Bruce Springsteen

"Magic"

In the history of popular American music, it can be argued that Bruce Springsteen is one of the most important artists next to artists like Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys and The Band, among others. At the time of horrible disco music and fashion, the rebel from the swamps of Jersey was creating some of the most memorable and deep pieces of music since the end of the 60s. “Born to Run” stands to this day as the best rock and roll album of the 70s, bar none. With the fantastic E Street Band behind him, Springsteen was a voice of the current generation and the symbol of the youths’ confusion. Many have tried to copy him, but none succeeded; he is simply the best popular songwriter behind Dylan.

So, it’s good to hear that Bruce and his E Street Band are still rocking it even to this day with their new release, “Magic.” Leaving his recent political pieces behind, Springsteen goes back to what made him so successful to begin with: charming hooks, memorable melodies and a wave of sound so deep and full that it’ll knock your socks off.

Right off the bat, “Radio Nowhere” punches the album in gear and never lets go. It’s a somewhat disappointing lyrical outing, but it’s a great song to turn up in the car and jam to. This leads to easily the best song on the record, “Livin’ In the Future.” Springsteen sounds unusually young in this song–it’s as if “Born to Run” was popped in again and a new track was suddenly on there. It’s catchy and lyrically beautiful–something that Springsteen should be doing more often in his current career.

Throughout the entire album, there are both hits and misses. Just as Springsteen gets going, he seems to slow down a bit more and revisit the sound he had in “The Rising.” It’s still a great album, but he needs to get back to what he was known for in the 70s and 80s for a full album, not just part one.

-Brian Hines

Faith Hill

"The Hits"

After coming out with seven albums and winning CMA’s and Emmy’s, it’s about time for Faith Hill to make greatest hits CD.

Faith Hill has many hits to fill this CD. It takes the listener back to some of her earlier hits, like “Wild One,” up through recent hits like “Mississippi Girl.” Although there wasn’t enough room to fit all of her hits, they had to leave out many of her important songs, including famous duets with her husband, Tim McGraw.

Along with her 11 past hits, three more new songs were added to the album. One of these songs is “Red Umbrella.” This song brings the positive outlook of a break-up and saying everything will be okay, unlike some mushy, sad songs.

Another new song is a live version of “Stronger,” which is another uplifting song about breaking-up and moving on. “Lost” and the new duet “I Need You” with Tim McGraw are also included in this album.

Faith Hill has had her highs and lows all throughout her career, but she is back and better than ever. She has taken new and creative risks in a lot of her new songs, which definitely shows in this album.

-Celeste Alters

KeKe Palmer

"So Uncool"

KeKe Palmer can be recognized from the Disney Channel original movie “Jump In” or from the big screen hit “Akeelah and the Bee.” She had her first single on the “Jump In” soundtrack, “My Turn.” However, this actually good song didn’t make it onto her new CD, “So Uncool.”

One cannot help but wonder what the producers were thinking when writing these songs. They create no new or interesting message for the listeners. On top of that, they reuse lyrics from other well-known songs, claiming she “parties like a rock star,” her “hips don’t lie” and she’s “bossy.”

The first song, “Keep It Movin’,” would make one think that it is a fast-pace song involving nonstop motion of some sort. But the song is a slow, anticlimactic song.

“Music Box,” is a slow ballad, and then about two minutes into it, Palmer commences to start rapping for a few lines. It does not fit in with the song and feels very out of place.

Although Palmer is a talented singer, she doesn’t bring anything that isn’t already on the radio.

Palmer has had success in the past, but her new CD is just as it is titled: “so uncool.”

-Kayla Carpenter