Bruce Springsteen

Magic (Columbia)

Touted as the first E Street Band album in five years, Magic casts off the solemnity of 2002’s The Rising for the top-down rush of “Radio Nowhere.” Kick-off and canonical bull’s-eye, its “I just want to hear some rhythm” chant strips Magic free of pretense. Hop on, strap in. Producer Brendan O’Brien grunges a muddy mix as opposed to the diamond cut of 2005’s Devils & Dust, continuing his Bossman’s studio condescension of Clarence Clemons & Co. following 1984’s Born in the U.S.A. Perfunctory piano, organ, and sax breaks on pure E Streeter “Livin’ in the Future” undercut the song, same as Springsteen’s teen-mode lyric on “Girls in Their Summer Clothes.” The mandolin-laced title track’s legit, but rocker “Last to Die” lacks the sheer hootenanny of last year’s We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. Near misses (“Your Own Worst Enemy”), retreads (“Gypsy Biker”), and Clemons-challenged ramblers (“Long Walk Home”) prompt few curtain calls. Magic still, mundane, too.

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This article appears in October 5 • 2007.

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San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.