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The Rising

musicismylife78musicismylife78 Posts: 6,116
edited September 2012 in Other Music
Listening today. Such a depressing and heartbreaking album, but also incredibly beautiful and touching. PJ's Nothingman is among my favorite PJ songs, but I think even they would agree Bruce's Nothing Man on this record is superior. The imagery he uses is second to none on this album.

Incredible album of a day 11 years ago. Hard to believe its that long ago.
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Comments

  • youngsteryoungster Boston Posts: 6,576
    Amazing album. I think Bruce really dug deep emotionally with some of those lyrics. You're Missing is probably one of the most heartbreaking songs Bruce has ever written. But amazingly the are some upbeat rhythms that really make the album so dynamic.
    He who forgets will be destined to remember.

    9/29/04 Boston, 6/28/08 Mansfield, 8/23/09 Chicago, 5/15/10 Hartford
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    8/5/16 Fenway, 8/7/16 Fenway
    EV Solo: 6/16/11 Boston, 6/18/11 Hartford,
  • thefixer9thefixer9 Posts: 9,376
    youngster wrote:
    Amazing album. I think Bruce really dug deep emotionally with some of those lyrics. You're Missing is probably one of the most heartbreaking songs Bruce has ever written. But amazingly the are some upbeat rhythms that really make the album so dynamic.

    I totally agree, my favorite Bruce album. Heard it today for obvious reasons and I forgot how awesome it is. An amazing album. "My City of Ruin", my favorite Bruce song, is just so outstanding.
    Tres Mts- 3/16/2011
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  • GivenToJam88GivenToJam88 NJ Posts: 1,187
    thefixer9 wrote:
    youngster wrote:
    Amazing album. I think Bruce really dug deep emotionally with some of those lyrics. You're Missing is probably one of the most heartbreaking songs Bruce has ever written. But amazingly the are some upbeat rhythms that really make the album so dynamic.

    I totally agree, my favorite Bruce album. Heard it today for obvious reasons and I forgot how awesome it is. An amazing album. "My City of Ruin", my favorite Bruce song, is just so outstanding.

    It's even better live with the tribute to Clarence and Danny!
    2006: 5/28
    2008: 6/19, 6/24, 6/25
    2009: 6/14 (EV), 10/27, 10/28
    2010: 5/17
    2011: 6/21 (EV), 6/22 (EV), 9/11, 9/12
    2012: 9/2
    2013: 10/15, 10/16, 10/19, 10/21, 10/22, 10/27, 11/23, 11/24
    2014: 10/19
    2016: 5/1, 5/2, 5/8
    2018: 8/20, 9/2, 9/4
  • musicismylife78musicismylife78 Posts: 6,116
    youngster wrote:
    Amazing album. I think Bruce really dug deep emotionally with some of those lyrics. You're Missing is probably one of the most heartbreaking songs Bruce has ever written. But amazingly the are some upbeat rhythms that really make the album so dynamic.


    i agree completely. the writing and songs feel so real, as do the characters he talks about. they feel like real people and probably are. And yeah, it is interesting how its so conflicted, despite being such a masterpiece of an album. As you point out some songs have upbeat rhythms, but he also seems as I say conflicted. He talks about revenge and an eye for an eye on some songs, then on songs like Worlds Apart has an overtly Middle Eastern melody, as well as Lets Be Friends, which I have always took both, especially Worlds Apart as a plea for understanding and tolerance at a time when it seemed like jingoistic attitudes and Lets Bomb Them attitudes seemed to run rampant. Maybe the point and why it stands the test of time is that it is as unsure about everything as we all were, and still are. We all want justice for the victims, but what does that mean? What would justice for 9/11 victims mean? How do we truely honor them? And its something im sure the victims families have had to wrestle with since that horrible day. Sadly, I dont think theres any doubt we as a country have dishonored the victims, and this is a terrible thing. Interesting stuff to ponder.

    I agree Youre Missing is sad, but beautiful.
  • Newch91Newch91 Posts: 17,560
    My favorite Bruce album. First time I heard it I was absolutely floored. Blew me away. It was the third album of Bruce's that I heard, after "Working On a Dream" and "Born to Run." The lyrics, the music, the message of the album are incredible.

