MOG

I purchased and have listed to "Magic" a few times.. and I'm sad to say, the album doesn't live up to the title. I love Springsteen, so this isn't a rant on an artist that I don't care for to begin with.

I have to say, the lyrical content of Magic was inspiring - and is some of his best recent work, without doubt - however, the music.. well, to put a point on it, sometimes "less is more". "Girls in their Summer Clothes" isn't bad, but overall, there is almost a formula to the songs.. and while I can't put my finger on it, I think for me, there is just too much. I have to wonder if the band has become too democratic, or if Bruce feels he owes time on every song to every musician, but I really think he could take a lesson from his early work, and simplify his arrangements - use Clarence's sax to punctuate a point as opposed to making one..

Some examples..witness the lead-in piano in Growing Up on the Greetings from Asbury Park.. ..accordian on Sandy from the E Street Shuffle album - the simple arrangements in Thunder Road off Born to Run.. ..the cymbal lead to Candy's Room on Darkness..

There are some good lyrical twists in Magic, but, maybe, just maybe, Bruce should sit down and listen to his early albums a couple of times and ask himself why those songs stand up so well, while, sad to say, Radio Nowhere and Magic will come and go.

To paraphrase Bruce at his best..

..in the lonely cool before dawn You hear his old songs playing on But when Magic plays, they're gone On the wind..