I wish I was as upbeat as you, PK. I listened to the entire disc yesterday, and found it to be just awful. Yeah, the Wrestler and The Last Carnival have some nice qualities, but nothing remotely approaches his best work. I fear he doesn't have another Badlands, Rosalita, or even Tunnel of Love in him. As a truly devoted 35-year Springsteen fan, it pains me to write that. I've been thinking a lot about what's wrong with the man and his music. Here are a few thoughts:

1. Is anyone in the Springsteen camp willing to speak the truth to Bruce? I don't think so. I can't imagine Jon Landau really likes most of Bruce's output over the last 20 years or so, but is he going to risk the relationship? Dave Marsh isn't going to ruin a friendship, as well as his wife's financial position within the Springsteen inner circle. Perhaps they are too insular a group.

2. Bruce has rightfully earned his reputation as possibly the greatest single live performer in the history of rock. His sustained level of live performances is unmatched. And I say this having seen him close to 40 times. I think this remarkable achievement has overshadowed his incredibly inconsistent studio output.

3. Bruce's early, and certainly best records were the result of long, hard hours in the studio. At his age, and given his status, he just isn't going to log that kind of time again. And I'm not saying he should.

4. I think Brendan O'Brien's production is dreadful. There are far too many instruments being played. There's nothing distinct musically or in Bruce's voice. It's like this wall of noise, not to be confused with Spector's Wall of Sound.

5. Perhaps the creative well ran dry years ago. He wouldn't be the first artist to lose his muse.

I would love to be wrong. I'll still eagerly see him in Boston this April, and my 13-year old vociferously disagrees with my assessment as she really likes a lot of the new songs. In the meantime, I'm anxiously awaiting Mick Thomas's new album from down under. It's called "Spin, Spin, Spin" and it will be lucky to sell 7500 copies in Australia. The road less taken makes a lot of sense sometimes.

Peter T.