Working on a Dream [Digipak] (CD - 2009)

Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards, glockenspiel, percussion); Nils Lofgren, Steve VanZandt (vocals, guitar, guitars); Soozie Tyrell (vocals, violin); Clarence Clemons (vocals, saxophone); Patti Scialfa (vocals); Roy Bittan (accordion, piano, organ); Jason Federici (accordion); Patrick Warren (piano, keyboards); Danny Federici (organ); Garry Tallent (bass guitar); Max Weinberg (drums).

Audio Mixer: Brendan O'Brien.

Audio Remasterer: Bob Ludwig.

Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY; Clifton Recording Studios, New York, NY; Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Southern Tracks, Atlanta, GA; Thrill Hill Recording, NJ.

Photographer: Jennifer Tzar.

Bruce Springsteen's not known for pumping out new material at a rapid clip, but he was seemingly so energized by his 2007 album, MAGIC, that he wrote and recorded the songs on WORKING ON A DREAM in a creative flurry and had it out 15 months after its predecessor. The feel of the album is accordingly urgent; there's little here that bears the epic qualities of his more deliberately wrought work, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Overall, this is probably as close as The Boss gets to a pop album. While the somewhat anomalous "The Wrestler," the spare, acoustic-based theme from the celebrated film of the same name, is a trenchant look inside a troubled soul, a more light-hearted feel prevails throughout most of WORKING ON A DREAM. Muscular production emphasizes Springsteen's classic-rock leanings, but these simple songs of love and hope also bear bright pop hooks, and they wind up being nicely offset by a couple of raw, bluesy tunes before it's all over. minimize