Working on a Dream is the richest of the three great rock albums Springsteen has made this decade with the E Street Band — and moment for moment, song for song, there are more musical surprises than on any Bruce album you could name.
Bruce Springsteen has written an album that dwells on love and optimism instead of political discontent. The effect is like a superhero looking down on a society safely returned to normality, saying “my work here is done”.
As he approaches his 60th birthday in September, Working on a Dream proves that Springsteen and his doughty crew remain a vital positive force in a changing world.
Another formidable collection, as Bruce continues to record in the most prolific vein of his career.
Take heart and enjoy The Boss's galvanising newie--Mr. Motivator is back.
Although Working On a Dream was recorded almost immediately after the completion of Magic, apparently provoked by Springsteen's inability to stop writing songs, there is no sense of haste or superficiality.
Working on a Dream manages to simultaneously define the past eight years and their up and downs, and also define the present, with hopes of an exciting new future. And, because of that, it succeeds completely.
‘Working On A Dream’, his 16th (16th!) studio album, sees him eschew such stylings and instead go for broke on telling tales and flashing his soul; the soul of a global phenomenon who, this year, turns 60.
Working On A Dream is arguably the best-sounding album Springsteen has made since Born To Run. Just don't look too hard at the lyric sheet.
Working On A Dream has its worthwhile moments, but it's as a snapshot of a window of hope from an increasingly seasoned cultural commentator that it borders on the essential.
Without anything to push against, one ofrock’s most eloquent lyricists is in the awkward position of having little of interest to say.
Working on a Dream is not only a worthy album, but also an enjoyable one. But when you’ve built a career on inspiring nothing less than transcendence, is enjoyable really a worthy goal?
Here the Boss settles into some sense of contentment on Working on a Dream, as if that Dream had already been achieved.
Working On a Dream doesn’t have the weight and gravity of “statement” albums like The Rising or Devils and Dust bearing down on it, it’s an easier listen that sometimes borders on the innocuous or incidental.
The final recording both chronologically speaking and on the album's track listing, 'The Wrestler' is both a teasing insight into future bounties to come and a hint at what might have been if Working On A Dream had perhaps been created with less haste.
Working on a Dream is a toothless album whose fascination with good vibes leaves it feeling soft and expressionless.
1 | Outlaw Pete 8:00 | |
2 | My Lucky Day 4:00 | |
3 | Working On a Dream 3:30 | 75 |
4 | Queen of the Supermarket 4:39 | 0 |
5 | What Love Can Do 2:56 | |
6 | This Life 4:30 | |
7 | Good Eye 3:00 | |
8 | Tomorrow Never Knows 2:13 | |
9 | Life Itself 4:00 | |
10 | Kingdom of Days 4:02 | |
11 | Surprise, Surprise 3:24 | |
12 | The Last Carnival 3:14 | |
13 | The Wrestler 3:48 Bonus Track | 95 |
#2 | / | Rolling Stone |
#28 | / | Q Magazine |
#43 | / | Uncut |
#47 | / | MOJO |
#67 | / | Consequence of Sound |