release date: Mar. 31, 1992
format: cd (2005 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,16]
producer: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Roy Bittan
label: Sony Music Direct, Japan - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Human Touch" - 4. "Cross My Heart" - 7. "Roll of the Dice" - 9. "All or Nothin' at All" - 10. "Man's Job"
9th studio album by Bruce Springsteen originally released by Columbia Records. Instead of releasing a double album Springsteen released the album simultaneously with the album Lucky Town. Human Touch was recorded between Sep. 1989 and Mar. 1991, and was initially intended to be released in 1990. Apparently, Springsteen delayed the deadline on more than one occasion, as he wanted one more track on the album. "Living Proof" was to be be recorded for the album, but he ended up writing enough songs for another album. He then postponed the release and ended up with two albums instead of just the one.
The album received mixed reviews. Generally, this is considered the more mainstream uptempo 'pop / rock' album of the two, whereas Lucky Town is more singer / songwriter and folk rock-oriented. The title track was the only song that had a considerable airplay on the radio stations, which may explain some people's idea that this album is the better of the two. On the other hand, other critics suggest this is the shallow one and Lucky Town the more artistically driven, and better...
I think, the two albums are very much on the same level, and just think of them as one and the same, and for once Springsteen hasn't written a bunch of great and memorable tracks, and furthermore, it seems he has no real idea of direction: should he go for another Tunnel of Love production or a more stripped down sound?? He ends up releasing what he has written and recorded. I think he could have done better by releasing a double album and re-ordering the set-list to fit an uptempo disc and a more folk-based one, or he could have done without two albums and perhaps recorded one good album instead of the two near mediocre ones we are left with.
Not really recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 2 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
