Back before Thanksgiving a friend of mine was telling me about this band that people were comparing to Bruce Springsteen. The group was called The Hold Steady. It took some time, but I eventually bought the group's latest cd, Boys and Girls in America. My first instinct was to throw the cd into the trash and dash off something clever here about the dangers of comparisons.
For whatever reason, I didn't post anything on The Hold Steady, made up my list of the best music I heard during 2006, and avoided any sort of overrated comments. In the meantime, I gave Boys and Girls in America a few more listens. Here's what I came up with.
I can absolutely see why this cd is selling. I don't know how well its doing, but it got several favorable reviews. It's the perfect cd for that coveted 18-34 demographic that I haven't been a part of for several years.
If you are a party hearty kind of person, know someone that is, and/or you are a part of that almighty 18-24 demo, this cd is for you. How can you go wrong with song after song about getting high, fooling around when you're high, going to concerts when you're high, etc. etc. Everyone should be able to relate, no?
There's lots of drama on display on this cd. I described it to someone as teen angst. The drama, or angst, if you prefer, is set to some decent music, although for the life of me, I don't hear the Springsteen connection!
That leaves me to think that the comparisons were coming from the drama in the lyrics. I guess you could call Boys and Girls In America a Nebraska for 18-25 year olds. The lyrics are conversational and loaded with the kind of detail that people seem to think that Springsteen invented as a lyrical convention. For reference, I'd recommend giving a listen to Chuck Berry and before him, any number of blues artists whose songs contain the same kind of attention to detail.
I feel like I've written too much about this cd. It's not my cup of tea, but that doesn't make it a bad piece of work. In fact, the folks over in the UK are anxiously awaiting the arrival of The Hold Steady to their shores, so someone feels a connection with this group.
It ain't me.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
The Dave Clark Five
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2007 was announced yesterday, and missing from the list was the Dave Clark Five. What's the matter? They didn't meet the criteria? Let's see . . . .
Their first single, Glad All Over, was released in the US in 1964, 43 years and six days ago. The Hall says an artist is eligible 25 years after their first record. I'd say they pass that test!
As far as "the artist's contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll," fifteen consecutive Top 20 records between 1964 and 1966 sounds like a decent contribution. This is a record that none of the current inductees from that period, with the exception of the Beatles, can put on their resume.
Even though the DC5 hung together and made good music until 1970, the band's heyday was that two year period beginning in 1964. The Beatles get credit, and deservedly so, for opening the door to British bands in America. Once here, however, the bands had to prove themselves. The DC5 did that. Was all of this lost on the Hall of Fame voters?
Perhaps there is some bias against the bands that came over in the first wave of the British Invasion? Sure, the Beatles, Stones, Animals, Yardbirds, Kinks, and the Who are in. But what about the Dave Clark Five? They made mincemeat out of every one of these bands in terms of popularity, again, save for the Beatles.
It looks like the DC5 are getting lumped in with Gerry and the Pacemakers, BJ Kramer and the Dakotas, Freddy and the Dreamers, and Herman's Hermits. There's nothing wrong with these bands, by the way, but they can't hold a candle to the DC5.
Critics have sung the praises of the songwriting evolution of Lennon-McCartney, Jagger-Richards, Ray Davies, and Pete Townshend in the early years of their careers. Dave Clark's songwriting may not have evolved to the same degree as his peers, but he was no slouch.
Clark and the band, Mike Smith, vocals and keyboards, Denis Payton, sax, harmonica, guitar, and vocals, Rick Huxley, bass guitar and vocals, and Lenny Davidson, lead guitar and vocals, made a sound that rocked as hard as any of the British Invasion bands, thanks to Clark's pounding drums. Those drums took hold of songs like Bits and Pieces, Glad All Over, and Over and Over and created a two minute (or less) frenzy unmatched by the serious work of the Beatles et al.
I'm not trying to build the DC5's case at the expense of the other bands in the first wave of British Invasion acts. As far as I'm concerned, every one of them should be in the Hall. That's right, even Herman's Hermits and the other more pop oriented groups. Those bands all had something that the American teenager wanted, and they bought their records up faster than they could be produced.
