When Springsteen Was a Western Star

That little voice in my head's all that keeps me from sinking down come sundown... Bruce Springsteen - Sundown

Bruce Springsteen's releases since the 1980's have been somewhat uneven.  I think his 2 best albums since his run of great albums, are 2002's The Rising and 2019's Western Stars.

The Rising struck the right chord after the horrific events of September 11, 2001 (911).  The album was somber, but somehow uplifting.  It was easily one of the best albums of that decade.

Western Stars was a complete unexpected genre change and complete winner.  I read interviews where Bruce said that he wanted to release different types of music.  In 2006 he released an album of traditional folk music sans The E Street Band. We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions sounded like it would have been at home at a 1960's hootenanny.  Then in 2022 he released Only the Strong Survive, an R&B covers album.  The album was solid, but maybe not spectacular.

On Western Stars Bruce hit his stride... in cowboy boots.  The album is a throwback to 1970's west coast sounds of the music of Glen Campbell / Jimmy Webb.  The songs are lush and full and contain stories about loners and drifters.