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Listen to Springsteen's new single "We Take Care Of Our Own," with lyrics included, here.

The Boss Is Back: New Springsteen Single Leaks Early, “Wrecking Ball” Album Set To Follow

The Boss Is Back.

After a relatively quiet few months following the announcement of an impending new album and European tour dates late last year, Bruce Springsteen fans were treated to a sudden flurry of new activity today, including a clearer picture regarding long expected U.S. Tour dates, as well as details on Springsteen’s new album.

Several internet news sources, reported on Wednesday that the new Bruce Springsteen album will be titled Wrecking Ball, with Consequence Of Sound even publishing a track listing and what it is claiming to be the album cover art.

If these reports are accurate, at least three songs from the album will already be familiar to Springsteen fans.

These include the title track, “Wrecking Ball,” which Springsteen first performed on tour at Giants Stadium, just before it was demolished. “Land Of Hope And Dreams” has been a staple of E Street Band shows going as far back as their 1999-2000 reunion tour, and “American Land” (listed as a bonus track), has been performed live both with the E Street Band and on the Seeger Sessions tour.

Other songs which seem to match the reportedly political tone of what some insiders are already calling Springsteen’s “angriest sounding album” to date, include such intriguing titles as “The Depression,” “Shackled And Down,” and “Death To My Hometown.” Could we have an even more unhappy sequel to the unlikely Born In The USA hit here?

Produced by Ron Aniello (Patti Scialfa, Jars Of Clay), the album combines tracks recorded with the E Street Band, with solo performances said to include “unexpected textures, loops, electronic percussion” and “influences and rhythms from hip-hop to Irish folk.” Guest musicians on the album reportedly include Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello and former Pearl Jam drummer Matt Chamberlain.

Although as of this writing, neither Springsteen’s official website or the always reliable Bruce news source Backstreets Magazine were confirming the reports, iTunes is listing a March 6, 2012 U.S. release for Bruce Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball. The iTunes store is also displaying the same cover art shown here.

What is absolutely official however, is Springsteen’s new single “We Take Care Of Our Own,” which went on sale at midnight Thursday on ITunes and Amazon.com. Running somewhat contrary to the early reports of this being a more experimental album, “We Take Care Of Our Own” is a classic E Street Band track, anchored by a big Max Weinberg drum intro, calliope keyboards, and the most muscular sounding production on an E Street Band studio recording since The River.

The sound is somewhere between “Hungry Heart” and the Beach Boys’ “Wild Honey” (which the guitar intro liberally borrows from). The lyrics meanwhile, fit right into the contemporary political themes already being reported by numerous sources. With lines like “the road to good intentions has gone dry as a bone,” “We Take Care Of Our Own” could almost be foreseen as the sort of rallying cry you are likely to hear at Occupy rallies during the volatile political season certain to be coming this summer. One can only hope.

Finally, for Springsteen fans awaiting word of U.S. concert dates, Rolling Stone reports that both spring and fall dates are in the works, with several arenas already booked, including an Austin date to coincide with Springsteen’s March 15 keynote address at this years South By Southwest music industry con-fab.

Stay tuned.

About Glen Boyd

Glen Boyd is the author of Neil Young FAQ, released in May 2012 by Backbeat Books/Hal Leonard Publishing. He is a former BC Music Editor and current contributor, whose work has also appeared in SPIN, Ultimate Classic Rock, The Rocket, The Source and other publications. You can read more of Glen's work at the official Neil Young FAQ site. Follow Glen on Twitter and on Facebook.

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