-
10.0
5443
10.0 |
Rolling Stone
The youthful energy of the album's music collides neatly with the all-too-adult truths of the lyrics, which – at least on the surface – return to the personal and domestic, after the global sweep of his last few records.
Read Review
-
9.0
5449
9.0 |
The Quietus
It is abundantly clear that, despite reports to the contrary, Working On A Dream is the Boss at his most touching, joyous best, and all that with no agenda in sight.
Read Review
-
8.0
5446
8.0 |
The Guardian
At least half the songs have the real substance of his best work, and almost all, even the plainest, benefit from repeated listenings.
Read Review
-
8.0
5451
8.0 |
The Sunday Times
An album that is preoccupied with questions of mortality, romantic fidelity, learning from the past while facing an uncertain future, touches base with some key Springsteen.
Read Review
-
8.0
5458
8.0 |
NME
It’s definitely gonna be a great year to be The Boss.
Read Review
-
8.0
5672
8.0 |
Observer Music Monthly
On his 24th album, Springsteen reaches for the simple power and unabashed romanticism of early pop
Read Review
-
7.5
5454
7.5 |
Daily Telegraph
The Boss is in love, and doesn't care who knows it.
Read Review
-
7.0
5457
7.0 |
musicOMH
Working On A Dream looks set to lay down a new marker in Springsteen's career, indicating a progression to a brighter and more optimistic songwriting worldview. As such, the parallels with Barack Obama ascending to the US Presidency remain striking.
Read Review
-
7.0
5448
7.0 |
The Observer
The aspirations here are the size of a human heart.
Read Review
-
7.0
5453
7.0 |
Clash
He remains the definitive American songwriter active today.
Read Review
-
7.0
5444
7.0 |
Scotland on Sunday
This album resounds with the same passion as Born In The USA a quarter of a century ago, less relentlessly intense but no less of its time.
Read Review
-
6.0
5445
6.0 |
Spin
People work hardest when they're hungry; and the man's 12 new musically sturdy, lyrically iffy love songs and tall tales suggest he sags when he's satisfied. For the majority of people, that's to be expected. For a hero like Springsteen, it's a disappointment.
Read Review
-
6.0
5442
6.0 |
PopMatters
Not only a worthy album, but also an enjoyable one. But when you’ve built a career on inspiring nothing less than transcendence, is enjoyable really a worthy goal?
Read Review
-
6.0
5447
6.0 |
The List
Records of introspection and musical archaeology have dominated his 00s output but this record has him embracing his rock.
Read Review
-
6.0
5450
6.0 |
The Scotsman
His 24th album marks something of a return to the epic, up-and-at-'em stadium Springsteen of the 1980s and 90s, characterised by arrangements and production which sacrifice nuance for rousing overstatement.
Read Review
-
6.0
5452
6.0 |
Blender
It seems his uncharacteristic prolific streak comes partly from lazy songwriting.
Read Review
-
6.0
5456
6.0 |
Independent on Sunday
Muscular ballads of the spirit of which Roy Orbison would have made much
Read Review
-
6.0
5459
6.0 |
No Ripcord
As an addition to a remarkable oeuvre, then, Working On A Dream has its worthwhile moments, but it's as a snapshot of a window of hope from an increasingly seasoned cultural commentator that it borders on the essential.
Read Review
-
5.8
5441
5.8 |
Pitchfork
Working on a Dream works hard on sound, but sleeps on actual songs. ""Queen of the Supermarket"" may be the worst thing he's ever written... Now that his big dream has come true, Springsteen doesn't seem to know what to do with himself. So he's trying to do everything.
Read Review
-
5.0
5455
5.0 |
Drowned In Sound
The final recording both chronologically speaking and on the album's track listing, 'The Wrestler' is both a teasing insight into future bounties to come and a hint at what might have been if Working On A Dream had perhaps been created with less haste.
Read Review
-