•
Rating:
THE REVIEW
Great artists often make great blunders. Bruce Springsteen indelibly marked mid-1980s rock ("Born in the USA" is legendary and epochal), and even won an Oscar thanks to the beautiful "Streets of Philadelphia". Yet, for a couple of years now, even the Boss has lost his rage and edge: the proof is undeniable. Shocked (like everyone) by the tragedy of the Twin Towers attack, Springsteen seems to want to shake off fears and anxieties, malice and horror. He is no longer the anarchic and rebellious youngster from "Born To Run", now he is a distinguished middle-aged man unable to react to the American-made horrors that the puppet George W. Bush is squandering just about everywhere (including Italy).
"Devils & Dust" is, ultimately, a big disappointment. Let’s be clear: the music is beautiful (intimate and mystical; powerful and sanguine), many guitar riffs are thrilling, the Boss’s voice is always rough and icy, sad and relentless. Yet, globally, the album feels fake and, at times, crudely commercial. Lacking any cohesive thread, "Devils & Dust" appears fragmented and superficial. It's inconceivable that a genius like Springsteen has reduced himself to humming little songs like "All The Way Home" or carnival antics like "Jesus An Only Son". However, when he wants to, the Boss can still amaze: "The Hitter" is a thrilling, energetic, and sensational ballad. The musical insights are excellent and the voice of the fifty-year-old Springsteen seems to transform into that of a carefree and jaunty twenty-year-old.
"Devils & Dust" will not go down in history. The Boss is tired, perhaps a bit bored. He survives on his past successes (with the millions earned thanks to "Born To Run" and "Born in the USA" he could feed half of Africa’s population) and no longer believes in either an unlikely human redemption or in a necessary political renaissance.
"What would you like for dinner Mr. Springsteen?" - asks a distinguished waiter to the Boss, sadly seated at a table in the restaurant "Born in the Devils & Dust". "Nothing - Bruce replies - "I’m done, I’m down to dessert!"
Is the metaphor clear?
Loading comments slowly
Summary by Bot
This review critiques Bruce Springsteen's Devils & Dust as a disappointing album despite its beautiful music and strong vocals. It argues that the work lacks cohesion and feels commercially superficial. While some tracks like 'The Hitter' stand out, overall the album reflects a tired and less politically energetic Springsteen. The reviewer suggests the artist has lost the rebellious edge of his earlier years.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen (born 1949 in Freehold, New Jersey) is an American singer-songwriter and bandleader best known for his work with the E Street Band. His career spans from the 1960s/1970s to the present, with landmark albums such as Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, Nebraska and Born in the U.S.A.90 Reviews
Other reviews
By Testaverde
Subtle joy and latent melancholy mix in DEVILS & DUST, the latest work of the boy from Asbury Park.
To define DEVILS & DUST as a midpoint between the two would be unfair to NEBRASKA, but it’s certainly much closer to it than to THE GHOST.
By Hungry
"The album opens with Devils & Dust, a masterpiece, a track surely conceived to be played with the band."
"Jesus Was an Only Son, perhaps the album's most beautiful song, has nothing of folk; it’s a gospel piece dominated by piano and female choirs."
