How does Bruce Springsteen Get Away With This Shit?

So: I haven't posted a blog in like, forever.  Now that I'm finally writing a new post, it's not even on topic; in fact, it's just a rant.

Welcome to the Blogosphere, friends.

I heard Bruce Springsteen's "American Land" today on SiriusXM: it's from the new record, Wrecking Ball. How does Bruce get away with this shit? It sounds like he knocked it off in ten minutes: or at least I hope he didn't take longer than that to write it.  It's a tale of immigrants in America, with Bruce singing like he's a Clancy Brother. Except that he's not. It's a second rate rewrite of the Pogues' "Sally MacLennane."  It's official: Bruce now sounds like his copyists. Except that he's not as good. Not only is the song second rate Pogues:  it's second-rate Gaslight Anthem.

Apparently Bruce can get away with all this because he's the Last Rock Populist Standing.

And they call it democracy.

Listen to this instead: