The Boss and the boys are back

Magic proves Springsteen just gets better with age

By Jess Novak, senior writer
Posted on October 4, 2007

New Jersey has more to be proud of this week than the resurrection of the Giants with their two consecutive wins again the Redskins and Eagles. New Jersey can also boast the resurrection of “The Boss” after two consecutive decades of softer albums and non-successful returns of the E Street Band.

Bruce Springsteen is back and all of E Street is with him.

Though he may be pushing 60, the vigor and energy of Springsteen’s latest release Magic, available as

Tuesday, does not even hint at the truth of his age. With 15 albums under his belt, 15 Grammy awards, an Oscar and recently more contemplative, folk-based albums such as 2002’s The Rising, 2005’s Devil’s & Dust and 2006’s We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, it almost seemed as if “The Boss” was preparing to retire.

Magic proves that theory all wrong.

The E Street Band has not lost its energy and Springsteen has not lost his lyrical touch, discussing his traditional topics of everyday American life, the current state of the music industry, politics, death and war. But the beauty of Springsteen’s lyrics lies mostly in his ability to disguise dark themes in rock ‘n’ roll anthems and choose his words in ways that allow the listener to decide what the message really is.

The subtlety of songs like “Radio Nowhere” leaves listeners wondering if Springsteen is commenting on commercial radio, the state of the music industry, personal isolation or the world in general. With questions like “Is there anybody alive out there?” and sad pleas of “just searching for a world with soul,” it is difficult not to feel sorry for Springsteen and perhaps the world as he searches for life and soul in a place void of both.

Other songs have messages that are more overt – especially those discussing current politics. One of the most memorable tracks of the album is “Last to Die” which references Sen. John Kerry’s famous words, “Who’ll be the last to die for a mistake?” Springsteen makes his sentiments clear when singing the lyrics, “The wise men were all fools, what to do/The sun sets in flames as the city burns/Another day gone down as the night turns/And I hold you here in my heart/As things fall apart.”

Other tracks reference political themes, such as  “Devil’s Arcade,” lamenting, “You said heroes are needed, so heroes get made/Somebody made a bet, somebody paid/The cool desert morning, then nothin’ to save/Just metal and plastic where your body caved.” “Gypsy Biker” also leaves an eerie feeling lingering with lyrics like, “The speculators made their money/On the blood you shed/Your Mama’s pulled/The sheets up off your bed.”

But Springsteen manages to lighten the mood and revive the spirit of warmer months with “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” which can bring any fan immediately back to the Jersey shore that “The Boss” is so in love with as he has proved through decades of similar, feel-good summer songs.

For an artist who was featured on the cover of Time magazine on Oct. 27, 1975, as “Rock’s New Sensation,” Springsteen has more than proved his vitality and musical resilience. Though older artists are often unfairly compared to past work, either being expected to return completely to their traditional style and sound or to break through with something completely revolutionary, Springsteen has managed to fit between the lines. Springsteen, producer Brendan O’Brien and the E Street Band have managed to produce a fantastic album touching on timely topics while still delivering solid tracks, reminiscent of his traditional style, without boring fans. The industry might be saying rock is dead, but Springsteen has proved it is very much alive.