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Today marks the release of Bruce Springsteen's 18th studio album*, High Hopes! *Well, kinda. See below.  High Hopes is something new for Springsteen - nothing on this album was, really, written for this album. It's kind of a mishmash of songs. The tracklist is as follows:
Overall, while it lacks the kind of cohesive theme and storyline people have come expect from a Bruce Springsteen album, the quality of the songs makes this an excellent album. 9/10 I figure we can use this thread to talk about the new album, and as a Springsteen thread in general. I've been a huge fan of Bruce for years, and it's always kinda bugged me that there wasn't a thread for him. The new album is my excuse to post one, so here we go!
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Jan 14, 2014 20:08
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| # ? Apr 30, 2024 23:40 |
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Oh, gently caress yes. Springsteen is one of my all-time favorite singers and I'd completely lost track of when this was coming out. Thanks for the reminder! Gonna put this on Spotify right now. BrooklynBruiser posted:[*] American Skin (41 Shots) - Originally written by Bruce after the shooting of Amadou Diallo in 1999, 41 Shots made its premiere on the E Street reunion tour, and reappeared in E Street setlists after the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012. The High Hopes version was put together using various instrumental tracks, including Tom Morello on guitar and a sax solo from the late Clarence Clemons. I love this song, but I wonder how many people are going to be pissed off about it, considering that Springsteen, despite his personal politics that I think definitely shine through in his work, still has a pretty big good ol' boy fanbase who got pissed off about the rap on Rocky Ground. Screw 'em. I'm happy this song has finally made it to an album. quote:[*] The Ghost of Tom Joad - Morello's time to shine. He trades off a verse with Bruce (The first time this has ever happened on a Springsteen album unless you count Michelle Moore's rapping on Rocky Ground from Wrecking Ball), and absolutely tears it up with his guitar. If you've heard any of the live performances of it with Morello, you know what to expect, but goddamn does it sound good. Originally released in 1995, I personally think this is now the definitive version.  EDIT: First song just started. Holy poo poo... Taliaquin fucked around with this message at 14:17 on Jan 15, 2014 |
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Jan 15, 2014 14:15
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Taliaquin posted:Oh, gently caress yes. Springsteen is one of my all-time favorite singers and I'd completely lost track of when this was coming out. Thanks for the reminder! Gonna put this on Spotify right now. Can't wait to hear more reactions! Also, here folks, have some videos from Bruce on Fallon last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKHV0LLvhXM Bruce and the Band playing High Hopes Bruce and the Band playing Heaven's Wall
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Jan 15, 2014 15:14
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Very cool to hear him cover a Saints song. I'd like to hear his take on another song of theirs, "Everything's Fine".
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Jan 15, 2014 21:17
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Don't really like Harrys Place, aside from Bruce swearing like a sailor, but High Hopes/Just Like Fire Would/Down In The Hole/The Wall are awesome and make this a pro-buy.BrooklynBruiser posted:[*] The Ghost of Tom Joad - Morello's time to shine. He trades off a verse with Bruce (The first time this has ever happened on a Springsteen album unless you count Michelle Moore's rapping on Rocky Ground from Wrecking Ball), and absolutely tears it up with his guitar. If you've heard any of the live performances of it with Morello, you know what to expect, but goddamn does it sound good. Originally released in 1995, I personally think this is now the definitive version. The High Hopes version is great, but the live version (from the Magic bonus disc) is just so much rawer, so much more energy. This one is a bit more sedate and controlled. Relatively speaking  The live version is definitely my preferred one. Taliaquin posted:I love this song, but I wonder how many people are going to be pissed off about it, considering that Springsteen, despite his personal politics that I think definitely shine through in his work, still has a pretty big good ol' boy fanbase who got pissed off about the rap on Rocky Ground. Screw 'em. I'm happy this song has finally made it to an album. He had some big problems with the original version when he played it in NYC (which subsequently made it to a live album, and one of the compilation albums). The chief of police engaged in some awesome ad hominems ('We don't need a millionaire coming down here and making money off our backs'), the head of the police union called him a dirtbag and a fag (since he is clearly a 12yo Call of Duty player) and Guilliani took a shot at him as well. I'm torn on whether the live or the new album version is better.
