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The Ghost of Tom Joad

Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost of Tom Joad Audio CD

A fair review of the Bruce Springsteen "The Ghost of Tom Joad" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Bruce Springsteen reviews here, or go back to the Bruce Springsteen tabs.

Band: Bruce Springsteen
Title: The Ghost of Tom Joad
Rating:

Release Date: 1995-11-21
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Ghost of Tom Joad 2: Straight Time 3: Highway 29 4: Youngstown 5: Sinaloa Cowboys 6: Line 7: Balboa Park 8: Dry Lightning 9: New Timer 10: Across the Border 11: Galveston Bay 12: My Best Was Never Good Enough

3 stars for the best of intentions.
But I have to say, honestly, that I've found listening to it a frustrating experience each time I've put it on. If good intentions translated into great results every time out, then Bruce Springsteen on THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD would be an undisputed home run.

First off, why is it that the Boss has convinced himself that he's more sincere and more heartfelt when he MUMBLES all of his words rather than sings straight out? Seriously, I had to read the lyric sheet most of the time to figure out what he was singing (I did make out the word "methamphetamine" in "Sinaloa Cowboys," though). The more fundamental issue for me, though, is that I simply don't find Bruce Springsteen as interesting when he's NOT singing about HIS life experiences, or at the very least those that he's more familiar with directly as opposed to just having read about. And it's not just a matter of "artists should stick to what they know:" Steve Earle, for example, has a LOT of third-person-narrative songs, many of which are much more engaging than what is on TGOTJ, and as wild as Earle's life has been, I'm still sure he didn't experience ALL he sings about first-hand. But even Springsteen's first truly solo album, NEBRASKA (which has some aural kinship with TGOTJ) had third-person songs that grabbed you at once, as well as several first person ones where he sings simply, unaffectedly and touches your heart. That just doesn't happen for me with TGOTJ, although the last song, "My Best Was Never Good Enough" comes close.

I wouldn't have singled out TGOTJ like this were it not for the feeling I've had that with each release since then, Springsteen has become more and more remote and disconnected from the experiences he sings about. He shouldn't have to keep making BORN TO RUN over and over again, granted, but it wouldn't hurt for him to go back to it once in awhile and see what made it work. Or, for that matter, NEBRASKA.

A dark brooding reflection on America's seedy underbelly.
It's about a group of people living on the broken side of the American Dream. If you think Bruce Springsteen is all about pulse pounding arena rock listen to this album.
From the ex-con of Straight Line who's struggling with his his inner demons to Youngstown, about a town that has giving it's labor and sons to this country's war and now are wondering why, this is a stark reflection on the United States and it's failures to offer it's promises to all it's people.
For all the good this country has done this album reminds us that the American Dream has never been for all it's people and that we need to work together to make this an even stronger nation. If you think being a patriot is waving a flag and taking a blind eye to this country's faults you need to listen to this album. Maybe it will motive you to take a active part in this grand experiment we call America and help to make this a better nation for everybody
This is Bruce Springsteen at his most political and darkest. It's a reminder that there are people who fall through the cracks every day and we owe it to ourselves as the richest, most free society in world history that we offer these freedoms and opportunity's to all are citizens. .

A Lyrical Gem
The first being the folk singer whose social concerns, lyrical ability and commanding narrative style are on par with Dylan. I read recently that there are actually two different Bruce Springsteen's. The other is "The Boss", the man who Bruce becomes on stage during one of The E Street Band's loud and boisterous three-hour concerts. Both excellent for their own reasons. I've been listening to Bruce since I was 8 (I'm now 22) and I have to say I completely agree with this.

"The Ghost of Tom Joad" is an album that belongs to Bruce when he has set his "Boss"-self aside for a bit. It is a quiet, penetrating album that weaves it's spell through folk-narratives and mid-west tales. Bruce isn't particularly energetic here, and don't put this album on expecting to dance, or have a good time. But do put it on to see why Bruce has gained so much acclaim for his song-writing because he's not just a rock star, he's a storyteller.

Pair this album up with "Nebraska" and "Devils & Dust" and you'll be in good shape. I promise.

Before he lost his teeth.
The music is stripped to the core, to the lyrics and the stark instrumentation. This is a fitting companion to "Nebraska," my other favorite Springsteen record. The stories are good, lots of Steinbeck (more than the obvious) in songs like "Border Patrol. " Records like this are more rewarding than the cheap swagger of recent Springsteen. Remember that the E Street Band wasn't doing much at this point in time, Max Weinberg was Conan O'brien's bandleader for Chrissakes, and Springsteen was free to concentrate on songwriting without the distraction of reverb-soaked snare drums or that godawful saxophone.

Springsteen rocks the acoustic

It's kind of a testament to Springsteen's career that someone can be a huge fan, and not be the biggest fan of his hits. I just listened to this CD again, and was struck by the power. This CD, along with Nebraska and the Seeger Sessions, are what makes Springsteen great in my book. There are songs on this CD that tap the core of America, and what comes out isn't bitter wrapped in sweet ('Born in the USA'), it's just brutally honest through and through.

In particular, 'Youngstown', which serves as an ode to the workers and industry that built the nation. Powerful and sweeping, this song says more than many books.

'Ghost of Tom Joad', might as well be our new anthem, given the economic troubles the USA faces. This song serves as the base of the whole CD, and is a far more accurate picture of the USA today, than when it came out.
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You can see a complete list of all Bruce Springsteen discography, or go back to the Bruce Springsteen tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.