    Have you heard the story of how the album came about? Bruce got the inspiration for the album a few days after the 9/11 attacks, a fan in a car stopped next to him, rolled down his window and said: "We need you now." Powerful stuff.

    I agree with "You're Missing." So sad but so beautiful. The imagery of "Into the Fire" is incredible and I love its chorus:

    "May your strength give us strength
    May your faith give us faith
    May your hope give us hope
    May your love give us love"

    What's amazing is some of the songs on the album were written before 9/11 happened, like "Waiting On a Sunny Day", "Nothing Man", and "My City of Ruin" (originally written about Asbury Park but now has taken on a whole new meaning).

    I can go on and on about this album but sometimes words can't describe how much I love this album. You just have to listen for yourself to see why I love it so much.

    I'll also add this album has some of Danny Federici's best playing, especially his solo on "My City of Ruin."
    Shows: 6.27.08 Hartford, CT/5.15.10 Hartford, CT/6.18.2011 Hartford, CT (EV Solo)/10.19.13 Brooklyn/10.25.13 Hartford
    "Becoming a Bruce fan is like hitting puberty as a musical fan. It's inevitable." - dcfaithful
  • LanternjawLanternjaw Posts: 553
    The title song itself is a masterpiece. He discusses it and plays an amazing solo acoustic version on his VH1 Storytellers episode. Pretty sure there's a clip on youtube somewhere.

    "Can't see nothin' in front of me
    Can't see nothin' coming up behind
    I make my way through this darkness
    I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me
    Lost track of how far I've gone
    How far I've gone, how high I've climbed
    On my back's a sixty pound stone
    On my shoulder a half mile line"

    So powerful live... glad its been a staple since the Reunion tour.
  • Newch91Newch91 Posts: 17,560
    Lanternjaw wrote:
    The title song itself is a masterpiece. He discusses it and plays an amazing solo acoustic version on his VH1 Storytellers episode. Pretty sure there's a clip on youtube somewhere.

    "Can't see nothin' in front of me
    Can't see nothin' coming up behind
    I make my way through this darkness
    I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me
    Lost track of how far I've gone
    How far I've gone, how high I've climbed
    On my back's a sixty pound stone
    On my shoulder a half mile line"

    So powerful live... glad its been a staple since the Reunion tour.
    Can't wait for it!
    Shows: 6.27.08 Hartford, CT/5.15.10 Hartford, CT/6.18.2011 Hartford, CT (EV Solo)/10.19.13 Brooklyn/10.25.13 Hartford
    "Becoming a Bruce fan is like hitting puberty as a musical fan. It's inevitable." - dcfaithful
  • musicismylife78musicismylife78 Posts: 6,116
    glad to see im not the only one who feels this is their favorite bruce record. I think the tendency if to say Born to Run or Darkness, both are incredible of course, but The Rising for me is the best of his catalogue. Yeah, I always found it insane My City of Ruins and Nothing Man were written pre-9/11. Nothing Man as I said ive always found so beautiful. The lines seem so simple "the sky is still the same unbelieveable blue" brings me to tears, in particular in describing either the day itself, or what it seems to describe, a survivor looking at the sky after the fact, weeks later. and despite what the official lyrics tell us, I will always say its "you want courage I'll show you courage you CANT understand". Seems to fit perfectly with the FDNY and all the people who helped others on that day. As someone said before, what Bruce was able to do on this record, and why he's a big deal is he creates these little snapshots of individuals. Songs about characters who appear to live and breath. You can picture the widow in Youre Missing. You can see the firefighters going up the towers in Into the Fire. You can see the guy, with survivors guilt trying to sort everything out in Nothing man.
  • No CoderNo Coder Brisbane Posts: 1,126
    This is such a great album. I was also floored when it came out and completely agree about Nothing Man. Your Missing gets me everytime as well. I was so happy to finally see him in Australia when he toured (03) this album there. It's a long time between drinks for us on his tours- hope he tours here again someday.

    For me The Rising is definitely top 2, Nebraska is my other favourite. But he has so many great albums- Born to Run, Darkness, Tunnel of Love and I also love The Ghost of Tom Joad.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me

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    *EV Solo, QPAC, Brisbane March 10 and 12 2011
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    *EV Solo, QPAC, Brisbane, 22,23 & 25 Feb 2014
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