Bruce Springsteen has never been afraid to tackle political issues and each time a crisis comes around you can set your calendar for a new album. Throughout his career he's taken shots at everyone he feels are wronging his homeland and 'Wrecking Ball' carries that theme into the most current crisis of the global recession. Now 62-years-old 'Wrecking Ball' is Springsteen's 17th studio album and, although it's had some stiff competition over the years, may well be his angriest.
Opening up with lead single 'We Take Care Of Our Own' The Boss pines for the things that used to make America something he was proud of, asking where are the things he feels are missing in modern USA. It's a classic double-edged song, on one hand giving the sense of some hope with its title while simultaneously attacking all that has gone wrong.
There's a unmistakeable country music influence throughout the album, with the likes of old school foot-stompers 'Easy Money' and 'Shackled And Drawn' almost fitting the soundtrack to a line dance. 'Shackled And Drawn' is inspired by Springsteen's own working class background, “freedom son's a dirty shirt”, and it voices who Bruce feels should take the bulk of blame, “it's still fat and easy up on bankers hill..... The party's going strong. Down here below, we're shackled and drawn.”
Alongside The E Street band, who are in their usual top form throughout, there are several guests. Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello, never one to shy away from politics himself, shows up on 'This Depression' and 'Jack Of All Trades', a slow ballad where anger towards Wall Street rises further. Springsteen growls, “if I had me a gun, I'd find the bastards and shoot em on sight”, with a vitriol so strong you know he means it. The message of hope stays though “there's a new World coming, I can see the light”.
There are some new additions to Springsteen's usual styles. Gospel is used throughout the album, most notably on 'Rocky Ground', where although the rap midway through feels a bit out of place the choral parts are excellent and add a lovely depth to the track.
Elsewhere, 'Death To My Hometown' is a Pogues-esque protest song with stomping drums and impassioned vocals. The aforementioned 'This Depression' is an introspective song of situational helplessness while the title track is a mid-point rally cry daring “C'mon and take your best shot, let me see what you got”. It provides the clearest feeling of hope in the future with “hard times, come and hard times go” repeated over a building wall of drums and hot guitars before the E Street band staple horns blast through the climactic finish.
In mentioning horns, I can't leave out a mention of the late Clarence Clemons, the E Street band saxophonist who sadly died last year. He's good on 'Wrecking Ball' but his turn on 'Land Of Hope And Dreams' is a fitting last great blow from the big man, who clearly is still deeply missed. The song itself is a soulful effort of hope for a better future with Clemons' solo rising through everything else to earn its prominence and is as spectacular as any of his classic solos.
A moving tribute to Clemons features on the sleeve describing the friendship they shared and ending with a very simple but powerful statement “Clarence doesn't leave the E street band when he dies, he leaves when we die”.
Closing track 'We Are Alive' is a classic Springsteen tale of hope and having spent the album criticising and fighting, it leaves you going away with a feeling that things will get better. With its simple acoustic riff it sounds as though it was written sat around a garden on a warm summer's day where everything was starting to feel like it could get better again.
'Wrecking Ball' is a Springsteen album for Springsteen fans and a folk album in essence. I's not going to convert anyone who hasn't liked Bruce's previous work but at this stage why should it? His ability to turn a tune while wearing his musical and political influences like a badge of honour remain as strong as they've ever been. All we need now is a new crisis to inspire another album.
Bruce Springsteen will play a handful of UK dates this summer, including a headline slot at the Isle of Wight festival.
Thu June 21st 2012 - Stadium Of Light, Sunderland
Fri June 22nd 2012 - Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Sat July 14th 2012 - Hyde Park, London
Tue July 17th 2012 - RDS Arena, Dublin
Wed July 18th 2012 - RDS Arena, Dublin
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Opening up with lead single 'We Take Care Of Our Own' The Boss pines for the things that used to make America something he was proud of, asking where are the things he feels are missing in modern USA. It's a classic double-edged song, on one hand giving the sense of some hope with its title while simultaneously attacking all that has gone wrong.
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