This review was submitted by Robert Kinsler Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Album: Working on a Dream
Worth Buying: Yes
You will be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Bruce Springsteen's The Rising and Magic albums from this decade.
Tell Me More: It took only a play or two for me to fall completely in love with Bruce Springsteen's latest album, the aptly-titled Working on a Dream. A strong follow-up to the New Jersey rocker's excellent 2007 effort Magic, Working on a Dream is the first album released by Springsteen since the death of E Street Band member Danny Federici and the disc is dedicated to the keyboardist.
Federici is remembered here on "The Last Carnival," a song that reminds us how truly gifted Springsteen is with words when he sings:
“We’ll be riding the train without
you tonight/The train that keeps on movin’/Its black smoke scorching the evening
sky.”
But it is the miraculous way the Boss fuses lyrics and music that is so special and keeps discerning audiences welcoming each new Springsteen release. Across Working on a Dream moving songs are delivered amidst the emotive backdrop of the E Street Band in a guarantee that this is another masterwork. "Kingdom of Days" may be my favorite song, with its authentic and confessional description of a love that stretches on past youthful innocence, but highlights abound on this 13-song album.
The propulsive pop of "Surprise, Surprise," the hard-charging "My Lucky Day" with its celebration of love, the Delta blues blasting "Good Eye," and a sonically-lush romantic fantasy that comes to life in "Queen of the Supermarket" are immediate favorites.
Springsteen continues to stretch his musical universe, as evidenced by "This Life," which boasts lush vocals that continue to build and are used to good effect around an amazing Clarence Clemens sax solo. Produced by Brendan O'Brien, Working on a Dream is sure one of the best releases of 2009.
What about the packaging? I recommend the limited edition version, which includes the full-length album, as well as a 40-minute, behind-the-scenes DVD and a fully-illustrated booklet that features lyrics, photos and illustrations, as well as a wonderful eulogy for Daniel Paul "Danny" Federici (the E Street Band keyboardist/accordion player who died on April 17, 2008).
Listen to samples and buy in mp3 format here
CD Format
Recommended tracks to download: Kingdom of Days
,The Last Carnival and My Luck Day
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