Kim, as much as I respect your comments on music, & know that everything you say, you say in an intelligent way, I have to disagree with your view that Springsteen has never sold out.
His 'Born In The USA' was probably the biggest sell-out of his career. It garnered commercial hit singles & rave reviews, not from the Rock Press but from the Pop Press. The Rock publications in England loathed it. The Pop press however adored it & even went so far as to claim it was his first album because they are idiots ('Smash Hits' ring a bell Al?).
I'd go so far as to say that most everything, just like Aerosmith from 'Permanent Vacation' onwards, that Springsteen has done since 'Born In The USA' has been commercial pap.
Also the way he makes his political point makes him as irritating as Bono. These people (presumably in New Jersey) he writes songs about, he makes millions from. Does he ever think of donating any of it to the muse he has used? He is not & could never be part of the working class he writes about anymore. Lets face it he lives in a great big mansion with thousands of rooms with his wife-for-hire Patti Scialfa (a woman so unbelieviably untalented she should be sued).
I do like some of Springsteen's music, but don't think he is as forthright as he claims to be as a human being & for me the quality of his music has suffered since 'Born In The USA'.
Good point Doc...and I agree, to a degree...in that if we can call selling millions of albums, ala "Born In The USA" is selling out...then he sold out
big time! If we can call an artist of Springsteen's nature one who waas able to crossover, and hit the commercial market the way in which he did, when he did, with the music contained within that release, a sell out...again...Bingo! he did it in fine fashion.
Before BITUSA hit, the average listener had little idea as to who this guy was...then, when he did hit it big with that release, a lot of people you talked to were now mentioning "Born To Run"...and that "The Boss" was indeed a force to be reckoned with. It appeared that closet "Bruce" fans were coming out allllll over the place.
Same thing applies to Aerosmith...when they made their comeback, they all of a sudden had hoardes of fans that were not even born when
Tyler and Perry were known as the "toxic twins". Hell, most of the die- hards just took it for granted and enjoyed the music and the performances way back when in the mid 70's...during their heyday.
The thing I see differently however, and this is just a personal opinion, but if we get down to comparing the 2 artists, Aerosmith really sold out in that, again, in my humble opinion, the songs really had little substance. I mean really..."I See You When Your Sleeping", (excuse me if I have the song title incorrect), comes across nothing less than a glorified, sappy, over the top, made for AM Radio fodder love song.
Keep in mind...YES...there is a target audience for that genre...and kudos to those that love it.
To dismiss Springsteen however, even with a couple of the lesser known tracks on BITUSA, is to overlook an artist who takes himself serious, and at the same time can continue to nurture and maintain his following.
Yeah, there are many Springsteen fans that will cringe at the singles released on this album, who of us really hasn't gotten fed up with "Born In The USA" and "Dancing In The Dark"...? Like other groups, we have all had it with "Free Bird", "Stairway to Heaven"...etc.
To otherwise say that Springsteen has sold out with his last few releases however is not, in my opinion, entirely correct.
First off, the albums, from what I understand, have not sold as well as the 1984 blockbuster. Secondly, Mr. Springsteen does not seem to have an agenda to sell the most albums and his continuity in music seems very well intact. In my opinion, to date, this is some of his best material...and the man shows no signs of slowing down in that department.
Yes, like Bono, he does seem to have a message in a lot of his songs...that's what sets him apart from many of his American
counterparts. I doubt that he's trying to save the rainforest all
in one fell swoop, but actually, relating his thoughts and feelings
on the current state of affairs, whether it's in regards to the 911
event with "The Rising" or whatever he feels the state of the music industry is in with the release of "Magic"...he continues to not only add substance to his music, but delivers the same sound that is expected of his style.
I must admit defeat on his last release as I have yet to take the
time to give it a spin...(it appears I've been busy spending time with Status Quo's voluminous back catalogue)...
The bottom line for me however is that with The Rising, and Magic,
it's obvious to me that Springsteen is in fine form and any casual
fan will certainly find something worthy from either of these releases.
I'm not sure that I can say the same for Aerosmith...at least, once again, on a personal level.
Seriously, and I've said it waaaaaay to many times before, but the last
Aerosmith track to pique my interest was "Sweet Taste of India"...soooo maybe I'm out in left field in regards to these guys, and waiting for the next "pop-up" fly...but I really don't see it happening...they just seem to have lost their way after the 2nd comeback.
I also have to say, and I may be wrong, yet again, but did Springsteen ever have a comeback?...or has the man always been there?
Again...not so sure about the sales end of things...but from what I gather...AND...from what I have experienced...tickets to his shows are
NOT something to be taken for granted...at least in terms of price and availability.
Thanks Doc...just my thoughts buddy...
Thanks
Kim
...and frankly I'm to flippn'