Does anyone have time to listen to seven new Bruce Springsteen albums?
People tend to be hoarders. We keep things around for much longer than they are useful for no reason. Looking around this room, I see four or five things that should have been gone at least ten years ago. There’s absolutely no reason I should have three laptops that I haven’t used in years sitting around—and don’t get me started about shoes I haven’t worn in years.
Musicians aren’t any different. There are plenty of stories about songs and albums that have been recorded but never released to the public. Neil Young has so much material in his archives that he has started releasing recordings from the 1970s every year or so. He recently dropped a country album done in the mid-70s. One good thing is he doesn’t bombard the public with this old stuff all at once.
Bruce Springsteen is going a different route. He announced that he’ll release a box set of seven new albums in June. “Tracks II: The Lost Albums” consists of songs he’s written and recorded over the last forty years, but have never been released. Bruce said that he occasionally plays some of these while practicing at home, he might play them for friends at a party (imagine going to a party and Bruce starts playing tunes—how cool is that), and a few of them have made it onto a concert setlist. But this will be the first time these eighty-three songs will be released into whatever format you now listen to music.
You read that correctly—EIGHTY-THREE SONGS!!
Where is anyone going to find the time to listen to all of this music? I’m a fan of The Boss. I’ve been to a few of his concerts. When he puts out a new album, I’ll make some time to give it a few listens. I’ve even given excellent reviews to a couple of his recent works. But, I know there’s no way I’m going to be able to find the multiple hours just to give a cursory listen to all of this music. And this is from a guy who has plenty of free time—imagine if I were busy with real-life stuff. No way could I or anyone hear this enough to get into it deeply.
The albums are scheduled to be released on June 27. You have two months to arrange your schedule so you can listen to them all. I should be done by New Year’s.
When do you want to do something you find the time😎
It will provide hours of distraction from the horror that has permeated the current regime. 100 days and so much damage to be undone. Bruce is always like a breath of fresh air—even his older albums.