I subscribe to a newsletter called Kingdom Of Days that looks back at Bruce Springsteen news from years past. I especially like when the blogger posts images from old reviews; and it's even more fun when those reviews are from early in the 1970s Springsteen hype cycle, and written by skeptics.
I mean, he doesn't NOT sound like a constipated Roy Orbison or as if he's chewing a football. . .
“Perhaps because it is lousy” gonna become my new mic drop.
It's kind of impressive to be that wrong.
Then there's this curious relic, which ties Springsteen's then-new (and doomed) first marriage to a piece of pop psychology making the rounds at the time. Daily newspaper deadlines can lead to some kooky columns.
The craziest thing about this piece is it doesn't appear to be tied to anything in the news. The tour was still going strong, he wasn't working on a new album, it wasn't any notable anniversary of the wedding. It's like she threw a dart at a list of names and ended up having to write about Bruce.
I think she was actually writing about the book and looking for a (somewhat) timely and high-profile peg.
"deservedly ill-fated New York Dolls"?????????
I know, right?