Mark, it's interesting that you brought up both Darkness and The River, because I hear that, too. And you're dead on about the return of the E Street Band.
And Josh, your observation about social progress being measured in inches and not miles is phrased so beautifully it makes me sad not to have written it myself. I think it sums up much of what I hear in this album, and I guess what really hits home it is that I feel much the same way these days.
The great paradox of this music, born out of frustration and discontent, revealing perhaps a weariness of the soul, is that it somehow lifts my spirits and turns my vision outward again. Not a small accomplishment, I'm thinking.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
Good job all around, gang. I am curious to check out this album even though I didn't like the bland, boring "Radio Nowhere" at all.
The main thing I took away from this article is that Lisa doesn't write enough.
"but that's another day on Donahue."
How does the youngest member come off sounding like the oldest?
2 - Lisa McKay
Thank you, El B.
We like to think of Josh as being wise beyond his years :)
3 - JC Mosquito
Thoughtful and accurate - and I still wish we could combine all the Magic comments in one place.
4 - Josh
Agreed, El B. The dark cloud in the silver lining of our site's success has been the absence of Lisa and Eric Olsen as writers.
5 - Glen Boyd
I think that I've finally figured out the word that best describes this record:
It's bittersweet.
Its kind of like that same feeling you experience at something like a high school reunion, where you reconnect with long lost friends, only to realize that so much has happened that you can never really go home again.
Yes, I know I babble somewhat. I'm just home from a work related trip to Oregon, and in all likelihood I'm gonna have to go back next week.
But FUCK! I love this album!
I played in nonstop during my just completed (1:40 Am) trip.
So tell me, whats the initiation fee to join the roundtable (other than getting Josh to kinda like me like I think the rest of ya do?)
-Glen
6 - JC Mosquito
Bingo! Dead on, Glen. If there's a prize for shortest and most accurate review, it's yours fer shure.
Sk.
7 - mahesh
Ever felt you were dying of thirst and couldn't find a drop anywhere? I stopped listening to music when I stopped listening to Springsteen.That would be sometime after The Ghost of Tom Joad came out.I dont know what Magic means to Springsteen but to me it is that oasis that has quenched my thirst, atleast until the next great Sringsteen album.
8 - Ananda
Mahesh,
Do stop by at Devil's and Dust and We Shall Overcome.
You'll be more than pleasantly surprised.
Take care.
9 - Josh
I just re-read this and it brought a big smile to my face. This is such a great record and writing about Bruce with you two is about as much fun as writing can be.