Bruce Springsteen has released a new album with the E Street Band, titled 'Letter To You', recorded in just five days last November at his New Jersey barn. The album features nine musicians playing together with minimal overdubs, creating a live-sound experience.
The album opens with 'One Minute You’re Here', a reflection on mortality, before shifting into a higher gear reminiscent of his 1978 work 'Darkness On The Edge Of Town'. Tracks like 'Burnin’ Train' and the title song are characterised by a wall of sound with pounding drums and power chords.
Springsteen, now 71, addresses themes of time and loss on the album. 'Ghosts' pays tribute to late bandmates, including saxophonist Clarence Clemons, whose nephew Jake plays on three tracks. 'Last Man Standing' remembers George Theiss, a bandmate from Springsteen's teenage group The Castiles, who died in 2018.
The album avoids political commentary, focusing instead on personal reflections. It includes three songs written in the early 1970s, such as 'If I Was The Priest' and 'Song For Orphans', which are long and wordy, reminiscent of his early Dylan-esque style.
Some US reviews have speculated that 'Letter To You' could be Springsteen's final studio album, citing the closing track 'I’ll See You In My Dreams' as a farewell. However, the album's celebratory tone suggests the singer still has more to offer.
