#Showbiz: Springsteen digs into the vault to rewrite his 'lost' '90s
WASHINGTON: Conventional wisdom among Bruce Springsteen fans holds that the 1990s were his "lost" decade – a period where he struggled to chart a new course after parting ways with his longtime collaborators, the E Street Band.
It turns out "The Boss" never bought into that narrative, and now he's aiming to overturn it with a new collection of unreleased material, Tracks II: The Lost Albums, released on Friday.
"I often read about myself in the '90s as having some lost period," the 75-year-old rocker said in a 17-minute documentary released last week.
"Actually, Patti and I were parenting very young children at the time, so that affected some of your workout," he conceded, referencing his wife and E Street Band member, Patti Scialfa.
"But really, I was working the whole time."
During the Covid pandemic, Springsteen returned to his archives and "finished everything I had in my vault."
The result is a sprawling box set compilation of 83 songs organised thematically into seven albums, spanning his output from 1983 to 2018.
But the greatest spotlight falls on the 1990s – a decade long seen as a wilderness period for the New Jersey native, who was said to be struggling to find a solo identity during his hiatus from the E Street Band.
Springsteen first burst onto the national scene in the '70s as a would-be heir to Bob Dylan, hit new commercial heights in the '80s with Born in the USA, and delivered what many view as the definitive artistic response to the 9/11 attacks with The Rising.
One album in the box set revisits the Streets of Philadelphia Sessions, evoking the namesake hit with a moody blend of synthesisers and pulsing drumbeats as he explores dark emotional terrain.
"I'd made three albums about relationships, I had a fourth one," Springsteen said. "It was particularly dark, and I just didn't know if my audience was going to be able to hear it at that moment."
Another record, Somewhere North of Nashville, is a rollicking, country-rooted romp. A third, Inyo, recorded in the late '90s along California's borderlands, is an ode to Mexican-American culture.
Springsteen is far from the first major artist to unearth new material from songs that were originally shelved, following a tradition established by Dylan's Bootleg Series in 1991.
Tracks II, as the name suggests, is a sequel to 1998's Tracks – and Tracks III is set to follow.
Over the years, critics have often argued there's a reason some tracks remain unreleased – with "new" Beatles songs based on the late John Lennon's homemade demos often cited as proof that not every vault needs to be reopened.
So far, however, Tracks II has been received favourably by many reviewers.
"For any fan, it's a revelation to hear the secret mischief that Bruce Springsteen was making in the shadows, during his most low-profile era – the music he made for himself, after years of making music for the world," wrote Rob Sheffield in Rolling Stone.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#Showbiz: Springsteen digs into the vault to rewrite his 'lost' '90s
WASHINGTON: Conventional wisdom among Bruce Springsteen fans holds that the 1990s were his "lost" decade – a period where he struggled to chart a new course after parting ways with his longtime collaborators, the E Street Band. It turns out "The Boss" never bought into that narrative, and now he's aiming to overturn it with a new collection of unreleased material, Tracks II: The Lost Albums, released on Friday. "I often read about myself in the '90s as having some lost period," the 75-year-old rocker said in a 17-minute documentary released last week. "Actually, Patti and I were parenting very young children at the time, so that affected some of your workout," he conceded, referencing his wife and E Street Band member, Patti Scialfa. "But really, I was working the whole time." During the Covid pandemic, Springsteen returned to his archives and "finished everything I had in my vault." The result is a sprawling box set compilation of 83 songs organised thematically into seven albums, spanning his output from 1983 to 2018. But the greatest spotlight falls on the 1990s – a decade long seen as a wilderness period for the New Jersey native, who was said to be struggling to find a solo identity during his hiatus from the E Street Band. Springsteen first burst onto the national scene in the '70s as a would-be heir to Bob Dylan, hit new commercial heights in the '80s with Born in the USA, and delivered what many view as the definitive artistic response to the 9/11 attacks with The Rising. One album in the box set revisits the Streets of Philadelphia Sessions, evoking the namesake hit with a moody blend of synthesisers and pulsing drumbeats as he explores dark emotional terrain. "I'd made three albums about relationships, I had a fourth one," Springsteen said. "It was particularly dark, and I just didn't know if my audience was going to be able to hear it at that moment." Another record, Somewhere North of Nashville, is a rollicking, country-rooted romp. A third, Inyo, recorded in the late '90s along California's borderlands, is an ode to Mexican-American culture. Springsteen is far from the first major artist to unearth new material from songs that were originally shelved, following a tradition established by Dylan's Bootleg Series in 1991. Tracks II, as the name suggests, is a sequel to 1998's Tracks – and Tracks III is set to follow. Over the years, critics have often argued there's a reason some tracks remain unreleased – with "new" Beatles songs based on the late John Lennon's homemade demos often cited as proof that not every vault needs to be reopened. So far, however, Tracks II has been received favourably by many reviewers. "For any fan, it's a revelation to hear the secret mischief that Bruce Springsteen was making in the shadows, during his most low-profile era – the music he made for himself, after years of making music for the world," wrote Rob Sheffield in Rolling Stone.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Belle Sisoski blends tradition and EDM
