"Very Hungry Hearts - TGA's Springsteen Problems"

For what is clearly intended as a serious review of Brian's work, not to discuss Elsie is a major error. If he had taken Elsie into account, would the writer's arguments still hold?

Here's my issue with this review: the writer clearly listened to the record and formed his own opinion on it. That's fine. He can write a scathing review if he wants. However, this part was barely elegant enough to be included in a facebook chat:

"Sorry, dude, but you grew up during one of the worst eras for rock radio ever. There's no way you romanced Mary or Betty back in the late '90s to the dulcet sounds of Mudvayne. It's more likely you fell in love with Mackenzie or Taylor while downloading a torrent of Rancid albums."

I thought he was a professional writer, not Brian's abrasive drinking buddy. Take some fucking pride in what you do and be a writer and critic, not a belligerent asshole.

this guy needs to be taught how to write reviews, you may have not liked the album and you have all the right to say it but you still have to mantain some kind of professionalism when you write. He just comes off as an angry kid who is probably bothered by the fact that everyone likes the band.

oooh well.

JackStreetcar wrote:

Here's my issue with this review: the writer clearly listened to the record and formed his own opinion on it. That's fine. He can write a scathing review if he wants. However, this part was barely elegant enough to be included in a facebook chat:

"Sorry, dude, but you grew up during one of the worst eras for rock radio ever. There's no way you romanced Mary or Betty back in the late '90s to the dulcet sounds of Mudvayne. It's more likely you fell in love with Mackenzie or Taylor while downloading a torrent of Rancid albums."

I thought he was a professional writer, not Brian's abrasive drinking buddy. Take some fucking pride in what you do and be a writer and critic, not a belligerent asshole.

Thats the quote that made me piss myself.

You're right its bad writing for a serious review, he's trying to be cool but the sarcasm of it really tickled me.

JackStreetcar wrote:

Here's my issue with this review: the writer clearly listened to the record and formed his own opinion on it. That's fine. He can write a scathing review if he wants. However, this part was barely elegant enough to be included in a facebook chat:

"Sorry, dude, but you grew up during one of the worst eras for rock radio ever. There's no way you romanced Mary or Betty back in the late '90s to the dulcet sounds of Mudvayne. It's more likely you fell in love with Mackenzie or Taylor while downloading a torrent of Rancid albums."

I thought he was a professional writer, not Brian's abrasive drinking buddy. Take some fucking pride in what you do and be a writer and critic, not a belligerent asshole.

On top of that portion being poorly written, the concept behind it is inaccurate and insulting. I mean, I'm 6 years younger than Brian, and I certainly have many fond memories about driving around with the radio on and absolutely none of them had anything to do with Mudvayne. It just struck me as ridiculous that, because a lot of the new music on rock radio at the time wasn't particularly good, that Brian has to be a phony if he's romanticizing his time driving around with the radio on. There are all sorts of stations to listen to, not just "Nu Metal FM".

I thought it was a very well written piece which makes some valid points. Plenty I don't agree with too.

Interesting read

Id thought that there must be lots of different radio stations that play different things. To be honest though if Im in my car whether ive listened to a cassette a cd or my ipod it all comes through the same system so I might just refer to that as the radio too. Whos to say brian wasn't driving around romancing Betty and Mary whilst listening to a super cool romantic mix tape with Petty Dylan Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye crooning away. Thatd be pretty awesome.

I can see why a few people agree with the fella though because I get the feeling a lot of the big fans on here seem to be feeling let down by the album and probably because it isnt Springsteeny enough for them

1. Rancid's ...And Out Comes the Wolves is an amazing album which pretty much changed my life and got me into punk rock back in 1995.
2. Torrents exist back then
3. I agree with above, tape, cd, am/fm all = the radio
4. I remember being a kid and listening to classic rock stations with my parents and hearing all of the above mentioned bands.

it just seemed that the guy was trying to make a point by using an old and frankly superficial stereotype.
and yes rancid are indeed a great band.

In the Making of Handwritten video Brian says (along with probably MANY 90's teens) he grew up listening to PJ, Soundgarden, etc... Early 2000 teens would be the ones listening to Mudvayne on the radio.

I just don't get it. I never really did accept the musically-Springsteen comparisons (lyrically on T59S I'll agree with), but regardless Handwritten sounds further from anything in their past. I can't compare Handwritten with any music I've heard; it's very unique. Kind of sucks that this is so high up on Grantland, usually a a really great sports website.

Jerseyrain wrote:

I can see why a few people agree with the fella though because I get the feeling a lot of the big fans on here seem to be feeling let down by the album and probably because it isnt Springsteeny enough for them

feeling a bit let down by the album so far but certainly not because "it isn't springsteeny enough." mainly, i wish there were more fast songs and the repeated references to blood and the radio appear on the record a bit too often for me.

acousticbandit wrote:

Jerseyrain wrote:

I can see why a few people agree with the fella though because I get the feeling a lot of the big fans on here seem to be feeling let down by the album and probably because it isnt Springsteeny enough for them

feeling a bit let down by the album so far but certainly not because "it isn't springsteeny enough." mainly, i wish there were more fast songs and the repeated references to blood and the radio appear on the record a bit too often for me.

Are you saying that there's...




Too Much Blood?

HEY-O!!!!

JackStreetcar wrote:

acousticbandit wrote:

Jerseyrain wrote:

I can see why a few people agree with the fella though because I get the feeling a lot of the big fans on here seem to be feeling let down by the album and probably because it isnt Springsteeny enough for them

feeling a bit let down by the album so far but certainly not because "it isn't springsteeny enough." mainly, i wish there were more fast songs and the repeated references to blood and the radio appear on the record a bit too often for me.

