What I Am Listening To

I used to be a huge Springsteen fan. All the boxes checked: seen him live a dozen times across many iterations of the E Street Band, owned all the albums which were bought on their release date, owned countless bootlegs, etc. With maturity I have come to realize that most artists are unable to sustain their original level of excellence. Certainly this is evident with Springsteen’s work over the past decade, highlighted by the subpar and uninspiring High Hopes, his most recent studio album, released in 2014. Later this summer he will release his 19th album, titled Western Stars. Apparently this is a solo album, along the vein of Devils and Dust. The first single “Hello Sunshine” has been out for a few weeks now, and I’ve listened to it several times. So far I am unimpressed. It is an easy listen, and his voice is familiar and it is not a song one will actively turn off as it simply blends into the background. And that is the problem. It offers no challenge, no emotion. The lyrics are simple, and predictable. The music is bland, and the production is uninspiring. Full verdict for the album of course will rely on the whole set of songs after its released, but so far my hopes are anything but high.