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Devils & Dust
by
  • Record Label:
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Devils & Dust Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 24 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 105 Ratings

  • Summary: Brendan O'Brien produced (and plays bass on) the singer's 19th album, which finds Springsteen backed by a variety of guests. Several of the 12 tracks here have previously surfaced in live performances, including two dating back to 1995.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. Los Angeles Times
    100
    The heart of the CD is filled with the compassion and craft that have made Springsteen such an invaluable figure in rock. [24 Apr 2005]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Devils is a more mature effort than Joad and Nebraska, for being a little less bleak. [29 Apr 2005, p.144]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Drowned In Sound
    90
    Inevitably, critics will place Devils & Dust in a trio with Springsteen's other quiet albums Nebraska and The Ghost Of Tom Joad, but be aware that there’s significantly more production polish on Devils & Dust, as well as a wider palette of moods.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Welcome home, The Boss. [30 Apr 2005, p.64]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. The A.V. Club
    80
    Ultimately, Devils & Dust feels like his attempt to reestablish himself as a working performer; his new material comes without weighty expectations for grand pronouncements, or the burdens of being a living icon. In that way, it's considerably more successful than his last such attempt, the 1995 album The Ghost Of Tom Joad.
  6. ShakingThrough.net
    68
    It's as if, having played the crowd-pleasing rock card, Springsteen feels the need to validate himself as a "serious" artist, but has mistaken a certain affected intimacy of approach for thoughtfulness and dramatic substance.
  7. Village Voice
    30
    It's long and boring and preachy.

See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 58
  3. Negative: 3 out of 58
  1. LuisJ
    Nov 30, 2006
    10
    O seu melhor album a solo... Brilhante
  2. LornaA
    May 3, 2005
    10
    Love it Love it, a bit more sexy and mature like me!
  4. 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 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.… Collapse
  5. 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 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
  6. BillyB
    Jul 8, 2005
    9
    Springsteen fan for many, many years. The lyrics are the best he's done. Black Cowboys? is there any other song in recent memory that Springsteen fan for many, many years. The lyrics are the best he's done. Black Cowboys? is there any other song in recent memory that inspires more reflection? He's the greatest!… Expand
  7. MikeA
    May 6, 2005
    9
    Moody, soft folk music, along with beautiful, often moving lyrics. Another great Springsteen album, which makes one wonder, can the Boss fail?
  8. GeorgeBush
    May 27, 2005
    0
    Never heard it but no i won't like it. Viva la resistance, the king is not dead!

See all 58 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

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

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