From: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org (LuckyTown Digest) To: luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Subject: LuckyTown Digest V9 #46 Reply-To: luckytown@luckytown.org Sender: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Errors-To: owner-luckytown-digest@luckytown.org Precedence: bulk LuckyTown Digest Saturday, July 27 2002 Volume 09 : Number 046 NOTE: Sale/trade posts should be emailed to luckytown-ads, *NOT* to luckytown. That includes tix wanted/tix grovels, post them to luckytown-ads, please. Contents: Thoughts After Listening To Whole Rising Album... [Rob Bliss ] My Favorite Song [Cara Davis ] Always keep in contact with old friends... [Terry Devlin ] Who would you play with???? [OmanIV@aol.com] Jersey Bait ["Douglas W. Corkhill" ] The Rising gets high marks from new Bruce fans [Darrel Davis ] Cincinnati: Springsteen tribute and release party ["Dave Purcell" Subject: Thoughts After Listening To Whole Rising Album... Here are my thoughts as I downloaded and listened to "The Rising." I expect this CD to sell 3-4 million copies...which, in today's world and at this point in Bruce's career, is DAMN GOOD!!! I give the album an overall grade of a B+ (for reference...I rate only BTR and BITUSA as A grade). Here is my thought on the songs: WAITIN ON A SUNNY DAY-almost reminds me of a Johhny Rivers song...but MUCH MUCH better...not much substance here...BUT A GREAT BEAT!!! It is the best pure "bee bop" song on the album and probably will and should come out as the second or third single from the album THE NOTHING MAN-In my opinion, the BEST song on the album...great sax solo by the big man...if this song doesn't come out as a single, the record industry should be shot. THE FUSE-Yes...it does sound a lot like "Souls Of The Departed." But, I think it has a bit of an "alternative" beat...but still is a very good song. FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD-not much to say here, in that we have all heard it before...but I like the vocal blend in this song with the band...which wasn't really as prevalant when sung live on the last tour...good song. LET'S BE FRIENDS (SKIN TO SKIN)-much like Waitin On A Sunny Day in tone...but much more chorus involved...good song. THE RISING-title track you have all heard and will be the staple opener of the tour I predict...very good song. MY CITY OF RUINS-very nicely done with the band...probably won't come out as a single because listeners can't appreciate much songs of this nature...but still very good. WORLDS APART-if not the most "different" kind of song that Bruce has produced...but very nicely done...good song. INTO THE FIRE-good song and yet another WTC song...but that's ok...song is appreciated....good song. The rest of the album I didn't much care for musically, but I'm sure some of the songs will grow on me in time. In the meantime, CAN'T WAIT FOR THE TOUR!!! If this album is any indication...this tour should be a grand one!!! Any other thoughts from those who have heard the entire album? Rob __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 09:11:45 -0500 From: Barry Kaplovitz Subject: 'He's Still On Fire: Springsteen's brilliant, uneven new album finds him cherishing love, reckoning with losses of Sept. 11.' (Steve Morse, The Boston Globe) From The Boston Globe July 26, 2002 CD REVIEW He's Still On Fire Springsteen's brilliant, uneven new album finds him cherishing love, reckoning with losses of Sept. 11 By Steve Morse, Globe Staff, 7/26/2002 Bruce Springsteen is at another crossroads. His new album with the E Street Band finds him contemplating the devastation of Sept. 11, but also more familiar topics such as the bond of family, the comfort of faith, and the joys of partying. In other words, it's all over the place. It is brilliant at times and embarrassing at times. And while its ambition sometimes exceeds its grasp, it is still one of the most captivating records of the year. Titled ''The Rising,'' it is Springsteen's first studio album with the E Street Band since 1987's ''Tunnel of Love.'' Due out on Tuesday, it's 73 minutes long, and its 15 songs could easily have been split into two CDs. It might have made philosophical sense to do that - put the optimistic, party-style songs on one CD and the more socially conscious tracks on the other - but that was unlikely, as Springsteen's last attempt at releasing two CDs simultaneously (''Human Touch'' and ''Lucky Town'' in 1992) was a commercial failure. Instead, Springsteen fans will have to weave through the peaks and valleys of a single marathon album that eventually reconfirms the Boss's genius, but only after some bumpy moments that could have been edited out without losing much. Into that category falls the mushy ''Waitin' on a Sunny Day'' (''gonna chase the clouds away''), which sounds like routine bubble-gum pop from Phil Spector's heyday; and the gooey ''Mary's Place'' (''Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party''), which sounds like an outtake from the boxed set of outtakes that Springsteen released a few years ago. That said, the album touches