SARAWAKIAN musician Belle Sisoski creates a truly unique sound by combining electronic dance music (EDM) with traditional instruments from her heritage. She effectively blends old and new, integrating centuries of history and tradition into modern music, giving new life to some long-forgotten musical instruments. Belle samples traditional Sarawakian instruments like the stringed sape, the long-forgotten tapi, as well as the turali and keringut flutes — incorporating these into her vibrant EDM beats that accompany her powerful vocals. This new generation, cutting-edge music has earned Belle a substantial following, with over a million fans on each platform: TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Two years ago, she made waves as one of the top three finalists for the Commonwealth Song Contest. Her track, 'Stop Your Games', vividly captured the gloomy and dark emotional days of the global Covid-19 lockdown. Belle's latest single, 'Mother's Calling', is a poignant appeal for environmental protection and conservation which is inspired by her concern for ecological destruction. She performed it at the 27th Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) in Kuching last year. CLASSICALLY TRAINED In a recent interview, Belle revealed that she received classical training in piano and violin. She grew up listening to classical composers like Debussy and Chopin, alongside modern contemporary artists such as Yanni, Vangelis, and John Williams. "I was born and raised in a musically inclined family," she shared. "My mother is a music educator and ethnomusicologist, and her research into indigenous Iban music deeply influenced my artistic journey." As an only child, Belle began classical piano training at the age of three, later picking up the violin, guitar and vocals. Over time, she found herself drawn to traditional Bornean instruments like the engkerurai, sompoton, sape and tapi. Her interest also extended to other Malaysian traditional instruments such as the kompang and rebab, and even Southeast Asian instruments like the angklung, jaw harp and gamelan. Belle's early influences were a rich blend of classical greats, cinematic film score composers, traditional folk music and experimental electronic artists. "Today, I draw inspiration from such film composers and unconventional masters of traditional instruments." While Belle was classically trained locally, much of her music education stemmed from experimentation and hands-on experience as a performer and producer. During her school years, Belle actively participated in music competitions and concerts. The growth of social media during and after Covid-19 led to appearances at major music festivals, including the RWMF. "This festival is one of the milestones that gave me clarity about the kind of artist I wanted to become," she said. "One of my most impactful performances to date was at the Ultra Taiwan music festival, where I premiered my Southeast Asian ethnic-cinematic-electronic live set to an international audience." LOCKDOWN EXPERIMENTS Belle said during the Covid-19 lockdown, she dedicated a significant amount of time to production and experimentation with various musical instruments. She also created covers of different genres and music from various nationalities. "It was a journey of self-discovery and experimental improvisation that led to combining traditional instruments in EDM," she added. Belle's songs are imbued with strong emotions on various subject matters, reflecting her passion and awareness for humanitarian causes. "When creating a song, I begin with a topic or emotion that I want to highlight," she said. Currently, she and her one-woman band are touring across Asia and also expanding globally. "Performing at more international festivals will not just showcase my music, but also represent my Southeast Asian and Malaysian heritage on a global stage." Outside of music, Belle is also a visual storyteller who paints, writes poetry, and directs and edits her own visual content. "If I were not a musician, I might have pursued filmmaking or cultural anthropology," she said. Belle is currently working on a multi-part conceptual album inspired by elemental philosophies. Additionally, she is developing a music video and instrument introductory series titled 'Wonders of the Southeast', all while maintaining a schedule of live performances for music festivals and corporate events. "My next release, 'The Resistance', will continue exploring the fusion of cinematic soundscapes and electronic elements with indigenous instrumentation." As a musician, Belle dreams of becoming a music producer of world and film music. "There's no shortcut to performing at a high level with live instruments, "It requires consistent practice at a high level to master every detail of my equipment, ensuring the best delivery in every music production and live show," she concluded.
