Bruce, pt 2

I'm mildly disappointed by the Promise box. My expectations weren't very high about the actual content, it was to a large extent more paying homage to my own past - but I did expect more after all the talk before-hand. I saw journalists handing out full score reviews left and right, and I just don't think that's fair.

There are some parts to look at when reviewing the whole package that is The Promise, let's take them one by one.

First, it's a remaster of the best record ever. That's a 5/5, how could it possibly be anything else.

Second, it's a double CD with discarded songs from the Darkness sessions. This is where I think journalists didn't quite think, step back and really think. It's a bit magic to hear these recordings. The first time we can hear them in highest possible quality at the very least, and several of them truly never heard before. But hey, guys? These songs seem mostly like... well, discarded stuff to me. Really discarded stuff. Sure, Fire and Because are pretty tight and finished, but they're not really news, and - heresy - I never really liked either of them. They're filler for me. They illustrate perfectly why none of these songs made it onto the Darkness album. Most of the songs are heavily cannibalized for lyrics and often for score as well. As can be seen in the DVD material, the band made several other songs during this period that did eventually make it onto the River, and justifiably, because those songs are all superior to anything on The promise: Sherry darling, The ties that bind, Independence day, and more.

Two other songs are worth mentioning: The "rock" version of Racing, so dubbed by journalists. WTF, "rock"? How can a journalist call this a "rock" version of anything when it's a reject from the album that starts with Badlands and Adam raised a Cain? Second, The Promise. I'm sorry, this may be the best of the songs on its own, but it's also too sentimental, it lacks a point and it lacks musical push. It would have made sense as a single somewhere around the time of Darkness but it suffers heavily in comparison to the collective works that make up Born to run and Darkness and in this context, even The river.

Taken as a new or forgotten Bruce double CD, The Promise is maybe 2 or 3/5. As add on material to Darkness, 4/5.

Third, The making of Darkness DVD. This is awesome. 5/5.

Fourth, The Houston house cut. 4/5 for afficionados. It's a shame there's apparently nothing better to release from the Darkness tour era. The Library of Congress should have intervened. For outsiders, 2-3/5. There are several better full concerts released already.

Fifth, the 2009 DVD. Hmm. A curiosity. I can't imagine why a non-fan would want this.

Finally, more scattered extra material. Not rating that, just noting that it's there.

The box is for fans, and it's a treat. It's no earth-shaker though. It's a boon and I'm glad I have it. I'm gonna leave it at that.