Album Review - Dead Man’s Town: A Tribute to Born in the U.S.A.

In connection with the 30th anniversary of Born in the U.S.A., independent record label Lightning Rod Records created Dead Man’s Town: A Tribute to Born in the U.S.A. The album – in which 12 bands cover one of the 12 tracks from Born in the U.S.A. – is a somber, minimalist interpretation designed to cut to the emotional core of the songs, stripping away all pop affectations.

The artists featured include Jason Isbell & Amanda Shire, Low, Trampled by Turtles, and Justin Townes Earle. Each artist puts their own spin on their respective track. Some sound like you’d expect a slower cover to sound, and some sound very different. For example, Holly Williams’ version of “No Surrender” won’t sound that striking to anyone who has heard one of Bruce’s acoustic renditions, but Apache Relay’s eerie take on “Cover Me” feels very foreign indeed (and somewhat reminiscent of an Arcade Fire song). I also really liked Joe Pug’s musical arrangement on “Downbound Train” and it’s always fun for me to hear personal favorite “I’m Goin’ Down” in any variation.

I’m always curious to hear covers of Springsteen songs because they can reveal new sides of the lyrics, reframe the story, reposition the tone, and frankly, they’re just often easier to understand than the originals. As such, I leapt at the chance to listen to Dead Man's Town, especially on the heels of spending so much time with Born in the U.S.A. this summer. I wasn’t familiar with any of the bands featured on the album before listening, and I can’t say I’ll be seeking out any of them further, but they all mesh together very nicely here. It doesn’t feel jarring at all to switch between artists at every track.

The record company has done a nice job creating a cohesive album here – one that’s perfectly suited to accompany moments of contemplative soul searching while staring out a rainy window. I can’t say you'll find any of these tracks on a best Springsteen covers list, but the album certainly captures an overall mood and feel very effectively.

Song Spotlight - "No Surrender"

Key Live Performance



"No Surrender" has made it into recent tours with a full band accompaniment, however, the above performance is how it would normally be played at concerts.  This video begins with a nod to Steven Van Zandt, who pushed for "No Surrender" to be included in the album.  Steven's departure left Bruce alone, and he intensifies the feeling of loneliness here by playing it solo, with only his guitar and his harmonica to support him.

Key Lyrics

"I want to sleep beneath peaceful skies in my lover's bed
with a wide open country in my eyes
and these romantic dreams in my head"

It was difficult to pick just one set of lyrics from this song.  We've spotlighted other lyrics in the past, and there aren't many other lines that define the spirit of rock-and-roll more than "We learned more from a three-minute record, baby, than we ever learned in school."  However, whenever I listen to this song, these lyrics paint such a vivid image in my head.  I imagine myself about ten years younger, lying on a beach in south Jersey, with a beautiful girl next to me.  It's early September, and we know our summer fling is about to end, but for now, we are the the only people in the world.  However, that isn't what is happening in this song.  It is just what the narrator wants; it is merely a romantic dream.  The idea of dreams versus reality is the key feature of this song, and why, despite the difficulties in life, there is "no surrender".

Overall

This is one of the rare songs on Born In The USA that was, in fact, not a single, but it easily could have been (given that this song ranked 18th on the top 100 Springsteen songs, I'd say this is a popular opinion).  The upside for this is that the song was never overplayed; I still get chills whenever Bruce busts this out at concerts.  It is an incredibly powerful song, and easily one of Bruce's best.

Video Spotlight - "No Surrender" in Houston with Local Teens

Thanks to friend of the blog Matt C. for alerting us to this video from Bruce's concert in Houston last week. During the show, two teens made their way on stage and helped Bruce sing along to "No Surrender". There are so many moments of pure joy in this video, from the big high five shared between the teens to Bruce's fond noogie at the end. Like this Slate article observes, it's great to see young fans who know all the lyrics to a 30 year old song (Bruce seems impressed too). While Bruce has been inviting fans on stage more and more in recent concerts, the unpredictability of how the fans will react underscores the magic of seeing Springsteen live. You really feel like anything can happen.

Great Moments in Springsteen Television History - "No Surrender" from Glee

This past summer the TV World lost Glee stare Corey Monteith.  I'm not exactly what you would call a Glee fan, that is to say I've never seen an episode but still hate it.  However, I am saddened to hear that someone who was obviously talented die so young.  Monteith's character on the show, Finn, was honored by his fellow cast mates in the episode "The Quarterback", airing earlier this month.

