Back to “good old Bruce”! when I listen to this new album, I feel like i`m listening to Greetings.., Born to run and other albums from the seventies-early eighties.I really like this sound and the songs feel strangely familiar, eventhough I`ve only heard them a couple of times.feels like coming home! I really liked Seeger sessions and was afraid to get my hopes up about this new album, but it is a great album and I already love it.Look forvard to the consert in Oslo des.4th. See you!

Where is Rolling Stone’s review of MAGIC by Bruce Springsteen?

As usual, when the BEST decides to play his BEST, backed by the BEST band in the world aside from Pearl Jam, the results should not be hard to figure. MAGIC is a dynamite record, proof again that Springsteen is in a class of one.

,,,,has his place in rock and roll history, but has never appealled (sp?)to me,,,,,,boring,,,snore!!

Yes, where IS the Rolling Stone review of “Magic”? I see the articles, but no straight-up review…what’s the deal?

Butt Ugly.. that’s because you have to have half a brain to get Springsteen. He’s not just power chords and noise, as most music is today. He is Brucealmighty.

The Rising tour was great, but I remember being disappointed that it focused so much on the new album. This time, I can’t WAIT to see the shows and I hope he plays Magic in its entirety. To hear Bruce and Steve together like that send chills…the harmonica and guitar on “Gypsy Biker” is as good as it gets. Period.

the review is in the new issue which is out later this week

Must-have album of the year??? Damn, Rolling Stone sure knows how to kiss some ass. Perhaps by kissing ass they’re trying to get an interview with Springsteen at some later point in time?

I’ve read several other reviews from newspapers and web music sites and all have said that this album is no greater than 3 stars (out of 5) and is not grabbing, too somber and overthought.

Sorry but Springsteen is not God and not everything he puts together is gold. Stop kissing his ass RS and you people out there who think this is a “dynamite album”. Yeah right! Springsteen could probably put any old piece of shit out and you people will eat it up.

Pathological Springsteen fan since I’m 13 years old (now 36). Admittedly, the album didn’t sink in on the first listen…it felt too heady and overproduced. Of course I gave it some time and on the 2nd/3rd time through it really began to open up for me…the songs are in my head all day. Don’t worry Bruce fans- it’s a great album.

“I’ve read several reviews…”. But, you haven’t actually even heard the record, have you? So STFU. You searched for the reviews that gave it the least amount of praise, but the truth is that overall, the record is garnering excellent reviews, and deservedly so. Go slink off back to your hole…

Hey “Sucks”…check out Mojo, NYT, Detroit Daily, AP, LA Times, Uncut, EW, Independent. They all give it 4 or more stars. Go listen to your Brittney Spears and Nikelback records.

Agree completely with Joe on this. Magic is truly brilliant.

Hey how do you know I listen to Britney Spears and Nickelback? They’re the best dammit (better than Springsteen). Bruce – is the album called “Magic” because it’ll make your fans disappear? Thanks, I think I’ll crawl back into my hole.

Magic sucks? So does your mom, and the bitch can’t even do that well.

BTW first impression of Magic…DAMN GOOD. Some songs will need time to grow on me but I can’t wait to hear em live. Four outta five stars and a good ol’ bitchslap to the haters.

Great albumn ,but how come so many of the songs sound like something I’ve heard before a long time ago ? Eg: Girls in their summer clothes = the kids are alright. Still it’s great.

Great albumn ,but how come so many of the songs sound like something I’ve heard before a long time ago ? Eg: Girls in their summer clothes = the kids are alright. Still it’s great.

Great albumn ,but how come so many of the songs sound like something I’ve heard before a long time ago ? Eg: Girls in their summer clothes = the kids are alright. Still it’s great.

How can you possibly compare Nickelback and Spears to Springsteen, he has sold more copies of Born to Run then Nickelback has oout of all theirs albums and don’t get me started on Britney, how bad of a mom can u be that Kevin federline is a better parent, that is who u like go to hell jackass

Yeah this is a great album. yeah aight! Stop deluding yourselves people into believing this is good. you springsteen fans are brainwashed. he shits just like you and me. be for real. I want my Britney Spears CD! gimmie britney!

My daughters will finally see Bruce for the first time in Washington on Veterans Day.Many thanks to my brother Tim for magically making it happen.I remember going from Columbia Missouri to St. Louis with Russell to pick up Tim and see Bruce and the E Street at the Fabulous Fox, one of the last of the movie palaces. It was also November, only 32 years ago, and after that amazing 4 hour plus concert, we stepped out of the theater rejuvenated and it started to snow. It felt so good, it felt so right. It felt like magic.

