Album Review: Bruce Springsteen - Working on A Dream

Today brings the release of Working on a Dream, the second album by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band in a little over a year. This comes days before their appearance playing the halftime show at next Sunday's Super Bowl, and a week after Bruce spent several days in Washington D.C playing various inauguration parties and winning a Golden Globe for his musical contribution to the movie The Wrestler (that song is on the album as a final bonus track). It's been a busy month for these guys. Is the album worth the effort?

I'd say so. NPR is still streaming the entire album at their music site. So go hear for yourself. Rolling Stone magazine gave the CD a coveted 5 star review. According to them it can't get any better. While I wouldn't go that far (RS would give 5 stars to Alvin and the Chipmunks if it reminded them of the "good ol days" of Rock N Roll), I agree that Working is Springsteen's most radio-friendly music since Born in the USA, and superior to last year's release Magic.

Following the recording of Magic Bruce and producer Brendan O' Brien had a few leftover songs that didn't quite make the final track list. Feeling inspired, Bruce immediately went back to the drawing board and continued songwriting. Demo tracks and a full recording session quickly followed.

The result is an album from a group of experienced musicians who sound as if they have found a re-energized passion for playing together. The album is full of fun, rocking, optimistic tracks; a direct contrast to Magic's dark look at war, failure, and decaying towns. Working has more in common with Magic's one positive track "Girls in their Summer Clothes." Actually, I am surprised this album was not released in the summer with its constant use of Beach Boys-like keyboards, horns, and backing vocals. In the meantime it can be used to fight the seasonal affective disorder that is sure to come once another 8 inches of snow comes to Cleveland tonight (Ugh!)

Yes, the band is planning a summer-long tour to accompany the album. Presently they have no Ohio dates scheduled. The closest Cleveland is getting right now is a Pittsburgh stop on May 19. I wouldn't be surprised if a Cleveland date is announced later given that they can easily sell out the Q, and their current tour dates end on May 23, leaving the whole summer wide open.

Since we now purchase music by the song and not the album, after the jump I will break down the album track by track, letting you know which one(s) I think you may want to skip. Then give it a listen and let me know what you think (or let me know what I SHOULD be listening to instead)

Outlaw Pete – An 8 minute opening song. A western-themed opus for fans of the bands old-school operatic tunes like "Jungleland." The guitar part during the chorus is reminiscent of that go-to movie trailer score from the 90s, which I found slightly distracting (I wanna say its Forrest Gump, but I think that's wrong. Anybody know what I'm talking about? Or am I the only crazy one?). A strong start

Lucky Day – One of the strongest songs on the album. Strong guitar-heavy pop song. Will make for a great hit single.

Working on a Dream – The title track that Bruce debuted at the Cleveland Obama rally last November. Jingly-jangly pop song. Lyrics are a little corny. A slight problem I have with this album: the music is great but the lyrics sometimes border on too cheesy. Seems like Springsteen doing his best Springsteen impression (A job I believe is already filled, thank you John Couger Mellencamp). Catchy whistles, horns, backup vocals.

Queen of the Supermarket – A Song about the Sun-Maid raisin girl (will someone write her a song, please!!). Really about a guy falling in love with the checkout lady. For fans of ‘Girls in their Summer Clothes’. More 60s style pop w/ backup singers. Good use of checkout beeping noise at the end.

What Love Can Do – Another guitar heavy song. Possibly one of my favorites on the album. Pounding drums. Guitars chugging along like a locomotive. Hard not to like.

This Life – Starts out like a Beach Boys song. Maybe a little too close to "Girls in Summer Clothes?" Second happy love song on album. Almost shocking how optimistic this album is at fist listen. One of the few major Clarence sax solos of album. Again, slightly cheesy lyrics, but grows on me by the end. Maybe cheesy lyrics aren't that bad.

Good Eye – A dirty blues break from all the pop. Gruff voice, harmonica. Seems a little out of place with the rest of the pop feel of the album. Seems like an improvised jam session in the middle of recording. I like it.

Tomorrow Never Knows – Acoustic love song. Finger pickin' and Slide guitar. Another winner.

Life Itself – The one song on the album I suggest you avoid. Sounds like it should have been on Magic instead. Fail. Not very catchy or interesting.

Kingdom of Days – Another string, heavy pop love song. Similar to "Supermarket’", maybe a little too similar musically. Another possible skip unless you like your Springsteen like this.

Surprise, Surprise – Another catchy, yet borderline too cheesy song about a surprise birthday party. I'm not saying its bad, it just seems strange sometimes coming from Springsteen. It might be more suited as a Barenaked Ladies song. “Let your love shine down?!!”

Last Carnival – A sequel to "Wild Billy’s Circus Story" from 1973's The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle. Acoustic solo song. Written as a tribute to E Street keyboard player Danny Federici who died last year. This was the last album he worked on. A low-key, touching tribute.

The Wrestler – The previously mentioned Golden Globe winning song and theme to movie with the same name. Tagged on as an extra track. Maybe the strongest song lyrically. I can't believe the song got snubbed by the Oscars when they had 2 nomination slots to fill!! They decided to fill only 3 of the 5 nomination slots instead of nominating this?!