If you've never given the Dave Clark Five a serious listen, I recommend The History of the Dave Clark Five, 50 tunes on two cds. You'll get the big hits, some of the lesser known hits, and some of the quality music they made right up to the end.
Shame on the voting members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for not giving the Dave Clark Five their due by electing them into this year's class. The world could've gone one more year without Van Halen in the Hall. Meanwhile, a group of British pioneers are shut out from their rightful place alongside the Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Animals, and the Who. With Denis Payton's recent passing and Mike Smith in a wheelchair and still hospitalized from a 2003 accident, making this band wait is a tragedy.
Get this band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And then, let's re-evaluate these 1,000 voters. It would appear that many need their voting privileges revoked.
Their first single, Glad All Over, was released in the US in 1964, 43 years and six days ago. The Hall says an artist is eligible 25 years after their first record. I'd say they pass that test!
As far as "the artist's contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll," fifteen consecutive Top 20 records between 1964 and 1966 sounds like a decent contribution. This is a record that none of the current inductees from that period, with the exception of the Beatles, can put on their resume.
Even though the DC5 hung together and made good music until 1970, the band's heyday was that two year period beginning in 1964. The Beatles get credit, and deservedly so, for opening the door to British bands in America. Once here, however, the bands had to prove themselves. The DC5 did that. Was all of this lost on the Hall of Fame voters?
Perhaps there is some bias against the bands that came over in the first wave of the British Invasion? Sure, the Beatles, Stones, Animals, Yardbirds, Kinks, and the Who are in. But what about the Dave Clark Five? They made mincemeat out of every one of these bands in terms of popularity, again, save for the Beatles.
It looks like the DC5 are getting lumped in with Gerry and the Pacemakers, BJ Kramer and the Dakotas, Freddy and the Dreamers, and Herman's Hermits. There's nothing wrong with these bands, by the way, but they can't hold a candle to the DC5.
Critics have sung the praises of the songwriting evolution of Lennon-McCartney, Jagger-Richards, Ray Davies, and Pete Townshend in the early years of their careers. Dave Clark's songwriting may not have evolved to the same degree as his peers, but he was no slouch.
Clark and the band, Mike Smith, vocals and keyboards, Denis Payton, sax, harmonica, guitar, and vocals, Rick Huxley, bass guitar and vocals, and Lenny Davidson, lead guitar and vocals, made a sound that rocked as hard as any of the British Invasion bands, thanks to Clark's pounding drums. Those drums took hold of songs like Bits and Pieces, Glad All Over, and Over and Over and created a two minute (or less) frenzy unmatched by the serious work of the Beatles et al.
I'm not trying to build the DC5's case at the expense of the other bands in the first wave of British Invasion acts. As far as I'm concerned, every one of them should be in the Hall. That's right, even Herman's Hermits and the other more pop oriented groups. Those bands all had something that the American teenager wanted, and they bought their records up faster than they could be produced.
If you've never given the Dave Clark Five a serious listen, I recommend The History of the Dave Clark Five, 50 tunes on two cds. You'll get the big hits, some of the lesser known hits, and some of the quality music they made right up to the end.
Shame on the voting members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for not giving the Dave Clark Five their due by electing them into this year's class. The world could've gone one more year without Van Halen in the Hall. Meanwhile, a group of British pioneers are shut out from their rightful place alongside the Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Animals, and the Who. With Denis Payton's recent passing and Mike Smith in a wheelchair and still hospitalized from a 2003 accident, making this band wait is a tragedy.
Get this band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And then, let's re-evaluate these 1,000 voters. It would appear that many need their voting privileges revoked.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
A Resolution For the New Year
It was great to see veteran rockers like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Tom Petty, The Who, Bob Dylan, and Lindsey Buckingham release great music in 2006. Throw in Cheap Trick, Jerry Lee Lewis, Paul Simon, Elton John, New York Dolls, Joe Grushecky, Neil Young, Dion, and Ray Davies, and it's hard not to call 2006 a banner year for the old guard.
As we've gotten older, so have the musical heroes of our youth. As witnessed by the above list, many of those artists are still releasing music that is exciting and vital. While it was great to see this kind of activity among the veterans, rock and roll fans, fans of the artists previously mentioned, have got to get behind the great music of younger bands like The Anderson Council, The Hellacopters, Kaiser George and the Hi-Risers, and The Charms.
