Search - Bruce Springsteen :: The Essential 3.0 Bruce Springsteen (Eco-Friendly Packaging)

Lisa C. from ORLANDO, FL
Reviewed on 9/25/2009...

This is my favorite cd right now. It's an amazing compilation of nearly all his work. A must have for any music lover and great for all generations!

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

The Essential Replay

Michael Kerner | Brooklyn, New York U.S.A. | 11/02/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Since 2001 when The Essential series was released with Billy Joel being the first artist to deliver on the double-album series, many artists have delivered definitive collections that've reintroduced many great songs and classic gems to the next generation. But, out of all of those artists that really have cashed in, Bruce Springsteen definitely has been probably the one who was ahead of its time. Back in 2003, when his essential collection was released, it delivered more to fans than meet the eye, by bringing in classic songs, and an extended disc for hard core fans to keep coming back. But, with a new makeover for the Essential collection series, does this actually deliver a new Bruce, or is that a waste through the Badlands?



The Essential Bruce Sprinsteen 3.0, is actually a re-delivery of Bruce's 2003 Essential collection, which sadly doesn't do enough to appeal to anyone who bought the collection before. Still, it is a simple reintroduction to his legendary career that includes the same songs as before which includes classic staples from Springsteen library from Born To Run and Born In The U.S.A., and the Oscar-winning hit movie song Streets Of Philadelphia, to recent favorites from Bruce's 2002 landmark album The Rising, Lonesome Day and his live surprise song American Skin, which was in regards to a police shooting of a illegal immigrant named Ammado Diallo.



While the album is all fine and dandy to appease in the New Essential Bruce Springsteen 3.0, unlike the other editions in the series which've added a disc of extras songs like Billy Joel, Heart and Michael Jackson, there really should've been a extra disc to add in even more for the hard core fans, which makes those who've bought the original edition feel back in 2003 feel like they've wasted their money. There were a lot of Springsteen staples that were missing from before like One Step Up, the somber Secret Garden from Jerry McGuire, I'm On Fire, and My Hometown. But not only that, with the album not including what should've been an actual 4th disc, there really was a missed opportunity to add on material from Bruce's recent albums including the haunting Devils & Dust, Magic, and We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. So sadly, you won't find his recent hits like Radio Nowhere, and Girls In Their Summer Clothes on the collection.



All in all, if you've bought The Essential Bruce Springsteen 3.0 really doesn't add in anything to deliver for die hard fans. You actually get the same collection as you did before from 2003 when the original collection was issued. Still, I was honestly hoping there was so much more for hard core fans to have on the album, but misses the marks that feel like The Ghost Of Tom Joad had came back to haunt the human touch.



Album Cover: B



Songs: C+



Price: C



Remastering: B-



Overall: C"