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August 24, 2007

New Bruce Springsteen - "Radio Nowhere"

The Boss man's back indeed. "Radio Nowhere" is the lead single from this fall's Magic LP, and it's a dusty, Zevon-shaded guitar burner, one of those top-down-and-the-stereo-blarin' types, fit for night drives with your gotta-get-outta-this-town friends. "Is there anybody out there? ... I just wanna hear some rhythm ... This is radio nowhere." And it's also an E Street Band record (despite the cover, below), so you've got Clarence's sax and Max's bashes underlying Bruce's metaphorical/physical searching for signs of life, wild moons, and radio signals. It ain't long, but it's all killer.

Listen at Hype Machine [Link removed per label request.]

Magic is out 9/25 on vinyl and 10/2 on CD via Columbia. We've got LP15's tracklist for ya, along with a jpg of the cover for your desktop.

01 "Radio Nowhere"
02 "You'll Be Comin’ Down"
03 "Livin' In The Future"
04 "Your Own Worst Enemy"
05 "Gypsy Biker"
06 "Girls In Their Summer Clothes"
07 "I'll Work For Your Love"
08 "Magic"
09 "Last To Die"
10 "Long Walk Home"
11 "Devil's Arcade"

Posted at 10:20 AM in
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52 Comments

Awww, Bruce...why no E. Street Band credit on the album cover? That's just mean. I'm still ridiculously psyched for the new record. New Foo Fighters, Steve Earle and Springsteen records all on the 25th. Rockin' good news.

Posted by: Adam at 08/24/07 11:07 AM | Reply
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Go here for a better link....good stuff...
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2tnwx_bruce-springsteen-radio-nowhere_music

Posted by: Brandon at 08/24/07 11:13 AM | Reply
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He's never put the band on the cover for studio stuff, just live records. He's the one with the record deal, not them.

Posted by: ZipZapZopZoup at 08/24/07 11:47 AM | Reply
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He's never credited E Street for studio albums, just live records. He's the one with the record contract.

Posted by: ZipZapZopZoup at 08/24/07 11:52 AM | Reply
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gets better with each listen.

Posted by: dg at 08/24/07 11:53 AM | Reply
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Very Further On Up The Road. At 15 songs, The Rising was four songs too long. I am really hoping i love this album.

Posted by: conrad at 08/24/07 12:14 PM | Reply
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Great song. Surpisingly so, in fact.

Posted by: Shapiro at 08/24/07 12:29 PM | Reply
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I love it. Of course, I do. It's fuckin' Bruce.

Posted by: Wayne at 08/24/07 1:05 PM | Reply
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Loving this. So excited for the album!

Posted by: Dave at 08/24/07 1:40 PM | Reply
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I love Springsteen. I've seen him 80 + times. I have about 250 bootlegs...

This song is a stiff. Generic sounding, lame production, half-baked lyrics. It's Springsteen-By-Numbers. I'm very disappointed.

Posted by: Ben at 08/24/07 2:04 PM | Reply
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"He's never put the band on the cover for studio stuff, just live records"

Does Clarence's ass on "Born to Run" count?

Posted by: KDR at 08/24/07 2:17 PM | Reply
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Looks like a mugshot.

Posted by: highway patrolman at 08/24/07 3:00 PM | Reply
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Great tune.

Posted by: Adam at 08/24/07 3:16 PM | Reply
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@KDR: I guess I should have said he's never credited the band on the cover.

Posted by: ZipZapZopZoup at 08/24/07 3:30 PM | Reply
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weak lyrics, yes- not even impressionistic... the song sounds like Tommy Tutone covering a Zevon ditty cowritten with Elvis Costello- the chugging guitar of "867-5309" and the crammed lyrics jumping out of rhythmk so I guess it has a little somptin

then again, I'm no Brucefreak

Posted by: brew at 08/24/07 3:45 PM | Reply
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for download here --

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=FF9B597D5BFDD6DD


Posted by: tony tony tone at 08/24/07 7:27 PM | Reply
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tony tony toné has done it again!

Posted by: it feels good at 08/24/07 7:52 PM | Reply
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Quit overanalyzing it, just let it ring. If you are a music professional then keep your thoughts to yourself, I don't care to hear them. Music is about individuality, not conformity. I like it, you don't, get it!!!

Posted by: Ernie at 08/25/07 10:21 AM | Reply
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Quit overanalyzing it, just let it ring. If you are a music professional then keep your thoughts to yourself, I don't care to hear them. Music is about individuality, not conformity. I like it, you don't, get it!!!

Posted by: Ernie at 08/25/07 10:21 AM | Reply
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Ernie, you little bitch, put the ball gag back in your mouth and get your tight little anus back here.

Posted by: Bert at 08/25/07 2:53 PM | Reply
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oh, right, like bert's the top...give me a break

Posted by: bono at 08/25/07 5:09 PM | Reply
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Can you hear the E street there?.... I will listen again and again but it is not the best of Bruce!

