Bruce Springsteen
Only the strong survive

Well, okay… but uff!

Come on, don’t sigh, you have a brand new Bruce CD in your hands, and it's volume 1, which means there will be a sequel.

Is that a threat?

You're the same as always… At least have you listened to it? It's a soul album, with old hits reinterpreted giving them a new twist…

I'll give him the twist, right on his head, maybe then he'll come to his senses. But does it seem possible to you with all the soul songs he's covered in his concerts, like Ain’t too proud to beg, Ain’t that peculiar, Havin’ a party (by the way, you reinterpret soul songs and exclude Sam Cooke?), Sweet soul music, Soothe me and what about the Detroit Medley, huh? Do you remember how you also sang "I see a train uh uh" followed by the endless list of cities… Today what do I get to listen to? Nightshift by Lionello who used to pay tribute to the greats of soul (Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye) with Bruce trying to emulate but with less pathos? This piece is good for the bingo with grandparents at Christmas, in the caves at San Pietro in Casale, or in an elevator/airport instead of Brian Eno. And if you want to make a soul album, fine, do it (male member) do it, but call Miami little Stefano and shoot Ron Aniello in the head because "he can’t take it anymore." The session musicians are okay, but there’s no soul, photocopy interpretations of the original, the idea I got is that the production is heavy, there is an overabundance of strings and pompous sycophantic choruses seeking easy applause. Take Don’t play that song, what does it add to the version of lady soul Aretha Franklin or Peppino di Capri? Nothing, nothing personal. What a sadness…

Come on, you’re exaggerating, have you listened to Forgot to be your lover, where he duets with Sam Moore, or When she was my love, singing like a true crooner, or even 7 rooms of gloom and – finally the masterpiece - Do I love you (Indeed I do), the best piece full of joy where the soul emerges, and we all happily tap our feet.

Yes, sure, Bruce deliberately chose not to play to focus on his voice, and surprisingly it works very well for him. Well what can I say, this is not a soul record, but vintage pop to which Ron Aniello has added everything, more and above all too much. Bruce's album deserves an honest 6.5/10 and let no one dare even compare Only the strong survive to the Seeger sessions, I ask you please.

Cooked and mailed in

Adieu