While it's possible we'll be calling Springsteen's name and Dion's name at the end of 2007, heaping praise on their new music, it seems to me that we've got to pin our hopes on the younger generation of rock and rollers to make this a great year. I think the younger groups are up to it. The question is, when new releases by The Woggles, The Charms, and The Mooney Suzuki hit the stores, will we buy?
If you care about rock and roll at all, this is the year we have to work our backsides off to hear this music when it comes out and then cast our votes at the cash register. For those of you still uneasy about making on-line purchases, do what you can to get comfortable with buying over the internet. This year, more than ever, most of the rock and roll you're going to purchase will come from the web.
Hearing the music won't be easy either. Traditional radio is out, as they seem to be more interested in touting their new high definition signals than exposing the rock and roll world to new music. If you don't already have a satellite radio, make this the year to make that purchase. Both Sirius and XM offer a wide range of musical selections. I chose Sirius two years ago, and I haven't regretted the decision. It's where you'll hear the Underground Garage channel, our best connection to the new rock and roll bands making music these days.
It's still too early to tell if the relationship between the Underground Garage and Best Buy is going to be good for rock and roll fans. It looks good on paper; there are Best Buys everywhere. Since Best Buys are a bit less threatening to buyers over 40, this arrangement should make it easier for this crowd to wander out for the latest rock and roll music. If enough of us do this, it might make the independent retailers take notice too. We need them too.
I'm excited about the possibilities for rock and roll in 2007. We're going to have to work a little bit harder to get to the music this year, but our persistence will be rewarded. It's up to us to keep rock and roll from dropping out of our culture. Never before has being a fan of rock and roll come with such responsibility.
One of my resolutions for 2007 is to hold up my end of the deal. I hope you'll join me.
As we've gotten older, so have the musical heroes of our youth. As witnessed by the above list, many of those artists are still releasing music that is exciting and vital. While it was great to see this kind of activity among the veterans, rock and roll fans, fans of the artists previously mentioned, have got to get behind the great music of younger bands like The Anderson Council, The Hellacopters, Kaiser George and the Hi-Risers, and The Charms.
While it's possible we'll be calling Springsteen's name and Dion's name at the end of 2007, heaping praise on their new music, it seems to me that we've got to pin our hopes on the younger generation of rock and rollers to make this a great year. I think the younger groups are up to it. The question is, when new releases by The Woggles, The Charms, and The Mooney Suzuki hit the stores, will we buy?
If you care about rock and roll at all, this is the year we have to work our backsides off to hear this music when it comes out and then cast our votes at the cash register. For those of you still uneasy about making on-line purchases, do what you can to get comfortable with buying over the internet. This year, more than ever, most of the rock and roll you're going to purchase will come from the web.
Hearing the music won't be easy either. Traditional radio is out, as they seem to be more interested in touting their new high definition signals than exposing the rock and roll world to new music. If you don't already have a satellite radio, make this the year to make that purchase. Both Sirius and XM offer a wide range of musical selections. I chose Sirius two years ago, and I haven't regretted the decision. It's where you'll hear the Underground Garage channel, our best connection to the new rock and roll bands making music these days.
It's still too early to tell if the relationship between the Underground Garage and Best Buy is going to be good for rock and roll fans. It looks good on paper; there are Best Buys everywhere. Since Best Buys are a bit less threatening to buyers over 40, this arrangement should make it easier for this crowd to wander out for the latest rock and roll music. If enough of us do this, it might make the independent retailers take notice too. We need them too.
I'm excited about the possibilities for rock and roll in 2007. We're going to have to work a little bit harder to get to the music this year, but our persistence will be rewarded. It's up to us to keep rock and roll from dropping out of our culture. Never before has being a fan of rock and roll come with such responsibility.
One of my resolutions for 2007 is to hold up my end of the deal. I hope you'll join me.
Monday, January 01, 2007
It Was a Very Good Year
With all the fine music released in 2006, narrowing the year down to only ten is a tough assignment. There was something for everyone in the music released in '06. Many bands and labels reached back into their vaults and brought out previously unreleased tunes and re-mixed and re-mastered versions of their known tunes.
