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The BOSS is back and in fine form to say the very least! Last time out on "The Rising" Bruce Springsteen rejoined with the amazing E Street Band for an incredible album that brought fans back to the hey-day of his 30 plus year career. On Devils & Dust - Springsteen brings us a quieter more simple approach, more of a modern day folk album than a rockin' feature this time, and it works and fits the BOSS like a glove!  Devils & Dust features Bruce playing nearly everything himself, with a few exceptions, and belting out tunes that would be embraced by fans of his "Ghost Of Tom Joad" or "Nebraska" releases, but the fans of the rockier side of Springsteen will be moved as much as the rest of us.

Proving that he has more left in him, at least in the ways of one of the dying breed of rock star that can spin a story into his songs and not just simple rock-like-fodder that we hear so much of on the radio today! We also get to hear a more vulnerable Springsteen like we haven't heard on the track "All I'm Thinkin' About" which by the way is one of the best tracks on the CD. The main negative thing on the CD is the track "Reno" which does have a message, but at the same time is full of vulgarity that has caused some major and not so major record stores to stop stocking the CD. Not that it's a bad song, Bruce Springsteen's lyrics do present a story, but the way it is presented may offend some people, but there is always a skip feature on our computers or CD Players.

The simplicity of Devils & Dust is the real charm here as Springsteen shows he can still do the less polished sound, and it completely works for the BOSS. The lyrical content is superb in most cases, and the roots feel is complementing the gruff vocals we have come to know from Bruce Springsteen. Most of the tracks on Devils & Dust will probably never see airplay, except maybe on Americana radio, but there are a few gems that may also have commercial success like the mid-tempo rocker "Long Time Comin", the title track "Devils & Dust" and "Maria's Bed".

For the bottom line, if you are a fan of the Boss, this is a must have. Devils & Dust is one of those rare discs that will seldom be out of your CD player. Also, just a side note here, I reviewed the DualDisc here, and on the second side of the disc (DVD Side) you get all the tracks recorded in Dolby 5.1 surround sound, which is enough, but you also get some personal acoustic performances of five tracks "Devils & Dust", "Long Time Comin'", "Reno", and "All I'm Thinking About" A spellbinding sound and 11 incredible tracks, and only one that is questionable.

  (5.5 Stars Out Of 6)

` To listen to MP3 clips click play or text link! 1. Devils and Dust 2. All The Way Home 3. Reno 4. Long Time Comin' 5. Black Cowboys 6. Maria's Bed 7. Silver Palomino 8. Jesus Was An Only Son 9. Leah 10. The Hitter 11. All I'm Thinkin' About 12. Hatamoros Banks

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