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Bruce Springsteen built his reputation on the concert stage, sweating and testifying through shows that often hit the four-hour mark. And while there's no shortage of recordings documenting the Boss in concert, each live album seems to take on a personality all its own. Live in New York City has several unique aspects: It's a homecoming of sorts, given the locale and presence of a reunited E Street Band, who inject tried-and-true tunes like "Badlands" and (of course) "Born to Run" with that extra hit of octane. It's also a reaffirmation that Springsteen is still capable of cutting to the quick with a lyric, as borne out by the chilling "American Skin (41 Shots)," his take on the controversial shooting of Amadou Diallo by New York City policemen, which makes its first official appearance here. Culled from a ten-night stand at Madison Square Garden, Live in New York can sound somewhat disjointed at times, but the individual performances are hard to fault. From the slowly building intensity of "Prove It All Night" to the joyful bop of "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out," Bruce and band maintain a precise dynamic control, while making it sound like they've not a care in the world. Despite the undeniable house-rocking ability of the E Street Band -- who, even after all these years, can often make an arena feel like a Jersey shore beer hall -- the album's most riveting moments are its quietest. The aforementioned "American Skin" is as spare as can be, while versions of "The River" and "Atlantic City" burn slow and low in their intensity. Perfectionists might be pining for more of the new material debuted on the tour -- the On the Road-style buddy tale "Land of Hope and Dreams" is the only other unreleased tune represented -- but there's enough meat here to keep fans gnawing happily until the Boss next emerges from the studio.
Condition:NEW. Brand New Factory Sealed
TRACK LISTINGS
Disc 1
1 My Love Will Not Let You Down
2 Prove It All Night
3 Two Hearts
4 Atlantic City
5 Mansion on the Hill
6 The River
7 Youngstown
8 Murder Incorporated
9 Badlands
10 Out in the Street
Disc 2
1 Tenth Avenue Freeze Out
2 Land of Hope and Dreams
3 American Skin
4 Lost in the Flood
5 Born in the U.S.A.
6 Don't Look Back
7 Jungleland
8 Ramrod
9 If I Should Fall Behind
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