Devils & Dust
by Bruce Springsteen
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Apr 26, 2005
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 105 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 94 out of 105
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 105
  3. Negative: 5 out of 105

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  1. GeorgiaW
    Apr 28, 2005
    6
    It's not nearly as good as "Nebraska," but "Devils & Dust" is a step up from "Ghost of Tom Joad." "GOTJ" had good stories, some good lyrics, but was severely lacking musically, and sounded too affected. "Devils & Dust" has some more memorably melodies, and the songs are better, but it doesn't get under your skin like "Nebraska." It also feels affected: the singing doesn't It's not nearly as good as "Nebraska," but "Devils & Dust" is a step up from "Ghost of Tom Joad." "GOTJ" had good stories, some good lyrics, but was severely lacking musically, and sounded too affected. "Devils & Dust" has some more memorably melodies, and the songs are better, but it doesn't get under your skin like "Nebraska." It also feels affected: the singing doesn't sound natural, it often sounds too studied. Though the production is minimal, it still adds a little too much polish, too. Regardless, the title track, "The Hitter, the explicit but sad and depraved "Reno," and a few others are good songs worth hearing over and over again. Taken on its own terms, it's still a fine album, but very flawed.… Expand
  2. PatrickD
    Jun 7, 2005
    5
    It's hard to rate this one. I'm giving it a five on a "Bruce scale," as compared with his other albums. But I'd give it much higher compared with most other CDs. As is always the case with Bruce, this is high-quality, thoughtful, well-produced music. But there's no way it's in the same pantheon as any of Bruce's classics. It's been compared with Nebraska It's hard to rate this one. I'm giving it a five on a "Bruce scale," as compared with his other albums. But I'd give it much higher compared with most other CDs. As is always the case with Bruce, this is high-quality, thoughtful, well-produced music. But there's no way it's in the same pantheon as any of Bruce's classics. It's been compared with Nebraska and Ghost of Tom Joad, but I'd say it's more similar to Tunnel of Love in its pacing and tone. One more thing: give it a chance...a lot of the songs really grow on you after several listens.… Expand
  3. DavidS
    Jun 8, 2005
    5
    Village Voice critic Robert Christgau, in his review of the 1988 live EP Chimes of Freedom stated the following: "...the self-importance he's always accuded of drips from his all-American drawl like Vitalis off a DA". The hayseed accent he affects on this "little" album are no less annoying - though I'm drawn to "Leah" his "Streets of Philadelphia" remake.

Awards & Rankings

58
#58 Best Album of 2005
63
#63 Most Discussed Album of 2005
65
#65 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. Playlouder
    70
    Alas, it's not as consistently satisfying as 'Born To Run' or 'Born In The USA', and Springsteen's voice, always gravely at the best of times, has taken on an increasingly wizened air that sometimes renders it frustratingly impenetrable.
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  2. The Guardian
    60
    The Rising sounded like a formulaic album made out of patriotic duty. Despite its flaws, formulaic is not an adjective that applies to most of Devils and Dust, an album that rarely does what you expect it to.
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  3. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Devils is a more mature effort than Joad and Nebraska, for being a little less bleak. [29 Apr 2005, p.144]
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