Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
43 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Working On A Dream - Bruce Springsteen, January 27, 2009
Optimism and Springsteen haven't gelled well in the past. "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town", the 1992 two-fer that saw Bruce waxing truly optimistic for the first time in his career, rate among the least memorable efforts of his career; they weren't bad, per se, but they lacked a certain something. (The songs were recorded without the E Street Band, which was undoubtedly a contributing factor; but above and beyond that, the arrangements and lyrics suffered from a certain sameiness and genericism that left the majority of the tracks unmemorable.)
Fans will be pleased to know that, while "Working On A Dream" (Columbia, 2009) sees Bruce once again venture into the realm of the positive, he's both a) with E Street this time and b) kept his songwriting skills on top form.
The first thing longtime Springsteen fans will notice about this album is that the focus here is firmly on the music. The album is bookended by two of his more narrative-driven songs - eight-minute epic Western "Outlaw Pete" and Golden Globe-winning movie theme "The Wrestler" - but elsewhere, it's all about the sonic experimentation, rather than storytelling. The songs here hop across a veritable plethora of genres and styles: "My Lucky Day" is a foot-stomping rocker that sounds like it was written in the "River" sessions. "Tomorrow Never Knows" is a beautiful easy-listening tune that sounds more like the '50s than anything Bruce has ever written. "Working On A Dream" is an Orbison-esque plush pop tune. "Good Eye" is what can only be described as electronic rockabilly.
This variety makes the album one of the most enjoyable listens in Bruce's history. On first listen, you've no idea what will come next: harmony-laden "This Life" segues into the cacophonous "Good Eye"; the relentless joyful "Surprise, Surprise" - possibly the Boss' poppiest tune ever - fades into the melancholy, calliope-backed "The Last Carnival", a touching track clearly dedicated to dear departed ESB member Danny Federici.
"Kingdom of Days" is one of Bruce's finest ballads of all-time: the guy from "Born to Run" is all grown up now; no longer desperate to get out of this place, he's happy to lay on "the wet grass, as autumn breeze drifts through the trees", and "count the wrinkles and the grays" of his lover beneath the covers. Bruce's maturity pervades the album: reflecting on past lovers who were "life itself, rushing over [him]"; coming to recognise that "where the river flows, tomorrow never knows".
Not everyone will enjoy every track. Many have criticised the "trite sentiment" of "Queen of the Supermarket", and the "lyrical simplicity" of "Surprise, Surprise". These may be valid criticisms, but they did not hamper my enjoyment of the album even slightly.
The deluxe version of the album comes with a 40-minute DVD that includes some footage from the studio sessions creating the album, as well as the video for "A Night With the Jersey Devil", a Halloween song Bruce released for free via his website last year.
|
|
|
32 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Time" to diversify. , January 27, 2009
Having been indoctrinated into the fold in '84 after seeing them live for the first time (I've been to many, many shows since), I'm pretty psyched that they're playing the Superbowl. Here's my song by song synopsis of the new album, "Working on a Dream".
'Outlaw Pete'-Always a master of the epic story song, Bruce doesn't dissapoint here at all. We've been to circuses, carnivals, city streets and back alleys, front porches, and boardwalks with Bruce, but, this is the first 'old west' themed storyline I can recall. Being from Kentucky, I find it cool that Pete comes from the "Appalachian Trail". This one's a little cornball at first, with Pete robbing the bank in his diaper and all, but, that just helps set up the story. The theme of this whole album, whether intentional or not, it 'time'. Here in this song, boys and girls, the lesson is: No matter what you do, you can't escape your past. You can't run from it. Instead you must find way to deal with it before you move on because like it or not, it becomes a part of who you are forever. Great song. Ranks among his best.
'My Lucky Day'-A great upbeat rocker. Wouldn't have sounded out of place on "Born in the USA".
'Working on a Dream'-Nice song. Used on a couple of late stops on the campaign trail.
'Queen of the Supermarket'-Lyrically, this one's a departure. Seems there may be more going on at the local Kroger than milk, cereal, and meat purchases. This'll be some folks' favorite. Not mine. I haven't really 'gotten' it yet. The surprisingly blatant "F" bomb he throws at the end is an intentional surprise. I'll have to skip this one when the kiddies are present.
'What Love Can Do'-Catchy hook. Some nice guitar work. Other than the "sunny" lyrics, this wouldn't have sounded out of place on 'Magic', musically.
'This Life'-Some critics will say this one's overproduced. I disagree. If anything, more of the Beach Boys type harmonies would have been welcomed. Wait'll you here this intro. It takes the layered sound that they were shooting for on 'Girls in their Summer Clothes' to a whole other level. In fact, the music on this is so much like the Beach Boys, it ain't even funny. Great song, and something different.
'Good Eye'-Now I know why Bruce counts Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters as some of his all time favorite singers. Bruce does the Delta Blues here. He's found a place for that fuzzbox vocal that first showed up on the D&D tour for "Reason to Believe". This one's awesome, and another musical departure.
'Tomorrow Never Knows'-Steve Earle doesn't sound this much like Steve Earle anymore.
'Life Itself'-I've been playing this one over and over for the past couple of weeks now. I love the jingle jangle Byrds sound they're getting out of the guitars on the breaks. Yet another musical stretch.
'Kingdom of Days'-Another one about 'time', and it's effect on our lives. Use it wisely. This one sounds like a lot of the stuff on 'Magic' as well.