Posted by: Keef at 08/27/07 8:48 AM | Reply
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I think in the context of Seeger Sessions and Devil's in the Details, Bruce with an electric guitar in his hands sounds great. But my first impression (after about 20 listens) is similar to Ben's. This is not his best work. On the other hand, it means a tour so that's great news.

Posted by: bobfrombob at 08/27/07 11:01 AM | Reply
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THIS SONG JUST KICKS ASS!!!!!

Posted by: Shawn at 08/27/07 12:27 PM | Reply
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When I first heard it..I have to admit it it initially sounded
like the opening riff from Tommy Tutone but then took
on a sound of it's own..I give the tune a solid B. At least
it's not the mindless junk of country!

Posted by: Rich Devanna at 08/27/07 12:44 PM | Reply
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Good... God...

Comeback Kid does it again. This songs kicks ass like a 15 year old with a guitar, a bottle of Mountain Dew and a bad attitude.

I'm in. Where do I sign up?
DwD

Posted by: Dw Dunphy at 08/27/07 4:04 PM | Reply
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I've never liked Brendan O'Brien's wall-of-sludge production. Dense, no air, no space. Sounds like a million instruments recorded in a submarine submerged at the bottom of the ocean. Bruce needs a new producer.

Posted by: Ignatius at 08/27/07 7:14 PM | Reply
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Sounds like a b-side to me. I agree with Ben. Springsteen-By-Numbers. Brendan O'Brien has got to go. I hope the album is better than the single and The Rising.

Posted by: jjazznola at 08/28/07 2:38 AM | Reply
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I'm not a huge fan on Brendan O'Brien's production. It doesn't have the space that's needed for a Springsteen record. I'm also not into how this track has the same melody in the "this is radio nowhere" refrain as the verses. If you listen close enough there are some great guitars, but they seem squashed in the mix.

Production aside, it's Springsteen so it kicks ass. Lots of energy. But it kinda strikes me the same way U2's "Vertigo" did...a lot of flash but not the best example of what makes the artist so damn good.

Posted by: Regal at 08/28/07 4:59 AM | Reply
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For all those people analyzing Radio Nowhere, bottom line it's a "Good" song not "Great" song. The problem with a Bruce "Good" song is that his good songs are other Bands "Great" songs.

Just enjoy it.

If it sounded like BTR, there would still be people complaining.

Who said Bruce has to write "Deep" songs all the time. To me it's a simple, straight ahead Kick Ass Rock N roll song

Posted by: Shark at 08/28/07 2:14 PM | Reply
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Ignatius and Regal are right on. The "wall of sound" of Born to Run was different. Springsteen's voice was out front, and the lyrics meant something.Hear it is damn near unintelligible In fact, I really believe this was mixed incorrectly. In the beginning he is barely intelligible, but by the last chorus or two, you can hear him. Compare she's the one, which also was very guitar heavy with this. Muffled is a very good word. Its muffled.

Hard to judge an album off one cut, but I have a bad feeling here. Still, new Springsteen is hard to find, and it does mean a tour so...

Posted by: thedoctorisin at 08/28/07 2:30 PM | Reply
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Sounds like it deliberately avoids being "deep" like his last few studio albums. Hopefully this song will be what "Darlington County" or "Working on the Highway" were to Born in the USA. But if not, who gives a shit? When has Bruce ever produced a really bad album?

Posted by: Greg at 08/28/07 3:19 PM | Reply
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I know that Bruce was at Pete Yorn's recent Stone Pony shows, but damn, something must have rubbed off on Bruce, because this new track "Radio Nowhere" sounds exactly like something Pete could have written.

I know Pete considers Bruce a huge influence, so it must be a HUGE complement to have the first single (and possibly more on the new "Magic" album) sound like a YornTune®.

Posted by: Jfischetti at 08/28/07 4:19 PM | Reply
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It'll sound better not compressed via MP3.

This always happens - a pan based on a squashed bootleg file

Posted by: Big Balls Billy at 08/28/07 5:39 PM | Reply
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When has Bruce ever produced a really bad album?

How about Human Touch? The Rising was nothing special either. I'm a longtime Bruce fan but his last decent rock albums were Lucky Town and Tunnel Of Love. That was a long time ago!

I do think live this song will really come alive. With Bruce it's all about the stage!

Posted by: jjazznola at 08/29/07 2:26 AM | Reply
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If anyone hasn't downloaded a decent version of this yet, it's free on Itunes this week only. Thanks Boss!

Posted by: Adam at 08/29/07 9:44 AM | Reply
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Radio Nowhere is scary good. Its a great song with great lyics. Ain't no "B" side here. You DJs out there, ignore your program directors and spin the thing repeatedly over the upcoming Labor day weekend. If'n you don't like it, turn up the volume. Hope the rest of Magic is this good.

Posted by: Jersey John at 08/29/07 11:25 AM | Reply
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preach it John.

Posted by: Southside Slim at 08/29/07 12:38 PM | Reply
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Scary good? Are you kidding? Tommy Tutone should sue. If you want to request this song, dial 867-5309.

