Bruce Springsteen’s newest album, “Wrecking Ball,” is about one thing – America. That’s no surprise since he’s best known for his single “Born in the U.S.A.” Springsteen claims his album was inspired by the Occupy Wall Street protests, though many of the tracks were written before the first picket sign was raised. Springsteen, who’s sold more than 120 million albums, is unqualified to sing passion-infused songs from the perspective of the 99 percent. The song “Jack of All Trades,” likely intended as an homage to blue-collar workers, seems far less sincere with Springsteen’s bank account into mind. This album bleeds red, white and blue, but there is nothing at the heart of it. Vague lyrics such as “ain’t no one can steal it, ain’t no one can break it” leave listeners perplexed as to what “it” actually is.
Grade: D
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Contact Haylie Navarre at [email protected]
RevRanks: Bruce Springsteen, “Wrecking Ball”
March 8, 2012