Bruce Springsteen - Magic
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Free Music Notes for Magic
Free Music Review: Magic
Hit: 5 Stars
Bruce Springsteen & The E. Street Band-Magic *****
When you get right down to it, the bare basic rock n' roll, strip all the country leanings, the ol' dixie influence of albums past, the self-indulgent pop that went against everything you set out to do, and you have Magic, Springsteens most honest and true to form albums in years. Magic might be the very best album Springsteen ever released, rivaling that of even U.S.A., Darkness On The Edge Of Town, and even the legendary Born To Run. While it might not be as theme concious as those albums it does do something remarkable. Magic is a career spanning album, it has something from all that fasits of his career. Lour Arena rockers, Politicaly charged anthems, country hinged melodys, Bob Dylan meets Jack Kerouack lyrics, and a backing of one of Americas greatest rock bands, The E. Street Band.
Opening with one of their all time greatest songs, 'Radio Nowhere' comes across as a plea by way of a neutron bomb. Homming some of his best lyrics and some of the E. Street Bands best grooves. 'You'll Be Coming Down' is what they wish they would have accomplished with The Rising.'Livin' In The Future' would have fit perfectly with The River, and gives vision to what everyone wishes they could say sometimes, "We're living in the future, and none of this has happened yet." 'Girls In Their Summer Clothes' is one of the best songs the band has ever recorded reminding us of early Springsteen. 'Last To Die' is easily the best anti-war-in-Iraq song to ever come along. While the 'Long Walk Home' may just be the best to come along in the last ten years from anyone, one that truly has to be heard to fully appreciate.
Magic is the album we have all been waiting for, one that we almost got with The Rising, but just came up short. Magic is easily the best Springsteen album since U.S.A., and maybe of their entire career.
Free Music Review: Magical indeed! (4.5/5)
Hit: 4 Stars
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band's 2007 effort "Magic" is an immensely enjoyable project. Springsteen dubbed this release a "pop" album, and while upon first listen it musically doesn't seem any more "pop" than the band's previous effort, 2002's The Rising, it's clear that the mindset was different in the making of this record. Where The Rising was full of inspirational songwriting and post-9/11 sentiments, "Magic"'s songs focus again on love and personal struggles. The product is an album that is every bit as genius as its predecessor.
Springsteen continues to progress as an artist and a songwriter. The tunes on "Magic" range from rugged hard rock to softer folksy material to catchy ballads. What remains a constant is a certain nostalgia to most of the tracks; the majority sound somewhat similar, and often startlingly so, to a Springsteen song from 20 years ago. Bruce's verses are frequently poetic, thoughtful, and artistic. He lets loose social and political statements in a metaphoric fashion. Longtime fans might notice a change in his vocal sound, as he tends to incorporate a little more vibrato or airiness into his usually gruff delivery, and his verses are not as repetitive. The result is another excellent composition from the greatest rock performer of our time.
The band also sounds fantastic. Clarence Clemons' sax is as aggressively smooth and powerful as ever, and Little Stevie Van Zandt seems only to get better with age. The multi-talented Soozie Tyrell provides invaluable contributions on the violin and background vocals. What might take getting used to for fans is the production. Some studio elements are incorporated to make a balance and sometimes an echo effect that might turn some off at first. However, I find the sound to be clean and polished.
The album opens with an instant classic, the driving arena rock of "Radio Nowhere." Following a wonderful guitar line, Bruce delivers perfect verses despairing about the current state of mainstream media, complete with a Clemons solo. This song catches Bruce and the band at their absolute finest. "You'll Be Coming Down" and the somewhat political "Livin' in the Future" are both rich arrangements, the former an artistic somber number and the latter a seemingly joyful rocker. "Your Own Worst Enemy" sounds phenomenal, and the lyrics are thought-provoking. Bruce's harmonica opens "Gypsy Biker," a creative and memorable number, and the unforgettable "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" provides a true highlight, musically and lyrically perfect. Roy Bittan's piano on the great "I'll Work for Your Love" recalls his performances on Born to Run, and it turns into a catchy and endearing love song. The title track is a subdued and deep effort that would be at home on Devils & Dust. "Last to Die" is frenetic and meaningful, and while "Long Walk Home" feels familiar, it is nonetheless enjoyable. The most ambitious song is "Devil's Arcade." Structurally, the best comparison I can make would be to "Bittersweet Symphony," and it's a really impressive song. The album closes with "Terry's Song," a heartfelt highlight dedicated to his late friend Terry Magovern.
"Magic" is yet another wonderful composition to add to the Springsteen legacy. Both the man and the band are in top form, and this album shines from a performance and artistic standpoint. As with any of Bruce's music, it is best enjoyed live, and should you get the chance to enjoy the "Magic" tour, you will not be disappointed. However, the fans who can't make it to catch the tour will be satisfied for the time being with this excellent album from rock music's greatest visionary.
Free Music Review: OUCH!
Hit: 2 Stars
it's interesting to see who the real "listeners" are in this group...i agree that the mix just is sooo overpowering and bruce's voice gets sooo lost in the mix....REMIX the album like a true BRUCE album should sound like!Free Music Review: But an F for sound
Hit: 4 Stars
Good lord who could have released this cd without noticing how badly it
sounds ??
The actual cd content wise is terrific but it is horrible to listen to.
I bought it twice thinking I had a bad copy.
Oh how the quality of recordings has declined..
me coming from the 50's listening to my little 45's..
heck they sounded better than this.
But again back to the actual songs..I love em !
Free Music Review: Bruce at his best
Hit: 5 Stars
I was never a big Bruce Springsteen fan although I know of his music back in the 80's. However, when I heard his song Girls In Their Summer Clothes, I had to check him out. I previewed the song and his video and decided to get his album. Now that I have listened to all the tracks on Magic, I have been coverted to a Bruce fan. The songs are great, the lyrics well written, the sounds, rhythms and structure of his songs are pure Springsteen at his best. A definate must for any fan and a definate please try it to anyone that is not.