Magic Review

Magic Review

When I hear a new song or album by Bruce Springsteen, I look beyond the song itself and start to imagine how it will be performed live in concert. IMHO, a new album is an excuse to tour. And with the tour I look at how other songs will be played with the new material. In this context I write the review of Magic to be released on October 2, 2007.

First, an overview of the album. Magic is basically a social commentary, a picture of society in 2007. This isn’t a Born in the USA type of rocker, with fist pumping songs to scream to. Bruce is at the stage of his career where he is more of the elder statesmen of rock and roll, not the junior congressman from New Jersey. But that doesn’t mean he has lost his ability to write about relevant feelings in these here United States of those that are down and out or cast off by society.

Now I’ll run through each song as I see it.

Radio Nowhere - The title sums it up. This song is about the lack of good music on the radio.

You'll Be Comin' Down – Good song. I can see this one being a ‘get your ass out of that seat’ kind of song during mid-set, maybe coming off of several slow songs.

Livin' in the Future – And the rockers keep on comin’! This will be the new ‘Sunny Day’ song for this tour, where the crowd is singing along and everyone is feeling good.

Your Own Worst Enemy – Well, they all can’t be rockers, or for that matter, winners. Not real sure what it is about, maybe a Big Brother kind of complex. I hope we don’t hear this one every night.

Gypsy Biker – The premise of this song is that a famous athlete dies, and his buddies pay homage to him in a ceremony where they take his motorcycle out and burn it. This may sound a little corny, but I can see where it would be important. This is a big picture type of song with stunning imagery. It also has a great set of instrument solos, harmony in the vocals, and end of song chanting for the crowd to get into it. In short, best song on the album.

Girls in Their Summer Clothes – Great title for a song, everyone can imagine this. Unfortunately, the upbeat ends with the title. This song is about a character (Bill) kind of down on his luck, maybe unemployed, and you experience his day as he goes about his business around town. Slow pacing, and kind of wordy. A little work on this song could have made it worthy of the title.

I'll Work for Your Love – At first I wasn’t sure of this song. But after a couple plays, I realized that it is a hymnal. In the tradition of many church hymnals, this song discusses sacrifice for the love of another and uses a lot of Christian imagery. In fact at one point, it sounds like a recorder (the flute like instrument) playing, which is often used in conjunction with church choir.

Magic – Statement on society as a whole. This song describes how you are lead to believe what someone else wants you to, not necessarily what is reality. The line, “Trust none of what you hear and only part of what you see”, sums up the song. The song conveys the feeling that the media show what they want you to see, not what is really happening.

Last to Die – This is in the vain of Seeds and some Devils and Dust. This is a commentary of our society of how those in power make decisions that the under-class must live with. But it doesn’t really go anywhere. The lyrics are kind of all over. Maybe some work with the band and it will work.

Long Walk Home – The first version I heard from the Sessions tour wasn’t much, but that’s the Magic of production. This song is kind of My Hometown that the character moved back to. Forget all the problems of 25 years ago, and realize where you are from. This song has grown on me and is one of my favorites of the CD.

Devil's Arcade – It seems like when Bruce refers to ‘the devil’ he is referencing George Bush (Devils and Dust was a testament to this). This song is no exception. I can see this piece being the final song of the main show (before encores). The marching type beat reminds me of Into the Fire from The Rising. Used in concert the same.

Terry’s Song – This is will be a ‘secret’ track on the released CD. Earlier this year, Bruce’s friend of over 35 years, Terry Magovern, died in his sleep. This song is a tribute to him. And like a lot of songs from one guy to another, it speaks from the heart without being overly sappy. I give it a thumbs up and I can see where a lot of men will dedicate it to their friends that pass.

In Summary: This is a very good CD. Possibly one the best work Bruce has done since Tunnel of Love. I think a lot of songs on this release will have legs for years to come and become instant fan favorites.

Since ratings are needed now a day; as it compares to other Springsteen CDs: B+

Compared to other music CDs: A-