Hunter of Invisible Game

Welcome to Day 9 of our 12-day examination of the 12 songs on Bruce Springsteen's new album, High Hopes. As we indicated at the start, rather than a straight review, we're having a running dialogue based around each song as we listen to it. 

So. Day 9, Song 9: "Hunter of Invisible Game."

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Scott Peterson

Okay. This next one's fascinating, in that it's Bruce Springsteen apparently deciding to poach on Ted Nugent's turf. Pissing on his territory. Making his fencepost

Dan Tapper

Hey Scott?

Scott Peterson

Yes, Daniel?

Dan Tapper

Wanna waltz?

Scott Peterson

I...do?

Dan Tapper

Then brother, you're gonna love this one.

"One..two..three...one...two...three..."

Scott Peterson

I'm not sure, but technically, I think this might be in 6/8 and not 3/4.

Dan Tapper

I hate you.

Scott Peterson

Garry's back! And all's right with the world.

But no Roy this time.

Dan Tapper

I was just about to say that.

I kinda like this. Very The Rising.

Scott Peterson

But the triumphant return of Tom. It's been so long since The Muse has graced us.

Yeah, this is so damn much better than "Your Sword."

Dan Tapper

Three whole songs they were apart! No wonder Bruce was so focused on the sword!

Scott Peterson

(Then again, Dan, everything's better than your sword.)

Dan Tapper

(Sorry, Bruce. Please don't hate us. Or hit us.)

Scott Peterson

I love the second bridge, I think.

Dan Tapper

Those high harmonies sound like stuff from The Seeger Sessions.

Scott Peterson

Hey, you know what this could really use? More overt religiosity.Oh wait!
The harmonies are him, yes? No one else is listed.

Dan Tapper

Wow, are they really? They sound so...female.

Scott Peterson

I know. But I'm pretty sure it's his falsetto.

Dan Tapper

And as it ends, we're now in the middle of the Wish You Were Here album?

Scott Peterson

What an oddly muted contribution from The Muse.

Right? I thought the same thing.
"Yes, and then...Derek, this star nonsense."
"Yes, yes."
"Now which is it?"
"I'm sure of it."

Dan Tapper

I think Tom is showing he's capable of all kindsa things.

Scott Peterson

Well, not my fave song, but a huge step up from the previous track.

Dan Tapper

Really liked that one. I know you don't go for the 3/4 time (or 6/8 time, which Mrs. Audrey Van Brocklin taught me are mathematically the same things), but that was real nice.

Scott Peterson

You know what? This album's "only" 12 songs long, but that's 5 more than The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle and 4 more than Born to Run and 2 more than Darkness on the Edge of Town. But it's also nearly an hour long. 

Born to Run was less than 40 minutes

Darkness on the Edge of Town was not quite 43.

So ditch the two or three least favorite songs and how much better does this get? Addition by subtraction, as we used to say in the draft room. 

Dan Tapper

Ayuh. He goes long on quite a few of these tracks. "American Skin" and the upcoming "Joad" remake account for close to 15 minutes themselves, I think.

Scott Peterson

That's one reason I like Working on a Dream so much, I think--it comes in, says its piece, and gets out.

Dan Tapper

But Working DID have 13 songs...OK, 12 if you don't count the (very very good) bonus.

Scott Peterson

Nix this one and "Heaven's Wall" and we're just under 50 minutes. But a better album

Dan Tapper

You mean "Sword" and "Wall," right?

Scott Peterson

But was still under 50 minutes.

(And, you're right, I did mean "Sword.")

And I don't count the rassler bonus track. That ain't real. 

Dan Tapper

Because I agree. Agree entirely.

Scott Peterson

44 minutes

Dan Tapper

Wait...is this his longest non-double album?

Scott Peterson

Oh! That's not correct.
I was looking at my iTunes version of Working, and I didn't even bother ripping the title track. :)

Dan Tapper

Dude.

Scott Peterson

Well, is The Rising a double LP or not? It's 72 damn minutes long!

Dan Tapper

That's the thing. I DON'T KNOW!!!!!

But this is his longest album besides those two, I am fairly certain. Longer than Wrecking Ball and Magic, too.

Scott Peterson

I'm not sure The Rising was ever released on vinyl. If so, it had to be a double. 

Dan Tapper

18 minutes a side? Yeah, it does.

Scott Peterson

You know, looking at The Rising as a double, those four wrong songs in the middle make a bit more sense.

You know it's his best selling album since Tunnel of Love? I did not.

Dan Tapper

True. But those four songs makes for an awful Side 3. :-)

Scott Peterson

Ha! God, ain't that the trut'.

Dan Tapper

Baby, let's be friends.

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COMING TOMORROW—TRACK 10 FROM HIGH HOPES: "The Ghost of Tom Joad"