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The facts about this album are well documented.  The inspiration is 9/11 and the E Street band is back with Bruce for the first time since Born in the USA.  The expectations were certainly high before this CD release.  So here a year or so down the line after its release with the new special limited tour edition and bonus DVD hitting the streets.  

The DVD is a bonus disc and man, what a bonus; four live tracks and the "Lonesome Day" promo video.  There's nothing like Springsteen live and this DVD shows that off beautifully.  Bruce and his fans together, that's a beautiful thing.  The E Street play like they've never been away, even Steven Van Zandt with that bewildered look that he always seems to have, and Brucie boy has the crowd eating out of his hand

The Rising is so full of emotion, so full of despair and so full of hope in the midst of despair, the kind of hope that there is something more outside of ourselves and that draws me in.  As you would expect of a master musician like Bruce, this is musically a very strong album, lots of hooks that just bring you along for the ride of your life.  The sound overall is crisp and clear with an excellent production, probably Bruce's best work to date.  There is not much of a change in style from recent past efforts apart from maybe the little “Arabic” thing going on in "Worlds Apart" and a Billy Joel sounding "Mary's Place."

Standout tracks without doubt are "Lonesome Day," the lead off track, with its gentle intro before launching into an out and out rocker.  The beautiful, delicate and haunting "Nowhere Man" with its plea “it's just me Lord, I pray I am able.”  Other tracks worth a mention are "Empty Sky," "Into the Fire," and "You’re Missing," "My City of Ruins," the whole CD is top notch.  If you haven’t got The Rising get it, if you do have it, get it back off the shelf and enjoy.

Mark Reid 10/15/03