We had a Springsteen discussion going for a while there..

[abcdefz]

...and, anyway, this sounds interesting. (http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/22/springsteen.storytellers.ap/index.html)

There's a point where he talks about the disparity between "holier-than-thou" Springsteen and the Springsteen who has a couple of beers at a strip club. Maybe if he wrote about that stuff for a bit (instead of pushing it off onto other, "desperate" characters) he'd have fodder for some fresh work.

[DroppinScience]

That sounds really good.

But you still haven't heard "The Rising" album, right? Maybe if you listened to that, you'd realize that he still "has it." (y)

[Documad]

My friend sent me that yesterday, and I was thinking I should say something about it. Thanks A-Z! I'm going to tape it tonight. I've enjoyed Storytellers even when I don't love the artist, but this one sounds like one to catch for sure. First good thing on VH1 in ages.

[abcdefz]

That sounds really good.

But you still haven't heard "The Rising" album, right? Maybe if you listened to that, you'd realize that he still "has it." (y)



You may be right. I'll have to pick up a used copy of that sometime and give it a chance.

[mickill]

I bought The Rising a while back, but I don't think I ever finished listening to it. I mean, the first half of it definitely wasn't bad, but I just didn't really enjoy the direction it was going in. And I've just neglected to go back and finish listening to it.

There. I just took it down from the shelf. So I'll definitely make sure I listen to it in the next few months.

Anyways, Bruce is the man (Shut up, DDD. Shut up, cosmo).

[afronaut]

Hey, I don't like Bruce either.

[mickill]

Shut up, afrocock.

[yeahwho]

The whole Springsteen thing is true...that is why I like him so much. I mean he really did walk into Columbia Records for a 15 minute audition that turned into a 2 hour solo concert...which blew away John Hammond who signed him on the spot.

A lot of the early imagery and feeling he's strived for in the early albums is brilliant.

The truest form of what a true rocker Springsteen is shows up perfectly in the Warren Zevon "Keep me in your Heart VH1 Video/Special", showing up for a Guitar part on "The Wind" album, he blows away all, Zevon says with some great childlike glee in his demeanor, "This is the Real Guy (http://static.userland.com/sh4/images/booknotes/zevonSpringsteen.jpg) isn't it?"

[cosmo105]

Anyways, Bruce is the man (Shut up, DDD. Shut up, cosmo).
don't you mean The Boss?

:p :p :p

my mom LOVES Bruce. i saw her get a little teary-eyed when she told me about how hard she tried - in vain - to get tickets to his upcoming shows out here. she hasn't seen him since the early 80s. i wish i could afford to get them for her.

[abcdefz]

Any doubters should just rent a copy of No Nukes and fast forward to when Springsteen does "Rosalita."

It's only on VHS right now, though, which is a shame.

[Tzar]

'holier than thou' - metallica \m/

[FunkyHiFi]

Quickie note about the new Springsteen Devils & Dust DualDisc--don't judge all surround music by this version's reported (http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=52194) crummy surround mix. Beck's Guero dvd has the real thing (it's actually a dvd-audio disc but they don't want to confuse the non-audio-hobbyist fans).

[DroppinScience]

FunkyHiFi,

You probably have the ears of a dog, but you saying the sound quality for this mix isn't so good worries me. :(

Maybe when I listen to it, I may not notice a huge difference ( ;) ) since I only have a standard ghetto blaster and my home computer (I have a great DVD soundsystem, so I guess I could play them on there too...), but I've found your audiophile knowledge pretty enlightening. :)

[abcdefz]

...I think he was saying the surround sound mix (5 channel) was terrible; not the standard stereo mix.

[DroppinScience]

...I think he was saying the surround sound mix (5 channel) was terrible; not the standard stereo mix.

Ah... I see.

Phew!

[FunkyHiFi]

DS: I haven't personally heard the surround mix on this but rather am going by the numerous observations (of people I trust) who have on that link I provided. Since surround mixing is still kind of new to many studios you still sometimes get a stinky mix but this kind of barely-surround mix seems more like apathy and/or carelessness on the part of the mixer rather than "We wanted to push the envelope & try a different approach this time" type of attitude. Neil Young's Harvest dvd-audio is like that for example: suposedly in one song his lead vocal emanates only from the left rear speaker for the entire track. :( But Neil has always had a reputation for experimenting: check out his album Trans for example which I own myself: pretty wacky stuff though some tracks are very good.

Another album I and others were really hoping would have a neat 5.1 mix was Art Of Noise's far out Daft (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000DFFP/qid=1114801220/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/103-9936170-0655044) album, which is on the sacd format (actually I would have preferred In Visible Silence or The Seduction Of Claude Debussy). But it wasn't to be: according to the few reviews I can find of it, its similar to the Springsteen mix and sounds very much like the studio simply ran the original stereo tracks through a digital signal processor (DSP) box* to generate the "surround" mix. :mad: The result was just some ghostly echo from the rear channels with the occasional random effect/instrument popping up. This is exactly the same result you get when you use your own receiver's DSP effects, like Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS:Neo, or any of the other choices even a basic $150 receiver includes. Very disappointing. Actually, many people report they get better surround results using their own equipment than certain disc's own surround track. That's relative though: a TRUE multichannel surround mix can only be made from the original multitrack master tape. A DSP's effect is based on software--rather than a human being--manipulating the sounds so you never know what's going to happen when you push that button. Sometimes it's good.......and sometimes just plain sucky.

