We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions : Bruce Springsteen : Review : Rolling Stone

Near the end of "Mrs. McGrath," a nineteenth-century Irish ballad that is the third track on Bruce Springsteen's new album, comes a couplet that gives a pretty good sense of why he's putting out an album of traditional folk music right now: "All foreign wars, I do proclaim/Live on blood and a mother's pain." We Shall Overcome -- which was recorded live in Springsteen's New Jersey home with a fourteen-piece band, including horns, banjo, fiddles, washboard, organ and accordion -- is his most jubilant disc since Born in the U.S.A. and more fun than a tribute to Pete Seeger has any right to be. But as on Born in the U.S.A., seemingly triumphant anthems are paired with lyrics of pain and protest that champion the oppressed and the exploited (not to mention the calamity-prone protagonist of "My Oklahoma Home," whose wife, house and crops get blown away by a tornado, leaving him with nothing but a mortgage).

Springsteen has always mined a deep vein of Americana, from the hot-rod-and-B-movie-obsessed early albums to the Steinbeckian social realism of The Ghost of Tom Joad and last year's Devils and Dust. But with his first-ever album of songs written by other people, it feels like he's turned to the music of our shared past to find a moral compass for a nation that's gone off the rails. The protest anthems "Eyes on the Prize" and "We Shall Overcome" are performed with an understated urgency; the gospel standard "Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep" -- which Springsteen sings in a gruff Tom Waits-ish baritone and to which the Seeger Sessions Band gives a Dixieland treatment with Stephane Grappelli-style violin -- promises, "Brothers and sisters, don't you cry/There'll be good times by and by."

Springsteen discovered most of these tunes -- which also include sea chanteys ("Pay Me My Money Down"), minstrel songs ("Old Dan Tucker") and outlaw ballads ("Jessie James") -- on LPs by Seeger. Among the pleasures of this album is rediscovering childhood staples like "Erie Canal" or "John Henry" via Springsteen's craggy, familiar voice -- which is as mighty and powerful as the steel-driving man himself.

JONATHAN RINGEN

(Posted: Apr 18, 2006)

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Review 1 of 18

Not Rated

Bertito...get a grip, this is a cover CD/DVD. Bruce does a wonderful job with the entire band covering a wide range of his favorite Seeger songs. Watch the video that comes with the deluxe version. If you don't have fun watching and listening to this band in the homestyle studio, then your missing the point. Bruce attacks songs like "Pay ME Down, and John Henry with energy and enthusiasm that hasn't been heard since in this style ever. He's outgrown the E Street Band (Whom I love)and grown into more than just a rock artist locked into songs on Born To Run and Born In The USA. He's done all that over and over. He will be active for at least another 15-20 years, changing experimenting, and I say this CD/DVD is a major success! Buffalo Girls, Tucker, Jesse James,....turn it up and party....then bring it down and Bring Em Home! Bravo Bruce and the Sessions Band!

Jul 16, 2007 14:52:30

Review 2 of 18

2of 5 Stars

I have always loved Bruce Springsteen, The Rising, Tunnel of Love and Born in the USA, they are all among my favorite CD's. But now We Shall Overcome...how Bruce dissapointed me for the first time. Well, all musicians are very good on this album but it is Bruce himself I cannot bear anymore. His singing is just plain awfull here, he overshouts everything. I'm sure Bruce wanted me to join his enthousiasm, but it doesnt work for me. He sounds all the way like a foolish old drunk. Is he deliberately torturing his voice and my ears? Also I believe the material is too simple. The background singers have to make gospels out of one word chorusses, how poor. The first track is a nice opener, and that's about it. I dont care if this album is politically important in current times, that's no reason for me to buy music. Im afraid Bruce started to believe in his own superego.

Nov 27, 2006 06:56:15

Review 3 of 18

5of 5 Stars

Josh Randall is a clown stuck in a bubble...can't appreciate an artists departure from mainstream? Very sad indeed! This album is brilliant, rich and full of culture...a fantastic tribute to Peter Seeger and his protest songs! Nice work Bruce...I highly recommend this to those with "open minds"!!

Nov 2, 2006 12:27:39

Review 4 of 18

1of 5 Stars

I was there and oh yes he was great. But what a long strange trip its been. It is past time for him to take his big grin home and sit around the pool. And this is not a "Play 'Thunder Road'" plea. This is not a good album on its own - or any - terms, (and there hasn't been one since Tunnel of Love), and there are much better places to discover the roots thing. Try the roots.

Oct 19, 2006 01:50:09

Review 5 of 18

5of 5 Stars

Like many I have been a Springsteen fan for almost 30 years and I know some fans are having a hard time acepting this side trip Bruce is taking into folk music. But please give this a chance. I saw the Seeger Sessions tour 2 nights ago in Milwaukee and honestly it was the most joyous musical event I've ever attended. I have seen almost every tour and this was the best time I've had at a Springsteen concert in over 20 years. The venue was half empty - so many fans missed what I feel will turn out to be the concert of the season.

Please put aside your memories of the songs about cars and girls and listen to this CD and then catch what is left of this tour if you can. I promise you will not be sorry.

Jun 16, 2006 17:05:49

Review 6 of 18

5of 5 Stars

As soon as I heard "Old Dan Tucker" streaming over the internet, I was instantly hooked. High energy and toe-tapping rhythms, very unconventional work for Springsteen. The band and background vocalists are great and they put something together absolutely genious. Great album for young and old alike.

Jun 15, 2006 00:03:43

Review 7 of 18

5of 5 Stars

The spontanaeity and energy of the Seeger Sessions reminds me of Miles Davis Kind of Blue Sessions, where the songs were created similarly in one take at the studio. In my humble opinion, this has to be one of the most joyful and inspiring albums of the year! Kudos to Springsteen for having the guts and conviction to take on such a seemingly uncommercial project and turning it into such a dynamic and creative work of art.

May 22, 2006 17:35:05

Review 8 of 18

3of 5 Stars

I liked it at first--lively, loud, rollicking. Then too much of the same thing turned me off. Most of the songs sounded about the same--loud. The few that weren't loud were not particularly well done -- to my taste, anyway. It's not a disaster--it's just not for me.

May 14, 2006 21:29:39

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