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Jan 16, 2014 23:42
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BrosephofArimathea posted:He had some big problems with the original version when he played it in NYC (which subsequently made it to a live album, and one of the compilation albums). The chief of police engaged in some awesome ad hominems ('We don't need a millionaire coming down here and making money off our backs'), the head of the police union called him a dirtbag and a fag (since he is clearly a 12yo Call of Duty player) and Guilliani took a shot at him as well. Yeah, and then in 2003 when Bruce did a 3-show set at Shea Stadium in NYC, he had a police escort for the band's cars to the show, and then he played 41 Shots on night 1 and didn't have the police escort for night 2. Here, have a bonus performance from Fallon, this time of Just Like Fire Would. BrooklynBruiser fucked around with this message at 00:22 on Jan 17, 2014 |
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Jan 17, 2014 00:20
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BrosephofArimathea posted:
Yeah, 'cause a Jersey native playing in NYC is practically a carpetbagger 
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Jan 17, 2014 05:45
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I'm still digesting the album (its vanishing from Spotify at least twice mid-listen doesn't help), but Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen did a version of Ghost of Tom Joad a while ago that's also pretty good. I think I like the High Hopes take better, but this version is worth a listen or two. It's Pete Seeger as hell though, down to a call-and-response chorus.
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Jan 17, 2014 19:23
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FadingChord posted:I'm still digesting the album (its vanishing from Spotify at least twice mid-listen doesn't help), but Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen did a version of Ghost of Tom Joad a while ago that's also pretty good. I think I like the High Hopes take better, but this version is worth a listen or two. It's definitely Pete Seeger as hell, which is one of the reasons I like it so much. America could use more Pete Seegers and I'm gonna be SO loving SAD when he dies.
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Jan 17, 2014 23:18
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BrooklynBruiser posted:It's definitely Pete Seeger as hell, which is one of the reasons I like it so much. America could use more Pete Seegers and I'm gonna be SO loving SAD when he dies. Shut up, 94's not that old. 
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Jan 18, 2014 01:30
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News update: High Hopes debuts at #1 on the charts! Bruce is going to sell recordings of every concert!
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Jan 22, 2014 18:16
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BrooklynBruiser posted:News update: High Hopes debuts at #1 on the charts! Bruce is going to sell recordings of every concert! I was wondering when he might do that. I love how easily accessible bootlegs are of his shows but I'll buy the good ones instead. I love High Hopes, I'd forgotten he already covered it but it's nice to see such a fresh take on something no one's really bought. American Land didn't get nearly as much of a makeover when it got re-released. It's kind of funny to look at Springsteen's collaboration partners and see how it has gone from people he admired as a kid like Gary US Bonds to people who loved him as a kid. (If you haven't heard the albums Bonds did with Springsteen you really need to.) If only there were some way Morello, Bonds and Southside Johnny could all end up stage together at the Meadowlands... BrooklynBruiser posted:It's definitely Pete Seeger as hell, which is one of the reasons I like it so much. America could use more Pete Seegers and I'm gonna be SO loving SAD when he dies. Now I'm sad to bump this thread.
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Feb 8, 2014 07:47
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 We have US tour dates!
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Feb 10, 2014 20:04
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Surprised to see so many dates in mid sized markets/arenas. Kind of cool though, I'm going to try to get to the Mohegan Sun show.
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Feb 15, 2014 08:34
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Saw both nights in Adelaide, they were exceptional. The only slight complaint is nothing from Nebraska, and he called an audible instead of "Racing in the Street" (We were right behind the stage so we saw it come up as per the setlist on the prompters and then the audible). He's also on a real AC/DC kick with rumors he's adding You Shook Me All Night Long to "Highway to Hell". Ont he first night were were in the last set of seats in the cheapest area (up against the back wall in the corner) and on both sides sitting next to us it was "ooh boo hoo these were the only tickets I could get and I'm sitting HERE these seats suck man I've been looking forward to this my whole life and I'm sitting here?") (lights go out)  MassRafTer posted:Surprised to see so many dates in mid sized markets/arenas. Kind of cool though, I'm going to try to get to the Mohegan Sun show. Traditionally speaking you hit the major markets first cycle and then go back and clean up everywhere else. First year he did the major US/European markets, then he did the Major Australian markets, cleaned up the rest of Europe (I'd like to think he went to Scandinavia just to see Stevie) and this year he cleaned up Australia and is finishing up the US.