the soul much more often than not. The Sept. 11 songs are no-holds-barred odes that draw on the pain Springsteen felt when his Monmouth County, N.J., home area lost 150 lives to the attacks on the World Trade Center. The poignant, cello-enhanced ''You're Missing'' has Springsteen sadly singing, ''Your house is waiting for you, but you're missing ... children are asking if it's all right, will you be in our arms tonight?'' And the country-bluesy ''Into the Fire'' is a tribute to the firefighters who perished in the tragedy: ''I heard you calling, but you disappeared into the dust upstairs, into the fire.'' Then comes this gospel-inspired chorus: ''May your strength give us strength/May your faith give us faith/May your hope give us hope.'' A number of the new songs rock (with guitarist Steve Van Zandt playing a forceful role), but again there's a balancing act of emotions. Sonically, the opening track, ''Lonesome Day,'' could fit onto Springsteen's anthemic ''Born in the U.S.A.'' album of 1984, yet lyrically, it clearly references Sept. 11: ''Let kingdom come, I'm gonna find my way through this lonesome day.'' But then there's the arena-rocking ''Further On (Up the Road),'' which was written before the attacks and is more quintessential Springsteen: ''So let's take the good times as they go, and I'll meet you further on up the road.'' To hear sound clips from ''The Rising,'' visit www.boston.com/ globe/living. Whether you're a Springsteen diehard or not, there are a half-dozen outstanding tracks that affirm his Dylan-of-his-generation credentials. ''Empty Sky'' is a stunning achievement. Yet another allusion to the World Trade Center aftermath, it opens with elegiac piano from Roy Bittan, gives way to stately acoustic guitar, then sears the heart with its dual yearning for love (''I want a kiss from your lips'') and vengeance (''I want an eye for an eye''). Two other gems break new artistic ground. The song ''Worlds Apart'' combines a piercing, Neil Young-ish guitar solo with vocals in the qawwali style (music of Islamic Sufi mystics) from Asif Ali Khan. It also breaks new lyrical ground, as Springsteen refers to a Muslim seeking love ('''neath Allah's rain, we remain worlds apart''), though he seems out of his element here. But the real standout is ''The Fuse,'' which merges tape-looped drums and vocals (has Springsteen been listening to William Orbit?) for the most adventurous track here. It moves from ominous imagery (a funeral procession) to the joys of lovemaking in spite of it all: ''On the edge of the bed you slip off your blouse/ The room is burning with the noon sun/Your bittersweet taste on my tongue.'' The overall message of the album, amid its many schizoid turns, is that Springsteen continues to crave intimacy despite the psychic dislocation brought on by Sept. 11. In the classic R&B-style ''Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin),'' which also has a nice sax solo from Clarence Clemons, Springsteen sings, ''The time is now, maybe we could get skin to skin/Don't know when this chance might come again.'' One can only wonder what this album would have been like without the urgency of Sept. 11. Springsteen sometimes tries too hard to comment on the events (and sounds stilted), but while this isn't the best album of his career, it's still good enough to be a must-listen for believers. This story ran on page C1 of the Boston Globe on 7/26/2002. http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/207/living/He_s_still_on_fire+.shtml Copyright 2002 Globe Newspaper Company. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 15:07:48 +0000 From: "Anders Blomkvist" Subject: Another review from Sweden Review from Dagens Industri (Sweden's leading financial newspaper). The rating five means "A Classic". Again, published and translated without permisson. Review done by Jan Gradvall. Bruce Springsteen The rising (Columbia, Sony) (Five stars out of five) For the first time in seven years, since The ghost of Tom Joad from 1995, Bruce Springsteen releases a newly recorded studio album. Even a longer time, 18 years, has passed since he recorded a studio album with The E Street Band. Despite all reunion tours and scattered new songs, as a matter of fact The rising is Springsteen's first studio album with his old friends since Born in the USA from 1984. Without feeling the least nostalgic The rising sounds just like a delayed follow-up to that album. The openness (frankness, sincerity # translators confusion on what word to use) is back. The swing (rhythm, translator again.) is back. And # above all # the melodies are back. Admittedly, it does not sound like Glory Days, but more like I'm on fire and the darker songs from the Born in the USA-sessions, which did not make it to the record and later emerged on the Tracks-box. The cover is decorated with a simple black and white picture of him, but what you see in front of you is the flag-background from Born in the USA, though spotted and with long tears in the fabric. World Trade Center was the first building you saw when you drove from Springsteen's New Jersey to