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HomeMusicCountryAlt-Country & AmericanaWe Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (American Land Edition) (CD/DVD) |
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 This is American music....powerful, populist and quite beautiful Aug 05, 2008
Springsteen mines the roots of his own music and produces quite a gem.
You knew that Springsteen must have looked up to guys like Pete Seeger, just based on the strong populist message that flows through everything he has written. This album serves as the definitive missing link between Springsteen's inspiration and everything he has produced.
If 'Bruce!' fans are disappointed here, it's cause they aren't looking past the surface. This is a vanity project, but it's much more similar to Springsteen's own music than it first appears.
This is also a valid history lesson. The songs on this CD pretty much all originate as spirituals (slave music) or at least have origins that date back to the 19th Century.
Lucky for us, this history lesson comes in an aurally beautiful package. The music is great. It's approachable, but the only thing lost from the 60+ year old performances is all the crackle and fuzz in the background. There is nothing like listening to this classic American music and being able to crank it up.....actually enjoy it like any other modern music.
Usually these 'extra track' CD's don't offer much, but this is not the case here. 'How Can a Poor Man...' alone makes the few extra bucks worth it, and none of the extra's are throw away. They really kind of shafted the people who bought this CD early.
American Land Edition May 18, 2008
I only ordered this for the "American Land" track which is not on the original CD. It was, however, worth it.
almost made a big mistake May 17, 2008
By skipping this one when it was first released. I thought to myself oh no here he goes again, Bruce is afraid to rock so he puts out an album of old boo hoo protest songs. Could not have been more wrong, not only a brave release on his part, but the toe tappingist dang release of the Boss's long career. Do not skip this one.
The Boss Comes Home Mar 03, 2008
This review was originally posted for the DVD. The accolades for that serve here as well.
Frankly, I had never been a strong fan of Bruce Springsteen's during his more raucous Rock and Roll career. I like Rock and Roll very much but most of his work seemed to my ear a little off kilter. However, with an acoustic recording in 2005 and now a folky recording of some works made famous by the legendary folksinger and folk traditionalist Pete Seeger Springsteen has come back home. This session produced interesting versions of some common American songs like Eire, John Henry and Shenendoah that are done with so much retexturing (Springsteen's term) that Bruce has now created a niche for himself in the folk pantheon. Who would have thought?
This is a short documentary about the making of the sessions album but it gives real insight into the way Sprngsteen `feels' the song, gears up, and then goes out and performs it in that gravelling voice that I like in male singers. For my money his version of Shenandoah is one of the most hauntingly moving I have ever heard. And I do not even usually like the song. All this plus his gang of musicians were obviously having a good time. And it shows. I am going out to buy the album, pronto.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A Masterpeice of Music Feb 09, 2008
I had no idea that this would turn out to be one of the most listened music cds in my collection. I have over 5000 33rpm, 1000 78rpm and hundreds of CDs. My wife and I think this recording is an incredible musical experience in folk, ethnic, bluegrass, and New Orleans Jazz. Bruce Springsteen has found one of the best bands I have ever heard in any music style mixing ethnic, New Orleans Jazz, folk country, bluegrass, as well as just plain great music. I can't say one song is disappointing and must say that it's hard to pick a favorite though Mrs McGrath seems to go through my head as well as Eyes on The Prize, and Froggie. Can't rate this CD any higher in my humble opinion.
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