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Feb 15, 2014 09:01
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I'd be surprised if he doesn't do a summer leg in Europe and then comes back to the states for the fall, which is what he's done a bunch of times before. A Springsteen tour without Jersey just feels... wrong. But I've also been thinking that about The Replacements getting back together and not playing Minneapolis, so take that for what it's worth. 
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Feb 15, 2014 09:25
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Yes Bruce play all of Born in the USA the first show after Adelaide. 
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Feb 15, 2014 11:21
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So in summary Australia had 11 shows, Complete performances of Born to Run, Born in the USA, Darkness at the Edge of Town and The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle(!!) Covers of songs by AC/DC, INXS, the Easybeats, and the Bee Gees. I mean really, where do you go from here?
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Feb 28, 2014 12:56
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A complete performance of The River?
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Feb 28, 2014 14:34
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Complete performance of Tracks. All 60+ songs. Or at least the ones that have never been played live.
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Mar 1, 2014 07:21
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A complete performance of Live 75-85
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Mar 1, 2014 14:55
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His lords cover is pretty legit.
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Mar 1, 2014 21:54
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A couple of months ago, after listening to a marathon of the entire Tracks album, I went looking for more outtakes because I love Tracks. So here's my thoughts on that. - Entirely for the beat, I love Fugitive's Dream more than Unsatisfied Heart. - Something the Boss himself has brought up, but for a while there it appears the Born in the USA album was going to be Nebraska 2.0. It makes me wonder what thoughts were running through his head at the time. -Why wasn't Richfield Whistle included on Tracks?! That song is freaking great. -Speaking of Richfield Whistle, in 2003 Bruce did a live version of County Fair that ended the song right at the last line. I feel that Richfield Whistle should have ended like that and they should have kept County Fair going through the ending instrumental, because it lends it its atmosphere, whereas to have Richfield Whistle end there would also have contributed to the feel of the song. -In the City Tonight is great, but I wish I understood more than a few snippets of lines. Is there a way to clean it up somehow, or is that the best we can do?
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Mar 3, 2014 17:47
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FadingChord posted:A complete performance of The River? I witnessed this in 2008 and it was pretty incredible.
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Mar 3, 2014 18:59
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JoTro posted:I witnessed this in 2008 and it was pretty incredible. I was at that too. That show also featured a killer cover of Sweet Soul Music, complete with about a minute and a half of the band working the song out, and then tearing into it and playing it like it was a staple of every show.
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Mar 13, 2014 06:40
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I've been thinking over Bruce's collection of work, both outtake and not, and how it reflects the singer himself. Stuff like My Father's House, Wages of Sin, Iceman, etc. Like, Bruce has said that the album Tunnel of Love is about a middle aged man trying to find his way through a tumultuous relationship, but considering his circumstances at the time I would say it's equally about Bruce's own failing marriage and reflection of love in his life. The ending song to that album, Valentine's Day, is one of my favorite songs by him. So the line "I want to know if love is wild, I want to know if love is real" in Born to Run...you think he ever found out, both the singer and the character?
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Mar 14, 2014 02:28
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Has anyone ordered any of the MP3s of the current tour? There's some really interesting looking set lists coming up and I have some driving to do. If you have, (or if you were there live) did any shows stand out above the rest?
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May 15, 2014 10:15
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MassRafTer posted:Has anyone ordered any of the MP3s of the current tour? There's some really interesting looking set lists coming up and I have some driving to do. If you have, (or if you were there live) did any shows stand out above the rest? On another forum I frequent a user there said that the shows he has picked up are pretty hit or miss. Some have too much crowd noise (to give it more of a concert feel) while others have been pretty solid. I believe that was in reference to the Australian shows, so maybe they have cleaned things up a bit because those were the first shows under the program.
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May 15, 2014 15:29
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Mary Mary is a little too much like Leah for my taste, and I don't really get the vibe of Hey Blue Eyes. Those are only minor complaints though, and all around I like those two songs. The other two songs on American Beauty are kind of hit and miss though.
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May 17, 2014 04:16
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tank9900 posted:On another forum I frequent a user there said that the shows he has picked up are pretty hit or miss. Some have too much crowd noise (to give it more of a concert feel) while others have been pretty solid. I believe that was in reference to the Australian shows, so maybe they have cleaned things up a bit because those were the first shows under the program. I bought the Cinci show since Lost in the Flood is basically my favorite Springsteen live song and the crowd noise was pretty much perfect. Pretty much exactly what I hoped I'd get for $10. Better than a bootleg, not a flawless live release.
