Bruce Springsteen Forum

...aus "Rockbeatstone Magazine"....man beachte die ersten Zeilen!!!

"Bruce Springsteen
Magic

The wonders of the internet now allow fans to get their mits on new material long before the official release date. With this being perhaps the most hotly anticipated new record of the autumn, it's no wonder that I've been able to listen to this before it's official release on the 1st of October.

However, my hands were trembling as I loaded the CD into my record player (we don't all listen to music through laptop speakers, you know...). I was worried because he had released some of his most original and artistic work over his last two projects, the solo work of Devils + Dust and his amazing search for the heart and soul of American music in his recordings and tour with the Seeger Sessions Band. Was this a retrograde step for the Boss? Was it merely an exercise in reminiscence?

Thankfully, Magic is neither. It's a fully fledged Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street band album that as well as alluding to the past in both it's lyrical content and musical style, is still thoroughly modern.

Opener ‘Radio Nowhere' (which was released as a free internet MP3 download - even Bruce has entered the modern age) sees guitars clash and saxophone wail as the Boss searches for the soul of rock music. He proclaims that, "I want 1000 guitars and 1000 drums". Well you make enough noise with the E-Street band's original take on this Bruce. As I've written before, this needs to be heard in a Cadillac, speeding across the desert or something. Perfect driving music. Just watch your speed limit, using this song as an excuse in court will probably not stand up.

‘Livin' in the Future' is perhaps the catchiest song on the record. Sounding like an outtake from The River, it feels as if it's a distant cousin to ‘Hungry Hearts' from the aforementioned album. The song has stood out from the first listen and it's refreshing to know that he's still prepared to write songs with such a poppy appeal. A great, great tune which sounds as if it was written in the late 1970s and not 2007. But please don't hold that against the song. This should bring the house down in a live context.

‘Your Own Worst Enemy' is brooding with a more modern take on things. It is very akin to some of his recent solo material, in my opinion with a more introspective take on things. ‘Gypsy Biker' again takes stock from Devils + Dust, although it is a more upbeat affair. Driving acoustic guitar and haunting harmonica blend well.

‘I'll Work For Your Love' has the twinkle piano trademark E-street band start and is perhaps the biggest grower on the album so far. Violin, piano and harmonica all mix well and it's perhaps the most lyrically ambiguous song on the record, " I'm just out here searching for my own piece of the cross". Well whatever Bruce, but it certainly scratched itself into my mind. ‘Magic' has a haunting, brooding feel to it with electric organ and a slow tempo start. Again, it feels like an over-produced solo Bruce song. Lyrically, it alludes to some of Springsteen's classic themes: the American dream, and searching for oneself within a crazy, crazy world.

‘Last to Die' ups the tempo and the stakes in the record. From the first chords the ears are perked. The catchy guitar gets better and better on each listen, as do the lyrics which again seem to have a dark undertone as the protagonist seems to long for a world which no longer exists:

"We took a highway 'till the road went black
We mark truth or consequences on our back
A voice drifted up from the radio
(yeah)
Some other voice from long ago"

Thematically it reminds me of ‘Racin' in the Street' or ‘Backstreets' only written by a middle-aged man looking back. Which is not really that surprising, if you think about it.

‘Long Walk Home' was premiered at the Seeger Sessions Band concert that I witnessed in November 2006. He had written it the night before he played it. It was great then and now it packs even more of a punch. It is probably the lyrical highlight on the album, a real masterpiece which is political, personal and beautiful at the same time and in all the right ways. In many respects it's an anti-dote to ‘Last to Die' and it comes as no surprise that these two tracks are juxtaposed together in the tracklisting.

‘Devil's Arcade' has an almost Pink Floydesque quality to it. A poignant wall of noise builds, intersected by a violin which is mournful and quite simply beautiful. Lyrically ambiguous, it reminds me of a number of Dylan's songs. Not musically or lyrically, just emotionally. Devil's Arcade could be a shopping arcade housed on Dylan's ‘Desolation Row'.

This masterpiece officially closes the album and will be a true experience. I expect grown men in tears as the tension builds and builds. Possibly Springsteen's best song since I can remember.

The bonus track, ‘Terry's song' could too have been written by Springsteen in the late 1970s. It's a fitting and moving tribute to a friend who has recently passed away. A lovely way to immortalise this man and his feelings towards him. In many respects this comes as no surprise that he kept this one off the official tracklisting, it is a very different song both in mood and subject matter to the other ones on the album.

However, having read all of that you'll probably be wondering what on earth is wrong with the album? There are a couple of clunkers on there, which I could have done without listening to, to be honest. ‘You'll be Coming Home' sounds like a rising outtake and is lyrically inspid and musically dull. ‘Girls in their Summer Clothes' has the most promising song title and the most disappointing final product. This dirge-like pop-ballad never really gets going for me and never does amount to much.

