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 book that refers to its glorious past. Exudes honesty and vitalism. Anything that makes the rock is redemptive.
But do a flashback to review the career of the Boss taking advantage of the situation that has published his fifteenth studio album. Bruce Springsteen (23-09-1949, Freehold, NJ) had already been trying in the 60 (Castile, Child, Steel Mill) when in 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, waged a lyrical close to the bard of Duluth, but was able to do rock'n'roll in the line of an Elvis Presley or Jerry Lee Lewis. And it was a confessed lover of the great Wall of Sound Phil Spector.
The debut of Springsteen could not be more promising. "Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ" (1973) was a debut as big. Temazos assumption 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 padding. But went unnoticed. However, "Blinded By The Light" became time later a hit for Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
The continuation suffered 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 glimpses of that epic teenager who is "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)".
The third was defeated. Springsteen's rise is not exactly meteoric. Slow but sure. So when he arrived at the summit was already an artist fact and law. The Boss meets the training that has given him better results. The E Street Band formed by the Clarence Clemons sax, Steven Van Zandt to the second guitar, Danny Federici organ, Roy Bitten on piano, Garry Tallent on bass and Max Weinberg on drums. "Born To Run" (1975) is, choosing a shortcut, the best album of Springsteen. Moreover, it is one of the greatest albums in the history of popular music. The insurmountable "Thunder Road", the brutal "Backstreets", that anthem is "Born To Run" or the monumental "Jungleland" scores are immortal. Especially recommended is the 30th anniversary edition. Either way, this is the record that catapulted to the status of crack Boss media.
After this romantic masterpiece of rock reaching the urban problems. Springsteen gets into a legal battle against his representative to discover that the rights of their songs do not belong to him. So I spend three long years until it sees the light of a new disc. Was in full punk sale "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" (1978), which suppurated bitterness 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 in which he reveals the great 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 what he alone mounted well before it was fashionable to put the "Unplugged". "Nebraska" (1982) is a large collection of items that sound back to Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash or Woody Guthrie. The America of Reagan is portrayed in black and white with stories of losers and marginal beings. Recorded in a four-track "Nebraska" is an album from a maximum nudity. There are no happy endings. After the molten black burst into tears ...
So far, Springsteen's work is immaculate. From "Born In The USA" (1984) start in case, the buts, the defects. This is the turning point. Springsteen was already installed on the star-system, but from now on becomes a megaestrella. "Born In The USA" is a good record, but at times guilty of superficial (falls prey to populism). Yes, "Bobby Jean," "Downbound Train" or "No Surrender" worth a Potosi. Indeed, the issue that gives its name to the disk was labeled by conservative anthem, when it is 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 old. Luce a production which is irritating at times. Some consider him a disc of worship. They are wrong. Lack passion, there should be anger and frustration behind a Springsteen toward higher goals. Hide good themes, of course. For example, "Brilliant Disguise" or "One Step Up." This presaged LP divorce from Springsteen, who end up marrying later with the singer Patti Scialfa (later a member of the E Street Band).
Opens a time of silence. Five years later returns with two disks. "Human Touch" (1992) is weak. The production remains a liability and the worst thing is that the songs give the impression of being routine. One misses at least the E Street Band. "Lucky Town" (1992) is another thing. Is a step above. Nor is it to shoot rockets, but argues for a higher inspiration. What is obvious is that Springsteen lacks the feeling of times past.
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 worse, Springsteen proves that you can still defend their cause. "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" retrieves the authenticity of "Nebraska". Based on "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck and John Ford's film either stored in the heart, Springsteen offers a new lesson in how to endure the sort with means austere. As anecdotal point worth noting that the song that serves as title for the album had 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 Sept. 11 as a backdrop, "The Rising" is raised with the weightless weight of 15 songs where the hope just winning the game to the pain and sadness.
As confirmation of that is in good run publishes "Devils & Dust" (2005). Return to the side and the exploration of acoustic aspect of counter stories. "Devils & Dust" is a chilling portrait of a soldier in the Iraq war, "Long Time Comin '" for their encouragement freshens 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 the figure of Pete Seeger and by extension of the folk singer whose commitment to the surrounding reality is total.
Finally, brings "Magic" (2007). Again with his best traveling companions: the seminal The E Street Band. In the album there are constant winks at his own work (an example cited the obvious to "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" is observed in "Livin 'In The Future"). But it is also 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 their work resists comparison with any of them. It is regrettable to see how many you scorn from ignorance or because they will not fit into the canon of 'cool' to proclaim that you like Springsteen. However, it seems that his figure is increasingly recognized by groups' indies'. There will come the time of his exaltation. There is no doubt that it will be claimed as a key figure. In contrast, it is irritating to see as many rock comes down to Springsteen. Neither one thing nor the other.
The genius of Freehold deserves a place of honor in the Olympus. You just have to attend (an always just amazed) to any of its direct incontestable to know it's very big. And if not, just a cursory look at an early stage before the universal stardom. Or, what the hell, take into account that he was able to discard the items included in the magnificent box "Tracks" (1998). This type has made history.
By Jose Luis Ruiz
