Live In Dublin (2007)

Delusions of Adequacy 9 of 10
The record achieves a frenetic energy, propelled along by a powerful 10-man band -- a compelling contrast to Pete Seeger's often two- or three-man performances...And it's just that fact that makes this album so compelling. Folk music carries with it an understated, simple power, conveyed not in lyrical obscurism or musical innovation but in the kind of archetypal melodies that are ingrained so completely in the American consciousness. And Springsteen does more than just an adequate job; it's difficult not to get swept along by the infectious energy of his performance. Even those who don't traditionally consider themselves fans of folk music should at least give "We Shall Overcome" a try. You'll be trying to suppress an irrepressible urge to line-dance and churn butter before the end of "Old Dan Tucker." If you aren't, then you ain't got no soul. - Sandy Boer
 

Bruce Frederick Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American rock and folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Springsteen has frequently recorded and toured with the E Street Band, in addition to recording and performing as a solo artist and with other musicians. An heir to Elvis Presley, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Eddie Cochrane and Bob Dylan, but also influenced by early 1960s rock and R & B, Springsteen is most widely known for his brand of heartland rock infused with pop hooks, poetic lyrics, and Americana sentiments centered around his native New Jersey. His eloquence in expressing ordinary, everyday problems has earned him numerous awards, including several Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with a very large, devoted, and long-lasting fan base. His most famous albums, Born to Run and Born in the U.S.A., epitomize his penchant for finding grandeur in the struggles of daily life.

Springsteen's lyrics often concern men and women struggling to make ends meet. He has gradually become identified with progressive politics. Springsteen is also noted for his support of various relief and rebuilding efforts in New Jersey and elsewhere and for his response to the September 11, 2001 attacks, on which his album The Rising reflects.

Springsteen's recordings have tended to alternate between commercially accessible rock albums and somber folk-oriented works. Much of Springsteen's iconic status in America as well as his popularity abroad stems from his concert performances - marathon shows, up to four hours in length, in which he and the E Street Band energetically perform intense ballads, rousing anthems, and party rock and roll songs, with Springsteen telling long whimsical or deeply emotional stories in between.

Springsteen has long had the nickname The Boss, a term which he was initially reported to dislike but now seems to have come to terms with - he sometimes jokingly refers to himself as such on stage.