Magic

iTunes Review

Recorded in eight weeks with the intention of hitting the road with the E Street Band for a full-on rock n’ roll tour, Magic is a tight and focused collection of neo-classic rock ‘n’ roll songs, infused with Springsteen’s sense of grandeur and melancholy. As one of the few old school rock believers in a music industry obsessed with celebrity pop, Springsteen’s toughened up his sound (“Radio Nowhere”) and given his hooks extra bite that recall the former glory days (1975-85) of his work with the E Street Band (“Girls in Their Summer Clothes,” “I’ll Work For Your Love”). Springsteen’s electric guitar sits front and center with his fellow guitarists strengthening the aggressive bloc, but it’s Danny Federici’s trilling organ and Clarence Clemons’ boastful sax that seal the nostalgic vibe that permeates the material. Brendan O’Brien’s production continues to emphasize a new forcefulness in drummer Max Weinberg’s approach, as the eerie drama of “Last to Die” unfolds and Springsteen re-finds the shrieking bravado he hasn’t flashed since The River. Springsteen’s sound reverts to classic form, but more importantly he’s still engaged with the current American scene, as “Living in the Future,” “Long Walk Home,” the title track and “Devil’s Arcade” reflect his unease with world conditions.