'Surprise, Surprise'-This might be my least favorite so far. Nice hook, though.
'Last Carnival'-This one had to have been written with Danny Federici in mind. If you're a long time E Street Band fan, this one'll put a lump in your throat.
'The Wrestler'-Thanks to Mickey Rourke for asking for a song for "The Wrestler". Otherwise, we might never have gotten this one. Great. Very somber. But, danged if I ain't ever seen a one legged dog making it's way down the street. Maybe two legs, or three, yeah, but, a one legged dog? I'm going to youtube now.
"WOAD", in my opinion, is yet another sonic and lyrical masterpiece from the Earth Shakin', Soul Stirrin', Tongues a Waggin', Tail's a Rockin', mighty Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I might add that you can hear Federici all over the place on this whole album. I've loved most all of Bruce's stuff over the years, and the "Tunnel of Love" album was no exception, but, I remember when it came out, I searched frantically for any sign of "the band" in there, and it just wasn't happening for me. Little did we know back then...
|
|
|
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Interesting and Commendable Effort but not Extraordinary, January 28, 2009
I'm only a couple listens into WOAD, so my opinion may very well shift. I didn't care much for Magic at first listen and grew fairly fond of it. FWIW, I've been a near pathological bruce fan for 25 years since I was 12 y.o. IMHO, this is far from his best outing...not even his best outing in recent years, but that said it's a rather interesting album, and I do commend him for putting something as unusual as this out there.
first, many are commenting that there is a lot of american 60's sounds borrowing from beach boys and the byrds. sure there's some of that, but I'm hearing a lot more british pop musical influence. i'll ID it where I hear it below.
before i break it down (mostly for my own amusement, I'm sure), a prediction. within 5 years bruce stops coloring his hair, goes all white (a la peter gabriel), grows a beard (or at least goatee) and transforms into an acoustic bard. no more e-street except to get democrats elected...but puts out some damn good folk genre albums. he'll get more involved in a cause of some sort and remain public, though I don't see him running for public office. oh well, that's my BS musing...so the music:
outlaw pete- a weird song, but i can't quite get it out of my head, so that's saying something. def props to bruce to doing a wacky long ballad like this, especially as the lead track. first brit musical connection: this sounds to me like a Townshend rock opera track from Tommy or something...and it's also a rocky racoon-esque storyline...if i'm not mistaken the foil here is named Dan as well. some dylan sounds too in the vocals.
lucky day- best bruce straightforward rocker....bet he opens shows with it. great tune...nothing wrong with it.
woad- in the last few years bruce has invented a sort of cheesy middle of the road soft rock bruce ballad i'm just not crazy about. middle of the road meaning it's not a rocker, but nor is it a somber, reflective ballad (think Long Walk Home f/ Magic) I like my bruce hard and pounding (adam raised a cain) or extremely supple (my beautiful reward, valentines day). This track is from that in between variety that just doesn't grip me...there are a number of this genre on the album...the whistle bit near the end is nice though.
queen- kind of nonsensical, but gotta compliment him for putting it out there. sort of like a promised land story...immigrant coming to this country and beiing overwhelmed by the choices and grows into the american dream. i think it's starring that same horny dude from girls in summer clothes. justifiably panned by many. in general, though, i tend to regard bruce as beyond reproach so I can't be annoyed too much by songs like this. the unexpected and unnecessary f-bomb at the end of the tune is enough to put a smile on my face though.
what love can do- great song. to me it has a strong british pop rock sound,- think XTC, Squeeze...a nice post-punk rhythm. it's a new rhythm for him but I like it a lot.
this life...more middle of the road balladeering...recycled from magic...and not the best of magic. This has the beach boys sound to it with a REM harmony at the end lifted from shiny happy people or something...
Good eye- pretty enjoyable for what it is, but I don't seek refuge in bruce for delta blues....i seek refuge in his R&R. I kinda wish he'd make a straight delta blues album, then I could buy it or not but at least be clear about what I'm getting. And for that matter please go make a straight country album while he's at it too where he could hide the next tune.
tomorrow never knows: could live without it. again, go make a country album to get songs like this out of your system. he could do a trio with dylan and neil young and they'd have a blast playing old hank williams tunes.
life itself...perhaps best song on the album. quite beautiful in substance and texture. same qawalli wail at the end from worlds apart on the rising.
kingdom of days: alright song...nothin' special. more of that middle of the road soft rock ballad stuff. my fear is that he runs the risk of going too far down the spectrum of soft-rockdom that he'll be sitting next to phil collins and rod stewart.
surprise, surprise...interesting tune for bruce. not profound, but helluva lot better than many of the other songs on the album. it's almost a relief, frankly after kingdom. more british pop sound...can't place it exactly, but that's what it makes me think of.
Last carnival...phenomenal beautiful ballad. this is what a bruce ballad should be. one of his best. content-wise the most interesting song on the album, too. clearly a paean to Danny Federici...not to mention Wild Billy from Wild and Innocent.
Aside from the dedication to Danny, I wonder if he is saying anything else with this song? Is Danny his 'handsome Billy' or is he something more? Is he saying goodbye to Billy forever? Not gonna be on that high wire anymore? Billy may have been his doppelganger all these years, it turns out.
it's kind of cryptic, but nevertheless f'ing beautiful.
the wrestler...excellent. nothing to complain about here.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
See all 13 tracks on this disc
by Bruce Springsteen 
