Another review of “The Rising”

Here’s another review of†Bruce Springsteen’s†”The Rising,” This One From E! Online
Our Grade: A-
Our Review: No one can capture the feelings of the post-9-11 everyman like Bruce Springsteen. That fact is proven over and over again on The Rising, the Boss’ first recording with the E Street Band in nearly 20 years. Nearly every tune deals with the emotional repercussions of the terrorist attacks, both literally–as rescue workers head “Into the Fire”–and figuratively. Even with the emotional weight it shoulders, this is hardly a downer of an album. Producer Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam) livens up the proceedings for an inspirational journey that’s in line with Springsteen’s devoted optimism. Moments of classic raspy Springsteen (“Countin’ on a Miracle”) are surprisingly offset by experimentation, such as the Middle Eastern inflection on “Worlds Apart.” Over the years, it might not stand up to classics such as Nebraska or The River, but the The Rising gives us something more important right now: a reason to believe.