Bruce Springsteen's E Street bandmate tips him for solo album

Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt has predicted that the singer's next release will be a solo album.

Appearing on Philadelphia’s WMGK radio station, Van Zandt told host John DeBella that Springsteen already had a wealth of solo material ready to work on.

"You know Bruce - he’s always got an album in his pocket, he’s always writing something," he said.

He added: "I don’t know this for a fact, but I expect him to possibly put something out that’s more of a solo nature, before we get back together. Only because he's just so prolific, still, after all these years. He's still just a terrific songwriter and writes all the time."

Springsteen's last solo album was 2006’s 'We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions', while his last album with the E Street Band was 2009's 'Working On A Dream'.

Part of me wishes he'd abandon the E Street Band name. Assemble a streamlined rock band out of the existing musicians. People will still know it's "them" and flock to the shows. Clarence was just too much a part of the E Street Band's sound and image. Abandoning the name would allow Bruce the license to make a clean break, rearrange songs and begin a new era. I think the worst thing he could possibly do is hire another sax player.

Bruce Springsteen's New Album Is His 'Angriest' Yet
6:00 AM PST 1/13/2012 by Tim Appelo, Shirley Halperin

Bruce Springsteen is gearing up to release a new album with the E Street Band -- his 24th -- and a source tells the Hollywood Reporter it’s The Boss’ “angriest” yet.

“He gets into economic justice quite a bit,” says an earwitness who’s heard some of the music. “It’s very rock’n’roll. He feels it's the angriest album he's ever made. Bear in mind, though, that [Springsteen] wrote and recorded the majority of the album before the Occupy movements started, so he's not just setting headlines to music.”

Produced by Ron Aniello (Patti Scialfa, Jars of Clay), the album, which was recently played for label execs, is described as veering into “unexpected textures -- loops, electronic percussion… an amazing sweep of influences and rhythms, from hip-hop to Irish folk rhythms.” The as-yet-untitled effort is said to be “terrific.”

While no release date has been set, Springsteen is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the music conference portion of South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 15, fueling speculation that an album may coincide with the appearance. The boss and the E Street Band, who lost two members in 2011, Danny Federici and legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, have also announced a round of UK tour dates set for June.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/b ... gry-281412

I love Bruce and have for years, but there's a part of me that would like to see him loosen up a bit and re-explore his bar band roots for some good time music. Have some fun Bruce...you're an older man now! Lighten up! He could take a lesson from Southside Johnny.

I'm not a huge fan of Springsteen but one thing I truly admire about him is his ability to put out albums consistently. He's a throwback to earlier times when artists put out records more regularly.

He's like Neil Young in this regard, but w/Neil there's a little too much of a tossed off feeling for my tastes. Springsteen just seems to work very hard.

Oh goody! An "angry" album pandering to the MSNBC crowd followed by an Obama-orgy tour. The thing is, how are they going to call it "Vote For Change"?

Bruce Springsteen was in Asbury Park, NJ over the weekend, shooting a video for one of the songs on his upcoming album on Friday. The shoot included an appearance by singer-songwriter Willie Nile who is reportedly also on the album track.

We're not supposed to get political here, but I am wondering how St. Springsteen will handle the topic of economic justice when he's got Jon Landau to brag about keeping ticket prices down to $95 a seat.

He's gotta pay the note on that rolling NJ estate that is said to be, FOR TAX AVOIDANCE PURPOSES, classified as a (n equestrian) farm. In so doing St. Bruce gets to pay just 2% of what his no less tony neighbors pay in property taxes. A trick he apparently learned from fellow "rocker of the common man," Jon Bon Jovi. Or maybe it was the other way around.

Be that as it may, there will be plenty of great albums and tours this summer so if we don't want to do so, we don't have to pay $115 (bet me) for a three hour political lecture from an abject hypocrite. Contrary to Bruce's opinion this IS a great country and having the choice of leaving him to preach to his choir is one of the many reasons why.