Are you saying that there's...




Too Much Blood?

HEY-O!!!!

Labhras wrote:

JackStreetcar wrote:

acousticbandit wrote:

Jerseyrain wrote:

I can see why a few people agree with the fella though because I get the feeling a lot of the big fans on here seem to be feeling let down by the album and probably because it isnt Springsteeny enough for them

feeling a bit let down by the album so far but certainly not because "it isn't springsteeny enough." mainly, i wish there were more fast songs and the repeated references to blood and the radio appear on the record a bit too often for me.

Are you saying that there's...




Too Much Blood?

HEY-O!!!!

Jay wrote:

Maybe I'm being especially critical because I'm a writer myself and he's always been an influence of mine. When it comes to rich imagery that not only peaks interest to the listener because of the content, but because of how it perfectly fits together phonetically, Brian has always been the man.

free advice that will probably come in handy since you're a writer: you pique someone's interest. word nerd. sorry.

JackStreetcar wrote:

acousticbandit wrote:

Jerseyrain wrote:

I can see why a few people agree with the fella though because I get the feeling a lot of the big fans on here seem to be feeling let down by the album and probably because it isnt Springsteeny enough for them

feeling a bit let down by the album so far but certainly not because "it isn't springsteeny enough." mainly, i wish there were more fast songs and the repeated references to blood and the radio appear on the record a bit too often for me.

Are you saying that there's...




Too Much Blood?

HEY-O!!!!

hahahaha very good. you had me in stitches...






...on the radio.

JackStreetcar wrote:

acousticbandit wrote:

Jerseyrain wrote:

I can see why a few people agree with the fella though because I get the feeling a lot of the big fans on here seem to be feeling let down by the album and probably because it isnt Springsteeny enough for them

feeling a bit let down by the album so far but certainly not because "it isn't springsteeny enough." mainly, i wish there were more fast songs and the repeated references to blood and the radio appear on the record a bit too often for me.

Are you saying that there's...




Too Much Blood?

HEY-O!!!!

very nice.

apparently the reviewer has never heard of 'Classic Rock' radio stations....the ones that play Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, and the 'Life Is A Highway' guy...y'know, the ones that he accuses Brian Fallon of stealing too much from?

Also, how is 'specificity' the best thing about Bruce Springsteen's songs? The best thing about most of them is that even though they might or might not be about Jersey, they could be about anywhere.

acousticbandit wrote:

Jay wrote:

Maybe I'm being especially critical because I'm a writer myself and he's always been an influence of mine. When it comes to rich imagery that not only peaks interest to the listener because of the content, but because of how it perfectly fits together phonetically, Brian has always been the man.

free advice that will probably come in handy since you're a writer: you pique someone's interest. word nerd. sorry.

JackStreetcar wrote:

acousticbandit wrote:

Jerseyrain wrote:

I can see why a few people agree with the fella though because I get the feeling a lot of the big fans on here seem to be feeling let down by the album and probably because it isnt Springsteeny enough for them

feeling a bit let down by the album so far but certainly not because "it isn't springsteeny enough." mainly, i wish there were more fast songs and the repeated references to blood and the radio appear on the record a bit too often for me.

Are you saying that there's...




Too Much Blood?

HEY-O!!!!

hahahaha very good. you had me in stitches...






...on the radio.

i wanted to keep this going but i couldn't think of a good one. it's a shame, i had such great expectations.

Labhras wrote:

acousticbandit wrote:

Jay wrote:

Maybe I'm being especially critical because I'm a writer myself and he's always been an influence of mine. When it comes to rich imagery that not only peaks interest to the listener because of the content, but because of how it perfectly fits together phonetically, Brian has always been the man.

free advice that will probably come in handy since you're a writer: you pique someone's interest. word nerd. sorry.

JackStreetcar wrote:

acousticbandit wrote:

Jerseyrain wrote:

I can see why a few people agree with the fella though because I get the feeling a lot of the big fans on here seem to be feeling let down by the album and probably because it isnt Springsteeny enough for them

feeling a bit let down by the album so far but certainly not because "it isn't springsteeny enough." mainly, i wish there were more fast songs and the repeated references to blood and the radio appear on the record a bit too often for me.

Are you saying that there's...




Too Much Blood?

HEY-O!!!!

hahahaha very good. you had me in stitches...






...on the radio.

i wanted to keep this going but i couldn't think of a good one. it's a shame, i had such great expectations.

How about this for a good one?

JackStreetcar wrote:

Labhras wrote:

acousticbandit wrote:

Jay wrote:

Maybe I'm being especially critical because I'm a writer myself and he's always been an influence of mine. When it comes to rich imagery that not only peaks interest to the listener because of the content, but because of how it perfectly fits together phonetically, Brian has always been the man.

free advice that will probably come in handy since you're a writer: you pique someone's interest. word nerd. sorry.

JackStreetcar wrote:

acousticbandit wrote:

Jerseyrain wrote:

I can see why a few people agree with the fella though because I get the feeling a lot of the big fans on here seem to be feeling let down by the album and probably because it isnt Springsteeny enough for them

feeling a bit let down by the album so far but certainly not because "it isn't springsteeny enough." mainly, i wish there were more fast songs and the repeated references to blood and the radio appear on the record a bit too often for me.

Are you saying that there's...




Too Much Blood?

HEY-O!!!!

hahahaha very good. you had me in stitches...






...on the radio.

i wanted to keep this going but i couldn't think of a good one. it's a shame, i had such great expectations.

How about this for a good one?

nobody told me that you guys were gonna make a game out of this. and to think.....i coulda been a contender.

If you're making a game of this, then bring it on.