Blast From The Past

The current political status of the country has inspired some artists to release new albums in reflection to the happenings. Bruce Springsteen has released three albums in the past year and a half. His latest, Magic, has strong political undertones, although all the songs can be interpreted from a relationship perspective also. Springsteen says he has fallen back into the feeling of being completely free, like he had in his earlier days when he wrote Born To Run. Springsteen reports that his new album, “is about living in a time when anything that is true can be made to seem like a lie, and anything that is a lie can be made to seem true.” Like the days when Springsteen wrote his earlier works, these times are unstable change. Some of his earlier works were from the post-Vietnam war era. Similar feelings expressed in those works are reappearing in his new songs. Although he claims he does not mean for the album to be a “Bush-bashing record,” many themes are about the tension and uncertainty from the war.


The Eagles, another well-known band, are releasing a new album in response to the current events also. They have not released an album since 1979, also post-Vietnam war. Their songs touch on topics about the oil, propaganda, and lonely soldiers overseas. They have been working on this album for six years now, ever since 2001.

I’ve also enjoyed the Eagles’ and Bruce Springsteen’s earlier works, but I am looking forward to hearing their new albums. I could appreciate their artistic talents from long ago, but I have a feeling that hearing their new works which are written about current events happening in my lifetime will make their music even more enjoyable. It is great that well-respected bands are making music again so there is an option other than 50 Cent and Britney Spears. I definitely know what will be on my Christmas list!