The Ghost Of Tom Joad
by Bruce Springsteen

Nebraska, Ghost of Tom Joad, Devils & Dust... it seems each decade Springsteen eschews the easy route and puts out a non-commercial curveball, to varying degrees of success. The Ghost of Tom Joad was released in 1995 in the middle of an economic boom in the U.S., at probably the lowest point in Springsteen's popularity after the dissolving of the E Street Band and the Human Touch/Lucky Town career nadir. Audiences were either confused or indifferent. Four years later Bruce would reunite the E Street Band and reclaim his place as one of rock's elder statesmen. But The Ghost of Tom Joad shows why he isn't just another oldies act. This was a deeply moving, troubling piece of art released with no commercial concern or desire to be on the cutting edge. Just a collection of gut-punch sparse folk songs. One of his very best.

From jhuik TOP 100 COMMENTER 02/19/2012 15:43 | #37146 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

This is Bruce's 90's take on Nebraska. The first five tracks are actually more memorable and accessible than anything on Nebraska, in my opinion. Sinaloa Cowboys is as evocative a narrative as any he's ever told. Fine later work by the Boss.

After the artistic disappointment of the human touch /lucky town albums, Springsteen then had massive success with, streets of Philadelphia, and then briefly re-united the E street band for the recording of new tracks to be included on his greatest hits album. The ghost of Tom Joad appeared, almost unnoticed, in 1995. The album harks back to the acoustic sounds of, Nebraska, but unlike the rough demo's released on that record, this was much slicker, with added violin and discreet synths. The title track is one of springsteen's great songs, concerning homelessness, with the character of Tom Joad inspired by the classic movie, the grapes of wrath. All the same kind of down on their luck characters from, Nebraska, are here. Ex-con's failing to go straight, illegal immigrants, and, drug dealers. There's other great tracks in, Youngstown, and across the border, which are excellent, but some songs such as, the new timer, and, Galveston bay, although lyrically interesting, are musically boring, and a few other songs could also fit that description. It's a hard slog to get through the album in one sitting, and it probably would have been better to have shortened the record by dropping a few of the more tedious tracks. Still, in short bursts, there's some of springsteen's best writing here. Next for Bruce would be the, tracks, box set, then the E street band reunion tour. Then in 2001, Springsteen and the band would finally record a new album together,the rising, a record which would be inspired by one of the greatest tragedies in American history.

The Ghost of Tom Joad finds Springsteen back in cinematic mode, weaving songs of characters in desperate situations. The reference to Forrest Gump is amusing, but altogether it's a solid winner. Recommended.

A Side: Youngstown
B Side: Sinaloa Cowboys

From Timhop 12/17/2014 19:38 | #129555 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

What an incredible collection of story-songs on this album, almost a later twin of the great Nebraska album. Youngstown is a master-class on writing social commentary lyrics. Awesome, dark, broodingly angry stuff from The Boss.