Wednesday, February 6, 2019

The 1984 Listening Post - Bruce Cockburn - Stealing Fire

Bruce Cockburn - Stealing Fire



#125
May 1984
Bruce Cockburn
Stealing Fire
2 out of 5

Highlights:
If I Had a Rocket Launcher

Repeating the title of your song over and over in the chorus doesn’t a song make. Sorry, Brucie. There is nothing here that indicates to me that Cockburn should be making records to sell to anyone. Gawd this is boring. 
And dripping with “import”. The thing about being socially conscious is you either better be a battering ram of a punk or have a catchy song. “Pride”. “Biko”. These are examples of what Cockburn is wishing he could be. He fails. Unless there is a brilliant accompanying light show to go with it, “To Raise the Morning Star” I have no use for. I include one song as a highlight inasmuch as it’s the most accessible representation of what Cockburn is trying to do. It’s not great, but it’s the best Bruce has to offer. 


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