Under the Radar Magazine

On the heels of last fall’s Occupy Wall Street protests arrives Bruce Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball, his most vibrant studio album of original material since 1984’s Born in the U.S.A. Like his 2007 album, Magic, which cast a critical eye on the social and political climate of the Bush years, Wrecking Ball voices what Springsteen sees as crumbling values in America (signified by the wrecking ball of the title song), but this time the characters in the songs direct their ire toward fat-cat bankers and “robber barons…whose crimes have gone unpunished.” In the folky, strings-laden sing-along, “Easy Money,” a guy heads out on the town with his girl, bringing along a Smith & Wesson to take matters into his own hands. The narrator of the dirge “Jack of All Trades” initially appears to be more pragmatic and optimistic, repeatedly assuring his girl that they’ll be all right, before unexpectedly confessing, “If I had me a gun, I’d find the bastards and shoot ‘em on sight. (via Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball (Columbia) | Under The Radar)

Yesterday Late Night with Jimmy Fallon commenced its weeklong residency of all things Bruce Springsteen with a two song performance by The Boss and the E Street Band. (via Watch: Bruce Springsteen Starts His Week-Long Visit to “Fallon” | Under The Radar)

Another track from Bruce Springsteen’s upcoming album Wrecking Ball is now online to stream. This time you can click over to Paste to hear “Death to My Hometown,” (via Listen: Bruce Springsteen - “Death to My Hometown” | Under The Radar)

As promised, Bruce Springsteen has released another stream of a Wrecking Ball composition. Today is track number three, “Shackled and Drawn,” which you can listen to over at Rolling Stone. (via Listen: Bruce Springsteen - “Shackled and Drawn” | Under The Radar)

Leading up to the release of his new album Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen has decided to release a stream of a particular track from the record through various Boss-related websites every day until the week of the LP’s release on March 6. (via Listen: Bruce Springsteen - “Easy Money” | Under The Radar)

There’s aren’t that many musicians that can pull off such heart-on-your-sleeve patriotism nowadays without coming across at least a little bit cheesy. The American institution that he is, Bruce Springsteen is clearly immune to such eye-rolling. (via Watch: Bruce Springsteen - “We Take Care of Our Own” Video | Under The Radar)

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band have announced the first U.S. leg of their 2012 world tour supporting The Boss’s forthcoming new album Wrecking Ball. (via Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Announce U.S. Tour | Under The Radar)

Bruce Springsteen has announced the release of his 17th studio album, Wrecking Ball. Featuring 11 songs, the full-length effort is slated for release on March 6 via Columbia. (via Bruce Springsteen Announces “Wrecking Ball,” Releases Single | Under The Radar)