CD Giveaway - Sam Shrieve, "Bittersweet Lullabies"
Ends Nov 29, 2009
The current student at Berklee College of Music has a rock 'n' roll pedigree, but delivers a pleasing and diverse collection of soft pop on his debut record. Enter our contest for your chance to win!
The Twilight Saga: New Moon Prize Pack
Ends Nov 29, 2009
The second installment of the Twilight saga is hitting theaters, and we've got the stylish goodies you'll howl over!
Bruce Springsteen returns in the wake of September 11th and is joined by the E Street Band, working together again after eighteen years. Their last record was "Born in the U.S.A." which was a great masterpiece album. This is Springsteen's best album since then.
The Boss has delivered an album that's good, especially addressing the issue of 9/11 without a sense of cliché or trite. Listening to these songs puts you through a wide range of emotions and feelings. Whether it may be an uplifting song like "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" or a solemn tribute like "Nothing Man" you can feel yourself responding to the songs' melody and tone.
Mixing the songs pertaining to September 11th with the others fits as well, surprisingly. They differ in topic, but mirror in theme. As the album title suggests, this record is about the aspirations of the human soul. The broad area covered is inspirational and uplifting. A lot of the songs (the transition of the album reflects this as well) begin with a calm, dark, and serious mood. Then they slowly shift, with the help of the increasing beat of the drums and more assertive guitar riffs, into anthems of restoration. You can see this in the contrast of the first track "Lonesome Day" all the way to the finale of "My City of Ruins".
A real consistency is found in all of the songs' sound and theme. The lyrics of each song are also consistent in that they actually mean something. In the day and age where lyrics have fallen in importance, Springsteen reminds us that lyrics can still be an area where a record can shine. Hearing lines like, "May your strength give us strength/ May your faith give us faith/ May your hope give us hope/ May your love bring us love" from "Into the Fire" ring notes of optimism. A Springsteen staple, he tells stories of middle-class John Does. A rescuer, a grieving wife, and a survivor are all roles filled by the music and Springsteen's words. He does this with grand results, putting the listener in multiple perspectives effectively.
While not revolutionary in any way, the record breaks through the sea of mediocre through the lyrics of the verses and sound of the choruses. Certainly not the Boss' greatest work, but it's been a while since Bruce has produced an album of this quality. This is an excellent example of another good album from a great artist, as opposed to the artist's masterpiece. The emotional center is transcribed so perfectly through the music. It's a great mood indicator. It feels like it fits our lives and our feelings in a changed world. And that's the real heart of the album; this sensation of a rising feeling lifted from us while we listen.
Overall Rating: B Vincent Chen was especially inspired by the song "Into the Fire".
Bruce Springsteen returns in the wake of September 11th and is joined by the E Street Band, working together again after eighteen years. Their last record was "Born in the U.S.A." which was a great masterpiece album. This is Springsteen's best album since then. 
