Label: Columbia
Released: October 2, 2007
It’s been a long time since Springsteen has released a truly good album. Granted, he did a nice job with the Pete Seeger covers, but his own material has been dull and decidedly adult-oriented. Magic isn’t a full return to rock form, but it is a step in the right direction.
From the opening guitar riff and driving drums of “Radio Nowhere,” it’s clear that Springsteen has at least written a rock record rather than another lackluster attempt to recapture the stripped down authenticity of Nebraska. Even slower tracks like “Your Own Worst Enemy” and “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” have a big sound with all the trappings of songs that translate well in concert. He does misfire a bit on the title track which falls back into the limp attempt at being understated that characterized albums like Devils and Dust. All in all though, Springsteen has finally released a new album that shows he can write arena-sized songs that appeal to listeners on a personal level, something he hasn’t done in almost 25 years. It also seems clear that he wrote this record with live performances in mind. He’s tried for years to translate coffee house music to the big stage and failed on both levels. Fans who catch this tour are likely to find that he once again succeeds to connect with a large audience.
Rating: 6/10