Manhattan; see for instance the opening of the New Jersey-series The Sopranos. The events on the 11:e of September characterize the whole album. It is about grief, anger, despair but at the same time a close to religious request for reconciliation and to rise. Everything divinely composed by The E Street Band. An American masterpiece with the best songs Springsteen has written for two decades. See you on the road! Forza Bajen! Anders Blomkvist Sodermalm Sweden _________________________________________________________________ Med MSN Foto kan du enkelt dela med dig av dina fotografier och best'lla kopior: http://photos.msn.se ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 00:04:58 -0400 From: Cara Davis Subject: My Favorite Song Can I just say -- I LOVE Let's Be Friends! It's so, it's so SOUTHSIDE! That's the only way to say it. And what a great Summer song. Why is this not being played on the radio a million times a day, like Mary's Place, which by the way, I think borders on embarrassing. It's every typical Bruce cliche and I cringe every time I hear it. But LBF -- I can't get it out of my mind. Reminds me of Loose Ends only more laid back. Maybe the biggest surprise of the album for me. I have to say too, the album's growing on me. The first few times I was like so-so, but now I think there are some really wonderful standouts -- besides LBF, I'd say Further On and My City are my other two favorites. Now I'm really bummed I don't have tickets to NJ. Just my two cents. Have to turn up the tunes and dance! Best, Cara ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 09:39:31 +0100 From: Terry Devlin Subject: Always keep in contact with old friends... Hi folks. Always keep in contact with old friends as you never know when one gets a good job with a record company and sends you The Rising before any one else in Ireland, it seems. The Good NEWS: I cannot wait to hear these songs live, to hear the power and the glory and the majesty of the Bruce Springsteen and the E St. Band let rip with what appears to be a fine collection of songs. The bad NEWS: God, please send Mr. O'Brien back to producing children's music, it seems like he'd be happier there. Bruce sounds like he's singing somewhere at the back of the studio behind a flight case, the band sound like a bunch of so-what session musicians. Truly Mr. O'Brien has achieved the impossible. He's made the E St. Band sound average. On the other hand... If Bruce, Chuck, Steve, Jon and the usual crew had the producing credit, then we'd have to wait another two years... You just can't win. - -- Terry Devlin ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 09:24:41 GMT From: gkmorris@iafrica.com Subject: Springsteen 'World' Tour? Hi all First of all, can't wait for the new album. Phoned Sony SA and release date in South Africa is the same as in Europe (29th July) but distribution is gonna be slower. All the CD shops I have called expect to get the album in only on 01 August onwards. I hear people complaining about 'not going if it's gonna be GA', 'why is he skipping our city?' etc. Well, I would certainly not mind GA and I would travel almost anywhere in Africa to see Bruce!! But, alas, Bruce's single foray into Africa (Zimbabwe 1988, Amnesty International) seems to have been a once off visit. So, I would like to join Bruce fans in Asia, Middle East, India, South America in PLEEDING 'Bruce, come down and say HI!!!' We would love to see a show. Gareth Morris (who has been watching the Live in New York DVD - continuously!!!) - --------------------------------------------- This message was sent using M-Web Airmail. JUST LIKE THAT Are you ready for 10-digit dialling? To find out how this will affect your Internet connection go to www.mweb.co.za/ten http://airmail.mweb.co.za/ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 09:14:34 -0500 From: "Ron Kern, ASGCA" Subject: Steve Earle's new CD / Nebraska / Paradise Here's a link to an article about Steve Earle's new CD and the controversy surrounding it - Springsteen's Nebraska and new song "Paradise" are mentioned and used as examples supporting Earle's viewpoint. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46989-2002Jul22.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Jul 2002 14:18:11 -0700 (PDT) From: cindy yale Subject: 7/30 I'll be coming down for the Today SHow (without tickets) but would like to know what's going on? Any get togethers...gatherings?? I'm coming Solo so if anyone has a meeting place please let me know! __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 12:53:06 EDT From: OmanIV@aol.com Subject: Who would you play with???? Bruce is very selective about who he plays with, and who he records with. Two pictures you don't usually see; isn't west Texas just "Across The Border" from NJ???? http://www.ely.com/Photos.html Johnno "I'm a long way from Llano." ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 07:04:00 -0400 From: "Douglas W. Corkhill" Subject: Jersey Bait Luckytown is the only on-line Bruce forum I read. I like the fact that the list is moderated (thank you, Kevin), the discussions are intellectual and of very high quality, and the folks I've met on the list at shows during the STFU and last tours were good people. What I do miss is the immediacy of the internet. It's a trade-off I've made without regret. There hasn't been a whole lot of urgent, pressing Bruce information I've needed. There used to be a LT-Urgent list, but that has gone by the wayside. I s'pose other lists fill that void, but like I said, LT is the only one for me. So I am eternally grateful for my friend Shoil who sent me the URL earlier this week for the Today show contest. I took the quiz, and knew the middle three answers without blinking. The first I could take a good guess at, the last, well, greasers ain't lifeguards, they're painters, right? So I hit the submit button, off it goes into the internet netherworlds, and out of my mind. Imagine my surprise when "Michelle from the Today Show' called me yesterday to tell me I'd won a pair of tickets. To see Bruce. On national tv. Playing songs from his new album the day it is released. In Asbury Park. To quote another friend, "OHMYGOD!" Well, there are still logistics to be worked out (like getting two days off of work that I don't have) but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. So I'll be at the Pony Monday night, and in line Tuesday at 5 am, and after the show I'll be driving back to North Carolina. Details to follow. Doug ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 12:44:07 -0500 From: Darrel Davis Subject: The Rising gets high marks from new Bruce fans Just shared the CD with some friends here at work. These people are not typical Bruce fans, just casual listeners who appreciate good music. Everyone of them think this is exceptional. They now understand why Bruce tramps have such affection for his music. I found it interesting that a subjective group of people would rave over this CD. - --Darrel Davis ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 23:00:13 EDT From: NJBOB113@aol.com Subject: (no subject) Join Joe Grushecky, John Eddie and their bands at the Vegas Uprising, The Strip's best party during Las Vegas' biggest rock 'n' roll weekend of the year. Admission is free!! These two Jersey Shore favorites will rock The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Saturday, August 17. Doors will open at 7 PM. The Hard Rock Hotel will be giving away tickets to Bruce Springsteen's performance the following night at Thomas & Mack Center to a few lucky fans during the Vegas Uprising! The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located at 4455 Paradise Road in Las Vegas. Call the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at (702)693-5000 or (800)HRD-ROCK for more info. On the web check out: www.hardrockhotel.com www.grushecky.com www.johneddie.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 10:29:40 -0400 From: "Deborah Robinson" Subject: FREE STONE PONY CONCERT TIX FREE STONE PONY CONCERT TICKETS Rock 'n roll fans planning to attend the Tuesday, July 30, release of Bruce Springsteen's latest musical release, "The Rising," will have an opportunity to gain free admission to a Stone Pony concert scheduled for 1 p.m.- several hours after the live broadcast of the "Today Show"- by shopping in downtown Asbury Park. Stone Pony owner Domenic Santana has given downtown Asbury Park businesses registered with the newly-formed Merchants Guild of Asbury Park 1,000 tickets for the concert and all potential concert-goers have to do for free admission is shop at more than two dozen registered businesses in downtown Asbury Park. For every purchase at the registered businesses potential concert-goers will receive a rubber stamp on the back of a numbered concert admission pass. Gathering just three stamps from registered merchants will allow that shopper free access to the 1 p.m. concert. All passes will be checked for authenticity prior to entry at the Stone Pony. "This is the Stone Pony's way of showing our support for the downtown merchants of Asbury Park," Santana said. Bruce Springsteen is scheduled to debut his new release in Asbury Park on Tuesday, July 30, along with a live broadcast of the event by NBC's "Today Show." "Long-struggling downtown merchants hope to join forces with the events planned for that day and attract shoppers to local businesses," said Merchant Guild spokesperson Don Stine, owner of Antic Hay Books. More than two dozen merchants and artists have recently joined the Guild and all will be participating in the free ticket give-away. The merchant's group plans to distribute more than 10,000 leaflets on Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30, to lure potential shoppers to the downtown area. Asbury Park's downtown area is experiencing "a rising" of its own with many buildings currently undergoing extensive rehabilitation and many creative new businesses occupying them. New businesses include a bookstore, several art galleries, antique and furniture dealers, restaurants, and other unique businesses. Bands performing at the Stone Pony concert that afternoon are Matt Witte's New Blood Revival, Highway 