The Beach Boys gave us a 40th anniversary release of Pet Sounds, The Black Crowes released two collections; a live set, Freak 'n' Roll and The Lost Crowes, featuring two cds from mid-90's sessions, Santana III was reissued with a bonus disc from the band's 1971 4th of July concert at the famed Fillmore West, and Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen released concert discs from the archives. Young's 1970 show from the Fillmore East and Springsteen's famous '75 show from London's Hammersmith Odeon saw the light of day in 2006. Hopefully more concerts from the vaults of both of these artists will appear in 2007.
Before I run out my top ten, here are some releases that should be on your list to buy, if you've not already done so.
The Fall Parade, The Anderson Council; Rockford, Cheap Trick; Blessing & A Curse, Drive-By Truckers; Transatlantic Dynamite, Kaiser George and the Hi-Risers; 1000 Years of Popular Music, Richard Thompson; Last Man Standing, Jerry Lee Lewis; Other People's Lives, Ray Davies; Under the Covers, Vol. 1, Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs; Stay Happy, Outrageous Cherry; Broken Boy Soldiers, Raconteurs; One Day it Will Please Us to Remember Even This, The New York Dolls; Endless Wire, The Who.
All of which leads me to these ten, which at the end of 2006, I thought held up the best.
10 - Face the Promise, Bob Seger - Taking 11 years off from the business to raise his family, Seger returns to the fray as a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. He's still got his chops, writes great songs, and as his fans across the country have seen for the last couple of months, he's still a great live act. This cd features "No More," Seger's response to the war in Iraq.
9 - Highway Companion, Tom Petty - Another rock veteran delivers the goods in 2006. This was a solo release with TP getting an assist from fellow Heartbreaker Mike Campbell and former Traveling Wilbury Jeff Lynne. He took these songs out on the road with the Heartbreakers for what everyone assumed would be a farewell tour, but now sounds like could be a career re-birth.
8 - Overnight Sensational, Sam Moore - Comeback duets are popular, but before you lump this cd into that category remember that Sam Moore was half of the famous soul duo Sam and Dave. If anyone deserves an opportunity to team up with some of music's best, it's Moore. One of several highlights on this cd is the presence of Billy Preston, who sadly, played his last sessions for Moore. The song selection is first-rate and the performances from Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Sting, and Paul Rodgers (among the many) are equally as strong.
7 - The Captain and The Kid, Elton John - Releasing the follow up to Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy 30 years on may have seemed odd, but allowing the time to pass before releasing the sequel makes the story that much better. Elton and Bernie wrote ten songs that took us from Elton's landing in LA ("Postcards From Richard Nixon") to the final reflection ("The Captain and The Kid") on a great career. A career, by the way, that has been resurrected by two strong releases, Songs From the West Coast (2001) and Peachtree Road (2004).
6 - Bronx in Blue, Dion - Like many artists of Dion's time, blues musicians were a major influence. Dion repays the debt with Bronx in Blue. It's just Dion and his acoustic guitar performing a blistering set of blues tunes. In addition to the 14 great performances on this cd, the liner notes provide some insight into the music and the artists. Some of the songs here you've heard from other artists; "Crossroads," "Travelin' Riverside Blues," "Terraplane Blues," and "Statesboro Blues" among them. This cd got next to no airplay in this part of the world, but it deserves to be heard. Do what you need to do to find this and turn it up!
5 - Modern Times, Bob Dylan - Another rock pioneer with a great release in 2006. Dylan's Modern Times is a great slice of Americana. The sounds on this cd are incredible. Dylan's songs make great use of what one might call traditonal folk instruments, cello, steel guitar, violin, viola, mandolin along with the basic rock setup, guitar, bass, drums, piano, and harmonica. The combination creates a musical portrait that is breathtaking. Dylan's voice is in great form too. If you don't already own a vinyl copy of Modern Times, seek it out. I know the cd's got a couple bonus tracks, but the vinyl version of Dylan's latest sounds great.
4 - Living With War, Neil Young - Neil Young is pissed. I'm sure this isn't the first time since the Kent State incident that inspired "Ohio" that Young has let his anger manifest itself musically. It is some of his best work since the aforementioned hit. This release sounds rushed with some ragged vocals that could've stood to be recorded again. Having said that, the ragged vocals and the rush release of Living With War display an urgency and give off an energy that more bands should tap into. I doubt that this one will be on a best of list coming from the White House.
