Wherever This Flag's Flown.....

I suppose at some point,a blog like this was inevitable.

An album review!

So I am going with the album that knocked Adele off the top of the Billboard charts in the States. Oh,and its currently number 1 in Ireland too. It is,of course, Wrecking Ball, the 17th studio album by the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen. Youtube permitting, we will go track by track, so ye all get a free listen (I am not an advocate of hooky downloading, now).

Ok we start with the opening track "We Take Care Of Our Own":

Typical Bruce opener..great drum beat at the start, catchy riffs, you know the drill by now. I suppose the song can be interpreted in a menagerie of ways, hey Enda Kenny is a Bruce fan, I'd imagine he loves this track, the so and so. It does scream "POLITICAL MESSAGE" in parts, no doubt. Still,very very decent opener and will be great heard live this summer.

Track 2 is Easy Money:

Basically, the fella described in this song is "going on the town/lookin for easy money". He is also carrying a Harry Callahan style Smith and Wesson. Insert own interpretations here. If you like the early Pogues,you'll like this.

Track 3 is Shackled And Drawn;

Another dig at the fatcats partying on "Bankers Hill". Maybe a more modern "Hard Times". Bruce tells the story of the man on the street and his daily tribulations. Folk elements abound here. Very Seeger Sessionsey.

Track 4 (and possibly my favourite off the album) is Jack Of All Trades:

It's like something youd hear at a wedding or even a funeral,ok maybe not from a lyrical standpoint but you know what I mean. Will be another great live showpiece. It's like a very slow building waltz, telling yet again about the underdog and his struggles. Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine cameos near the end. Think he'd be a great addition to the E-Street Band full time? Think he has his own thing going on though...

Track 5 is Death To My Hometown:

More Bruce vs "The Man" stuff here, but with a folk/marching band air thrown in. Think the Irish government is well represented in this one!!

Track 6 is This Depression:

Here, we go from loudish drums that eventually brings the song down to more of a forlorn Boss, than opposed to the anger of the earlier tracks. Still, worth a listen.

Track 7 is the album title - Wrecking Ball:

Originally sang around the time that the old Giants Stadium was being taken down, Bruce reminisces about old teams and champions that have taken to the field, eventually turning the track into one of defiance. Will be super live as well,without a doubt.

Track 8 is You've Got It:

If there was a country track fused with blues Springsteen style, this is more or less it. You will be tapping your toes/fingers/smartphone to this. I dare you not to.


Track 9 is Rocky Ground:

Bruce does rap? He almost did for this one, but lets Michelle Moore do the duties here. Rap on a Springsteen song,unheard of? Not any more, it seems. See if you can guess who he is singing about here, it's not overly difficult. It is different, but the arrangement works.

Track 10 is Land Of Hope And Dreams:

Have you heard this before? Yes you indeed have, but in a live capacity (from 2001's Live In New York City) . The big sax solo bringing the song home is one of Clarence Clemons last pieces of stuff put to a record before his passing, so extra poignant stuff here.

Track 11 is We Are Alive:

Is there something familiar about this song in parts? A certain Man In Black may think so. Yes, there are major hat-tippings to Ring Of Fire here, with Bruce telling the spirits of the past to instill themselves into people of today to keep the faith as it were.



Will I put up the bonus tracks? Whats that,Skip? Yes? Well ok then!

Bonus track 1 is Swallowed Up (In The Belly Of The Whale):

To say this is ambient is being polite. You'd want to be in good form before you put this one on. If anything I suppose, it's worth getting to the end of it, as it leads intoooooo............


Bonus track number 2...the studio version of Amercian Land!!:

 This has been around for a few years too, but never in studio form. Think Pogues/Dropkick Murphys/Saw Doctors all rolled into one and you have American Land. The céili influence is here in abundance. This is INCREDIBLE live, the place just turns into one big fleadh ceóil...you will LOVE this one if you havent heard it before. A Bruce staple for sure.

All in all, an album well worth a listen...and another listen...and another listen!! Support yor artists and all that craic!