Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Album: The Promise
Release Date: Nov. 16, 2010
Label: Columbia
Grade: A
New Jersey's hometown hero is back for his 17th studio album, The Promise. For this record, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band promised to delight fans with unreleased songs from the Darkness on the Edge of Town recording sessions.
Springsteen has had a remarkable career that has spanned three decades and 20 Grammy awards. He has influenced countless generations of musicians with his incredible energy, rhythm, voice, and blue-collar appeal. From the legendary albums Born to Run and Born in the USA to Springsteen's most recent release, fans have stayed true to their working-class hero.
The Promise features 21 tracks full of classic rock, soul and pop. Regardless of musical taste, many will find it hard to argue the intensity and passion that this album delivers.
The opening track, "Racing in the Street," sets the listener up for a truly mesmerizing experience. The energy is palpable with every tap of a piano key and each strum of every guitar.
Springsteen also slows down the album's mood. Songs such as "One Way Street" show a heartfelt side of the singer as his bleeding-heart lyrics drip with emotion and showcase his ability to connect with the audience.
The title track is a powerful song with a message, which has been Springsteen's motif throughout his career. The lyrics convey the same ideals that have connected with his audiences throughout the years.
"All my life I fought this fight/ the fight that no man can ever win/ everyday it just gets harder to live," Springsteen sings.
Springsteen, at his core, is a great musician with a message that has captivated audiences for decades. The Promise captures the essence and delivers a mix of great songs straight to the listener's ears.
This is classic rock that any fan will appreciate. The emotion from Springsteen's voice is undeniably powerful. The E Street Band is electrifying and serves as a perfect companion to such an amazing singer.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Album covers courtesy of Island Records, The Avalanches, Warner Bros. Records, 88rising Records, Smithsonian Folkway Recordings and Numero Group
