A real mixed bag here.
Let’s first start off with the Triffids and their the 1986 album In the Pines. I’ve taken a punt on this purely on the strength of what followed, with Calenture a year later.
I went through a very obsessive phase with Calenture last year after it appeared on the Album of the Day list. I recognised the Bury Me Deep track from radio play back in the day, but somehow the rest of the album passed me by.
I’ve also fast forwarded slightly and bought The Black Swan that followed in 1989. By then I think the band were on the decline.
I love buying random albums that I know I’ve got perhaps half an interest in. I can take a gamble with £3 or £4 or so, and I’m often rewarded with some absolute listening gold.
And then we come to Bruce.
Oh dear.
Only the Strong Survive got absolutely slated by critics and many fans a couple of years ago. It’s basically Bruce’s blue-eyed soul effort.
But Bruce doesn’t really do blue-eyed soul. He’s more of a screw up your eyes, clench your fist, and shout out blue collar anthems.
GRUNT GRUNT GRUNT.
But it’s all good, apart from Only the Strong Survive…
There are some interesting covers on there, such as Frank Wilson’s Northern Soul classic Do I Love You, The Commodores' Night Shift, and even a take on What Becomes The Broken Hearted.
It’s not a poor album but obviously it’s not the first Springsteen album you’re going to turn to whenever you feel in the mood for Bruce. Like many artists of his age, his past is behind him in terms of the recorded output.
I’m nothing if not a Bruce completist. This was picked up for £3 and it will sit quite happily at the end of my Springsteen section, with possible plays if I want a bit of a late night bop with the Boss.