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
The Boss vs The Donald
THEY have some similarities, Bruce Springsteen and Donald Trump – guys in their 70s with homes in New Jersey and big constituencies among white American men middle-aged and older. And both, in very different respects, are the boss. That's about where it ends. The veteran rock star, long a political opponent of the US president, stood up as one of Trump's most prominent cultural critics last month with a verbal takedown from a British stage. As is his nature, Trump fought back – hard. He called Springsteen a 'dried out prune of a rocker' and even brought Beyonce into the fray. The president suggested that Springsteen and Beyonce should be investigated to see if appearances they made on behalf of his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, last fall represented an illegal campaign donation. Opening a tour in Manchester, England, Springsteen told his audience that 'the America I love, the America I've written about that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration.' He added, 'Tonight we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring.' Trump boarding Air Force One as he departs for Michigan to attend a rally. — Reuters Springsteen later made reference to an 'unfit president and a rogue government' who have 'no concern or idea for what it means to be deeply American'. The next morning, Trump called Springsteen highly overrated. 'Never liked him, never liked his music or his Radical Left Politics and, importantly, he's not a talented guy – just a pushy, obnoxious JERK,' he wrote on social media. 'This dried out prune of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back in the Country,' he said. The next night, also in Manchester, Springsteen repeated his criticisms. 'It's no surprise what Springsteen's political leanings are and have been for many decades,' said veteran music writer Alan Light, author of the upcoming Don't Stop: Why We (Still) Love Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. 'He's somebody who has been outspoken in his music and his actions.' The Boss' statements showed that he wasn't afraid to speak out 'at a time when so many people and institutions are just kind of rolling over,' Light said. Canadian-American rocker Neil Young weighed in on his website on behalf of Springsteen under the headline 'TRUMP!!!' 'What are you worryin about man?' he said. 'Bruce and thousands of musicians think you are ruining America. You worry about that instead of the dyin' kids in Gaza. That's your problem. I am not scared of you. Neither are the rest of us.' He added: 'Taylor Swift is right. So is Bruce. You know how I feel. You are worried more about yourself than AMERICA.' It's not the first time Springsteen has spoken out against Trump – or a Republican president. When former President Ronald Reagan referenced Springsteen's 'message of hope' at a campaign stop during the height of the rocker's Born in the USA popularity, Springsteen wondered if Reagan had listened to his music and its references to those left behind in the 1980s economy. Springsteen also has had an occasionally bumpy relationship with one-time Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a fan of his music. Springsteen has campaigned for Trump's opponents, including Harris last fall. In 2020, he said that 'a good portion of our fine country, to my eye, has been thoroughly hypnotised, brainwashed by a con man from Queens.' He knows the outer-borough reference still stung a man who built his own tower in Manhattan and ascended to the presidency. Trump often stays at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Springsteen grew up in New Jersey – you may have heard – and lives in Colts Neck, New Jersey, now. Trump doesn't hesitate to go after the biggest musical names that speak out against him, like Beyonce and Swift. But the political risk may be less; their younger, more female audiences are less likely to intersect with Trump's core constituency. During his career, Springsteen has challenged his audience politically beyond presidential endorsements. The 1995 album The Ghost of Tom Joad bluntly documented the lives of struggling immigrants – Mexican and Vietnamese among them. And his 2001 song American Skin (41 Shots), criticised the shooting by New York City police officers of an unarmed Guinean immigrant named Amadou Diallo, angering some of the blue-collar segments of his fan base. Clearly, Springsteen has conservative fans and some who wish he'd steer clear of politics, Light said. Still, '40 years later, it's hard to imagine what they think would happen' with Trump, he said. While Trump made a point to reference Springsteen's criticism in an overseas show, the singer and his E Street Band haven't performed in the United States since before the 2024 election. — AP
