Thursday, October 22nd, 2020

Bruce Springsteen – Letter to You

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[5.57]

Edward Okulicz: Springsteen taking something private or introspective and making it sound huge is a feature, not a bug, and the more salient question rather than “is he good?” is “have you had enough of this already?”. Probably I have. But the plainness of “Letter to You” as a lyrical text interests me, because I hear something very old fashioned and courtly in the lyrics, almost like something from the ’50s, the melody kind of reminds me of something by Foreigner I can’t place, and then it’s given that perfect stadium-felling treatment replete with organ. All of these things should be anachronistic in 2020 — stadium rock, writing letters, corn, but they’re given meaning from the animation in Springsteen’s voice. I might have given this about a [5] in 2010 or 2030, but in 2020, I am slightly heartwarmed.
[7]

William John: About as much as can be asked of a Bruce Springsteen song in 2020; rollicking, familiar, and of comfort to my mother, as big a #BruceBud as you’re ever likely to encounter.
[6]

Alfred Soto: He doesn’t bluster, and he and his producers wisely mix his impeccable guitar front and center. Aware he will convert no one but playing as if he can, Bruce Springsteen still believes in the communicative power of private letters meant to be read through arena PA systems. For twenty years his dedication has come across palsied; here, the concision of his verse — suspicious of poetry when, after all, Charles Giordano’s there to offer some with his organ fills — acknowledges how well he can still put his weaknesses to work.
[7]

Thomas Inskeep: I love the way the E Street Band sounds here, proud and triumphant, but what’s with the way Springsteen is singing? On the choruses, he flirts with an almost operatic tone that is not flattering. As for the song itself, it’s just kinda there.
[5]

Brad Shoup: I don’t know anything about crowds of mongrel trees — Bruce, woof — but as someone who fills up one entire half of a birthday card every year, I get the sentiment. But I’m spewing my fears and doubts at her frequently enough to want to keep them out of print. Musically he’s going on that transcendent stroll, but I dunno if we really needed a solo recapitulating the verse melody twice! The whole deal was recorded live in one take, but it’s as crammed as anything he’s offered this century. Which I guess is a tribute to his crew, but let someone risk spilling something messy.
[5]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: I listened to this ten times in a row, and the straight-ahead nature of “Letter to You” is its definite downfall. The lyrics aren’t more potent in their directness, the music is all a bit too tidy, and the song overstays its welcome. Sometimes a message of gratitude is better when it doesn’t sound so rehearsed.
[4]

Tobi Tella: As a life-long New Jerseyan, maybe not the song my dad deserves, but definitely the one he wants.
[5]

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