Bruce Springsteen, 'Working on a Dream'

The buzz: “Hope” is the magic word of the month thanks to our new president—and longtime American hero Bruce Springsteen is here to make sure we understand what that means.

The verdict: Love him, hate him, be ambivalent about his “everyman” deal, but one thing's undeniable about Bruce Springsteen: no matter what you think of his music, even 40 years into his career, he's one of the most relevant musicians on the planet. “Working on a Dream” proves once again that Springsteen is unashamed to take in the essence of an era, then harness it via his music. "Dream" is an album for right now, whether that means the hope hiding behind the somewhat cynical chug of the title track, the souped up electro-harmonica of the roaring, angry blues number “Good Eye” (which sounds like an outtake from a lost, great Beck album), or even in the plaintive longing of the bonus track, culled from the soundtrack to “The Wrestler.” This album is too long by about three songs, but cut the wheat from the chaff and you're left with what'll likely end up one of the most immediate pop-cultural examples of the way the U.S. feels right now—regardless of how hokey that may be.

Did you know? Springsteen is strongly rumored to be co-headlining this year's Bonnaroo festival with jam kings Phish.