Bruce Springsteen is an artist that would find his way into the studio only if he has something substantial to offer and that would –even slightly- affect the lives of the million fans around the world. To this day, Springsteen remains a politically active musician that was never afraid to express his emotions. For instance, he wrote about the need of a whole nation to rise up from its ashes after the 9/11 (“Rising”), he vividly expressed his despair of President Bush’s politics (“Magic”), he hoped and wished for a better future in the wake of Obama’s election (“Working on a Dream”)…
In “Wrecking Ball” we meet an angry, a disappointed –if you prefer- man. Springsteen’s lyrics reflect the disproval of his expectations that views an economical war raging on before his eyes and has wrecked the morale and dreams of the American citizens. But now Springsteen is not setting his sights only to the socially bitten people but he chooses to point the arrow towards the ones responsible for this whole damaged situation (big bankers and politicians are surely in the frontline).
Musically speaking, “Wrecking Ball” bears the stamp of Bruce Springsteen (how could it be otherwise?) but it’s also enriched with various gospel, Irish folk and modern electronic elements. This is definitely a brave yet absolutely fitting step for The Boss. In a way, it reminds of “The Seeger Sessions” back in 2006 but personally, I see it as a need by Springsteen’s side to let the American minorities speak and most importantly be heard! But that’s only my humble opinion.
The album can be divided in two parts: the bigger one reflects as we said the angry, disappointed side but the last three songs capture a slight hope for a better future; a ray of light for the American society. At 62, Bruce Springsteen remains an active musician but most importantly remains a man who has something substantial to say and he is not afraid to do so. That’s very rare in our days…
Highlight: The saxophone of the late Clarence Clemons is heard for one last time here…