Guys, I’m a HUGE Bruce fan. He is GoD and Gospel to me. I’m going to the tour opener in Hartford in…about 5 minutes. Let me blaspheme…Magic ranks amonf Human Touch and Lucky Town as his all-time weakest efforts. It’s unfocused and uncoordinated, directionless and theme-less. Brenden O’Brien managed to do to The Boss what he did earlier this year to Velvet Revolver…make him sound like a streamlined, glossed-over commercial.

I know Bruce is considered a legend by very many, but frankly, I don’t get it. His music doesn’t do a fucking thing for me.

RS only gave arcade fire 3 1/2 stars????????

For one thing Springsteen doesn’t need any new fans. So why don’t you punks born after Reagan was elected just move along instead of bashing something you just missed out on. Which is the best rock artist in American history. Real sorry. Had to be there. This disc takes me back to Dave Burk’s nasty basement when I was high and trying to get laid. Too young to be doing that. Yep. ya had ta be there.

Bruce Springsteen is an american
treasure. He has yet to release
a record that doesn’t hold relevancy. Fan’s of real music
continue to want to hear him because of the feeling that goes into a Springsteen record. You
don’t get that from Britney Spears. Glad she got her kids taken away!

Bruce Springsteen is an american
treasure. He has yet to release
a record that doesn’t hold relevancy. Fan’s of real music
continue to want to hear him because of the feeling that goes into a Springsteen record. You
don’t get that from Britney Spears. Glad she got her kids taken away!

thanks Bruce for the Magic of your music…..

I love how when you make such an inocuous comment that a particular artist is not your cup of tea, you’re automatically screamed at and then accused of being a FOB or Britney fan.

I won’t bore people with detalis, but I’m definitely not into Britney! I guess I’m un-American because I’m not a Bruce fan!

It does mean you are un-American. Bruce is the Boss.

heard the album at least 10 times by now and it is very good. by the third listen it gets you. not only does it have good grooves but meaningful lyrics. saw it live in asbury park and the band seemed healthy and ready to rock. god bless b.s. and e street.

You’re an idiot

Isn’t everyone entitled to their own opinion? If someone doesn’t like the CD, it doesn’t matter. It’s his opinion. I personally have not heard the CD, but “Radio Nowhere” is my favorite single at the moment.

Yes they are. But you’re not allowed to not like Bruce. God forbid!
Personally, if I want to listen to country music, I’ll just listen Glenn Campbell or John Denver.

No Henry, you’re not un-american, you’re “wee Todd Didd”. You’re Sofa King Wee Todd Didd.

Why don’t you and Bruce take turns going down on me?

Hey “ugly-butt”, my brain is whole, I just don’t like his music. I gave him praise for his talent, what part of that did you miss,,,dumb-ass jerk-off. Post your ugly shit towards poeple that truly trash your beloved Bruce, corn-hole!!

remember, butt-ugly (perhaps I’m stalking you now, ha ha. just a joke BTW) It’s AGAINST THE LAW if you don’t like Bruce. You and I could be PUT TO DEATH for not liking him! Didn’t you know that?

These particular Bruce fans are completely intolerant of any opinion that’s not their own.

“ugly-but”: I’ll take loud power chords over being put to sleep any day of the week, buddy!

I don’t know . . . I previewed the songs they don’t sound like much, to be honest. The fact that the album is kind of short seems like a sign that Bruce didn’t have a tremendous amount of material. Ditto for Fogerty’s new release. That one, though, sounds really bad on first listen. The songs, save for the first one, are either really simplistic or so straightforward as to abandon subtlely and nuance altogether. Unfortunately, Dylan seems to be the only old(er)guy who can still come up with good records, and even he has taken to outright theft of lyrics and traditional melodies in order to stay afloat.
What a draig it is getting old . . . (Just ask Mick and Keith. “A Bigger Bang” really blew the big one. Totally crap. No one will ever listen to those songs again.)
The King

Dylan and Springsteen are the last ones of the greats releasing relevant and quality records.

dylan, springsteen and ooo yeah that called Trent Reznor…havent heard the new springsteen yet but Year Zero is probably the record of the year

dylan, springsteen and ooo yeah that called Trent Reznor…havent heard the new springsteen yet but Year Zero is probably the record of the year

Good album for what it is, but devoid of original ideas. Something new from Bruce is unfortunately always a re-cycling of something old.

Good album for what it is, but devoid of original ideas. Something new from Bruce is unfortunately always a re-cycling of something old.

