man's records!

 

don't tempt me with a good time

 

same tbh

 

With him and with U2, I kind of break their careers into three pieces: post-2000, the ‘90s, and everything before the ‘90s. I’m more likely to compare his newer stuff to the rest of the post-2000 catalog, versus going back to his (untouchable) initial eight-album run. I think that helps me appreciate his newer stuff more than I would if I were legitimately expecting something on the level of BTR or Darkness.

 

anyone got any theories on the three old songs inclusions? obviously he was going through his archive but you have to feel there was some particular reason why he went with these three rather than a bunch of other pre-73 outtakes.

 

I love that "Shooter" is done so differently than the Zevon version so I won't be trying to compare them all the time.

 

Man, this is so good

 

Shooter sounds pretty damn close to his original demo. I love it.

 

I will say on first spin, the songs aren't quite at the level of Western Stars, Magic, and Wrecking Ball, but the absolutely god-level production and playing kinda offset that, and it could definitely grow on me a lot with repeat listens.

 

the drums sound so god damn crisp

 

I hear a lot more of Charlie on this album too.

 

I think these last two are easily his best since the '80s

 

Oh god yeah. Max sounds like a behemoth on "Janey"

And the bass tone on "Ghosts" is just incredible.

 

One Minute You're Here is instant god tier Bruce for me

 

Max sounds fantastic. I’d have to go back and listen but I’m pretty sure “Rainmaker” is the one that really blew me away

 

I just keep replaying the part where it breaks down to the guitar lick in "Ghosts" and the claps and the sax come in. It's just an instant seratonin injection at a time when I very much need it.

 

Bruce sounds really great throughout this, but his vocal on "Rainmaker" is just dynamite. One of my favorite Bruce performances in years.

Anyway, I wrote a lot of words about this: Bruce Springsteen – Letter to You

 

Yeah, this is an incredible album. Definitely my favorite since The Rising and probably not all that close. Admittedly I am biased towards the full-band stuff and I didn't like Western Stars nearly as much as most did.

The band just sounds so good on this.

The final 3 songs is my favorite stretch......I held off on listening to Ghosts until today. That song, holy cow, what a massive song. Can't wait to hear that live someday.

Amazing that he can still do this, at THIS QUALITY, at age 71.

 

Craig - this is an incredible line in your review and I could not possibly agree more.

"Over the past three decades, Bruce’s biggest sin as an artist has been underusing his band. He became something like the neighbor who owns the most beautiful sports car in the world but never, ever drives it"

 

If I could ask him one thing about this record, this would be it.

It is such a head trip to hear "If I Was The Priest" with all its rambling verses. Would've been a top 5 song on Greetings and yet totally out of place at the same time due to the length and anthemic swell. Almost a missing link between Greetings and Born to Run? I don't know, but I love it.

 

This thing really kicks into gear on the B side huh? "Rainmaker" to the end is basically flawless.

 

yeah this was my feeling too