Bruce Springsteen – Magic

Great album. Sadly rather dynamically flat pressing. Sounds okay, not brilliant.

One of Bruce's best albums in spite of its obvious production issues. Magic is long overdue for a new mix.

After a couple of albums where he returned to his beloved folk roots (2005's "Devils & Dust" and 2006's "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions"), Springsteen was back into full rock and roll mode with 2005's "Magic".

Generally considered to be one of Springsteen's best efforts yet in the 21st century, "Magic" brings back the full, unique and rich sound of the E Street Band into the Boss' compositions.

The result was a brilliant collection of songs that keep it straight forward while reminding us why Springsteen is considered one of the finest songwriters of rock and roll history.

Things like "Girls In Their Summer Clothes", "You'll Be Coming Down", "Livin' In The Future" (with Danny Federici and The Big Man Clarence Clemons treating us here with their ancestral magic- pun intended), "Your Worst Enemy" or my personal favourites "I'll Work For Your Love", where Bruce summons his most Dylanesque lyricist and "Long Walk Home", where the Big Man shines again, the straight rocker "Last To Die"... Bloody hell, even the hidden "Terry's Song" is one of those songs that make Springsteen's more naked self take the spotlight and shine like only he can! I could actually mention the whole tracklist!

Should I point out a weak spot in "Magic" it would be a slight overproduction that has never fitted Springsteen's music, as if someone was trying to hide the natural aging of the Boss' voice, when actually that natural quality has always given the whole thing an extra punch of character, credibility and validity.
I have never been a fan of walls of sound and overproduction, but the songs here contained are so good that this is just a minor complaint.

All in all, a great album and maybe Springsteen's most inspired rock album since the eighties... That is, until "Letter To You" was released.
But, as Michael Ende would put it: that's another story and shall be told another time.

5/5 as a Bruce album. 4/5 due to the mediocre pressing. I’m assuming this is repressed from the 2007 version so they’re essentially the same pressings. This is a very underrated Bruce & E Street Band record. Highly recommended!!

Such an ordinary pressing of a great Springsteen LP. Not the normal hard rock you get from him, more commercially inclined. But the sound is so ordinary, sounds like they recorded, mixed and pressed it in the toilet.

I don't get the hate or non-enthusiasm for this album. Its one of Bruce's best song writing wise. The vinyl version sounds great, though its not a super awesome A+ cut, but its definitely not terrible for the ears and quite.

I dunno everyone says this sounds good but its kinda flat sounding to me. No pounding drums or bass like on my cd copy. This is kinda average when i wanna hear this album im just gonna listen to the cd

Firs U.S. pressing, brand new album that came warped and dirty, with noticeable marks on both sides that did not go away after cleaning the record twice. In addition to that, lots of surface noise that are specially bothering in the song 'Magic.' Finally, I have not put this to a scale, but I highly doubt this is 180 gram vinyl as the hype sticker claims.

Other than these pressing quality defects, the album is good/very good, and I can hear already some of the musical trends Bruce's music did take in the future, trends that, as a long time Bruce fan, I do not particularly like. This is very notable in a song like 'I'll Work for Your Love' (it reminds so much to the 'Working on a Dream'). This is the last E Street Album with Danny Federici on keyboards.

My copy also has 'Terry's Song' at the end. I believe it should be added to the release.

P.S.: BTW, I bought this album when it came out, and I was checking my order details from AZ, and I paid $13.28. This is how 'cheap' new albums were at the time (2007), when barely anybody was buying vinyl records.

NB: My copy does have 'Terry's Song' at the end, unlisted. Have not amended release as don't know if this is standard or whether two versions of the LP may exist.

Wish the entire CD sounded like track "Magic" with distinct instruments and not a wall of sound like most of CD is. A real pity as the songs IMHO are the best since "Born in the USA". Until a better mix is availbale guess we are stuck with this clearly inferior mix of the CD.