Albums to watch

Only The Strong Survive

Bruce Springsteen

Only The Strong Survive

Twenty-first album and second collection of soul covers from the veteran singer-songwriter features a guest appearance from Sam Moore

ADM rating[?]

7.1

Label
Sony Music
UK Release date
11/11/2022
US Release date
11/11/2022
  1. 8.0 |   Rolling Stone

    Even if the arrangements occasionally feel static in their mimicry, Springsteen’s voice shines and sparkles
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  2. 8.0 |   PopMatters

    On Only the Strong Survive, Bruce Springsteen places his voice front and center, and his love for this timeless, joyous soul music is jubilant and infectious
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  3. 8.0 |   musicOMH

    Essentially, this is The Boss doing karaoke. But when it’s done this well and with so much obvious love for the source material, it’s irresistible
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  4. 8.0 |   Clash

    Without a doubt, ‘Only The Strong Survive’ exemplifies Springsteen’s unfaltering commitment to top-notch musicianship and production
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  5. 8.0 |   The Arts Desk

    It’s a diverse selection, up-tempo hits and big ballads, and Springsteen really inhabits each one
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  6. 8.0 |   NME

    The Boss shines a light on the greats of the past and leans into his full vocal prowess with this beautiful celebration of soul music
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  7. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    This is a joyful blast - grandad pop at its best
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  8. 8.0 |   Evening Standard

    Springsteen kicks back with the Sixties soul and R&B songs he knows from his teens
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  9. 7.8 |   Paste Magazine

    Album shows how good a singer he really is, on classic tunes
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  10. 7.0 |   Under The Radar

    It may be neither a classic Springsteen or soul album, and it may just be impossible to make a truly great album with such a familiar concept, but at the very least it stands as a passionate love letter to the sweet soul songs that helped shape both modern music and Springsteen himself
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  11. 7.0 |   Pitchfork

    Bruce brings heaps of feeling to a new set of some of his favorite, largely obscure soul songs, giving them a confident, faithful, and occasionally synthetic sound
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  12. 6.3 |   Spectrum Culture

    Even if none of these covers measure up to the originals, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Bruce would probably be the first to admit that these are big shoes to fill
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  13. 6.0 |   The FT

    The American singer takes a nostalgic approach as he turns his attention to soul music for his second covers album
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  14. 6.0 |   The Observer

    This new album of old soul covers is warm and enjoyable, but leaves you wishing it had gone a little deeper
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  15. 6.0 |   All Music

    Once Only the Strong Survive fades out with the last notes of "Someday We'll Be Together," there's not much that lingers behind in the memory
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  16. 5.0 |   Slant Magazine

    An expertly crafted collection, but a rougher hewn approach, with a sound closer in style to Stax Records than Dionne Warwick and Phil Spector, would have better honored the spirit of its source materia
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