BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Born In The U.s.a. (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

After the successful risk-taking of "Nebraska" (1982), Bruce Springsteen reunites with his E-Street Band bandmates. The one who is now the Boss decided to leave his mark again without letting himself being corrupted by the commercial temptations. For if the artist loves his country, he loves above all the inhabitants, those who have to face the hardships of life. They are the ones who inspire his songs, and they are also the ones who see him as their spokesperson and icon. With his new album, Bruce Springsteen experiments a sound more anchored in his time and plays on certain double meanings that will make the legend of this "Born In The U.S.A." as well as attracting him some wrath for the most part unjustified. It is in particular the sleeve which will trigger the polemics. While the artist is posing with his back to the American flag, his detractors will suspect him of urinating on this symbol while at the same time, some of his fans will fear to see him swaying to the conservative side.

None of that in reality, such as the eponymous track which, far from being an unconditional ode to the glory of Uncle Sam's country, is in fact a criticism of the foreign policy of its leaders. With its hammered drums and its keyboards with typical 80's sounds and obsessive melody, this track launches the opus on high bases from which the follow-up will not go down. From the lively and catchy rock of 'Cover Me' with a guitar solo by the Boss himself to the intimate and moving 'My Hometown' which closes the album, Bruce Springsteen tells us again about this deep America and the human stories that make it up. But apart from the melancholic and almost whispered 'I'm On Fire', the rest is translated by an energetic rock and lively tempis.

'Darlington County', 'No Surrender' or 'Bobby Jean' offer haunting melodies reinforced by catchy choruses. Clarence Clemons' saxophone is regularly glittering and almost makes you forget the sadness of some lyrics ('I'm Going Down'), while some tracks are really carefree like the unbeatable 'Glory Days' with its unforgettable ritornello and chorus, or a 'Dancing In The Dark' finally as aerial as energetic. Far from the latent sadness of "Nebraska", "Born In The U.S.A." offers a real tornado of freshness, not hesitating to venture on territories at the border of rockabilly ('Working On The Highway') and not forgetting the folk component of the identity of the master of the place ('Downbound Train').

After the solo adventure of the previous album, Bruce Springsteen continues to climb to the top but shares the exhilaration with his usual playmates. They offer together a new monument of the Rock which, if it is not necessarily the best album of a discography which does not miss legendary opuses, is nevertheless its summit in terms of success. This last one does not lend itself to dispute, as far as the authenticity remains obviously present, as the evident complicity proves it, uniting all the members of the group formed around its Boss. Anchored in the sound of its time, "Born In The U.S.A." is a new must-have album and it makes you wonder if the man from New Jersey is capable of a faux pas. - Official website

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

BORN IN THE U.S.A.

COLUMBIA

ROCK