Devils & Dust (studio album) by Bruce Springsteen

After the overblown and unexciting The Rising, Springsteen returns with a haunting, cinematic set of folk songs about down and out characters. No one does this like Springsteen, but overall this is just a weak project. After listening several times, nothing really stands out.

Not recommended.

Condensed to a 7" Single:
Side A: Long Time Comin'
Side B: Matamoros Banks

this is a beautiful record

read garycottier's review below

Devils & dust is Bruce springsteen's follow up to 2002's, the rising. Harking back to the acoustic sparseness of the, Nebraska, and, ghost of Tom Joad, albums, although there is a lot more band instrumentation this time around. The title track, is excellent, and the best song on the album. It's kind of a re-write of Bob Dylan's, with God on our side. Other strong acoustic tracks are the beautiful, Leah, the lovely, black cowboys, and the boxing drama, the hitter. All the way home, is the most band-like song on the record, and that particular track was recorded during the human touch/lucky town sessions. Other highlights are, Reno, which wouldn't have been out of place on the, Tom Joad, album, there's also the bluesy rock'n'roll of, all I'm thinkin'about, and the wonderful closing track, matamoros banks. Maria's bed, is great fun, similar to, Mary's place, on, the rising, but this time more country than Motown. The only weak tracks are, silver palomino, and, Jesus was an only son, but that's just my personal opinion. Devils & dust, isn't an essential Springsteen album, but it is another piece of the puzzle. Good stuff.

From zags7000 06/11/2015 23:18

This was the first Springsteen album I listened to. Great songwriting. Love the title track. Doesn't hold up as strong as his previous album The Rising but this is still great music.

I'm gonna be honest. The album isn't comparing to Springsteen's past classics. The tracks range from bad to alright with one exception. The album's sole classic is the title track. Disappointing, but not awful. Just don't expect it to be Born to Run or The Rising.

It is a good album by most standards but one of the ones that has disapointed me the most. There is no real focus that you are used to with Bruce.