A sprinkling of Magic from The Boss (Magic - Bruce Springsteen)

Member Name: mrjoegoodwin

Product:	Magic - Bruce Springsteen
Date:	18/05/09 (6 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Radio Nowhere, Long Walk Home, Magic

Disadvantages: Devil's Arcade

Following a hugely successful reunion with the E-Street Band on 'The Rising', and after a solo album (Devils & Dust) and side project (Seeger Sessions), Springsteen returned to his day job with 'Magic'. Comprising 11 songs plus the bonus track 'Terry's Song', Magic features Bruce taking strong political viewpoints on the state of his beloved America. 'Livin in the Future' references illegal wiretapping and extraordinary rendition, while Gypsy Biker tells the powerful story of a returning US soldier, killed in the Iraq war. Recapturing the sound from some of the earlier records with the E-Street Band, Magic debuted at #1 in the US charts, though fell sharply afterwards, receiving boosts later on in the year once the record formed the backbone of the 'Magic' tour. Recent collaborator Brendan O'Brien, who was at the controls for both of Springsteen's previous releases, takes the helm again for Magic, producing a record full of expansive sounds, songs like 'Long Walk Home' and 'You'll be Coming Down' being reminiscent of the big E-Street band choruses of yesteryear. Whilst 'The Rising' signified Springsteen's big return to popular consciousness, Magic continues in a similar vein, demonstrating to the world that The Boss's creative juices are still flowing freely.

Summary: More stadium anthems from Springsteen and the E-Street band