Bruce Springsteen - Magic Review
Posted by Matt Reno on 10.02.2007
I think this up-and-comer has a bright future.
The past few years have seen some interesting changes for Bruce Springsteen. He went solo with another folk album and then tackled someone else's songs for We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. Now he's back with the E. Street Band for the first time since 2002's The Rising, and they're picking up right where they left off: making excellent rock and roll. However, whereas The Rising was a mix of mourning and hope in response to 9/11, Springsteen's latest effort Magic is nearly all fun, upbeat rock.
Magic encompasses a variety of moods, making it a good listen for however you're feeling at the moment. We get a rockin' romance song in "I'll Work For Your Love," which vows to earn someone's affection rather than take it for granted. "Magic" is slower and darker, providing a brief break from the album's overall energetic feel. "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" is somewhat laid back and a great tune to listen to while cruising by the beach on a summer night.
Bruce gets passionately political on "The Last to Die" on which he both criticizes the decision to go to war in Iraq and laments the lives lost by asking "Who'll be the last to die for a mistake?" Though this is the most blatantly anti-war track, several tracks feature lyrics hinting at personal pain caused by the war.
Opening track and lead single "Radio Nowhere" sounds familiar at first, mainly because of the guitar riff's striking resemblance to, of all things, Tommy Tutone's "867-5309/Jenny." Once you get past that strange but hilarious moment of recognition, you'll find "Radio Nowhere" to be a driving rocker with a catchy chorus. The lyrics call for more personality and freedom in the music and radio industries: "I was trying to find my way home / But all I heard was a drone / Bouncing off a satellite." "Radio Nowhere" is proof that after nearly 35 years, The Boss still has what it takes to produce high energy hits.
The energy doesn't stop after the first song, though. Magic rarely takes a break from rocking. Several tracks such as "You'll Be Coming Down," "Gypsy Biker," and the nostalgic "Long Walk Home" recall early Springsteen thanks to the upbeat backing of the E. Street Band. Most reminiscent of the Born to Run era is the saxed-up "Livin' in the Future."
Even the softer, darker "Devil's Arcade" has a hard time staying that way, as it gradually rises to become a triumphant album closer. However, for an even better closer, be sure to pick up the version with the bonus track "Terry's Song." This is a beautifully moving tribute to Springsteen's long-time assistant Terry Magovern, who died on July 30. With a heartfelt refrain of "When they built you, brother, they broke the mold," expect to start hearing this one at funerals for decades to come.
Springsteen has done it again. Magic is another excellent album filled with energy, sincerity, and passion. After such a prolific decade, creating another fantastic pure rock record is not easy, but it's a trick Springsteen can most certainly pull off.
The 411: Another great album from Springsteen and the E. Street Band. Magic's moods range from the fun and upbeat to the soft and sorrowful. He meaningfully tackles love, death, war, and radio on this wholly enjoyable album and shows that after 15 albums, he's still got what it takes to remain a major player in American rock.