Overall Springsteen has managed to create an impressive piece of work. Forgetting the couple of poor songs, the album has a dark and brooding quality to it, some great rockers and emotionally charged songs. Taken as a whole, Springsteen has created an album which although taking cues from his and music's past is forward looking and thoroughly modern. If one were to compare this album to some of the other ‘oldie' albums of recent times, then it is a better and more consistent album than Dylan's Modern Times and about 1,000 times better than the Stones' A Bigger Bang which has not stood the test of time (although I completely fell in love with it on its release). Of course it's not in the league of Born to Run or Darkness on the Edge of Town but was it ever going to be?

It's early days yet, but I have a feeling that people will still be listening to most of the songs from Magic in years to come. As Springsteen fans or plain music lovers we can ask for no more. Definitely one to obtain (legally please) on the 1st of October. "

Aha...... da hat sich der Herr Musikkritiker doch mal eben ne illegale Kopie aus dem Netz runtergeladen....- Respekt daß er öffentlich dazu steht
Wenn das die Plattenfirma liest..- Der kriegt kein Gratisexemplar mehr

Eigentlich eine gute Kritik.. - Etwas durchwachsen, weil er ein paar Songs komplett verreißt.. Das haben die dann auch wieder nicht verdient.. - Grad das " you be comming down" hat was.... - Naja-über Girls ließt man ja viel - ich mochte es anfangs auch nicht - aber es beißt sich im Gehörgang fest..

Was ich interessant finde: Devils Arcade wird von sämtlichen Hörern und professionellen Kritikern als Meisterwerk erkannt !! Ich denke, Bruce ist mit dem Song auf seinen "alten Tagen" nochmal ein Meilenstein gelungen!!

Bin vom neuen Album völlig begeistert.

Hätte nicht gedacht dass Mr.Springsteen so eine Platte noch mit der E-Street Band gelingt.
Meine vorläufige Bewertung,nach mehrmaligem anhören:

Radio Nowhere 8/10
You'll Be Comin' Down 9/10
Livin' in the Future 7/10
Your Own Worst Enemy 7/10
Gypsy Biker 6/10
Girls in Their Summer Clothes 8/10
I'll Work for Your Love 8/10
Magic 7,5/10
Last to Die 7/10
Long Walk Home 8/10
Devil's Arcade 7/10
Terry's Song 9/10


Durchschnitt:7,62/10

WG

Hihi, jetzt will ich auch mal....

Komme gerade aus dem Urlaub zurück, und stolper gerade über das komplette neue Album.
Meine ersten Eindrücke:

1. Radio Nowhere - hat mich im Urlaub begleitet, 100te Male gedudelt, wird nicht langweilig, holt aus jedem Auto ein paar PS mehr raus
2. You'll be coming down -Back to the 60ies "Needles and pins" von den Searchers lassen grüßen,
3. Living in the future - MEIN SONG E-Street Shuffle 2007
4. Your own worst enemy - Och nee, Bruce covert Bon Jovi .....
5. Gypsy Biker - Empfehlenswert für alle Reamonn-Fans !
6. Girls in their Summer clothes- Nochmal back to the 60ies, diesmal die Everly Brothers...
7. I'll work for your love - Aha! Hier winkt Billy Joel mit seinem "Piano Man", schöner Song, nur welcher ist besser?
8. Magic - Titel ist Programm - Klasse
9. Last to die -- wie 5
10. Long walk home - großes Kino !
11. Devil's Arcade - hab ich noch keine Meinung dazu , momentan ein schöner Fremdkörper auf dem Album, hätte auf D&D besser gepasst.
12. Terry's Song - wenn man die Hintergründe kennt, jagt dieser mal so eben dahin komponierte Song mir Gänsehaut über den ganzen Körper. Freundschaft ist ein wertvolles Gut!

Erstes Fazit: Wird öfters als die Rising bei mir laufen - for sure ! Macht Spaß zuzuhören, es ist zwar nicht die Zukunft des Rock 'n Roll, aber eine schöne Zusammenfassung musikalischer Einflüsse auf Bruce von den 60ies bis heute.

