BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - review added 27th January 2009
Album Review: Working On A Dream (2009)
For fans of: rock... and supermarket employees
Hmmm... Bruce Springsteen, he of 'Dancing In The Dark', 'Born In The USA' et al CAN produce good songs. He can also produce sleep inducing twaddle.
Working On A Dream reached the good/twaddle fork in the road and decide to go... both ways. Some of the tracks are so good it hurts your groin. Others are as boring as a tunnel making machine.
'Outlaw Pete' is one of the former. The singing whines like a lovesick cat, but the story is engrossing and paints vivid pictures in your mind. The images bring back memories of Kelsey Grammer's character from Toy Story 2. You'll know what I mean. Hopefully.
'Queen Of The Supermarket' is thoroughly loopy. It isn't a metaphor, it isn't an analogy, it's actually about a woman who works in a supermarket. Nothing wrong with shop assistants, I was one myself. But a whole song about a shelf stacker? This song should get B.S. locked in a padded cell.
'This Life' is a perfect example of the twaddle fork. Having trouble sleeping? Problem solved! 'Good Eye' is similarly poor, although this time it's for the unbalanced noise. It's like hearing a concert from outside the venue. 'Surprise Surprise' is much more like it. With an upbeat bouncy feel it makes songs like 'Good Eye' sound even worse.
It has to be said this album is a grower. Hear it once and you'll be tempted not to bother again. Stick it out and you'll find plenty to like. The album veers between dreary and brilliant. There isn't anything to match his best work, but there's more than enough to beat his worst.
Working On A Dream? Keep going Bruce, you're nearly there with this release.
Check out... 'Queen Of The Supermarket'. See if you can work it out!
Track List:
1. Outlaw Pete
2. My Lucky Day
3. Working On A Dream
4. Queen Of The Supermarket
5. What Love Can Do
6. This Life
7. Good Eye
8. Tomorrow Never Knows
9. Life Itself
10. Kingdom Of Days
11. Surprise, Surprise
12. The Last Carnival
13. The Wrestler
Label: Sony Music
Artist's websites: Bruce Springsteen , MySpace