3 - Rock and Roll is Dead, The Hellacopters - Rock and roll may be dead, but The Hellacopters do their part to bring it back to life. The 15 songs on this set absolutely burn. It doesn't matter what period of rock and roll you enjoy, The Hellacopters fit right in and will not disappoint. Check out "Everything's On TV," "Monkeyboy," "Murder On My Mind," and "Nothing Terribly New" as proof that this band is the real deal.
2 - Under the Skin, Lindsey Buckingham - The heart and soul of Fleetwood Mac released his best solo effort yet in 2006. He covers the Rolling Stones and Donovan here, with great versions of "I Am Waiting" and "To Try for the Sun." "Not Too Late," the opening track, should be the song of the year. Should be, but won't. I was happy to see that radio is getting behind this cd, but it's going to be Buckingham's tour that will really sell this. Five of the new songs are getting showcased on Buckingham's current tour and are getting a great reception from audiences. There's not a clunker in the bunch on this cd. If it's not a part of your collection, please add it to your list.
1 - We Shall Overcome: The American Land Edition, Bruce Springsteen - Inspired by Woody Gurthrie and Pete Seeger, Springsteen assembles a collection of musicians who bring songs dating back two centuries up to date and into our collective consciousness. Some of the tunes here were obscure (Dave Marsh's notes on each song add to the overall beauty of this set), but others have been a part of the mainstream for many years. Springsteen caught some grief for releasing this, an expanded version, so soon after the initial release. For my money, any cd with Springsteen's versions of "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live" and "Bring 'Em Home" is worth the price of admission. Throw in another new Springsteen number, "American Land," and that makes this set a must-have.
One final note: If you need more examples of the quality of this year's releases, see also, American V, Johnny Cash; Laugh Now, Cry Later, Ice Cube; Sacred Weapon, Nils Lofgren; Surprise, Paul Simon; Pearl Jam; A Good Life, Joe Grushecky; Taking the Long Way, Dixie Chicks.
The Beach Boys gave us a 40th anniversary release of Pet Sounds, The Black Crowes released two collections; a live set, Freak 'n' Roll and The Lost Crowes, featuring two cds from mid-90's sessions, Santana III was reissued with a bonus disc from the band's 1971 4th of July concert at the famed Fillmore West, and Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen released concert discs from the archives. Young's 1970 show from the Fillmore East and Springsteen's famous '75 show from London's Hammersmith Odeon saw the light of day in 2006. Hopefully more concerts from the vaults of both of these artists will appear in 2007.
Before I run out my top ten, here are some releases that should be on your list to buy, if you've not already done so.
The Fall Parade, The Anderson Council; Rockford, Cheap Trick; Blessing & A Curse, Drive-By Truckers; Transatlantic Dynamite, Kaiser George and the Hi-Risers; 1000 Years of Popular Music, Richard Thompson; Last Man Standing, Jerry Lee Lewis; Other People's Lives, Ray Davies; Under the Covers, Vol. 1, Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs; Stay Happy, Outrageous Cherry; Broken Boy Soldiers, Raconteurs; One Day it Will Please Us to Remember Even This, The New York Dolls; Endless Wire, The Who.
All of which leads me to these ten, which at the end of 2006, I thought held up the best.
10 - Face the Promise, Bob Seger - Taking 11 years off from the business to raise his family, Seger returns to the fray as a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. He's still got his chops, writes great songs, and as his fans across the country have seen for the last couple of months, he's still a great live act. This cd features "No More," Seger's response to the war in Iraq.
9 - Highway Companion, Tom Petty - Another rock veteran delivers the goods in 2006. This was a solo release with TP getting an assist from fellow Heartbreaker Mike Campbell and former Traveling Wilbury Jeff Lynne. He took these songs out on the road with the Heartbreakers for what everyone assumed would be a farewell tour, but now sounds like could be a career re-birth.
8 - Overnight Sensational, Sam Moore - Comeback duets are popular, but before you lump this cd into that category remember that Sam Moore was half of the famous soul duo Sam and Dave. If anyone deserves an opportunity to team up with some of music's best, it's Moore. One of several highlights on this cd is the presence of Billy Preston, who sadly, played his last sessions for Moore. The song selection is first-rate and the performances from Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Sting, and Paul Rodgers (among the many) are equally as strong.
