Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball Hip Hop?
In this recent article from SPIN, the author postulates that Bruce Springsteen’s latest album is rap. The author is not trying to funny or ironic. What he is pointing out is that the album was clearly informed by hip hop and that Bruce is no more a dork for being a rich rock star pissed at capitalism than a college educated hip hop artist is a dork for playing ghetto. This is art and sometimes artist wear masks. That does not make them inauthentic (it can if you don’t play it brilliantly – Bruce happens to play it brilliantly).
When I attempted to review this album I was tempted to note the hip hop influences, but I was too much of a pussy. This is a brilliant review and it helped me see Wrecking Ball in a new light and enjoy the album even more. That is all you can ask from a review – to get you to listen.
Axl's Catch Groove 
Very interesting take. Check out our review of “Wrecking Ball” if you like 🙂
http://mattneric.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball/
Checked out your review mattneric – Well thought out review. It is great to see a legacy artist still at the top of his career late in the game (however given the great shape the Boss is in he could be the first rocking centenarian).
Yup! Maybe I’ll go for a power burn today and take this one along also. Been a fan since ‘Wild, Innocent’ days. Back then you could hardly get a sniff on the guy. Hip hop? I’ll listen with new ears.
I took this one for the burn (walk) and I can hear that influence. Along with that I get a bunch more out of it also. Bruce draws from so much. His inspiration and influences have to be so wide and open minded. And your right about him taking care of himself. Started out as a street rat and matured into a very healthy human being. Oh yeah, ‘Wrecking Ball’ is a real good listen. (My batteries died 3/4 of the way through the walk, piss off)