Part Live Album, Part Greatest Hits, Critics Have "High Hopes" For Springsteen's Latest Album

Bruce Springsteen’s 18th studio album is finally out – officially, that is – and the buzz is building. High Hopes is a first for Springsteen, in that it is a compilation of cover songs performed only during live appearances, previously unreleased studio recordings and revived older songs. Over the course of High Hopes’ 20 year history, Springsteen collaborated on the record with the E Street Band, as well as saxophonist Clarence Clemmons, guitarist Danny Federici and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello. Most reviewers are impressed specifically with Morello’s obvious influence on the record.

USA Today’s Brian Mansfield notes the optimistic tone of the album’s first tracks, which takes on a more somber note as the album goes on. Like Billboard’s review, USA Today’s notes the influences, which move Springsteen’s familiar music in a new and refreshing direction. “The best moments on High Hopes often come from its most familiar songs, but Springsteen, now 64, sounds musically invigorated. To his credit, High Hopes pushes Springsteen's style forward rather than keeping it too rooted in a fading past,” writes Mansfield.

According to The Independent's Andy Gill, High Hopes is much less cohesive, lacking the thematic unity of Springsteen’s previous albums. The album is worth a listen however, even just for the old material like “American Skin (41 Shots)” and “The Ghost of Tom Joad”, revived by Morello’s influence. “American Skin” dates back to 2000, but has been re-recorded for the album as a tribute to Trayvon Martin. Some songs do fall flat, says Gill, like “Harry’s Place” and the religiose “Heaven’s Wall”, which “add little to his canon, while covers of The Saints’ “Just Like Fire Would” and Suicide’s “Dream Baby Dream” fail to reveal any new depths.”

High Hopes will be available for purchase on January 14, but can now be streamed for free at cbs.com/springsteen.