release date: Jan. 14, 2014
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Bruce Springsteen & Ron Aniello; Brendan O'Brien
label: Columbia Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "High Hopes" - 3. "American Skin (41 Shots)" - 4. "Just Like Fire Would" - 7. "Frankie Fell in Love" - 12. "Dream Baby Dream
18th studio album by Bruce Springsteen following Wrecking Ball (2012) is with Brendan O'Brien as producer on four out of 12 tracks, with the remaining eight produced by Springsteen and Aniello.
Compared to the predecessor this appears softer but still far from his acoustic releases. It's primarily pop / rock more than anything.
The album reached number #1 on the albums chart lists in the US and in the UK, like it did in many other countries, but I don't find it as interesting as his previous release. If you just love Springsteen classic, this album may feel just right. To me, this is Springsteen doing what he does, whenever he feels like it's time to release something new but not necessarily has anything new to offer us.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Slant, The Guardian 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 4,5 / 5 stars ]