Sounds like the Boss and E-Street to me. It ain’t Darkness or Born to Run, but it’s better than the Rising. I’ll give it four out of five on its own; in comparison to what’s left out in the wasteland of pop music, five out of five. “Your Own Worst Enemy” is fucking vintage.

Give the album some time..I must admit it seems a little over produced. However it is a good quality of songs together and I bet its the record of the year….I liked I ‘ll work for your love….all catchy tunes really…

An amazing album, if you give it a few listens and aren’t comparing it to what it is not.

Hey, I gotta tell ya that the new John Fogerty CD REVIVAL gets as many spins in my player as MAGIC. Check out the tunes Long Dark Night, Gunslinger, Natural Thing, Somebody Help Me, Longshot, and Creedence Song. You won’t be disappointed, I tell ya. Get both CDs. As Tony the T says: THEY’RRRE GREAT!!!

Springsteen is an Icon and a Poet Man! He is right up there with Dylan. He is the working man’s hero. And I do not say this just because I am a Jersey Gurl. His songs have meaning and are relevant with the times and what is going on in the world today. Besides, his live shows last 4 hours and he Rocks 75,000 people at a time. If he sucks, then why do his tickets sell out in 15 minutes time? Brrrroooocccceeee fan for life.

Bruce Springsteen hates police officers and has spoken out against the NYPD. By the way, his new record is s***. But even if he farted, Rolling Steen would still give it five stars. The guy has NO talent.

how the hell did that piece of crap spears come up in this review? Diarrhea is correct its what we witnessed at the start of the vmas.whats that radio station placing bets on her demise?

Was a matter of time before an idiotic Police Officer chimed in with a clueless post.
Great record btw.

Michael Rabdau: Maybe your time line is off, or maybe you think Springsteen did 4 hour shows from day one? He didn’t. If you saw him 32 years ago, that would be 1975 on the Born to Run tour. He was doing about 2 ½ hours on that tour. On the Darkness tour he did about 3 to3 ½ hours. The River tour (I saw him six times on that tour; four of the concerts were in different states) He started playing 4 to 4 ½ hours.
When he did the No Nukes concert (this was just before the release of The River) he did about 45 min.; that was because they limited the amount of time each artist could do because there were so many artist that wanted to perform.
Roy Bittan (hope I’m spelling his name right, I haven’t looked at the spelling in awhile) said after the No Nukes concert that when they only played 45 min., he thought Bruce would shorten the amount of time they would play on the River tour and then said that no, Bruce just added the 45 min. to the show.
I’ve seen every tour (I also saw the No Nukes concerts) up through Tunnel of Love and then didn’t see another concert until 2000 tour and haven’t seen one since.
In 1975, I saw him on the only concert he played in Sacramento CA – ever – and I think it was just over 2 ½ hours and the reason I say that is because there wasn’t an opening act and I thought at the time he would play longer because of no opening act, but he didn’t. We also saw him later that year in Minn. and my friend commented that he played about ½ hour longer (that concert was three hours, but the concert was also sold out and Sacramento was only about 1/3 sold – little over 5,000 people – but no one knew him well on the west coast back then and maybe he was pissed cause he didn’t sell out in Sac…anyway, he never came back. Opps, didn’t mean to ryhme).
When I saw him two nights on Born in USA tour, I clocked about 4 ½ hours the first night and about 2 min. shy of 5 hours the second night. Tunnel tour I also saw him two nights in a row and they were about 3 ½ hours to about 3 hours and 45 min.
When I saw him in 2000 I was very disappointed, but I guess that was because I had been a fan from the first time I heard a song (Born to Run on the radio when I was 15; the same year I saw him in concert two times). I loved everything he did up through Tunnel of Love (and I mean LOVED everything he did), but lost respect for the man when he cheated on his wife during the Tunnel tour. When I saw him in 2000 he didn’t tell his stories (man, that was half the reason you go to the show) and sad to say the show was only 2 ½ hours and a bit boring.
I’m sure that I will get someone saying something negative to me, but hey, you can’t say I’m not a fan…I loved his music up through Tunnel of Love…I mean I LOVED the music and I still love those albums. I take them out and play them all the time and the music is still genius…but Springsteen isn’t a God people.
He is rich – which he deserves to be – and people look at him like he cares about the poor people…maybe he does, but when I just saw the thing about trying to buy a horse for his daughter for $850,000.00, I’m sorry, but don’t try to believe that he is still in touch with the poor. I don’t begrudge him spoiling his teenage daughter any way he wants to, but 99% of Springsteen’s fans don’t live that way and yet they want Springsteen to preach to them on how they should live their lives. I’ve got an idea; buy his music and go to his concerts, but take the rest with a grain of salt. Read and study the issues and if your views are the same as his more power to you, but at least get your idea’s and views from someone other than a millionaire singer that wants more of your money. Springsteen is the guy that will tell you at his concerts how bad the CEO’s are that get million’s of dollars for running a company while Springsteen is getting million’s of YOUR dollars while he is telling you this. Big difference between Springsteen and the CEO; the CEO actually has to run a company every day. What does Springsteen run, build or otherwise work at all the time…writing music??? Don’t say he has to get the guys together and manage a band…please don’t say that.
Now, as far as the new album goes, I hope it’s good…just downloaded it and if I like it, I will go buy it (don’t buy any Springsteen off the shelf since I bought Human Touch and that crap he put out with it on the same day). Not only was he ripping off his fans that day buy releasing two separate albums (a double album is less money than two single album’s), but one of the albums had music on it he never would have released back in the days of Born to Run, Darkness or the River. But he knew he had fan’s like me out there that bought his albums without listening to them first…so he sucked me in. Haven’t bought an album since (I’ve heard them all, but haven’t bought). Again, if Magic is good, I’ll erase my illegal copy and go buy it…if it’s bad, I’ll do what I did with The Rising illegal copy…I’ll just erase it.
Well, there you have it. Now, flame on.