Posted by: m317 at 08/29/07 8:42 PM | Reply
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Just wanna add something to my earlier post....regardless of what I think about Brendan O'Brien's style, this song sounds great turned up loud. No matter what, it's light years better than most music on the radio. I hope the record is great...I've got my fingers crossed.

Two great moments in "Radio Nowhere" are the sax solo and the backing vocals during the "pounding drums" verse....he sounds more like the great singer he is there.

Posted by: Regal at 08/30/07 3:07 AM | Reply
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WOW...is Bruce not allowed to put out a song that is just straight, unbraided rock? No preaching. No hidden meanings. No political or social commentary. Just a straight, simple song that pounds out sound and makes your heart fire faster. He used to put out songs like that, and just proves here that he still can. Hell, I bet this is refreshing change for him after his past couple albums...which were certainly toned down in the electric department.

I absolutely love the song...the bass beat is like nothing I heard on a Bruce tune, and it has me pumped to here the rest of the album...

So, come on, cut Bruce some slack...

Posted by: Todd at 08/30/07 5:06 AM | Reply
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Great rocking song!

Posted by: KP at 08/30/07 8:50 AM | Reply
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Every bar band in the universe just added this to their setlist for the coming weekend. Hey, ya know this IS akin to the souped up live "No Surrender" and IMHO it's big fun. Makes up for him giving away "Rendevous" all those years ago.

Sure, Jonathan Richman covered the subject better 30 years ago as "Roadrunner" and the Tutone riff is there for sure, but "Jenny 666" is only "Message in a Bottle" turned inside out anyhow.

I may be easily pleased but rock is nothing if not deriviative and wouldn't ya still rather hear THIS Bruce....or maybe everyone was praying he'd record a Theodore Bikel Tribute Album next.

Posted by: skeletonpete at 08/31/07 3:24 AM | Reply
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"57 channels but nothin's on"

Posted by: mike fetter at 08/31/07 10:14 AM | Reply
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Great song, but why is not available on CD single? I wanna buy the CD single, it will be a collectors item in the future. A (free) download is useless in 20 years from now...

Posted by: Yves at 08/31/07 6:00 PM | Reply
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Hey Bert, you fuckn faggot, why don't you just wste away. That is what the world needs less of faggots like yourself.

Posted by: Larry at 09/01/07 10:59 AM | Reply
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I think it's obvious and awesome that Bruce is influenced by modern bands like The National. Word has it, he used "About Today" as his walk-on music. The man is fucking great.

Posted by: michael at 09/04/07 10:45 PM | Reply
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Ever since seeing Springsteen for the 2nd night in a row in 1992 during his initial "E St.-less "
tour, my interest in the Boss has severely dried out. Those shows lacked the magic of the prior 5 that I had seen in the 1980's-plus the dual albums he gave us in 1992 sucked badly. Since then, if I do get in a mood to relive the excitement of his best stuff, I will only pop in a CD from anything he recorded from 1973-85.

Albums have come out since '92, but no longer have I marked my calender for their release dates. From my perspective, Springsteen's status as a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is not unlike Joe Montana's position as a Football Hall of Famer. In the same way Montana is respected and lauded for his past accomplishments; we accept the fact that he cannot ever do those things on an NFL stage again.

I found Springsteen to be in the same boat: a man to be respected and a man to thank for giving his all to his craft. But also like Montana, I figured that he could no longer conjure up the magic that made him one of the premier artists of the 1970's and 80's.

I may be changing my mind about this. I really didn't think it was possible for Bruce to come up with anything new that would get my adrenaline going as his vintage stuff does. But this does.

I'm not saying this is a deep song. I'm not saying it's up there with his best work. And I am not saying this song will create a new Bruce fan out of an impressionable listener who has never heard of any of his music before. What I am saying is that " Radio Nowhere" does have an ass kicking element to it. It is a song that has qualities to it that can bring back a prodigal fan such as myself. If the rest of the album is even half as good as "Radio Nowhere", then the "Magic" of Springsteen is revived for me.

Brilliant marketing plan for putting the song on Itunes for free. I don't listen to radio stations that play Sprinsteen-type material. So therefore without the free download, this song would have passd me by like the rest of his music for the past 15 years. Looking forward to the rest of the album.

Posted by: mark at 09/05/07 1:24 AM | Reply
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Great song. That's the Boss I remember. I hope all future Springsteen material involves the E Street Band...no more folk records please.

Posted by: tim at 09/07/07 2:15 PM | Reply
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Bruce still rocks!

Posted by: Molly at 09/12/07 11:10 AM | Reply
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This could be an aural halucination or it could be subliminal manipulation but the first bunch of times I listened to Radio Nowhere I could swear Bruce was singing not - "just another lost number in a file" but the truer - "just another lost stoner in a fog."

Try it. Can I get a witness?

I think they may have sung both lines together, non-enunciated, so that you get both perhaps.

Posted by: jack at 09/17/07 11:01 AM | Reply
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