* beware of Silverline's (i.e. 5.1 Entertainment Group) dvd-audio titles: according to many, many reviews it seems nearly every one of their discs uses this method for their surround mix (I have owned--and quickly gotten rid of--several of these myself). That's too bad because they have a lot of popular artists.

[FunkyHiFi]

...I think he was saying the surround sound mix (5 channel) was terrible; not the standard stereo mix.
Yep!

Though some people like that kind of super-subtle mix, I personally do not (I like what's called an "immersive" or "aggressive" mix).

[DroppinScience]

Bottom line: playing Springsteen in my stereo should be no problems?

Put it on the DVD and I'm screwed?

[FunkyHiFi]

DS: there is a regular stereo mix on the dvd side, I think its labeled "PCM stereo" or something like that.

[Documad]

I'm confused. Can I just buy a regular CD of the new Bruce stuff? I'd like to have a listen before I see him, and I'll just be putting it in my car CD player.

Ditto for Foo Fighters -- I'm confused about what's coming, but I'll probably end up buying every damn variation per usual.

[DroppinScience]

I'm confused. Can I just buy a regular CD of the new Bruce stuff? I'd like to have a listen before I see him, and I'll just be putting it in my car CD player.

Ditto for Foo Fighters -- I'm confused about what's coming, but I'll probably end up buying every damn variation per usual.

It's a DualDisc. That means, one side is a CD. Flip it over and the other side is a DVD.

The CD side should play in any stereo, including your car.

[Documad]

Does it cost more than a regular CD? It's a DVD of what???? I don't need a Bruce DVD!

That Beck DVD was stupid but I love the CD.

[FunkyHiFi]

Documad said

It's a DVD of what????
Read the first post in this this thread. (http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=49101). But some people have said they have bought a CD+dvd package in Canada(?).



That Beck DVD was stupid......
:eek:

Not an admirer of abstract CG art, eh? :) I like them personally, though I've always enjoyed blinking light-type stuff. :o Did you like the two hidden videos for "Black Tambourine" and "E-Pro"?

Actually, IMO the dvd(-audio) disc was really included more for the surround mixes and high resolution stereo track than for visual use. Same as for those nine REM CD+dvd albums released a couple months ago.

[DroppinScience]

Read the first post in this this thread. (http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=49101). But some people have said they have bought a CD+dvd package in Canada(?).

This is true. I just got The Boss' album now and it's a bonus DVD.

Fine by me.

[Documad]

Thanks for all the info. I didn't love the E-pro video but I liked Black Tambourine better. I'm not really included to watch videos. I mean, I watched them once out of interest.

I can see the appeal of watching a film of the making of a record, if it was the right record and right artist though.

[DroppinScience]

I'm listening to "Devils & Dust" right now.

Not as good as "The Rising," but this stripped down affair can compete with "Nebraska," I think.

The Boss will ALWAYS be The Boss. (y)

[FunkyHiFi]

The Boss will ALWAYS be The Boss.
You got that (http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/ford/stangpics/readers/69_Boss429_2.jpg) right!

Oh wait..........

[Documad]

I like the new Springsteen. It's not perfect, but I like it. I think it's better than the Rising. So there.

Oh, and I'm seeing him next week. 10th row! It's suddenly looking like a good move.

[FunkyHiFi]

Starbucks decides not to sell Bruce's new album

May 4 - Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics are too hot for Starbucks. NEWSWEEK has learned that the nation’s favorite coffee chain has retreated from a potential deal to sell the singer’s new album, “Devils & Dust,” because of one steamy tune on the 12-song disc.
Read the rest here: Not Their Cup of Tea (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7738014/site/newsweek/)

[Documad]

The concert was terrific. It was just Bruce. He played a lot of different instruments and even sang his own backup -- difficult to believe. He told lots of stories about the songs and about other things. He was really funny. Mostly songs from the new album and other songs that weren't super popular but that fit what he was doing. It was kind of funny that he did the title songs from so many albums -- The Rising, The River, and Nebraska.

And by the way, he mentioned that you might be able to get his new song at Dunkin' Donuts -- which I guess was a reference to the Starbucks thing above. :D

[DroppinScience]

And by the way, he mentioned that you might be able to get his new song at Dunkin' Donuts -- which I guess was a reference to the Starbucks thing above. :D

I highly question ANYONE who actually goes out and buys albums at Starbucks, chain book-stores and *barf* Wal-Mart. :confused:

[Documad]

^^ Why?

I've never bought a CD at Starbucks, but they feature some great stuff that I already have.

And there have been a few times when Barnes and Noble was the only one that had what I want from an artist's catalog.