NEW YORK (AP) Bruce Springsteen's upcoming release, "Tracks II: The Lost Albums," poses an intriguing question: What if? Set to be released on June 27, this extensive box set features seven albums that span from 1983 to 2018. Each album represents a project Springsteen was prepared to launch but ultimately decided to shelve. By releasing them now, he provides fans with a captivating alternative narrative to his musical journey.
Building on his previous work, "Tracks," which debuted in 1998 as a four-disc collection of unreleased music featuring 66 songs, "Tracks II" boasts 83 fully completed tracks. While some songs, like "My Hometown" and "Secret Garden," have previously been issued on other projects, the majority of the music showcased in this box set has not been publicly heard before. Springsteen emphasizes the importance of carefully curating his album releases in order to construct a coherent narrative arc throughout his career, believing that this approach has been advantageous for him.
The most intriguing aspects of "Tracks II" arise when Springsteen ventures outside of his familiar musical styles. The collection explores various genres, including countrypolitan, border-town sounds, and Burt Bacharach-inspired tracks, as well as synthesizer-based songs reminiscent of his Oscar-winning hit "Streets of Philadelphia." Interestingly, the disc that feels the most like an E Street Band record is also the least compelling.
Each of the seven albums presents a unique segment of Springsteen's artistic exploration. "LA Garage Sessions '83" captures the artist in a solitary setting in the Hollywood Hills, straddling the styles of his acclaimed albums "Nebraska" and "Born in the USA." This session features character-driven narratives alongside more light-hearted songs like "Little Girl Like You." However, it also contains compelling material, such as "The Klansman," which addresses themes of racism but leaves the listener craving further development. Ultimately, Springsteen made the right choices regarding his official releases at that time.
One of the standout compositions, "Streets of Philadelphia," prompted Springsteen to consider crafting an entire album with a similar sonic aesthetic. This album would be dominated by synthesizers and drum loops, giving it a contemporary feel for the early 1990s. However, Springsteen withdrew the project, finding the themes of doomed love to be too reminiscent of his earlier work on "Tunnel of Love."
During the recording of "The Ghost of Tom Joad" in 1995, Springsteen also assembled a country band featuring pedal steel player Marty Rifkin. Their collaborative efforts produced excellent results, particularly with tracks like "Repo Man" and a cover of Johnny Rivers' "Poor Side of Town." The title track of "Somewhere North of Nashville," which eventually found its way to public ears decades later, exemplifies the quality of this work, contrasting the somber themes of "The Ghost of Tom Joad," which won a Grammy.
The album "Inyo" shares similarities with the styles of "Joad" and "Devils & Dust," featuring acoustic narratives steeped in stories from the Southwestern United States. Springsteen effectively incorporates mariachi elements in songs like "Adelita" and "The Lost Charro," with Soozie Tyrell's violin adding a notable touch, especially on "When I Build My Beautiful House." While "Inyo" may have been viewed as one album too many in that vein, it still showcases strong songwriting.
Springsteen also contemplated releasing "Twilight Hours" as a double album, a tribute to early 1970s California songcraft. The songs ultimately left behind reveal Bacharach's influence and could be compared to Elvis Costello's collaborations with Burt Bacharach, albeit without the renowned composer. Standout tracks include the captivating "Sunday Love" and "Lonely Town," which merges the influences of Bacharach and Roy Orbison. "Dinner at Eight" concludes the album beautifully, potentially surprising and impressing Springsteen's devoted fanbase.
In the album "Faithless," Springsteen composed songs in just two weeks for an unproduced film, likely a moody Western. The song “Another Thin Line” features a duet with Tom Morello, highlighting the relatively sparse electric guitar presence throughout "Tracks II." The compilation includes "Perfect World," featuring material archived from various periods, making it the most E Street Band-centric release. However, much of the band's superior previous material has already seen the light of day, leaving this disc with few standout tracks, though "You Lifted Me Up," featuring a collaboration with Patti Scialfa and Steve Van Zandt, shines brightly.
For Springsteen's eager audience, this box set provides a wealth of music to contemplate. The decision to release the "lost discs" as a collection begs the question of whether they might receive greater recognition if issued individually. Notably, Springsteen has also planned a 20-song set highlighting selections from the box for those who find the full release overwhelming.
