Bruce Springsteen — Working On A Dream

Working On A Dream

Columbia/Sony

Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

01/28/2009 1:50pm

If there's any singer/songwriter with a 30-plus-year career who's still relevant and has something to offer younger generations, it's Bruce Springsteen. Working On A Dream was released a week after the inauguration of U.S. president Barack Obama, and the reasons are quite obvious. Let's forget that the title track could easily be seen as a paean to Obama and a reference to the fulfillment of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most well-known speech. Springsteen has always been seen as a quintessential American songwriter whose appeal spans generations. And while Working On A Dream certainly isn't his best work, it will still appeal to many different people. There's a good chance that 20-something university students who may have voted for Obama will find "My Lucky Day" as catchy as their parents. And whether it's anthemic Springsteen a la Born In The U.S.A. ("Outlaw Pete," "Working On A Dream") or the quieter, introspective one found on albums like Nebraska ("The Wrestler"), there's something here for every kind of Springsteen fan. While the songs aren't even close to The Boss' best work, and some might see them as second-rate schlock in comparison to his catalogue, they're still enjoyable and demonstrate why Springsteen has never been seen as uncool and continues to be one of America's greatest singer/songwriters.

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