Bad opinions • Page 482

I struggle with that song, because I like it musically but really can't do the lyrics.

 

I've always liked the idea that it's kind of winking at himself. Like if you take his over-romanticizing lyrical style to its extreme in your adult life, it looks much more incongruous.

 

Wow.

 

there's only one song with Supermarket in the title

 

I think "Queen" sounds like an SNL parody of a Bruce Springsteen song.

 

This is the one I thought Chris was talking about and got heated thinking that people don't like it

 

I like that way of looking at it more. I do think he's sort of being self-satirizing on parts of that record. "Outlaw Pete" in particular.

 

Milkshake Duck strikes again

 

I dunno, I think you guys are lending a level of self-awareness to these songs that I'm not sure is really there.

"Outlaw Pete" seems pretty genuine in its awfulness to me. And I've never read anything from Bruce about it that hints toward intentional satire, either--he's always seemed pretty proud and enthused about it.

I think he just wrote some bad songs.

 

I actually just like "Queen" on its face. It's nice to listen to. But Craig was talking about lyrics.

 

honestly im not even mad, sugar gay is great and following it up with "im gonna fuck you in the ass" is almost too apt a response to be topped

 

My favourite Clash song by a long way, just thinking about it makes me happy.

 

I always felt like he was kind of poking fun at American tall tales and his own long narrative songs with "Outlaw Pete." I think the fact that it was the first long story song since, like, Born to Run was significant. And the number of silly exaggerations in the lyrics always felt like he was winking at the audience. I could be wrong, but I think that song is pretty self-aware. Part of the reason that I enjoy it, unlike most of Working on a Dream which falls flat for me.

 

I like Dream quite a bit outside of those two songs actually, especially including the bonus tracks. "A Night With the Jersey Devil" is one of the coolest things he's done in years.

But I've always thought "Outlaw Pete" and "Queen" were kind of anomalously epic in context. Most of that album feels to me like deliberately minor, breezy pop, which I can totally appreciate as such.

 

Five Leaves Left is better than Pink Moon.

 

No way

 

Hmm, so it is an unpopular opinion.

 

"Three Hours" and "Man In A Shed" have been slaying me lately.

 

They're both absolutely incredible though

 

Self Portrait is a good album.

 

How do you feel about Dylan?

 

I just think most of the songs on that record are boring and unmemorable (though the back half is a little stronger). Say what you want about "Pete" and "Queen," but they aren't either of those things, haha. I really like the melody of "Outlaw Pete" and like the idea of Springsteen writing a song that's basically an epic western. I think it works better than a lot of the lower stakes stuff of the record.

 

Alternate opinion: it's probably the worst song of his career.

 

I'm not sure what my pick for that title would be. Maybe "Big Muddy."