I have long suspected it. After two good albums, he has been recycling streets/passion/cars pap for twenty years. His singing is increasingly incomprehensible mumbling. Finally, the giveaway is that everytime he opens his mouth to talk about politics, one wishes he had just kept mumbling in a corner to himself.
I think hollywood and musicians should leave politics up to the politicians. In other words, Shutup and just sing, Springsteen!