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. FortunateSon
    May 1, 2005
    10
    Bruce's best record since "Tunnel Of Love".
  2. LukeS
    May 8, 2005
    10
    Like sitting around a campfire, staring at the stars, and contemplating life with Bruce--nothing better.
  3. JanF
    Jan 10, 2006
    10
    Fantastic!
  4. LornaA
    May 3, 2005
    10
    Love it Love it, a bit more sexy and mature like me!
  5. oliviierb
    Jan 9, 2006
    10
    AMAZING
  6. GerardoL
    Nov 18, 2005
    10
    Marvelous album, Springsteen's vision of the human experience ever insightful, colorful, adventurous, an artist that's learned a thing or two along the way, yet as wide-eyed in wonderment as ever! A triumph!
  7. janicem
    Apr 26, 2005
    10
    masterpiece
  8. RussellB
    Apr 26, 2005
    10
    Better than "The Rising," possibly Springsteen's best record since "Born in the USA." The album sounds like a smarter, more polished and mature version of "The Ghost of Tom Joad," for which Springsteen won the Best Contemporary Folk Grammy when it came out.
  9. ThomasT
    Apr 27, 2005
    10
    Not as dark and dreary and as "Tom Joad", "Devils" mixes songs of despair with songs with hard won hope for better things. Richer musical textures make this the most varied and yes, enjoyable of the three "acoustic" Bruce LP's.
  10. renes
    Apr 27, 2005
    10
    Devils needs several listen to be appreciated. It is not a random set of songs. They all fit together very nicely. Lyrics are simply breathtaking, and the music fits just right. Black Cowboys, Jesus, Silver Palomino are outstanding.
  11. hane
    Apr 29, 2005
    10
    excellent from start to finish not for the e-street fans
  12. JonN
    Apr 29, 2005
    10
    The Boss makes _albums_. Thematically cohesive and emotionally poignant pieces that are meant to be listened to front to back in order to get the full idea of what the artist is going for. The album is filled with gorgeous imagery, some of his best. Some of the seemingly simple upbeat rocking numbers belie their complexity and darker undercurrents - the kind of songs that Reagan would The Boss makes _albums_. Thematically cohesive and emotionally poignant pieces that are meant to be listened to front to back in order to get the full idea of what the artist is going for. The album is filled with gorgeous imagery, some of his best. Some of the seemingly simple upbeat rocking numbers belie their complexity and darker undercurrents - the kind of songs that Reagan would quote in a speech without investigation a la Born in the USA - but there is more than is immediately apparent. This isn't an album for the Ipod download-one-song-at-a-time masses, it's meant for a headphones on and lyrics in hand journey. It's a brilliant album.… Expand
  13. BenH
    May 12, 2005
    10
    I give Devils and Dust an A+. Bolstering Brian
  14. michaelk
    May 15, 2005
    10
    A superb album. Springsteen is a rare talent, never afraid to challange his audience. Devils and dust challange's us and more.
  15. markb
    May 2, 2005
    10
    quite simply stunning!
  16. AndrewL
    Jul 24, 2005
    10
    With each song, the stories are so enthralling and well-told, I felt like I was there as each story was happening. It was like reading the best collection of short stories ever written, set to music.
  17. LuisJ
    Nov 30, 2006
    10
    O seu melhor album a solo... Brilhante
  18. melissar
    Jan 7, 2006
    10
    The reason why I rate this cd a ten. because it is the greatest cd I have ever heard in my lifetime. melissa lisalove richardson
  19. MarkK
    Feb 7, 2006
    10
    A strong sequel to Johnny Cash's spiritual side.
  20. billj
    Apr 26, 2005
    10
    A mature resonating work
  21. terryv
    Apr 27, 2005
    10
    One of his best.
  22. patrickb
    Apr 29, 2005
    10
    that what a song should be, just a little story.
  23. JerryK
    Apr 29, 2005
    10
    The focus is on the songs and they are among Springsteen's best. The music ebbs and flows between light and dark, hope and despair. If Steinbeck or Hemingway could have reinterpreted their best stories as songs they might sound a lot like 'Devils and Dust'. Better than 'The Rising', and that's high praise indeed.
  24. acavanah
    May 12, 2005
    10
    this is a dark album, sparse musically, but the narratives are vivid and poignant. There are one or two dire tracks, All Im thinking about and the hitter but overall I found it and thought provoking and intriguing.
  25. MartyD
    May 13, 2005
    10
    This is an album lover's album. Reno is one of his best.
  26. MikeM
    May 15, 2005
    10
    Beauful and painful stories. Bruce evokes emotion in his music in a way that no other musician in his generation has.
  27. KNudP
    Jan 13, 2006
    10
    Best ever from Springsteen....
  28. B.B.
    Apr 27, 2005
    9
    This record is not for the masses. It's for people who listen to "records" rather than download a song here and there. If you sit through this from start to finish, with the lyrics in hand (or watching them off the dvd on your tellyscreen) you'll be struck in awe. Great lyrics, great poetry. Standout tracks: "Reno" great story of sadness and sure ti stirr up a lot of emotions in This record is not for the masses. It's for people who listen to "records" rather than download a song here and there. If you sit through this from start to finish, with the lyrics in hand (or watching them off the dvd on your tellyscreen) you'll be struck in awe. Great lyrics, great poetry. Standout tracks: "Reno" great story of sadness and sure ti stirr up a lot of emotions in puritan circles; "Long Time Coming", an instant classic; "Matamoros Banks", a narrative told in reverse, from the corpse at the bottom of the river 'till the man trying to cross the Mexican- American border, "All I'm Thinkin' About" a sneer/ode to Neil Young, Van Morrison, Canned Heat???, "Jesus was an only Son", Bruce goes Waits/Zevon,... Definitely NOT a rock record: two rock tunes, couple of ballads, some alt-country, folk, but mainly brilliant storytelling and characterdepiction. Nice packaging too. Good job, once again, Boss.… Expand
  29. DougD
    May 2, 2005
    9
    A serious upgrade from the musically schizophrenic and need I say plodding, The Rising. This is lean and - at times - harrowing musical imagery that is far from perfect. But in its imperfection seems to perfectally encapsulate life during Bush II: War, prostitution, death; and man's struggles therein. A stunning achievement.
  30. MattP
    Jun 30, 2005
    9
    Devils & Dust is Simple and beautiful . 'Reno' reads and sounds like a harder edged version of 'Blind Willie McTell'. Alone woth the price of admission.
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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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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]
See all critic reviews »