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I don't think it was a mistake. Greetings from Asbury Park, Born to Run, and Darkness on the Edge of Town were all tremendous albums. However, his subsequent material has ranged between below average and horrible.

I agree. I'd add "The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle," if only for the "title" tune, one of my favorites. The author accurately describes the new Springsteen album as "ham-fisted." It's total crud, and self-righteous crud at that. Yuck. I love old Springsteen records, but I also love Keith Richards, and I think he is right to call much of it "contrived" (Keith's always been an honest man).

The author loses me several times though. If he writes music journalism, he should know that Rolling Stone always gives 4 or 5 stars to the latest albums by aging rock stars (they gave Mick Jagger's absolutely terrible recent solo album 4 stars, I believe; ditto anything by Young or Dylan).

And also his comment that suggests that only jazz and classical are worthy of our praise. And he thinks that the brief swing revival was meaningful!? (He wrote a book on it.)

I think the author had a deadline and didn't have much to write about.

As for political ideology, I couldn't care less.....

If the music is good, why should I be bothered with what the artist believes?

"Kitty's back" is one of my favorites, dynamite arrangement.

You're right, there are a few tremendous tunes on The Wild, the Innocent..... ...And I forgot to mention The River, his last good album...imo.

Rolling Stone always gives 4 or 5 stars to the latest albums by aging rock stars

So true. Jagger's solo efforts are among the worst in R&R history, but they heap praise on them nevertheless. Keith's Talk is Cheap (1988), on the other hand, is a very nice effort. I would rate it just below the quality of the Stones' best albums (like Beggars Banquet, Exile on Main St., Sticky Fingers, and Let it Bleed).

The author loses me several times though. If he writes music journalism, he should know that Rolling Stone always gives 4 or 5 stars to the latest albums by aging rock stars (they gave Mick Jagger's absolutely terrible recent solo album 4 stars, I believe; ditto anything by Young or Dylan).

Good points, but one minor correction -- Rolling Stone, in its review by publisher Jann Wenner, gave Mick's album five stars!