Live in New York City＜完全生産限定盤＞

ブルース・スプリングスティーン & ザ・E ストリート・バンド 2001年発売 『Live in New York City』のアナログ盤

2001年作品。舞台は2000年夏の NYマディソン・スクエア・ガーデン。1年以上にわたったEストリート・バンド再結成ツアーのハイライト公演の模様を収めた2枚組ライヴ盤。社会問題にまで発展した話題作「アメリカン・スキン」
を収録。全米アルバムチャート5位を記録。

Compared to the gargantuan Live/1975-85, 2001's Live in New York City seems like the very definition of restraint, but consider this -- not only does it span two discs, it leaves out a considerable portion of the set list from the show and thereby the set list of Springsteen's celebrated 2000 reunion with the E Street Band. Some critics complained that this record was little more than a tie-in to the HBO special of the same name, but even if that's true, the record would have merit since it illustrates exactly why this group should never have parted ways. In a sense, even if this is the third live album in Springsteen's catalog, it's the first that attempts to replicate the feeling of an evening out with the E Street Band (the Live/1975-85 box tried too hard to be an ultimate experience; MTV Plugged captured a transitional phase). Though most reunions feel a little forced, this feels natural, yet never nostalgic, since the track listing never relies on the predictable. There are no hits in the conventional sense -- outside of "Born in the U.S.A." tucked away on the second disc and an initially uncredited "Born to Run" -- but there are many fan favorites interspersed with a few obscurities and new songs, most notoriously the protest song "American Skin (41 Shots)." This works in Springsteen's favor, since there's no pandering -- only the joy of making music with the band that understands him best. This doesn't really result in something essential, even if the new songs are quite good, but if you've ever been a fan, it's hard not to warm to Live in New York City. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine