High Hopes (studio album) by Bruce Springsteen

High Hopes, Bruce Springsteen's 18th studio album, is a mostly uninspired set of songs. There are hints of brilliance (American Skin), but mostly it's one of the rare Springsteen albums I'm comfortable panning.

NOT RECOMMENDED.

Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Frankie Fell in Love
B-Side: American Skin (41 Shots)

From TheDude85 10/20/2021 17:32

Collection of Leftovers heated and served, just add cold drinks and appetizers.

From VictorVale 04/15/2019 23:43

Bruce ainda tem energia, mas não tem o vigor de outrora.

edit: tem sim, falei bosta!

Its pretty okay, not great by Springsteen standards (especially after how good Wrecking Ball is) but for all intents and purposes its an outtakes compilation being marketed as an album so in light of that its really not too shabby. Would rather have the songs than not.

High hopes, is Bruce Springsteen's mop up album, it's unfinished business finally dealt with. There's outtakes from previous records, cover versions, and studio versions of songs that had only been recorded in their live incarnations. The album just about holds itself together. Off the covers, there's the title track, a song previously by the havalinas', it's a great gospel/rock track hybrid. The saint's, just like fire would, sounds more like Bruce than Bruce does here, and suicide's, dream, baby, dream, is a lovely closing track. Off the Springsteen songs, Harry's place, is a leftover from, the rising, sessions, and you can hear why, it wouldn't have worked on that album, it's still okay. Down in the hole, is atmospheric, and, heaven's wall, an enjoyable singalong. Frankie fell in love, is a bit lightweight, and, this is your sword, not bad. Hunter of invisible game, is Dylanish, and, the wall, is a moving cut about a musician Springsteen knew who sadly died in the Vietnam war. American skin(41 shots), is a brilliant new studio job of a track recently only available live from the Madison square gigs in 1999, and, The ghost of Tom Joad, is turned into a fiery epic, thanks to some fine guitar from Tom Morello. High hopes, for all it's hodge podge origins is still an enjoyable record, but certainly not essential, you feel that Springsteen needed to get these songs out the way before he could move on.

From zags7000 06/11/2015 23:30

Had its moments but kind of a letdown after Wrecking Ball. They can't all be classics though.

From bojolpif71 01/31/2015 11:36

Le boss n'a plus l'inspiration..

From jhuik 05/17/2014 21:11

Probably does not sustain the energy of Wrecking Ball (let alone his legendary much earlier work) but.... still has its moments. The re-version of Tom Joad is worth the time. So is some of the rest of this.

Good but not at the Wrecking Ball's level

Top-notch consistency with a little diversity, and Bruce's Dylan-esque vocals. I can't asy it's as good as Born to Run, though.