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May 20, 2014 03:05
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BrooklynBruiser posted:[*] Hunter of Invisible Game - Absolutely beautiful. Another religious-y one, but goddamn does it work. By far my favorite, it's just so charmingly good 
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Jun 27, 2014 09:32
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Mr. Outside is among the most obscurest songs of his that I have listened to, but after listening to it, that song sticks to you, it's so catchy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8WWwlpH0Sc
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Jul 3, 2014 03:14
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Gologle posted:Mr. Outside is among the most obscurest songs of his that I have listened to, but after listening to it, that song sticks to you, it's so catchy. It sounds a little like it was originally intended for one of the Gary US Bonds albums.
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Jul 11, 2014 06:24
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So a music video for Hunter came out about two weeks or so ago. It could have been longer, I don't really care for music videos so I don't know. Also UUUUUGGGHHH New York City Serenade is so good. All of his older stuff is freaking amazing.
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Jul 27, 2014 04:10
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So, here's a list of what is apparently his top 25 favorite books. Judge this man, people. Judge him on his literary tastes. http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/11/03/bruce-springsteen-reading-list-favorite-books/ I'm sorry for the bump, but I just found this link interesting.
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Nov 4, 2014 19:23
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This could be fine turning into a general Springsteen thread (The forum is due one) but I only caught Johnny Cash's Johnny '99 for the first time yesterday and, as much as I love Cash, that song is so drat bad. On the other hand, Eddie Vedder's Open All Night is pretty good.
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Dec 2, 2014 15:45
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I find it weirdly sad that the most productive thread about Springsteen was a GBS semi-troll thread that went on for five pages. Like, he isn't THAT polarizing, which explains why people don't talk about him that much, but again, he's not that polarizing. It's not always either love or hate, you don't have to know much about him to like his songs, and if you're a fan then...I don't even know. At this point I can't say I'm not a fan, but I don't talk about it that much, and any time I try to stir up interest it's just..not there. Like, I really dig Tunnel of Love. I'll say that it should probably be a huge compliment that people say his Post-Born in the USA stuff was weaker than his pre- because his pre stuff kicked rear end. A lot of people cite Darkness and Nebraska, but I pretty much enjoy all of them, with the exception of the River, which I think as a whole is only good, even though it has some of his best hits like Out in the Street, Drive all Night, etc. But again, post Born in the USA isn't bad. Again, I really dig Tunnel of Love, it's probably one of my favorites he's done because I felt myself sympathizing with a lot of the content in the songs. Human Touch and Lucky Town were lacking a bit of the mood that people, both fans and otherwise, associate with him, but there were still good tracks in them. Ghost of Tom Joad was Nebraska-lite, but that's still pretty drat good. The Rising was an awesome album, and Devils and Dust was Ghost of Tom Joad-lite, which is still good. Magic and Working on a Dream...OK, yeah, I feel like these are where people come from when they say his post-BOrn in the USA stuff is worse. But even these have Terry's Song, Devil's Arcade, and Outlaw Pete. And don't forget Tracks. Yeah, it's outtakes and B-sides, but it was released after Born in the USA and many of those tracks previously went unheard, so I say it counts. A ton of those songs are great.
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Dec 6, 2014 08:50
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I kinda halfway hate Bruce Spingsteen, but I had a disk of outtakes and demos from like '70 and '71 that was gnarly. Would I dig tracks if I like this stuff? I like springsteens voice and think he writes a good song, I just think it all turns to poo poo when he gets in the studio basically.
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Dec 6, 2014 13:39
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If you liked the early 70's stuff, then you would dig probably the first disc of tracks, and see if you can dig up some live stuff from that period as well. Although if you're talking Steel Mill or the Bruce Springsteen Band, you're a bit out of luck. TBH though, I don't think you even have to be a fan to like Tracks. I remember an interview a guy did where even though he said he didn't feel one way or the other about Springsteen he still really liked Tracks, although in his case it was more about how he was impressed that a guy could throw away songs that for other people would be guaranteed album material.
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Dec 6, 2014 16:54
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Tracks has basically my favorite Springsteen track in roulette . http://youtu.be/aESH2f6qi_g If you like Springsteen less produced you might like the stuff he made with the sessions band. It's him performing American folk songs with a huge fun band http://youtu.be/ZZ6SAryPyQk
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Dec 6, 2014 20:23
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