Devils & Dust

by

Bruce Springsteen

Edit

Essentially there are two kinds of Springsteen fans. There are fans of "The Boss", who love Born to Run and Born in the U.S.A. and care more about the fist-pumping power of the E Street Band and massive hooks than Bruce as a songwriter. Then, there are Bruce Springsteen fans who love the "The Boss" characteristics as much as anyone but also come for the songwriting and lyrical depth. This album will be loved by fans of Bruce Springsteen, but those who want The Boss should steer clear.

First, this album is not exactly analagous to Tom Joad and Nebraska sonically. Though it doesn't sound a thing like Tunnel of Love it is similar in that the arrangements are sparse but electric guitars and big drums show up from time to time. There are a couple of outright rockers.

Many of the stories are an extension of Tom Joad and take place in the American Southwest, but there is enough variety to keep it from being a sequel. Virtually every song features people dealing with difficult circumstances, and there is little along triumph and celebration along the way. From the main character in "All the Way Home" looking for romantic redemption to the man in "Reno" seeking comfort in the embrace of a prostitute after true love failed him ("Somehow all you ever need's, never really quite enough you know/You and I, Maria, we learned it's so"), Devils and Dust is filled with people dealing with disillusionment and broken dreams. You may not retreat, you may not surrender, but that doesn't guarantee you'll win, either.

Fans of Springsteen's underrated guitar playing will be treated to his best acoustic rhythm playing to date. There may not be any screaming Esquire leads or flashy licks, but Devils and Dust is filled with melodic finger picking and other rhythm parts that could carry the songs by themselves.

To make a film analogy, this album has something in common with Sin City. For those who love grim and gritty film noir Sin City is a masterpiece, but anyone without a strong stomach would be automatically turned off by it's very nature. That, in essence, is the story of Devils and Dust. If you love Springsteen the songwriter and see the beauty and power of examining the dark side of life, Devils and Dust is a can't-miss prospect. If you want Dancing in the Dark or Hungry Heart, this isn't for you. It doesn't dimish the album in any way, it simply makes it what it is.

Yes, another DualDisc rant!

Schitzophrenic Sony's at it again. One division wants to sell you nifty digital hardware, while the other is paranoid about you STEALING THEIR STUFF.

Ok, smart guys, HOW DO I GET THIS MUSIC ONTO MY IPOD? Is there even a standards-compliant audio CD available for PURCHASE? Because DualDisc is not it. I guess if you want to listen to it on your mp3 player, you need to buy the album from the iTunes store.

I can't wait till we start getting reports of the thicker disc jamming in people's slot-loading CD players in their cars.

See this article at Stereophile about DualDisc problems : http://stereophile.com/news/122704meridian/

See also "Dual Disc Consumer Advisories To Date" from High Fidelity Review http://highfidelityreview.com/news/news.asp?newsnumber=12610938

Be an informed customer. Read the label, and don't buy the media if it won't work in your equiptment. No store wants to be hassled by people returning dics becuase "they won't work in my Mac".