Hey Jordan: give the cop his due buddy. You’re upset that he took offense to an offensive song. The song made it sound like every police officer was a racist and a bad cop. The incident that Springsteen wrote about not only had black police officers involved, but the police were found not guilty. I’m sure you’ll find that hard to believe – cops must have only got off because they were cops – since Springsteen wrote a song about it. How could the cops be right when Springsteen told you how the story was supposed to go?

First of all, I don’t think Springsteen hates cops. He is a story teller that told a bad story (not about a bad thing that happened…just a bad story). Springsteen didn’t have his facts right – but if you saw 60 mins. last night you probably also wonder how could Bruce get it wrong especially when he said he was so smart in school but just did bad in school because he hated school…whaaa…told by a smart guy.

Next, even if the cops were wrong, give respect to a cop anyway. You’ll respect them when someone breaks into your house, robs you on the street, rapes you or someone you know…etc…

So why call the guy an idiot. Cops get very little money (compared to the work they actually do) and their lives are on the line everyday…something Springsteen showed little respect for in his song. So, even if you think Springsteen is right (by the way, if you haven’t already guessed, 41 Shots – or whatever the song was called – I felt was extremely disrespectful to good people…men and women…that do a very dangerous job every day.

Buddy, think before you post. Now, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the cops are idiots…but I think by now, even Springsteen wishes he could take back a bad song.

Sounds like another Republican turned off by Bruce haha can you guys get over yourselves!! lowest approval ratings everrr!! 41 shots= great song, when 41 shots get fired on an innocent black man..it ain’t no mistake. don’t give us that bullshit about the cops being found not guilty. obviously they weren’t found guilty, poor Rudy Giuliani didn’t want to look like a jackass. stop spitting your spew on us. As far as that comment about his shows not being of the highest quality anymore because he “doesn’t tell stories anymore” and because they’re not as long as they used to be, that is the most ridiculous statement. Saw him play at Shea in 2003 and he played for close to 3 1/2 hours with no break! it was one of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen Dylan in the 60’s, Stones in the 70’s and even u2 in their prime.

“is it a gun, is it a knife, is it a wallet, this is your life…”
-Springsteen’s “41 Shots”

The song tells the story of Diallo from both sides. Springsteen points out that the cops have a split second decision to determine if somebody is going to shoot them or show them their ID. Does the song take the side of the minority over the policeman? Sure does. But it’s not “Cop Killer.”

Right or wrong, Springsteen speaks his mind and does not apologize for feeling one way or another. Rock is dead. Virtue is not.

PROUD POLICE OFFICER

i have one thing to say to you

YOUR AN IDIOT!

Magic is not the best by a long shot…Its a bit twee and not gutsy enough, but its about 100,000 times better than a lot of the crap being put out today and i WOULD give a body part to be at the O2 Arene to see my man Bruce in the UK. I have seen him twice and both times spent the 1st half an hour in tears of joy, Yes Music is Magic
love and respect x

As much as I liked the Seeger sessions, it is nice to see and hear the Boss doing what he does best. That is put out a great rock album. Along with Bob Dylan and Neil Young, Springsteen is one of the great lyrics writers of our time.

at the very end of world series coverage they played one of his new songs during the credits with replays of highlights…man, is that song over-rated…no way should this album be up for a grammy…it’s not that good…by the way…they subsequently played U2’s walk on next and it was much better…of course.

