Harry's Place

Welcome to Day 2 of our 12-day examination of the 12 songs on Bruce Springsteen's new album, High Hopes. As we indicated yesterday, rather than a straight review, we're having a running dialogue based around each song as we listen to it. So listen along with us and enjoy!

So. Day 2, Song 2. "Harry's Place."

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Dan Tapper

"Harry's Place." Odd title. It will be followed by, what? "Dancing in the Park?"

Scott Peterson

Good one! Ready to play it?

Dan Tapper

<<quick curtsy>> Yes. Play!

Scott Peterson

Okay. Rock and roll. Sax! Wacka wacka geetar.

Dan Tapper

Dude. First 5 seconds sound like Foreigner's "Urgent."

Scott Peterson

I like the whispery vocals

Dan Tapper

SO fonky!

Scott Peterson

I'm going to ignore the fucking shit out of your Foreigner observation. You will NOT make it again.

Bullhorn effect on the chorus line

Dan Tapper

Man, that distorted chorus vocal I did not see coming.

Scott Peterson

This feels like Achtung Baby-era U2

Dan Tapper

YES! It does!

Scott Peterson

Actually, you know who the vocal is just like? JUST damn like?

Dan Tapper

Although it has the same rhythm line on the verse as "Smuggler's Blues."

(I'll show myself out)

Scott Peterson

It's like "The Fly"/"Mysterious Way." But more than that: it's just like Suzanne Vega.

(You sure as shit will show yourself out, or I'll have my boy Nick toss you, through the door or out the window, if you keep this up.)

Dan Tapper

OK. I'll be good. This sounds like his heyday of storytelling, no? Characters and streetwise lyrics and all?

Scott Peterson

Yeah, I really dig these lyrics. I like almost everything about this. I'm not 100% I get the words yet. And I've always like the distant bullhorn effect on the vocals. But I again worry about how it's going to date.

Dan Tapper

Mr. Morello again, I presume?

Scott Peterson

More of Morello's trying-to-tune-in-a-station-from-space guitar..

Dan Tapper

Has Bruce ever allowed to have a fellow player put this kinda stamp on an album? I mean yeah, Nils had his dominant moment on "Tunnel of Love." Clarence on "Jungleland." But that's 2 straight songs where Morello is almost arm and arm with him.

Scott Peterson

"There's a lotta things if I could I'd rearrange." Interesting ending. Industrial lite post-grunge "99 Luftballoons."

Dan Tapper

Really love this song. Hard and sinister and sneaky. Like you!

I saw one reviewer say it sounded like the alt-theme to "The Sopranos." That is not inaccurate.

Scott Peterson

I think David Sancious on The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle and Roy on Born to Run could have cases made for them.

Having said that: no. He's never allowed a fellow player to put this kind of stamp on an album. Although he's allowed his producers much more leeway this century, a Morello-level, I'd say. (That's my new measurement. "How much do you want?" "Give me a Morello and a half, please.")

Dan Tapper

How many Rick Rubin's make up one Morello?

Fair point. "NYC Serenade" is kinda Dave's show for a good long while
"If he didn't exist it'd all go on just the same." Very interesting.

Scott Peterson

(Yes to the alt-Pranos, by the by.) 

And a lot of "Kitty's Back." And the opening to "Incident on 57th Street." And the ending to "Incident on 57th Street."

Dan Tapper

He even has characters in this song. "Seesaw Bobby all dressed in drag." Seriously. This is a lyrical throwback. (No. I am not counting "Outlaw Pete.")

Scott Peterson

Meanwhile, "Thunder Road," "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," "Backstreets," "Meeting" and "Jungleland" are awfully Roy-heavy. 

You should count "Outlaw Pete."

Dan Tapper

Enh. if you like brilliant, epochal piano.

WHAT DID I JUST SAY ABOUT OUTLAW PETE?

Scott Peterson

Hey, you know what I like about his vocal approach on this song? He doesn't over-emphasize the swear words. Almost all singers almost always do. It's like they can't help themselves. They have to show what rebels they are by using naughty words. Not Bruce. He's chill.

Dan Tapper

Great call. They almost blend into the woodwork. Even Cobain couldn't help himself but spittin' 'em out.

Scott Peterson

KURT COBAIN USED POTTY MOUTH WORDS?!

No wonder they had him whacked.

Dan Tapper

Cold. 

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COMING TOMORROW—TRACK 3 FROM HIGH HOPES: "American Skin (41 Shots)"