BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

(UNITED STATES)

ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE

(2022)
LABEL:

COLUMBIA

GENRE:

ROCK

TAGS:
Bluesy, Covers, Easy-Listening, Funky, Melancholic, Old School, Rasping vocals
""Only The Strong Survive" is a collection of covers of soul and rhythm'n'blues standards for which Bruce Springsteen manages to share the pleasure he took in recording them."
LOLOCELTIC (06.12.2022)  
3/5
(0) opinions (4) comment(s)
If his last two albums showed a certain melancholy, Bruce Springsteen is not a man to let himself down. Two years after "Letter To You", the Boss is back with a new opus for which he decided to enjoy himself by covering soul and rhythm'n'blues classics from the Motown and Stax Records catalogs. For this, he teamed up with Ron Aniello on the production, with whom he also recorded almost all the instruments. The duo was helped only by the E-Street Horns and by Rob Lebret for some guitar parts. If the reunion of the boss of Rock with this repertoire can possibly leave some perplexed, it is not surprising when we know the passion of the legend of New Jersey for the monuments of this musical style.

Jimmy Barnes had the opportunity to prove to us several times that the alchemy between a good big rock voice and standards of the genre was perfectly convincing and it is not impossible that the experience of the Australian might have inspired the Boss. In any case, the two approaches remain quite similar, namely a very respectful interpretation of the originals, which clearly aim to pay tribute to idols, or even to highlight some unjustly forgotten artists. Just listen to William Bell's 'I Forgot To Be Your Lover' that Billy Idol appropriated in a breathtaking version on his album "Whiplash Smile". No such thing with Bruce Springsteen who is accompanied by Sam Moore (Sam & Dave) for a faithful tribute to this melancholic ballad. Note that the two singers also have fun on Dobie Gray's suave 'Soul Days', especially during the exchanges on the finale.

Nevertheless, the respect of the originals is not systematically synonymous of lack of interest nor of absence of risk taking. This last is characterized essentially at the level of the song for which the Boss does not hesitate to put himself in danger. With the age, his voice does not have necessarily always the same power but he compensates by a form of fragility which confers him more humanity and sensitivity ('I Wish It Would Rain', 'What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted'). He can also show a certain savagery on the nervous version of '7 Rooms Of Gloom' of the Four Tops. It is obviously impossible to quote each of the fifteen tracks of this opus, but it is advisable to retain a inhabited 'Nightshift', a groovy and catchy 'Hey, Mister Union Man', the heartbreaking 'Don't Play That Song' or the final message of hope of 'Someday We'll Be Together'.

So of course, the exercise forbids this "Only The Strong Survive" to be placed among the must-haves of Bruce Springsteen's discography but it is nevertheless a beautiful demonstration of the sensitivity and the respect that this legend can show towards his youthful idols.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Only The Strong Survive - 2:59
02. Soul Days (feat. Sam Moore) - 3:58
03. Nightshift - 4:56
04. Do I Love You (indeed I Do) - 2:27
05. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore - 3:44
06. Turn Back The Hands Of Time - 3:07
07. When She Was My Girl - 3:17
08. Hey, Western Union Man - 3:53
09. I Wish It Would Rain - 3:25
10. Don’t Play That Song - 3:34
11. Any Other Way - 2:54
12. I Forgot To Be Your Lover (feat. Sam Moore) - 2:28
13. 7 Rooms Of Gloom - 2:39
14. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - 3:31
15. Someday We’ll Be Together - 3:33

LINEUP:
Bruce Springsteen: Chant / Guitares
Ron Aniello: Guitares / Basse / Claviers / Batterie
Rob Lebret: Guitares / Invité
Sam Moore: Chant / Invité
   
(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS    
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(4) COMMENT(S)    
 
 
GHOSTKNIGHT
20/08/2023
 
17
0
Torpedo, je relis mon post et relis le votre et je n'ai pas l'impression d'être à côté de la plaque : vous parlezbde fainéantise, et du fait qu'il n'apporte rien d'autres par rapport à l'original. D'ailleurs, à ce sujet, parfois cette reprises me semble bien meilleures que les versions originales. Je pense par exemple à Johnny Cash, que j'aime bien sans plus et qui ppur moi a repris les chansons Hurt et personal Jesus avec des versions largement supérieures à la version originale. Bien sûr, cela n'engage que moi.
Le point sur lequel, je suis d'accord est que j'ai été un peu rude avec vous, juste rude, un peu comme Arthur adans Kamelott. Dsl, si je vous ai froissé.
TORPEDO
20/08/2023
  1
@GhostKnight : merci pour ce commentaire complètement à coté de la plaque. 1. Je n'ai jamais dis que cet album ne respirait pas la joie de vivre. 2. je n'ai jamais dit qu'il n'y avait pas de bons moments musicaux. 3. Je joue de la batterie et occasionnellement de la basse, je ne chante pas, même sous la douche. et je n'ai pas non plus critiqué le chant. Avant d'agresser les gens, lisez bien ce qu'ils écrivent.
GHOSTKNIGHT
20/08/2023
 
17
0

En total désaccord avec @TORPEDO, j'adore cet album qui respire la joie de vivre. Peut-être qu'il devrait se déboucher les esgourdes, afin d'entendre tous les bons moments musicaux. Mais peut-être que Monsieur Torpedo, souffre de jalousie, de la frustration de ne jamais pouvoir chanter aussi bien à l'âge du Boss.
TORPEDO
07/12/2022
  0
Malheureusement avec les albums de reprises, ce sont toujours les mêmes questions qui reviennent : est-il fait par fainéantise ? Qu'est ce qu'il apporte de plus aux originaux ? Difficile ici de répondre à la première question par contre facile de répondre à la seconde : pas grand chose.
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