9, Joe D'Urso, and other special guests. "We are trying to get people to shop in downtown Asbury Park that day and the best way to gain entry into this unique Stone Pony concert is to obtain your free tickets from downtown merchants,"" said Stone Pony manager Eileen Chapman. SPECIAL NOTE: The original Madame Marie, the boardwalk fortune-teller made famous in the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen, will also make a rare, special guest appearance at Antic Hay Books, 605 Mattison Avenue, at noon and spend some time telling fortunes. Her daughter, Young Marie, will also be telling fortunes at Antic Hay Books from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tarot cards, palm and crystal ball reading will be offered with fees ranging from $10 to $25. For Information: Domenic Santana at the Stone Pony [732-502-0600] or Don Stine at Antic Hay Books [732-774-4590] [text/html attachment deleted] ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Jul 2002 14:53:50 -0400 From: Tom Ross Subject: Vegas Pre show get together Well I just got off the phone with the bar manager and we are all set. Moose McGillycuddy's 4770 Maryland Parkway 798-8337 When you are headed to the Thomas and Mack from the strip, Maryland Pkwy. is the next main street past the T&M. Moose's is between Flamingo and Tropicana, as is the T&M. This is about a 5 minute walk, so if you want you can leave your car at the bar. This is a college bar, but our timing is great, cause school is out at the time of the show, it doesn't start until the 1st week of Sept. Here's the good part, Moose's has happy hour from 4 to 9 pm everyday, 1/2 price drinks and Appetizers. There is a back bar which will be reserved for all Bruce concertgoers. And as for " Cold beer at a reasonable price ", that happy hour price is $1.15 for domestic draft, and $1.75 for imported draft. I have attended shows here many times, and gone to Moose's before and it works really well, the walk to the T&M is easy, and you can head back to Moose's after if you like. Or you can park at the T&M you paid to park there as part of your ticket fees. I did the pre show before the last Vegas show and it worked out pretty well, we had 60 or 70 before the show and 35 or 40 came back after and hung until about 3:00 am. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Tom In Vegas ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 13:01:10 -0400 From: "Dave Purcell" Subject: Cincinnati: Springsteen tribute and release party Hello, I'm new to Luckytown. I thought you'd like to know about a Bruce tribute and release party this Monday night in the Cincinnati area (Northern Kentucky, actually). Here's the scoop. If you have any questions, you can reach me at newport@one.net. *** Monday, July 29 Bruce Springsteen Tribute and Midnight Sale @ Phil's Records (Ft. Thomas) 7:30pm-midnight To celebrate the midnight sale (old school!) of Springsteen's first record with the E Street Band in 18 years, a bunch of your local faves are getting together to cover Springsteen songs. A Columbia Records rep will be on hand with giveaways, including rare posters and a copy of Springsteen's complete catalog. Phil and several friends of the store are donating rare items for a silent auction to benefit the Wendy Fund. Other fans are providing an exhibit of Springsteen memorabilia, including every issue of Backstreets ever released. It will be a happening. Performing are: Ben Walz, Bob Burns (Big In Iowa), Chuck Wagon, Dan Souder, Doug Staab (Gravy 8) & Paul Otten, Jake Speed, JD Riggs, Jeff Roberson (Len's Lounge), Johnny Schott, Messerly & Ewing, Pike 27, Rob Ervin (Monkey Biscuit), Sean Rhiney (Clabbergirl), The Trips, The Stapletons, and Venus Mission And tune into the Gary Burbank show (WLW) at 4pm this afternoon to hear Phil and I yak about the show and the current economic crisis in Kazakhstan. As always, thanks for listening, Dave - --Dave Purcell, newport@one.net Pike 27: http://www.pike27.net/ Uprooted Music: http://www.uprootedmusic.com ------------------------------ End of LuckyTown Digest V9 #46 ****************************** ********************************************************************* ** LuckyTown WWW URL ** The LuckyTown FAQ, back issues, web-based subscription/unsubscription, and many other things can be found on the LuckyTown WWW Page: http://www.luckytown.org ** LuckyTown mailing list addresses ** You can send email to go into the next LuckyTown Digest to: luckytown@luckytown.org You can send email to go into the next LuckyTown-Ads Digest to: luckytown-ads@luckytown.org Any questions for the list admin should be emailed to: owner-luckytown@luckytown.org To unsubscribe, send email to majordomo@luckytown.org with message body: unsubscribe luckytown-digest To get further information on how to subscribe/unsubscribe/change your subscription address, as well as the other available commands, send email to majordomo@luckytown.org with message body: help ********************************************************************* The contents of this digest are not necessarily approved by the list admin.