Bruce Springsteen – Magic

Man O Man, don’t you love it when an artist does a 180 ... not only their voice but their songs almost unrecognizable ... well that’s just what Bruce Springsteen has done here on “Magic,” delivering a splendidly personal album ... one on which the songs reminded me of the late Warren Zevon, yet wrapped around the delivery and sophistication of Bryan Ferry. Bruce has turned a major corner here, driving us home like a “Gypsy Biker” to a whole new set of sounds.

Rather then the music being the center of attention, Bruce has continued his introspective journey, determining who he is, as both a wealthy man, a man who needs for nothing, yet still yearns because there is a burning in his heart for not only the music, but for a ion ... yet I don’t believe he has discovered just who he is, nor what he's ionate about ... other then the music itself. But that's not an odd thing in the least, I've been searching for myself my whole life ... in my head I'm still twenty one, in my head I can still rock all night, in my head my feet still have wings ... and yes, I struggle when I try to determine just who I am at this stage. I do know that I spend a lot of time observing, seeing things for what they actually are, feeling truth ... and perhaps that's where Bruce is at also, and his ion is trying to find that voice, that voice, like a warm hand caressing a lovers skin, finally moving right in time with her.

I for one am willing to wait, because here on “Magic” Bruce still manages to conjure the magic out of his signature guitar sound, but more, there is the feel that his guitar is now his friend, rather then an extension of himself ... it’s as if he has actually learned to play, or perhaps he’s taken some cues after all of these years form those around him, like Nils; who is nothing short of top shelf when it comes to guitar playing ... and come to think of it, several of his songs have that early Nils vib going on. Make no mistake, below the vocals rest all of the instrumental work one would expect from Bruce, in all of their glory, it’s just that he no longer feels the need to smack you up side the head with it. All of the musicians sound centered and at peace ... the sax played by Clarence floats like smoke, while the rest of the band rolls on ... with complete enchantment.

This is not an album that is going to knock you back, there will never be another “Greetings From Asbury Park,” or a “The Wild, The Innocent & The East Street Shuffle” ... Bruce began this introspective journey somewhere during the release of “Tunnel Of Love,” and while every now and then there is a blazing spark to remind us of what brought him to the attention of the world ... for the most part, Bruce seems to be playing with an electric folk sort of sound, much as The Byrds did in the mid 60’s. So if you reset you mind, there is nothing disappointing here ... it is all just different. One of the major differences is that the music feels thick, as if there are actually no spaces what so ever ... the sound is all inclusive and all encoming, leaving you barely any room to talk a breath.

Me? I don’t want to keep buying the same albums over and over again ... his last few releases have been a breath of fresh air for me, and I’m enjoying them ... yeah, it may be my age, it may be Bruce’s age ... but his music speaks to me on a face to face level, and therein lies the magic.

Review by Jenell Kesler