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Wrecking Ball Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 76 Ratings

  • Summary: Produced with Ron Aniello, Springsteen’s 17th studio album was inspired by the impact of the financial crisis and is the last album with Clarence Clemons, who passed away in June 2011.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 41
  2. Negative: 1 out of 41
  1. Mar 6, 2012
    100
    The most despairing, confrontational and musically turbulent album Bruce Springsteen has ever made.
  2. Uncut
    Mar 12, 2012
    90
    He's never sounded quite so bitter as he does on Wrecking Ball.
  3. Apr 26, 2012
    89
    Wrecking Ball spins Springsteen's most focused work since 2002's The Rising and most defiant and hooky since 1984's Born in the U.S.A.
  4. 75
    Springsteen's emerged with some good material for his new album.
  5. Mar 6, 2012
    70
    While accordions, fiddles, acoustic guitars, and human voices are prominent--befitting the songs' back porch country, folk, and blues vibe--canned clap tracks, woozy keyboards, and whirring sound effects sometimes sit uncomfortably alongside them.
  6. Mar 6, 2012
    60
    Wrecking Ball feels cumbersome and top heavy, Springsteen sacrificing impassioned rage in favor of explaining his intentions too clearly.
  7. 37
    As a post-Occupy album, it's less ripped-from-the-headlines and more cribbed-from-older-and-better-ideas.

See all 41 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 27
  2. Negative: 3 out of 27
  1. Oct 18, 2012
    10
    A strong effort from "The Boss". Great songs include We Take Care of Our Own, Shackled and Drawn, Jack of All Trades, Wrecking Ball, RockyA strong effort from "The Boss". Great songs include We Take Care of Our Own, Shackled and Drawn, Jack of All Trades, Wrecking Ball, Rocky Ground, Land of Hope and Dreams, and the bonus track American Land. The lyrics are great and a tribute to the 99%. Expand
  2. Mar 6, 2012
    10
    In terms of sheer cohesiveness and intent, this album ranks high among Bruce's post-Tunnel of Love (1987) releases. He sings with such urgencyIn terms of sheer cohesiveness and intent, this album ranks high among Bruce's post-Tunnel of Love (1987) releases. He sings with such urgency and passion that it's nearly impossible not to get swept up in its cinematic beauty. As always, Mr. Springsteen connects with his listeners in a primordial, guttural fashion. An eclectic collection of songs, this record pushes Bruce outside his usual comfort zone with great results. Expand
  3. MES
    Mar 7, 2012
    10
    I've followed Springsteen from many years and admittedly liked his earlier records more than his recent ones. Magic represented a return toI've followed Springsteen from many years and admittedly liked his earlier records more than his recent ones. Magic represented a return to form. Working on a Dream was one step back (Lead off with 'Outlaw Pete'? Really?). But he's taken two strong steps forward with Wrecking Ball. These are very substantial songs. Beautifully crafted. He's experimenting with some interesting new sounds and perhaps, as been suggested by others, borrowing from Arcade Fire who admit to having borrowed from him. Perhaps there's something to musical incest. Nonetheless, this album requires at least four listenings before its magic hits you like a, well, like a wrecking ball. Powerful stuff. Expand
  4. Mar 9, 2013
    9
    Bruce succeded in making another great album. All the songs are very good, although Wrecking Ball and Land Of Hope And Dreams (I love both)Bruce succeded in making another great album. All the songs are very good, although Wrecking Ball and Land Of Hope And Dreams (I love both) were already known. I really like the folk sound of some of the songs (Easy Money, Shakle and Drawn, Death To My Hometown, We are Alive), and the more classic Springsteen's songs like We Take Care Of Our Own (the best of the record). All the songs will be also better in live performances! Expand
  5. Mar 6, 2012
    8
    A Rich Man in a Poor Man's Shirt, 5 Mar 2012

    I have followed Bruce since one of my best friends brought us early mixes of his first album
    A Rich Man in a Poor Man's Shirt, 5 Mar 2012

    I have followed Bruce since one of my best friends brought us early mixes of his first album from Greetings - he worked at 914 in Westchester, a new studio Columbia set up to record cheaper albums from newer acts. All of my friends were musicians, and I was a songwriter/frontman, less than a year younger than Bruce. Needless to say, I was jealous when I heard him, angry when I saw him live at the Bottom Line a few months later. 'No way I'll ever be that good', I thought.

    17 albums later, he is one of the world's pre-eminent stars, one of the few who, by himself can fill any sized stadium. Yet he still writes songs like 'a rich man in a poor man's shirt.' Success could have killed him, but it turned him inwards. Every album since his breakthrough album 'Born to Run', Bruce has put lipstick on the pig of his essential biblical pessimism, anger and need for Catholic redemption. From 'Darkness','The River' 'Nebraska', 'Born in the USA', 'Tunnel of Love' and then 'The Rising' - all have found the Boss in the same dark mood. For Bruce, politics is personal, and 'Wrecking Ball' brings the irony of the depressed multi-millionaire -who charges huge sums for his live performances, so much so that I will never see him live again - with his most overt angry album.

    Bruce is very smart and authentic - but its taken him over 4 years to vent his anger with this album, much later than the much less rich Ry Cooder. Taken as a whole, the record is very good, a satisfyingly rich stew of folk, rock, gospel, etc. Like all his recent inferior albums, it is overproduced and mushy, but his wonderful voice seems better produced than on the mediocre 'Working On a Dream' and the somewhat better 'Magic.'

    Clearly, Bruce needs a clear theme to write about these days - 'The Rising' had 9/11(a much more timely 2002 release) and this one has the crisis of 2008 (think how long it took before the Occupy movement kick started this one). One should not be too churlish. Standout tracks include 'Wrecking Ball' , 'We Take Care of Our Own', 'Jack of All Trades', and the gorgeous 'Land of Hopes and Dreams' (say goodbye to Clarence on this one). There is not a lot wrong with it, and there is so much right. The writing is very direct - no room for mis-interpretation here. I prefer his more poetic style found on most of the better 'Rising' songs.

    He wants to kill the rich - but he IS the rich. Be careful what you wish for, Bruce. He is too bright not to be aware of it, but too greedy to stop charging a king's ransom for his sold out, £75 a ticket concerts. Buy the album, I guess - it's good enough.

    Bruce, you should just cover your costs when you tour, especially behind this one. Hypocrisy is not what you had in mind all those years ago - an authentic voice is what you promised.
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  6. Mar 31, 2012
    7
    Bruce Springsteen and his seventeenth album "Wrecking Ball" is the story of the post-crisis America. Although the lyrics is pretty decent, youBruce Springsteen and his seventeenth album "Wrecking Ball" is the story of the post-crisis America. Although the lyrics is pretty decent, you can still dismiss certain songs. Most of the material is correct, but unfortunately only correct. Some songs may be only claim to a "radio-friendly songs" title. Fortunately, there are also outstanding compositions like widely known "Streets Of Philadelfia" - "Rocky Ground", a little celtic "Death to My Hometown" or the pathetic title track "Wrecking Ball". Expand
  7. Mar 21, 2012
    0
    Absolutley garbage, the same pointless drivel he's put out of the last 20 years. Bruce needs to come up with something orignal instead ofAbsolutley garbage, the same pointless drivel he's put out of the last 20 years. Bruce needs to come up with something orignal instead of rehashing and slapping a new title on the album.. Expand

See all 27 User Reviews