Bruce Springsteen's new CD "Working on a Dream" hits stores today and many music critics and E Street fanatics are going to proclaim that their beloved Boss "picked up where he left off after the brilliant 'Magic.'"

That's one way of looking at it.

As an unapologetic Springsteen supporter, I have a slightly different take. To me,"Working on a Dream" seems like a case of New Jersey's favorite son not "picking up where he left off" a solid 2007 album, but rather "putting out the songs he left off 'Magic.'"

We can start with the disclaimers. "Working on a Dream" is not without its charms. The 13 songs represented are better and more challenging -- sonically and especially lyrically -- than 95 percent of what passes for new music these days.

"My Lucky Day" is a rabble-rousing song that will fit perfectly into the opening slot or the No. 2 hole on his next tour. "The Wrestler," arguably the best song on the disc, won a Golden Globe and should have been nominated for an Academy Award. "Surprise, Surprise" is a charming slice of British Invasion-inspired pop. "What Love Can Do" contains poetic lyrics. "Good Eye" is a bluesy, bullet microphone rave up. And, "The Last Carnival" is an elegant tribute to the E Street Band's late organist, Danny Federici, an original member who died during the last tour after a battle with melanoma

I really like more than half of the songs on "Working on a Dream" and I don't hate the rest. For most bands, that kind of batting average would make for a 4 ½-star effort (on a scale of 1-5).

Springsteen, who wrapped the "Magic" tour with a show at Harley-Davidson's 105th reunion in Milwaukee and will headline the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday in Tampa, has set a ridiculously high standard for himself.

The fact that he and the band are still putting out vibrant, interesting music speaks volumes about his talent, vision and the bonds of the group that evolved from Jersey Shore outfits like Child and Steel Mill in the early 1970s.

In recent interviews, Springsteen has talked about "The Rising," "Magic" and "Working on a Dream" as a three-record suite that he will put up against anything else released in that time period. That's an interesting way of looking at the period the Boss referred to onstage as the "rebirth and rededication" of the E Street Band. Taken as a trio, those CDs contain some powerful moments.

To this listener, though, "Working on a Dream" is the weakest link in the chain.

"The Rising" was inspired by the Sept. 11 attacks. "Magic" was a reaction to Springsteen's disdain for the Bush Administration and the direction of the country at large. "Working on a Dream," which was recorded shortly after "Magic," doesn't seem to have a central message -- outside of hope and some joy over Obama's recent presidential victory.

The lack of a unifying purpose, coupled with the fact that producer Brendan O'Brien's lush arrangements, Springsteen's lilting, crooning singing style and the "'Pet Sounds' meets Electric Light Orchestra" feel of some of the tracks are no longer surprising serve to reduce the overall impact of the work. (Maybe if we hadn't been hooked on the far superior "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" from the last record, we'd be more forgiving this time around).

Judging on craftsmanship, the work is first-rate. You can question the wisdom of opening a CD with an eight-minute spaghetti Western like "Outlaw Pete," but it's hard to argue with the technical mastery displayed by the players. "This Life" and "Kingdom of Days" make you wonder how they'll be improved in a live setting (Bruce and Co. always seem to find a way). But, other songs make you wonder why they left the vault of a guy who has obsessed over quality control for decades.

Springsteen lost me with "Queen of the Supermarket," an ode to a grocery store checkout girl that is mired in evocative but trifling imagery and bottoms out with a seemingly gratuitous use of the f-bomb.

This is Springsteen's fourth record with O'Brien at the soundboard. Here's hoping that Bruce got the "Pet Sounds" stuff out of his system and calls Rick Rubin to get back to basics like Johnny Cash did years ago.

Springsteen is still the reigning heavyweight champ of rock songwriting. This record, though, is a technical knockout instead of a decisive knockout.

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7 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by are-gee on Feb. 2, 2009 at 8:05 a.m. (report)

Was the last song the band played at the Super Bowl from the new CD? I thought it was great. According to Wikipedia, Springsteen is 69 years old. He's still rockin' it, y'all, and shows what 70 can look like these days. Many props.

Posted by sandstorm on Jan. 29, 2009 at 4:58 p.m. (report)

mediocre songs woefully overproduced. C-

Posted by rodrigueztv on Jan. 28, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. (report)

What is being overlooked here is the albums diversity. Sure it's a group of songs that doesn't have a linking thread throughout - but that's good. You guys are listening TOO HARD to the album. It's simply a great bunch of tunes. You have to credit produced Brendon O'Brien for lighting a creative fire under Springsteens butt with all this creative activity but with that positive you have to acept the negative which for me is where are the guitars in the mix? With Nils, Miami Steve, Brendon and Bruce himself where the hell are the guitars!

Posted by Scottage Cheese on Jan. 28, 2009 at 8:44 a.m. (report)

The Boss is lame. The only people who listen to this garbage are left-leaning baby boomers. He's depressing and sounds like a horse giving birth.

Posted by booboo16 on Jan. 27, 2009 at 3:27 p.m. (report)

From another news source - Bruce Springsteen announced a world tour today, but Milwaukee's not on the list. Step away from the ledge Drew.