1. MES

   10

   I'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

   • Helpful? 5 of 5 users said Yes.
2. outsidein

   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 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.… Expand

   • Helpful? 2 of 2 users said Yes.
3. AlexxTrusc

   7

   Bruce 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

   • Helpful? 0 of 0 users said Yes.
4. MCcritic12

   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 of rehashing and slapping a new title on the album..… Collapse

   • Helpful? 0 of 7 users said Yes.

See all 20 User Reviews