I finally got this - I was afraid from reviews that i would hate it since I'm something of a bruce purist. I don't prefer his rock music but I don't like the affected accent he has adopted as his singing dialect in the past decade. he keeps trying to sound more southern and it doesn't fly. I prefered when he sang in a more authetic south jersey/delaware subtle southern lilt. if you listen to folks from Delware and very southern jersey, they do not sound like Northerns at all. My husband is a South Jersey boy too so maybe I just prefer the dialect on account of that.


It took a few plays for this to grow on me and I do really enjoy it now. I think I like "Pay me My money Down" the best because he adds the verse about Bill gates and bings it to the present. he also employs a vocal technique of his I always love of aiming flat of a note and bending upwards such as he does when he sings the word "jail". His tendency not to hit perfect notes and to aim flat has always lent weariness to his voice that others can't quite imitate. It's not an easy thing to do if you've been a trained singer.

Anyway - I would say that this record is a Dixieland record with a little folk mixed in. it reminds me of the albums he produced for Gary U.S. Bonds in the early 80s which had a similar sound. He and Gary did Jole Blon in a very unique way and Soul Deep plus a bunch of Springsteen originals that worked well.

There will always be people who wet themselves over any new "Trad" Springsteen record just as there will be people waiting to trash it as not authentic - like it or not, he has the juice to get a record like this done and out in Walmarts and Target stores. That alone should earn him some praise.

So - I like it and am fighting with my husband for posession of it this morning. I've now weighed in.

Oh - I hated the ay he did Shenendoah but now find myself singing along with it every time it's on and improvising a bit. it's lovely.