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The Rising is Bruce Springsteen's first album of all original material in seven years |
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Artist: Bruce SpringsteenTitle: The Rising
Sony/Columbia CDCOL 6461
The Boss's first album of original material in seven years (and his first full studio recording with the E Street Band since 1984's Born in the USA) was bound to create some expectations.
One of my own, particularly as the album was inspired by the terrorist attacks in the US last September, was that it was going to be little more than a US flag-waving concept album (I never could bring myself to sing along with Born in the USA). But Tuesday's release of The Rising quickly dispelled my fears.
Musically, Springsteen picks up where he left off – good mid-tempo rock, but with the addition of an orchestral backing in some of the arrangements. Some more traditional rock fans may not like the strings in some of the songs, but I have always enjoyed the blend of rock and string orchestra when it is not overdone. And in this case the blend, probably the work of producer/mixer Brendan O'Brien (who has worked with such groups as Aerosmith, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden) is just right.
Despite the inspiration, the album – music and lyrics – is surprisingly upbeat (like the title), although it does have its low moments. For example, “Paradise” begins with the thoughts of a suicide bomber and ends with an aborted suicide attempt by someone close to a victim.
| TRACK LISTING
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1. Lonesome Day
2. Into The Fire
3. Waitin' On A Sunny Day
4. Nothing Man
5. Countin' On A Miracle
6. Empty Sky
7. Worlds Apart
8. Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin)
9. Further On (Up The Road)
10. The Fuse
11. Mary's Place
12. You're Missing
13. The Rising
14. Paradise
15. My City Of Ruins |
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The 11 September attacks may have inspired The Rising, but if I had not known I might have listened to it without realising that. The 15 tracks are about human drama and social comment that stand on their own, and you don't have to be American to enjoy them. Ironically, the one song that most captures the drama of September, “My City of Ruins”, was apparently written before those events took place.
Hearing the solid backing of the E Street Band again is itself a joy. My only complaint here is that there is not enough of Clarence Clemons's sax in the album, with the exception of the up-tempo “Mary's Place”. The band's talent generally could have been utilised a bit more.
It is doubtful that The Rising will go down as Springsteen's best album, but it is still one of his better offerings. Aimed squarely at the adult market and not likely to create a generation of new fans, it remains a great comeback album, a pleasure to listen to and well worth having in any CD collection.
Internet links:
www.brucespringsteen.net
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