Magic is country Music? If the reviewer that thinks Magic is Country music, then she doesn’t know much about music. Go back to Glenn Campbell and John Denver. If she is referring to the Seeger Sessions CD that came out last year, that was Folk music not Country.

To the Proud Cop – Bruce has always supported the police – did many benefits for them in the past. It wasn’t until 41 Shots came out when all of a sudden he doesn’t support them. How quickly people forget. Just like the conservative fans that were “disappointed” when he called for Bush to be impeached. How could they not know what his politics were after 40 years of listening to his music? I guess these people still think Born in the USA was a patriotic song like Regan did. Well, it’s an anti-war song. Just like Devils and Dust. Yet Bruce always supported the Vietnam Vets and did many benefits for them as well. How quickly people forget all the good he’s done. And what does all these political comments have to do with how good or bad (if that’s your opinion) a CD this is? Post your agendas on the Fox News site.

It must be a pretty good CD since I didn’t like it. I have really bad taste.

From the opening arpeggiated clang of the misfortunately titled “Radio Nowhere” to the implied intimacy of the “bonus track,” longtime Bruce fans will certainly believe that “The Boss” is back in form.
The new CD entitled Magic opens with the ironically accusing “Radio Nowhere” which sounds as if it is quoting the desk-side wastebasket of beloved 90s alternative rockers, The Smithereens. The doggerel “Drivin’ through the misty rain/searchin’ for a mystery train” provides the type of imagery and rhyme that earns an encouraging “B” in a high school creative writing class. The “scathing” commentary on the state of the airways falls flat as the second tune, “You’ll be Comin’ Down,” makes you want to not only change the station, but turn the radio off in favor of the mile-worn overhead cam of your Plymouth minivan, your mind desperately hoping that Bruce uses the profit from said album to buy “The Big Man” Clemmons a new riff.
Now don’t get me wrong; I’m not a hands-down Bruce-hater. I always reserve hope for that un-conscientious exuberant Jersey swang that adorned our ears with “Rosalita”, “Born to Run”, “The River” and even the lesser “Out in the Street” or “Dancin’ in the Dark”. In these examples, the character within the songs was believable, and you could even forgive him for stealing James Brown’s stage collapse routine (it will never be cool, regardless what your 12 pack brother-in-law thinks.)
The brilliance that the un-photographed Bruce Id is capable of is often restrained by the sturdy-safe musicianship of his E-Street cronies. Their idea of getting “down” is probably concurrent with the “down” of a Pat Sajak-centered universe. The prevailing thick arrangements and production values envision a crowded mix-down room, where hints at Jersey badness are rendered unconvincing as everyone is equally given short shrift. (How many guys does it take to have a band anyway?)
“Livin’ in the Future” should have been the opening cut on this project. The promise is briefly delivered on with a great intro, comparatively smokin’ groove and a rare simmering B3 solo at the forefront of the mix. Clarence again phones in the sample of his earlier work, but is forgiven because his haircut is no longer ridiculous.
The filler tunes (we need more songs) occur having melody lines so weak that they should be in a physician’s care— discover carnivalesque piano/organ fills better suited to intentionally misdirected Christmas carols and “AH, AH,” choruses and “La La” outros which under a crueler regime would be marched out in a field and shot. “Girls in Summer Clothes” is something Jackson Browne could have used to clean up a coffee spill in 1984, and in spite of the bitchin’ kick drum and sinister minor key, the nearly cool title cut sounds like Leonard Cohen’s voice mail.
Perhaps most disappointing is the fact that “The Bruce’s” lyricism reflects the Broadway shtick of his live enactments. This is most definitively illustrated by obvious efforts at sophistication in “I’ll Work for your Love” and the affected vocal of “Devil’s Arcade,” where “the man who saved rock ‘n roll” seems satisfied with being a convincing character actor (complements of Jon Landau). Bruce might even have stolen some of these tunes from his own ashbin.
As a peripheral Bruce fan, his best could make the hair on your neck stand, but his worst was always better than Journey. I remain hopeful that he will return someday.
P.S. The bonus track could have been swept up from Steve Earle’s jail cell circa 1996.
JS Mundane Zaibatsu Heavy MFG.

la la la la la la la la

I like to eat oreo cookies with milk when listening to “magic”