I sat down and listened to the new Bruce Springsteen release "Wrecking Ball"
and realized I might be listening to the first new depression era album in my lifetime. The actual definition of an economic depression is open to several interpretations and markers, but by all proposed definitions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(economics), the American economy is experiencing a long prolonged depression, and anyone thinking the contrary doesn't like to face reality.
Which brings me back to Bruce Springsteen. He's...facing..reality.
The Boss has painted portraits of Americans, American life and American ideals throughout his career while tossing out paeans to love, family and faith in equal fashion, all while experimenting with musical styles and production techniques to give his artwork a fresh sounding listen. And on "Wrecking Ball" he molds it all into ONE COHESIVE STATEMENT...it just might be regarded long after he's gone as one his Life's greatest works...
It has anthems [We Take Care Of Our Own], Seeger Session nods [Easy Money], American spirituals [Land Of Hope and Dreams]. It takes a look and the 99% [Shackled and Drawn], how the banksters and greedy corporatists ruined this country [Death To My Hometown] with their [Wrecking Ball].
And the message is beautifully expressed in the album's epic centerpiece; Jack Of All Trades. It's all there: the frustration of the country's woes, the seething hatred directed at banks, worried Americans facing an uncertain future...and rolling it all into a hymn of promise, love...and redemption...as seen through the eyes of a man reassuring his lover that they'll make it through the hard times...and someone...will pay the price for what they've done...
"The banker man grows fat, the workin' man grows thin...
It's all happened before, and it'll happen again.
It'll happen again, yeah they'll bet your life,
I'm a jack of all trades,
Darlin' we'll be all right."
"If I had me a gun,
I'd find the bastards and shoot 'em on sight.
I'm a jack of all trades,
We'll be all right."
If this song is any indication,Springsteen's songcraft has never been better. And the album itself seems more focused than his output of the last few years. This is Bruce Springsteen tuning in...listening...and daubing it all on his sound canvas...and showing us all a portrait of ourselves...America...land of hope and glory...as we struggle through this depression...
Just amazingly beautiful and relevant...thanks Bruce...
I'll hopefully be there joining in on the chorus...
I'm a jack of all trades, we'll be all right...
