In my effort to go green, in accordance with my fall term in environmentally preserved Costa Rica, introduction to environmental science class, and the threats of Greenfire, I have taken to wiping my ass with recycled issues of ****The Lawrentian****. Strangely, last Saturday, after a particularly unpleasant Hunan 1 experience, even the new 12-page layout was not enough. Much to my dismay, Page 8, the Arts and Entertainment 2007 Album Review, was already so full of shit, it would have rendered the activity counterproductive.
Four lists of the top seven albums, without mention of Bruce Springsteen’s “Magic,” is an oversight to the degree of considering the top seven biggest players in the New Testament and excluding Jesus. Sure Mathew, Mark, Luke and Indie music are important in their own respects, but they are only human when compared to the immortal, timeless, and universal talent of The Boss.
Bruce is about as American as light beer, and this magnitude of an insult should have the editors of our fine publication on trial for treason. Besides the fact that he makes Bruce Willis, a man who took a helicopter down with a motorcycle, look like a pussy, he makes amazing music. If I were J.B., I’d be concerned for my safety, because if the Boss finds out about this there is no telling what he could do. I suggest that a retraction and apology letter be printed immediately by all the contributors to those god-forsaken lists.
In all seriousness, Bruce Springsteen’s new CD invited the listener to meet a new Boss, and guess what, he ain’t the same as the old Boss. While this was his most nostalgic album, and many of the songs were reminiscent of his ’70s work, his songwriting has evolved greatly. The last album recorded by Springsteen with the always incredible E Street Band was “The Rising,” far and away the best 9/11-inspired album that showed Bruce’s genuine love of his country.
In “Magic”, Bruce has been greatly disillusioned with the current state of his nation. He doesn’t have to explicitly say Iraq, The War on Terror and Bush Administration to be understood. Much like his classic album “Born in the USA” was to the post Vietnam/Regan era, Springsteen again has his finger on the pulse on the nation, and our generation. Unfortunately, no one, at least as it would seem if you read ****The Lawrentian**** last week, is listening.
Thankfully, the rest of America disagrees. The very fact that the album made it to the Billboard charts, much less made it to number one, disqualified it in this contest to find the most unheard-of underground music. To be honest, I had heard of only one of the bands on that entire list. It is getting to the point where I wouldn’t be surprised if I find my way on to the 2008 list after joining Choral, and my coffeehouse performance coming up later this term.
The compilations thrown together by the editors were clearly only suited for one audience — the college music snob. The collections of artists proposed as the “best” were obscure enough to have been the answer to a Super Garuda. Let’s leave useless, unknown and irrelevant information like this to the trivia masters, and stick to doing what ****The Lawrentian**** does best, reporting the news, fair and balanced.
Maybe after you, reader, are done frantically running around answering meaningless trivia this weekend, you can check out this life-changing album and hear what the Boss has to say.
Maybe then we can put that typical Lawrence apathy on hold for a while. Rather than saving the passion in the closet until the 2009 trivia contest, some more Lawrentians could get involved in something that matters. For suggestions about what there is to be upset about, check out the newspaper next to this one on the stand. Rather, put on Bruce’s new album and take a hint from the anger of Springsteen in his new album, in that all is not well in the USA.
Letter to the editor — Best Music of ’07 -mts -ama **we’re not printing this so i barely edited it*** **filler only if needed-CJL
