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 Dream Scape Nov 17, 2009
Bruce Springsteen's Working On A Dream is the follow-up to his 2007 release Magic. Whereas Magic had dark overtones and a sense of dread, Working On A Dream is a more optimistic album, although sadness does creep in from time to time. The album's opener is an exercise in sonic bombast, the spaghetti western styled "Outlaw Pete". The song is one of the better sounding efforts on the album, but the lyrics are a little over the top. "My Lucky Day" is classic Springsteen with a driving guitar base that wouldn't sound out of place on The River or Darkness. The title track is a homage to President Obama and is so likeable and earnest that you can forgive the silly whistling break in the middle of the song. "Queen of the Supermarket" has a nice sound, but may go down as having the worst lyrics to any song in Mr. Springtseen's vast catalog. "What Can Love Do" is a solid rocker while "The Life" evokes memories of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds with its layered textures. "Good Eye" is a strange blues inspired song that finds Mr. Springsteen utilizing a voice distorter that he used on the live version of "Reason To Believe" on the Magic tour. While that was extremely effective in concert, it just sounds odd on this song. He rounds nicely on the lovely "Tomorrow Never Knows" which has a pretty shuffling beat. "Life Itself" and "Kingdom Of Days are two, more or less, by the numbers songs that are good, just not great. "Surprise, Surprise" is a straight up Wall of Sound production with a swirling, layered sound scape that explodes out of your speakers. "The Last Carnival" is a moving tribute to the late Danny Federici that Mr. Springsteen sings with true feeling. The album closes with "The Wrestler" a song Mr. Springsteen wrote for the movie of the same name. It is a sparse, mostly acoustic number with lyrics that perfectly capture the essence of the film. It is the best song on the album and one of his best of the decade.
 Disappointing Nov 15, 2009
I am a Bruce Springsteen fan. This is only the second time I have been disappointed in Springsteen (the first was Human Touch). The music is vintage Bruce, but the sound is compressed and fatiguing. The lyrics of several songs are embarrassing from one of the great blue collar poets of our time. If you own all of his albums like I do, you will buy this regardless. Otherwise, skip this one.
 more you listen the more you love it Oct 14, 2009
Great cd, grows on you each time you hear it. Never get tired of Bruce one of the all time greats.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Still the Boss Sep 08, 2009
Although I did not like the first song, "Outlaw Pete" the rest of the album was terrific. Springsteen's voice has gotten better with age!
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
An Amazing Accomplishment Aug 14, 2009
...and a return to the old themes. First, the accomplishment. Bruce has put together a fresh and vibrant album, something that veteran artists are almost never able to do. Every song on this album is filled with richness and meaning. He's provided songs of hope (My Lucky Day and Working on a Dream), songs that display a profound love (Kingdom of Days, Surprise, Surprise), and as always, songs of deep thoughtfulness (Life Itself, The Last Carnival). Furthermore Bruce displays an amazing ability to mix and blend different musical styles from song to song. For example, he gives us Good Eye, a nearly pure Blues song.
Second, the old themes. Since The Rising, Bruce has put songs in each of his albums that have reflected our modern times (Into the Fire, Devils and Dust, Long Walk Home - to name a few). In Working on a Dream he has returned almost entirely to the old human themes - love, hope, loss, redemption. The themes that last through life - that is why signing about these themes strikes to the heart, no matter what year it is. I have been a Bruce fan since before Wild Billy's Circus Story - that is why I am so amazed at how rich and vibrant Working on a Dream is. After listening to it, I can describe it this way: When you listen to this album, and then listen to some of the other new albums out there - it is like going from reading classic literature to reading a children's book.
Lastly, this review could have also been titled A Study in Growth. Bruce and the band continue to grow and mature - Bruce's writing on this album displays an incredible emotional and philosophical progression. I think some of Bruce's old fans who are displeased with this album need to take a month off of work and try to keep up with his maturation as a human observer.
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