... Now I totally get it!
I thought Working on a Dream (his 24th album so I am told) would become a classic album in years to come and having missed out in the early days thought 'hey I'll have some of that'
Oh dear, oh dear. 'The Boss' is showing his almost 60 years vocally, sadly he can't ... Read review
on American social and political life created an album bristling with indignation, introspection, and an indubitable spirit. Working On A Dream, his 16th studio a...
A review by jinxyjo on Working On A Dream [Digipak] - Bruce Springsteen June 18th, 2009
Author's product rating:
Originality
Lacking inspiration
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Weak
Value for Money
Satisfactory
Advantages:
None to mention
Disadvantages:
Feel let down
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full review
I never really got Bruce when he was in his prime, he was always one of Mum's favourites so it couldn't be cool to like him right?
In recent years however I have come to appreciate 'The Boss' and his work especially his early work - singles such as Dancing in the Dark, Born in the USA, Born to Run, Streets Of Philadelphia (great song, brings a tear to my eyes), Glory Days... the list is endless. Now I totally get it!
I thought Working on a Dream (his 24th album so I am told) would become a classic album in years to come and having missed out in the early days thought 'hey I'll have some of that'
Oh dear, oh dear. 'The Boss' is showing his almost 60 years vocally, sadly he can't pelt them out like he used to (he is almost 60 though fair play!) but its a dissapointment.
The opening song Outlaw Pete is one paced and very repetitive and goes on and on and on.... I thought at first this was because it was my first listen, but I have listened a few times in the hope its a grower and sadly its not.
The best song on this album is the title track Working in a Dream, great melody, catchy, happy song.
Lyrically the album is good and all the songs tell a story (even Outlaw Pete - which I don't like that much). But its lacking the 'umph' that I had expected from this great legend.
I'm hoping the album will grow on me in time, but so far I still find it very 'middle of the road'.
Bruce really needs to keep working on this dream because his 24th album just aint happening for me. Although you can't take away the fact that he is a legend, the guy's earnt that.
Throughout his career , Bruce Springsteen's musical output has reflected his own personal emotions, sometimes broad, sometimes fiercely personal - Welcome to happy Bruce. With Obama now in the Whitehouse, Springsteen finds himself in a much more positive frame of mind than on previous albums such as 'Magic' and 'The Rising'. Much of the material here deals with personal issues, around relationships, wish fulfillment (Queen of the Supermarket) and ... ...Where on previous records, melody has been overtaken by message (The Ghost of Tom Joad), this record is melodically very strong. Unfortunately, this seems to have had a negative effect on the lyrics. Although heartfelt, some of these tales seem trite and overly simplistic, especially for a man who has penned some of the most relevent, passionate lines in the history of rock and roll. This album acts as a counterpoint to 'Tunnel of Love' - whereas ...
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Label / Distributor: Columbia / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Engineer: Derek Karlquist; Rick Kwan; Tom Tap
Producer: Brendan O'Brien
Pieces in Set: 1
Studio / Live: Studio
Stereo: Stereo
Format: Performer
EAN: 886974135524
Catalogue Number: 88697413552
Additional notes
Album Notes: Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (glockenspiel); Nils Lofgren, Steve Van Zandt (guitars); Soozie Tyrell (violin); Roy Bittan (accordion); Clarence Clemons (saxophone); Garry Tallent (bass guitar); Max Weinberg (drums); Danny Federici, Patti Scialfa. Audio Mixer: Brendan O'Brien. Audio Remasterer: Bob Ludwig. Recording information: Thrill Hill Recording., N.J.
Album Reviews: Rolling Stone (p.66) - 5 stars out of 5 -- "Springsteen has mastered the key sounds of rock's golden age, and he deploys them at will on this album, diving deep into influences that he's only hinted at before on record." Spin (p.77) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "The classic pop- and folk-derived melodies of 'Life Itself' and the title track sound almost sacred when borne aloft by the E Street Band's majestic thrust." Entertainment Weekly (p.96) - "[T]he warm, bright music blasting away behind him reminds fans what they've know for ages: It's hard to stay downbeat for very long when the E Street Band is playing." -- Grade: A Mojo (Publisher) (p.102) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[A] spontaneous-sounding yet painstakingly arranged Springsteen album with flashes of rococo strings and no little positivity. Take hear and enjoy The Boss's galvanizing newie -- Mr. Motivator is back." Blender (Magazine) (p.62) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "The best songs are pledges in the style of '60s rock that draw from Springsteen's 18-year marriage to singer Patti Scialfa." Paste (magazine) (p.63) - "Bruce Springsteen's latest is a grab bag of everything we've come to love about The Boss -- anthemic rock, exhausted Americana, raunchy blues shuffles, orchestral ballads, testifying gospel rave-ups and gripping lyrical narratives about working-class America." Clash (magazine) (p.100) - "While not sentimental, WORKING ON A DREAM does draw attention to the romantic side of Springsteen, and rays of optimism shine through across the record." Record Collector (magazine) (p.103) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t's certainly his most positive and uplifting album for some time....A celebration of the history of great American popular music."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Outlaw Pete
2.: My Lucky Day
3.: Working On A Dream
4.: Queen Of The Supermarket
5.: What Love Can Do
6.: This Life
7.: Good Eye
8.: Tomorrow Never Knows
9.: Life Itself
10.: Kingdom Of Days
11.: Surprise Surprise
12.: Last Carnival
13.: Wrestler (bonus track)
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