Rein hypothetisch, natürlich, habe ich das Album Magic habe jetzt viele mahle gehört und meine Analyse ist:


Radio Nowhere 8/10
You'll Be Comin' Down 9/10
Livin' In The Future 7/10
Your Own Worst Enemy 9/10
Gypsy Biker 10/10
Girls In Their Summer Clothes 6/10
I'll Work For Your Love 9/10
Magic 10/10
Last To Die 10/10
Long Walk Home 10/10
Devil's Arcade 9/10
Terry's Song 10/10

Meine Endstand für Magic ist: 8,92/10 - dass heißt: 9/10

Ich schließ mich jetzt nach vielen malen hören auc hdem Punkte System an:

1.Radio Nowhere 9/10
2.You'll Be Comin Down 8/10
3.Livin In The Future 10/10
4.Your Own Worst Enemy 8/10
5.Gypsy Biker 10/10
6.Girl In Their Summer Cloth 5/10
7.I'll Work For Your Love 8/10
8.Magic 10/10
9.Last To Die 10/10
10.Long Walk Home 9/10
11.Devils Arcade 9/10
12.Terry Song 10/10

Gesamt:106/120=8,8Punkte im Schnitt??Top Album

Diverse (hypothetische) Endlosschleifen heute Nacht führen zu folgendem Ergebnisse: Extreme Lichter und Schatten

Radio Nowhere 9/10
You'll Be Comin' Down 6/10
Livin' In The Future 10/10
Your Own Worst Enemy 5/10
Gypsy Biker 7/10
Girls In Their Summer Clothes 6/10
I'll Work For Your Love 9/10
Magic 10/10
Last To Die 8/10
Long Walk Home 10/10
Devil's Arcade 7/10
Terry's Song 9/10

Mein Endstand für "Magic" lautet: 8,00/10

Momentan kann ich auf das Bon Jovi-Cover überhaupt nicht, da stellen sich mir die Haare auf und auf der 60ies-Welle schwimme ich momentan auch nicht.

Radio Nowhere 10/10
You'll Be Comin' Down 6/10
Livin' In The Future 5/10
Your Own Worst Enemy 6/10
Gypsy Biker 8/10
Girls In Their Summer Clothes 4/10
I'll Work For Your Love 8/10
Magic 9/10
Last To Die 9/10
Long Walk Home 9/10
Devil's Arcade 10/10
Terry's Song 9/10

= 7,75 = 8

Radio Nowhere 9/10
You'll Be Comin' Down 5/10
Livin' In The Future 8/10
Your Own Worst Enemy 0/10
Gypsy Biker 5/10
Girls In Their Summer Clothes 6/10
I'll Work For Your Love 7/10
Magic 9/10
Last To Die 9/10
Long Walk Home 8/10
Devil's Arcade 9/10
Terry's Song 10/10

Endstand: 7,08

Ist es Blasphemie, wenn man REAMONN attestiert, daß er mit seiner Musik sehr nah an vielen Stücken von "Magic" dran ist?

Jetzt haben wir schon einen Bon Jon Spring-Joel, der sich wie ein irischer Sänger anhört und gleichzeitig bei den Seachers mitspielte???

Finde manche Vergleiche echt seltsam (und überflüssig), vorallem mit Bands, die noch nichtmal geboren waren, als Bruce schon seine ersten Hits schrieb!

Everly Brothers 1957
Searchers 1960
Billy Joel 1972

Bon Jovi 1983
Reamonn 1999

Na gut, dann hier mal meine vorläufige Wertung.
Kann sich aber alles auch wieder ändern.

Radio Nowhere 9/10
You'll Be Comin' Down 9/10
Livin' In The Future 10/10
Your Own Worst Enemy 5/10
Gypsy Biker 8/10
Girls In Their Summer Clothes 8/10
I'll Work For Your Love 8/10
Magic 10/10
Last To Die 10/10
Long Walk Home 8/10
Devil's Arcade 8/10
Terry's Song 10/10

Endstand: 8,6/10

Ich runde es mal auf 9/10 auf.

Weitere Rezension folgt, aber erst nach offiziellem Erscheinungstermin.

Für mich hat Bruce wieder ein kleines Meisterwerk geschaffen.
Vielleicht sogar ein großes.

Ach ja - und für mich ists Bruce & E Street Band. Mit Anleihen vielleicht zu Songs von früher, aber Vergleiche mit anderen Bands ziehe ich nicht.

Meine -bisherige- Wertung:

Radio Nowhere 7/10 (Vorwoche: 8/10)
You'll Be Comin' Down 7/10
Livin' In The Future 8/10
Your Own Worst Enemy 7/10
Gypsy Biker 8/10
Girls In Their Summer Clothes 9/10 (Vorwoche 7/10)
I'll Work For Your Love 8/10
Magic 10/10
Last To Die 10/10
Long Walk Home 9/10
Devil's Arcade 8/10
Terry's Song 8/10

Ergibt: 8,25 / 10

Die Angaben "Vorwoche" besagen, dass ich die 2 Songs letzte Woche noch anders gewertet hatte