7 - The Captain and The Kid, Elton John - Releasing the follow up to Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy 30 years on may have seemed odd, but allowing the time to pass before releasing the sequel makes the story that much better. Elton and Bernie wrote ten songs that took us from Elton's landing in LA ("Postcards From Richard Nixon") to the final reflection ("The Captain and The Kid") on a great career. A career, by the way, that has been resurrected by two strong releases, Songs From the West Coast (2001) and Peachtree Road (2004).
6 - Bronx in Blue, Dion - Like many artists of Dion's time, blues musicians were a major influence. Dion repays the debt with Bronx in Blue. It's just Dion and his acoustic guitar performing a blistering set of blues tunes. In addition to the 14 great performances on this cd, the liner notes provide some insight into the music and the artists. Some of the songs here you've heard from other artists; "Crossroads," "Travelin' Riverside Blues," "Terraplane Blues," and "Statesboro Blues" among them. This cd got next to no airplay in this part of the world, but it deserves to be heard. Do what you need to do to find this and turn it up!
5 - Modern Times, Bob Dylan - Another rock pioneer with a great release in 2006. Dylan's Modern Times is a great slice of Americana. The sounds on this cd are incredible. Dylan's songs make great use of what one might call traditonal folk instruments, cello, steel guitar, violin, viola, mandolin along with the basic rock setup, guitar, bass, drums, piano, and harmonica. The combination creates a musical portrait that is breathtaking. Dylan's voice is in great form too. If you don't already own a vinyl copy of Modern Times, seek it out. I know the cd's got a couple bonus tracks, but the vinyl version of Dylan's latest sounds great.
4 - Living With War, Neil Young - Neil Young is pissed. I'm sure this isn't the first time since the Kent State incident that inspired "Ohio" that Young has let his anger manifest itself musically. It is some of his best work since the aforementioned hit. This release sounds rushed with some ragged vocals that could've stood to be recorded again. Having said that, the ragged vocals and the rush release of Living With War display an urgency and give off an energy that more bands should tap into. I doubt that this one will be on a best of list coming from the White House.
3 - Rock and Roll is Dead, The Hellacopters - Rock and roll may be dead, but The Hellacopters do their part to bring it back to life. The 15 songs on this set absolutely burn. It doesn't matter what period of rock and roll you enjoy, The Hellacopters fit right in and will not disappoint. Check out "Everything's On TV," "Monkeyboy," "Murder On My Mind," and "Nothing Terribly New" as proof that this band is the real deal.
2 - Under the Skin, Lindsey Buckingham - The heart and soul of Fleetwood Mac released his best solo effort yet in 2006. He covers the Rolling Stones and Donovan here, with great versions of "I Am Waiting" and "To Try for the Sun." "Not Too Late," the opening track, should be the song of the year. Should be, but won't. I was happy to see that radio is getting behind this cd, but it's going to be Buckingham's tour that will really sell this. Five of the new songs are getting showcased on Buckingham's current tour and are getting a great reception from audiences. There's not a clunker in the bunch on this cd. If it's not a part of your collection, please add it to your list.
1 - We Shall Overcome: The American Land Edition, Bruce Springsteen - Inspired by Woody Gurthrie and Pete Seeger, Springsteen assembles a collection of musicians who bring songs dating back two centuries up to date and into our collective consciousness. Some of the tunes here were obscure (Dave Marsh's notes on each song add to the overall beauty of this set), but others have been a part of the mainstream for many years. Springsteen caught some grief for releasing this, an expanded version, so soon after the initial release. For my money, any cd with Springsteen's versions of "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live" and "Bring 'Em Home" is worth the price of admission. Throw in another new Springsteen number, "American Land," and that makes this set a must-have.
One final note: If you need more examples of the quality of this year's releases, see also, American V, Johnny Cash; Laugh Now, Cry Later, Ice Cube; Sacred Weapon, Nils Lofgren; Surprise, Paul Simon; Pearl Jam; A Good Life, Joe Grushecky; Taking the Long Way, Dixie Chicks.
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