Bruce Springsteen
Working on a Dream

Excluding "The Seeger Sessions" (a cover album) and "The Ghost of Tom Joad" (more of a book than an album), the Boss hasn’t made a proper album since "Tunnel Of Love" (1987). Even the much-praised "The Rising" had forgettable moments, especially the ridiculous breathless soul of "Let's be Friends".

Despite this, the brave Bruce seems to have found the urge to compose and, just after finishing the "Magic" tour (a half-successful attempt to return to the old pompous sound of the origins), he returns with "Working On A Dream" (a fully successful attempt to release a dud), where not even the trusted Brendan O’ Brien can be accused of causing confusion since this time it’s the songs themselves that are lacking.

The E-Street Band seems like a group of travelers resting at Springsteen’s recording studio: Bittan or a Sunday pianist makes no difference this time.

From "Outlaw Pete", eight minutes seasoned with Morricone-style harmonica (three minutes would have sufficed for this ride with worn-out hooves), to "Lucky Day", a track that should carry the group but only serves to embarrass the Boss live, this album doesn’t evoke any emotion, as if it were a pendulum clock stuck at around one thirty-five of 1856.

A pop album, where the only muscular track, "What Love Can Do", sounds like Bryan Adams in a good suit, "Tomorrow Never Knows", a respectable prairie entertainer, is reminiscent of the Seeger Sessions, and "Life Itself" suffers from overly crafted arrangement.

Adding to this are "Queen of The Supermarket" and "Surprise, Surprise", which have the novelty of surpassing "Real Men" as Springsteen’s most abysmal track, the caricatured and excessively pompous "This Life", despite the final "papapapapa" is among the less infamous of the collection, the bland title-track and "Kingdom Of Days", a senile tribute to a companion of a thousand adventures.

The album closes with two acoustic pieces, "Last Carnival", a composed tribute to the memory of Danny Federici, and "The Wrestler" from the namesake film: nothing new under the sun but at least the withered heart beats for a moment.

In the DVD included with the album, you see the Boss happy, shouting "masterpiece" at every song. Little Steven pats him on the head like one does to elderly folks who’ve had too much to drink.