When Bruce Springsteen announces a new album, it comes with certain expectations. High Hopes, if you will. We want to hear Bruce’s languishing voice, powerfully lamenting through pop-rock ballads. We want that ol’ down-home comfortable folksy feeling. More than anything, we want to be moved… swept away with the Boss.
So, does the singer/songerwriter’s 18th studio album live up to the expectations?
High Hopes opens with the title track, an upbeat rocker that opens with a slow-building groovy jungle drum beat and industrial guitar work from Tom Morello. Morello, the guitarist from Rage Against the Machine, plays a large role on the new album. The meat of the song drops in with an uplifting melody from the horn section, fast-paced with a tinge of darkness. It’s a good song, with some excellent Morello guitarwork sprinkled throughout.
Overall, the album is good. Some of the songs, like “Harry’s Place” and “American Skin (41 Shots)” drag a little bit, taking too long to get to that big moment. Others, like “Frankie Fell In Love” and “Just Like Fire Would,” are so typical Bruce Springsteen that, out of context, they could easily be mistaken for classic tunes from the 70′s.
High Hopes is definitely worth a listen. You can stream the album in full through CBS.com until its January 14th release date, or tune into The Good Wife this weekend (1/12) to hear the television debut of three of the album’s songs. You’ll hear some great tunes if you listen, including “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” which has an exciting chorus and more great guitar work from Morello. But another song, “Down in The Hole,” has a solemn string section that mainly serves to slow down the entire track.
The Boss is certainly trying. The latest album is an earnest contribution, and uniquely Bruce Springsteen. If you already loved The Boss, then you’ll love High Hopes. His effort to include a edgier sound, with the inclusion of Tom Morello, is readily apparent on a number of tracks. Morello’s guitar-playing certainly stands out, as he is a master of his trade.
It’s a nice album with good songs, but none of them are particularly noteworthy. Still, The Boss is The Boss, and this one is definitely worth checking out.
-David Melamed (@DMelamz)