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.

***

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

This Is Your Sword

Welcome to Day 8 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 8, Song 8: "This Is Your Sword."

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Dan Tapper

Shall we move onto "This Is Your Sword?"

Scott Peterson

I guess.

Dan Tapper

Best Bruce fake porn song title?

Scott Peterson

Ha! "This Is Your Sword (the Ron Jeremy Story)."

Dan Tapper

Along with "The Big Muddy" and, oddly, "My Father's House."

Scott Peterson

"Open All Night."
All right, no more of that. You'll ruin everything for me.

Dan Tapper

Seriously. I could go on all day. And yes! I do ruin everything!
Let's do this thing.

Scott Peterson

Irish!

Dan Tapper

Pretty! Like an Irish "Free Fallin'!"

Scott Peterson

Jeez, he actually does sound like Tom Petty vocally. 

Dan Tapper

I do not lie.

Now this sounds like something that didn't make the cut on Wrecking Ball.

Scott Peterson

He does love Elvis.

Dan Tapper

That is not Max on the drums. I wonder why?

Scott Peterson

And horses.

Dan Tapper

Pretty Celtic fill on the violin there.

Scott Peterson

Everyone wants to be the Replacements these days.

Again with Ron instead of Garry.

And another fake ending!

Dan Tapper

Followed by the "Ben Stiller as Bruce Springsteen" countoff.

Scott Peterson

So. That happened.

Dan Tapper

It did. Very spot on. Way moreso than stuff that worked better, like "Death to My Hometown" and "Shackled and Drawn."

And again, like "Heaven's Wall," I wouldn't be surprised if this gets to be appreciated more in concert.

Scott Peterson

By far one of my two least faves so far.

Both have very much overtly religious lyrics, which is something I just almost never enjoy.

Never have.

Dan Tapper

Easily my least fave. I don't think it's bad. Just too on the nose. For those critics who falsely accuse Bruce of being preachy these days, this song would be Exhibit A.

Scott Peterson

Not unless the singer's an African-American woman. Maybe an African-American man. But even there, I really only like religious lyrics in gospel, and I only like black gospel and I much prefer female voices. What do you think that says about me? 

Dan Tapper

YOU DON'T LIKE THE RELIGIOSITY OF "MARY QUEEN OF ARKANSAS?"

Scott Peterson

I'm afraid this reminds me of the thankfully few times I was played Christian rock as a kid. Like "hey, you like the rock music! Well, dig THIS righteous rockin'! It kicks tushie AND it praises Our Lord and Savior™!"

I mean even the way he goes up on the second line of the chorus just sounds like...ugh.

Dan Tapper

"Who here want to give it up for the Big G? Let's give it up for the big G.O.D.!"

Scott Peterson

"Who's down with G.O.D.?" "Yeah, you know me!"

Dan Tapper

I think it's very catchy and melodic. Just too...I dunno...strident?

Scott Peterson

It's got the lyrical depth of "Surprise" with the...ah, hell, I dunno. (There's another "Surprise" allusion.)

Now I wanna hear that fonky blues from Working on a Dream. 

All right, I'm done with this song.

Hey. Another interesting thing? He put the sweet but lightweight "Frankie Fell" at the very top of Side 2. Interesting place for it, no?

Dan Tapper

You know one track on Working that no one ever talks about but brings it in terms of power? "Good Eye."

Scott Peterson

Is that the blues I just talked about?

Dan Tapper

Yes it is. Oops.

Scott Peterson

s'allright

I get it.

I'm literally "no one."

I'm Keyzer Soze. 

I'm Tyler Durden. 

Dan Tapper

I am Tiger Woods.

Scott Peterson

I am Scott's Disappointed Alter-Ego

You're Tiger Woods? Man, I knew your game had gone downhill, Tiger, but jeez, man...

Dan Tapper

My name is on the street? My name is my name.

Scott Peterson

My name is all I have.

Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing; ’twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed.

(I just made that up. Just now. Right on the spot.) 

Dan Tapper

I...am skeptical. 

***

COMING TOMORROW—TRACK 9 FROM HIGH HOPES: "Hunter of Invisible Game"

Hung Up

Okay. I loves me some Madonna, but watching her try to play "Stairway to Heaven," years back on some TV show, was pretty horrifying.

So when my imaginary friend Chris sent me this, at first I assumed this was an overdubbed joke.

Nope.

It's real.

That's really Madge playing Pantera.

This makes me very happy.

But also too: check out the crowd's reaction. A huge audience of Madonna fans happily headbanging away. Music, man. It really does cross pretty much all borders.

Just Like Fire Would

Now with video!

The production values aren't exactly off the charts—I swear the syncing is at least a bit off—but this is all I need from a video anyway.

Catchy tune. Still a weird trumpet solo.

And Now She CAN Shop Around

Alas. The Captain and Tennille have called it splitsville after only several decades of marriage. Is nothing sacred anymore?!

I guess it proves the old maxim true, though. It's so very hard to be a military wife.

I'm not sure what will make me feel better now. If anything even can.

Wait...yes I am! There is something!

Forget Smokey Robinson. Feh. (Yawn). Who cares about his perfect voice, his soulful splendor, his seminal songwriting, his epic and nearly unsurpassed talent.  He never did one of his songs quite like this!

And now, of course, Toni and her hundreds of rows of blinding teeth can, indeed,  shop around. You already come a-courtin', Scott?