As per usual with Glee, there were several musical performances throughout the episode, all paying tribute to Finn.  One of the songs was an acoustic, slowed down performance of "No Surrender" performed by the character Puck. Bruce has played stripped down acoustic versions of "No Surrender" before, most notably on the Live 1975-1985  box set.  The song takes on a whole new meaning when it's performed like this.  Much more somber than the rebellious enthusiastic electric version.

Again, I don't watch the show so I don't particularly know the significance of this character, or why he would choose this song specifically.  However, just going by content, "No Surrender" is a great choice for a song to tribute his friend.  The lyrical content of "No Surrender" has been discussed before on this blog, so I won't repeat myself.  But suffice to say, it's one of those songs that just about every Springsteen fan nods along with, and recalls their own memories to , when they hear this song.  So it's very easy to understand why this song would be the choice for the character to sing about his friend.  (Note: Rory has requested I sing "You're Missing" in my faux opera voice at his funeral.  If that song were more well known to the public, I would have suggested that instead.)

Dropkick Murphys - "No Surrender"

I have written about the relationship between The Dropkick Murphys and Bruce Springsteen before, but I just discovered this cover last week.  Granted it was only recorded  less than a year ago, but still this is one of the best Springsteen covers I've ever heard.  I know most people just associate The Murphy's with Irish tunes and punk rock, but listen to just a few of their songs and you tell their is a huge Springsteen influence there too.  So it comes as no surprise that they have covered Bruce songs on many occasions.

I'm a huge fan of The Murphys and have seen them multiple times live.  Much like Bruce, they've earned their reputation by constantly being on tour and putting on stellar shows.  I'm sure that's part of the reason there is such a mutual respect between the two bands and even though there is a huge difference in the size of the crowds between Bruce and The Murphys, there is no difference in the fierce loyalty to these respective bands.  I know that seeing each band live is what turned me from a casual fan into a fanatic.

Springsteen Video of the Week - Springsteen Stumping for Kerry, 2004

Politics - you can't avoid it now, even on your favorite Springsteen fanblog.  Last week, we looked at Springsteen's silly pro-Obama song.  There, in Ohio, Bruce seemed more candid and laid-back.  This week, we'll take you back eight years, where Springsteen is performing for John Kerry in Wisconsin.  In this fantastic performance, we are treated to an angry and passionate Bruce.  When Bruce has an axe to grind politically, we get Bruce's most creative content - just compare Working on a Dream to Wrecking Ball.  In fact, I'd say his albums written when Republicans are in office are on average better than his albums written when Democrats are in power.  In this video, his acoustic performance of "No Surrender" (written during the Reagan years) is absolutely breathtaking - the song makes for such a great political anthem that it is a shame it was wasted on the forgettable Kerry.

Springsteen Lyrics of the Week - No Surrender

This week's lyrics of the week is written by James Layman, who originally made his mark on the blog with this excellent piece.  Take it away, James!

"Well, now young faces grow sad and old

And hearts of fire grow cold

We swore blood brothers against the wind

Now I'm ready to grow young again"

-No Surrender, Born in the U.S.A.

There is a particular ebb and flow to Bruce's work, especially present on Born in the U.S.A.  Youthful arrogance collides with cold gray reality, giving way to a type of stoic cynicism.  In turn, the cynicism collapses into desperation, and the hope to find a way back to a time when the affairs of American life were stronger and simpler.  Back to when we were mindless kids with fast cars and too much time to kill.

Whether we've grown up in New Jersey or Russia, we've all felt that way.  At heart, it's an inevitability.  We come of age shielded by naivety.  We are foolish and arrogant, but physically stronger and sharper than we've ever been.  So we charge forward with a sense of reckless abandon, blissfully oblivious to the fact that the world can hurt us.  And then it does.  Illusions of invincibility make for fragile structures.  There's a time when every river runs dry.  When the youthful electricity of a thousand first kisses fades to dust, and the hopes we took for granted clash with a more stark reality, lurking just beyond the horizon.  And everything that was so simple at seventeen is a thousand fragments of shattered glass.  We can look back at high school, and laugh at those delusions, breathing easy in the satisfaction that we "know better" now.  But there's part of us that will always want to go back to feeling that way.  To when we were stupid.  To when we could bound ceaselessly into the limitless beyond, with the false knowledge that nothing would stand in our way.  "No Surrender" is a song about reaching back down into that long abandoned part of oneself, and finding the fuel for one more mile.

So do it.  The road is open again, and the wind is at your back.