I figured instead of the usual Metal or Alt Rock review that you might be accustomed to on this site, I would switch things up a little bit and give you a full dose of Folk Rock at its finest. Who better to do that than the Boss…Bruce Springsteen. The soon-to-be-released Working on a Dream should be a nice change of pace for you the reader and me the reviewer.
The Boss is Back!!! While Bruce is not quite in full Born to Run mode, he is sure hearkening back to his earlier years. After 30 some odd years in the music business, Springsteen reminds us of just how vital and important he is. Working on a Dream certainly cements a legacy that needs no cement. Besides Springsteen himself, this album has two key ingredients that make it what it is: The E Street Band and producer Brendan O’Brien.
As he does with all of the artists he has worked with, O’Brien brings out parts of Springsteen that haven’t been heard since the early 90′s. While he has always written quality music, it seemed as though Bruce forgot how to write a proper pop song…well, he has certainly remembered. In retrospect, 2007′s Magic seems to serve as a stepping stone into Dream in that it started to sound like the Boss that we all know and love. The Boss; whose Folk ditties transport you back to a simpler time, a time before Global Warming, Trans fats, and Nickelback.Working on a Dream was written directly after Springsteen and the E Street Band came off tour. This is odd because as old as those guys are you think they would want some rest after a long year of touring. Apparently that wasn’t the case because it lit a fire under them.
Okay Okay I know….I’m rambling again, so lets get to some actual music.
The Album kicks off by taking us to the Old West with “Outlaw Pete”. Just imagine John Wayne in musical form. This song has everything you expect from Springsteen: catchy hooks, image evoking lyrics, and a great build-up. The E Street Band doesn’t hold back either as they play their part in telling Bruce’s epic story. My only complaint about this song is the chorus “I’m Outlaw Pete…I’m Outlaw Pete…Can you Hear Me?…Can You Hear Me?” On the first few listens it actually distracted me from the song by how plain and kind of ridiculous it was for a song that tells such a great story and has such build-up. After a few listens though it becomes tolerable and does not take away from a 
otherwise great opener.
When listening to “My Lucky Day” I had to check and make sure i was listening to Bruce and not The Rolling Stones. The song certainly has a stones swagger to it with “bluesy” chords and up-tempo keyboard. This romantic romp is certainly a little peppier than some of his 90′s numbers like “Secret Garden”. In this one Springsteen actually seems happy that he is in love. The highlight of the album, and maybe the last decade of Springsteen’s career, comes in the form of the title track “Working on a Dream”. This song is modern day Folk music at its best. Springsteen successfully blends all era’s of his career into one track. You feel the energy of Born to Run, the big chorus of Born in the U.S.A, and the late life lamenting of Devil’s and Dust. This is a song for Springsteen fans from all eras.
The album has many other highlights including the piano driven day dream “Queen of the Supermarket”, which is a bit corny as far as lyrics go but you always run that risk with Springsteen and the song is still beautiful. “What Love Can Do” is plucked directly from the mid 90′s Pop/Folk Rock tree…and that is a positive. Think Blind Melon guitar tones mixed with the Gin Blossoms and throw in a little Lilith Fair and you have the perfect 90′s cocktail. Springsteen continues back in his time machine in “This Life” which has a very 60′s Folk vibe to it. “Good Eye” is a fusion of Southern bayou music (think Oh Brother Where Art Thou) and mixes it with a beat and chords very similar to the Sly and the Family Stone classic “Everyday People.” Only the Boss could fuse all of these ”old” sounds and create something totally new and fresh.
“Life Itself” would fit perfectly on Magic and features some of the richest guitar tones I have heard on a Springsteen track in along time. Bruce once again finds himself questioning life and love. As he ages, Springsteen is always finding new views on these two topics which eliminates too much repetition. “Kingdom of Days” and “The Last Circus” both show how Springsteen can make the most simple song stand out. Once again this is American Folk Rock at its best. The Bonus song on the album is “The Wrestler”, the title track off the movie soundtrack to Micky Rourke’s excellent comeback movie. This song is likely to win an Oscar and showcases Bruce in all his acoustic glory. Even though I’m not a washed up wrestler from the 80′s, this song still brings across the hardships that guys like Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake are facing today.
So overall I would give this album a 10 out of 10, an A+, 5 stars, or whatever other measurement you wanna use. The point is that Springsteen can still deliver in a big way and reminds us all of why he is the Boss. So even if it’s not your favorite style of music, do yourself a favor and pick this album up.