Working On A Dream

Bruce Springsteen | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: January 26, 2009
• Label: Columbia
• Copyright: (P) 2008, 2009 Bruce Springsteen
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 51:13
• Genres:
  • Pop
  • Rock
• ASIN: B001QD7SF0
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (157 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,596 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 120 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Bruce is a genius, but this cd is lousy January 29, 2009

By jhl VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I read a Springsteen interview once where he noted that his fans don't seem to like his music when he's happy. I thought then - and I think now - that even his serious albums have music that makes me happier than anything else I've ever heard, and I don't mean just Thunder Road or Born to Run, but Open All Night (Dublin Live) or Maria's Bed (Devils & Dust).

So I'm sorry to say that I'm yet another one of those long-time Springsteen fans who's disappointed in this album. The Bruce I love seems to sing directly to the audience, but in this CD, as in Magic, he sounds about 10 miles away, with a lot of noise between us. I have to say I think this album is worse than Magic, however, because there's not a single song that makes you want to get up and rock, and only the Wrestler genuinely touches your emotions. Are we having fun or do we care when we listen to this? When the answer to both is no then the album comes nowhere near Bruce's usual standards. Outlaw Pete is the closest we can get to enjoyment, but Supermarket Queen and Surprise Surprise are so cheesy that I'm embarrassed to listen to them. And the album is unusually unvaried (read: boring), with nearly every song at a similar volume and tempo.

Bruce still has plenty of energy in concert - I saw him last in August when he was outstanding - but he sounds pretty tired here. And, as others have mentioned, the E-Street band might be credited, but I can't hear them. He's always had ups and downs, so we can keep our fingers crossed for Better Days...

42 of 52 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Like Magic, A Fine Collection Of Songs Butchered In The Studio January 28, 2009

By Samuel Shabrin

Format:Audio CD

Like Magic, Working On A Dream is a good collection of songs, some stronger than others, but great to hear Springsteen's creative juices are still flowing. Also like Magic, it's too bad the recording is so compressed that it hurts to listen to it. Strangled cymbals, organ that sound like it's being played through a toilet paper roll, background singers that are singing... something- can't make out a melody...

Unlike Magic, I am hoping a 5.1 surround mix is released so I can actually hear and distinguish the drums, organ, guitar, strings, bass, instead of hearing "drumsorganguitarstringsbass".

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Brendan O'Brien's Working on a Dream March 5, 2009

By Anthony Robertson

Format:Audio CD

This is Brendan O'Brien's Working on a Dream. That is what this CD should be called. This is not Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band. It is Brendan O'Brien and the nowhere to be heard E-Street Band. I think O'Brien has brain-washed Bruce into writing terrible lousy muddy sounding songs. I can't listen to Magic or Devils and Dust....the sound is terrible. Bruce producing himself on The Seeger Sessions sounded so much better.