Bruce Springsteen: 172-page Definitive Edition. Updated!

More Boss than Boss

Is there no limit to the energies of Bruce Springsteen? Even leaving aside his sideline as a spokesperson for American democracy, we must most recently face up – as Peter Watts does in this new magazine which is out tomorrow – to the payload of his latest archive release. Namely, Tracks II: The Lost Albums. Garage romanticism, rowdy country, ghostly instrumentals, the box set genuinely contains multitudes, further evidence of an artist building a bigger picture, even if favourites must be sacrificed along the way.

There’s been no danger of that at a Springsteen concert, however.  As you’ll read in the foldout chronology section of our new Definitive Edition of our Ultimate Music Guide, in recent years, Bruce and band have proved it all night with sets involving deep cuts, dives into entire years of work (respect due, 1973), and ultimately bringing us to a situation where his shows can bust curfews, annoy chi-chi neighbours who don’t like the noise, and top a ridiculous four hours on stage. The singer-songwriter Steve Earle recalls meeting Bruce after a 2023 show and telling him “I don’t know what you didn’t play!” 

The range and power of Springsteen’s work is what we celebrate in this 172-page edition. From the prolixity of his early work, through to the laconic poetry of his classic albums this is music with the strength of character to reach out and touch its audience. Occasionally (we’re thinking of you here, Ronald Reagan) casual listeners can misconstrue the subtlety of what is being communicated. For the most part, though, Springsteen creates a unique empathy. His songs are a dramatic biography of a relatable America. 

The big dreams and blood vows of high school. The unfulfilled promises, the dead-end employment and relationship breakdowns. The temptation to dwell on the good old days. The best Springsteen music acknowledges the wolves at the door – crime, mental illness, economic hardship, war – but offers some assistance in resisting them. As you read the in-depth reviews of every Springsteen album in this magazine, you’ll want to revisit this powerful music, and also admire the ethic of the person behind it. 

It comes across almost as a sense of duty. Springsteen sees it with customary self-awareness as “playing hard and trying not to disappoint”. As Steve Earle reflected to Uncut in 2023 Springsteen’s willingness to put in the work seems to come from not wanting to let any member of his audience down. After all, says Steve, “Somebody somewhere identifies with every single fucking song he’s ever written.”

Enjoy the magazine. It’s in shops now, or you can get one from us here.