And those times are tired.
This cycle of presidential politics has been brutal. It's not necessarily because the campaigns have been more negative than in the past (they really haven't, 2008 was insane), but because it has been inescapable. Social medial has come into it's own, and every other posting on Facebook is an election quip or snarky comment. You can't get away from it (unless of course you kill your television or your Internet, which might be the best idea I've had all day).
But then I see Bruce Springsteen out there and I know it's going to be okay. The Boss' music hits me right between the eyes, and I love it when he's fighting mad, like he is on Wrecking Ball. He admits to doing his best work when he's torqued off at some injustice, and boy is he ever on this album (which I think will be go down as being my favorite of the year).
"We Take Care Of Our Own" says it all and was born to be a theme song for the Obama campaign.
"Shackled And Drawn" is the best ho-down, accordion jamboree song about being "skint" since I don't know when. When a piece of art captures it's time that is a fantastic moment, and when Springsteen says "It's still fat and easy up on banker's hill, but down here in the lowlands we're shackled and drawn" you know that he has just summed up the second Great Depression with ease. Wall street gambles and Bill down at the factory gets canned. I think of my dad when I hear "Jack Of All Trades" and I sometimes have to hit the skip button. "Death To My Hometown" rocks like 1875 with Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morrello on crazy guitar and "Wrecking Ball" is a surprisingly poignant song about age considering it was written to commemorate the end of Giants Stadium in New Jersey.
A brilliant topical album that also rocks and catches a snapshot of our times.
What more can you ask?
5 stars
No comments:
Post a Comment