Music review: Bruce Springsteen – 鈥榃estern Stars鈥�
Always favoring the gritty dreams-verses-reality mentality conveyed by Bruce Springsteen on 鈥淏orn to Run鈥� and 鈥淒arkness on the Edge of Town,鈥� I鈥檒l openly admit that it took me a few listens to embrace the American West tone embedded in Springsteen鈥檚 detailed storytelling on his latest release.
The subtle orchestration supporting the new tracks provides a calming elegance to the tales of loneliness, regret, love and hard lessons learned.
鈥淭humb stuck out as I go/I鈥檓 just travelin鈥� up the road/Maps don鈥檛 do much for me, friend/I follow the weather and the wind,鈥� sings Springsteen on the opening track of 鈥淲estern Stars.鈥�
鈥淗itch Hikin'鈥� not only introduces the set, but it builds the mindset for the 12 numbers that follow. The song details the adventures of a drifter moving from town to town with the help of three friendly drivers willing to briefly share in his nomadic adventure.
The drivers range from a family man with his pregnant wife to a trucker counting the miles until he returns home to the gearhead jumping at the opportunity to show what his mean machine can do on the inviting highway.
For the traveler, the three drivers represent lifestyles that are in stark contradiction to the life he has welcomed.
Springsteen continues with intricate images of life on the open road with 鈥淭he Wayfarer.鈥� Just as the main character in the opening track embraces his carefree spirit, 鈥淭he Wayfarer鈥� follows another wanderer riding the white lines and contemplating how some folks remain content with a traditional house with a white picket fence.
Messages of renewal and lost love are delivered on two of the album鈥檚 standout arrangements.
鈥淭ucson Train鈥� is a tender love song about a man attempting to rectify his past sins as he eagerly awaits the return of his love as Springsteen sings, 鈥淚鈥檒l wait all God鈥檚 creation/Just to show her a man can change/Now my baby鈥檚 coming in on the Tucson train.鈥�
In contrast, 鈥淭here Goes My Miracle鈥� speaks to the emptiness and isolation left behind when the search for love and happiness ends and heartache takes up permanent residence.
On 鈥淗ello Sunshine,鈥� Springsteen addresses the need to put away the walking shoes and leave the road previously described on the first two tracks for a life that allows the sunshine to stay and provide a brighter outlook for the future.
With 鈥淲estern Stars,鈥� the 69-year-old Springsteen proves he still has plenty of surprises left for future musical pursuits.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.