Computer Age

In the 70s he was hailed as the future of rock in the 80s became a superstar in the 90s seemed lost for the cause and the twenty-first century has regained the ability to thrill. "Magic" is the latest evidence that Bruce Springsteen is an artist whose inspiration has not been exhausted. It is a work that refers to its glorious past. Exudes honesty and vitality. Anything that makes the rock is redemptive.

But do a flashback to review the career of taking advantage of the situation of Boss has released his fifteenth studio album. Bruce Springsteen (23-09-1949, Freehold, NJ) had already tried in the 60 (Castile, Child, Steel Mill) where early'70s Columbia Records signed him. At first he was tagged with the stereotype of small new Dylan. A cliche that it was small. Yes, a lyrical esgrimía near the Bard of Duluth, but was able to rock'n'roll in the line of an Elvis Presley or Jerry Lee Lewis. And he was a confessed lover of the great Wall Of Sound of Phil Spector.

The debut of Springsteen could not be more promising. "Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ (1973) was a premiere in a big way. Presumed temazos of the caliber of "Growin 'Up," "Spirit In The Night," "For You" or "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City." I had no filler. But went unnoticed. However, "Blinded By The Light" was a later time to hit Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

Continued met the same fate. "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" (1973) not only maintains the creative level, but in some cases exceeds the threshold (seminal "Incident On 57th Street, 4th Of July , Asbury Park (Sandy) "and" New York City Serenade "). Springsteen begins to chisel his mythical world of cars and girls. This is also the album of jazz and winks that epic teenager is "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)."

The third was defeated. Springsteen's rise is not exactly meteoric. Slow but sure. So when he came to the summit was already an artist fact and law. The Boss meets the training has given him better results. The E Street Band made up of the Clarence Clemons sax, Steven Van Zandt of the second guitar, organ Danny Federici, Roy Bittan on piano, Garry Tallent on bass and Max Weinberg on drums. "Born To Run" (1975) is choosing a short cut, the best album Springsteen. Moreover, it is one of the greatest albums in the history of popular music. The superb "Thunder Road", the brutal "backstreets" That song is "Born To Run" or the monumental "Jungleland" Scores are immortal. Especially recommended is the 30th anniversary edition. Either way, this is the album that catapulted to the status of crack Boss media.

After this romantic rock masterpiece of urban problems arrive. Springsteen gets into a legal battle against his representative to discover that the rights of their songs do not belong. So I spend three long years until it comes out a new album. Punk was in full sale "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" (1978), which supura bitter in large quantities. Now the cartoons reflect the concerns of unsung heroes working class. The American dream becomes a nightmare. "Badlands" (with the classic film by Terrence Malick in mind), "The Promised Land" or "Candy's Room" are gems that show that anger and anxiety can serve as a vehicle for writing great themes.

After publication of "The River" (1980). This is a double album that shows the versatility of an author able to blow up stadium anthems ( "Hungry Heart," "Sherry Darling," "Out In The Street") or on the other side is capable of breaking hearts with sinuous ballads ( "Point Blank," "Drive All Night" the same "The River").

And then came the surprise. Springsteen is set up long before he himself had been made fashionable the "Unplugged." Nebraska "(1982) is a large collection of items that sound back to Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash or Woody Guthrie. America is Reagan portrayed in black and white with stories of losers and marginal beings. Recorded on a four tracks, "Nebraska" is an album from a maximum nudity. There are no happy endings. After casting into tears flowing black ...

So far, Springsteen's work is immaculate. From "Born In The USA" (1984) start doubts, buts, the defects. This is the turning point. Springsteen was already installed on the star-system, but from now becomes a megastars. "Born In The USA" is a good record, but at times guilty of superficial (fall prey to populism). But, "Bobby Jean," "Downbound Train" or "No Surrender" worth a Potosi. Incidentally, the item title of the disk was labeled conservative anthem, when the opposite. The fact is that Springsteen did not sell well digestion million records.

"Tunnel Of Love" (1987) is irregular. In this romance lacks the substance of yesteryear. A production that looks at times is annoying. Some consider him a cult album. They are wrong. Lack passion, are lack of anger and frustration that prompted Springsteen to higher goals. Hide good subjects, of course. For example, "Brilliant Disguise" and "One Step Up." This presaged LP divorce Springsteen, who then end up marrying the singer Patti Scialfa (later a member of the E Street Band).

Opens a time of silence. After five years back with two discs. "Human Touch" (1992) is weak. The production remains a drag and the worst is that the songs will seem to be routine. A lack of the E Street Band. "Lucky Town" (1992) is another thing. Is a step above. Nor is it to shoot rockets, but it maintains a higher inspiration. What is obvious is that it lacks the feeling Springsteen pretéritos time.

Before recording "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" (1995) won the Oscar for "Streets Of Philadelphia." It has become the King Midas. If the omens are bad Springsteen shows that one can still defend their cause. "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" recover the authenticity of "Nebraska." Based on "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck and John Ford's film kept in good heart, Springsteen offers a new lesson in how to endure the kind means austere. As anecdotal record that included serving as the title song for the album was a cover of Rage Against The Machine.

"The Rising" (2002) serves to continue recovering credit. He returned to recording with The E Street Band (from "Born In The USA did not do such a thing). With the tragedy of September 11 as a backdrop, "The Rising" rises with the weightless weight of 15 songs where just hope winning the game against the pain and sadness.

As confirmation of that is in good run publishes "Devils & Dust" (2005). Back to the acoustic side and exploration aspect of counter stories. "Devils & Dust" is a chilling portrait of a soldier in the Iraq war, "Long Time Comin '" for his cool breath life. "Maria's Bed" and "All I'm Thinkin 'Bout" also stand out in a remarkable album.

The next step is unexpected. "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" (2006) is the first disc versions of Springsteen's long career. This is an excellent tribute to Pete Seeger's figure and by extension of the folk singer whose commitment to the surrounding reality is total.

Finally, get the "Magic" (2007). Again with the best travel companions: the seminal The E Street Band. In the album there are constant winks at his own work (for example quoted obvious to "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" is observed in "Livin 'In The Future"). But it is easy to discern references to the Bible's classic Rock (shines with the intensity spectoriana "Girls In Their Summer Clothes").

Bruce Springsteen did not have the intellectual prestige of other artists, but the quality of her work resists comparison with any of them. It is regrettable to see how many you significant from ignorance or because it enters the canon of 'cool' to proclaim you like Springsteen. However, it seems that his figure is increasingly recognized by groups' indies'. The time will come when his exaltation. There is no doubt that it will be claimed as a key figure. In contrast, it is irritating to see how many drops to rock Springsteen. Neither one thing nor the other.

Freehold's genius deserves a place of honor in the Olympus. You just have to attend (an always amazed just) one of its direct incontestable to know it's great. And if not, just a cursory glance at the first stage before the universal stardom. Or, what the hell, let us bear in mind that was able to discard the items included in the magic box "Tracks" (1998). Such has made history.

By Jose Luis Ruiz