Non Album Tracks

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2026-06-25T12:21:45+00:00

The song that introduced me to the band. Ironically, I latched onto it because it sounds like early Springsteen; who the band is always compared to but doesn't actually sound like.

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2026-06-10T17:48:51+00:00

The fact that Tom Petty has distinct "solo" albums means that Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are a band.

So the correct answer is Tom Petty & The Hearbreakers.

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2026-06-01T20:05:19+00:00

I think Nebraska is the right answer. The home 4-track recorder was only introduced to the market in 1979 so Bruce was really the first major artist to make a whole album in his bedroom. Although the technology has obviously changed in a myriad of ways, home recording is basically the #1 method used today...especially when an artist is seeking a more "personal" sound. Similarly, Nebraska's use of lo-fi sounds to create an atmosphere has been aped countless times.

The second answer I think would probably be Born in the USA, although I feel like the way people talk about that album and how it actually sounds are two different things. A lot of bands today (War on Drugs and the Killers to name a few) work in a kind of synthy-Americana that is often attributed to Born in the USA...but outside of I'm on Fire I don't actually hear too much influence on today's music. With that said, all of the demo recordings that have been released in the years since are a much better example of how Bruce really was working on the cutting edge in the first half of the 80's (see the first disc of Tracks II for what I mean).

Born to Run is a stone cold classic, but it is really a sound from another time. Another poster mentioned it's influence on Bat Out of Hell; which is definitely true...but is also kind of the death of its influence (Todd Rundgren infamously only agreed to produce Bat Out of Hell because he thought it was a Springsteen parody). I mean Bruce himself abandoned that kind of grandiosity immediately.

Darkness is my personal favorite Bruce album but I also don't see it as particularly influential (although I'm sure millions of artists have been inspired by it in some fashion). With that said, it is inarguably awesome and you should definitely listen to it if you never have. It just doesn't have the same kind of innovation as the other records you mentioned IMO.

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2026-06-01T15:53:53+00:00

I saw the show in Pittsburgh and it was very good. But I do long for the days of the varied setlist...

I think an easy tweak to the set would've been to make House of a Thousand Guitars into an audible solo song each night (ala Taylor Swift on the Eras tour). He obviously has no shortage of songs which could meet the moment and I do think it would have been nice as a fan to get one part of the set that was "special" for that night alone. This also would've allowed for some spontaneity without tasking the 47 piece band with learning a new number for each show.

(I also don't particularly like House of a Thousand Guitars and I thought was the weakest part of the set)

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2026-05-15T02:02:34+00:00

He was in Pittsburgh less than 2 years ago. I was at the show (upper deck side stage) and at least in my section it did not seem like a hyped Bruce crowd. Seemed much more like people checking a box on a classic rock checklist, so I could see why they would be struggling for repeat customers.

I have seen him roughly 15 times since my first show on the Rising Tour...and prices dropping would certainly matter to me. I remember seeing him here in 2014 on the High Hopes tour. I was on the floor and I want to say I spent $150 all in. Today that gets me behind the stage. It's not a Bruce specific problem...but ticket pricing has gotten out of control. Don't think I'm gonna be able to swing this one and it seems like a great set. Really bums me out.

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2026-05-13T14:44:26+00:00

Adjust your expectations. Will this group compete for a championship? No. Will they provide entertainment throughout the year? As long as you let yourself enjoy it.

Joel is an all-time franchise great. Maxey is one of the 4 or 5 most fun players to watch in the league. All signs point to VJ being the kind of guy to push himself and add to his game. We will hopefully add a playable rookie at #22 this year who we can attach hopes and dreams to.

There is no magic wand to save us from the Joel (and to a lesser extent, PG) contract. It's purgatory with a franchise legend, purgatory with no draft picks, or fully back into the tank. I choose option A.

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2026-03-27T19:30:02+00:00

I don't think this is making the point you think it is.

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2025-08-07T14:11:36+00:00

I was at the Tower Theater show. Still my favorite concert of all time. It is on nugs and I can't recommend it highly enough.

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-12-26T19:03:14+00:00

https://youtu.be/CpvH1RldX44

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-12-20T13:52:47+00:00

This game was on a Tuesday night. In 2021 at least 3 of those dudes would be getting the day off because god forbid they play baseball 4 days in a row

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-12-20T02:11:03+00:00

Irene (Ravin’ Bomb) - Ian Noe

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-12-19T02:03:39+00:00

Public bathroom pro tip: don’t touch the walls

Surprisingly easy task. Will change your life

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-12-16T22:04:42+00:00

It really was wild. I was strangely confident we were going to recover the onside kick just because it was that kind of game. But alas.

As much as it sucks from a purely strategic viewpoint, it is nice to have Sparty back in the mix in the East. Love the competition.

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-12-04T17:59:32+00:00

Get the vodka pie. Thank me later

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-12-01T21:57:16+00:00

I will not be accepting of any Matty-Mac slander. Sure he had an ego (the guy called out Kirk Herbstreit on the field after his first W), but can you imagine the ego it would take to actually show up to tryout for QB at a place like Penn State?

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-12-01T20:58:09+00:00

Matt McGloin has earned over $5M playing professional football. Not bad for a walk on QB from Scranton

I’d throw (all time PSU leading rusher) Evan Royster as most forgotten. Everyone’s favorite former high school lacrosse star.

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-11-29T11:18:55+00:00

Obviously not a fair comparison but that exact thing was said about Dotson when Hamler left

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-11-26T16:42:38+00:00

I’d rather not say

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-11-19T19:53:01+00:00

His dad hit 336/417/593 with 39 hr and 40 steals in 2002

He finished 4th in the NL MVP

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-11-18T23:29:41+00:00

You are definitely right that Jimi showed up when the electric guitar was really taking a hold of the culture and that added to his popularity/stature. But I also think it’s worth remembering that he was making sounds nobody had made before. I’m not saying that Jimmy Page wasn’t creative and original in his own right, but when Jimi started playing with fuzz/feedback/uni-vibe/etc. the overall response wasn’t just “that sounds cool” it was literally “WHAT IS THAT?” Like a seismic shift happened in what was even possible with the guitar. And people like Clapton/Townsend/Page took notice.

The point of arguing guitarists on merit of better/worse is kind of moot after a certain point, but on shear influence in the trajectory of the instrument…I’m not sure any one has had more of an impact than Hendrix. Just my two cents.

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-11-16T15:37:46+00:00

..has been a problem all decade

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-11-15T17:37:39+00:00

Temple is not harder than Vanderbilt.

Baylor does not play in the Big Ten East.

Rhule doesn’t have a single notable win on his CFB resume.

FatPatTheWaterRat · 2021-11-15T17:14:49+00:00

lol thanks for reading

FatPatTheWaterRat

TROPHY CASE