Sony Schallplatten & CDs

Review: This new collection from New Jersey’s Bruce Springsteen gathers twenty previously unreleased tracks, many taken from full albums that never saw the light of day — until now. Spanning 35 years of creative offshoots, false starts and private experiments, it’s a rare insight into the quieter corners of one of America’s most mythic songwriters. But this isn’t just offcut archaeology; it’s a powerful standalone listen.
From the dusty pulse of the ‘LA Garage Sessions ’83’ to the synthetic haze of the ‘Streets of Philadelphia Sessions’, these recordings trace Springsteen’s musical drift between lo-fi intimacy, widescreen rock and unexpected stylistic detours. ‘Somewhere North of Nashville’ aches with country soul, pedal steel drifting like cigarette smoke. ‘Inyo’ is a richly detailed border tale, while ‘Twilight Hours’ goes full orchestral noir — all shadows and moonlight. ‘Perfect World’ brings it back to E Street territory, complete with rousing guitars and that familiar sense of hope under pressure. There’s a looseness here that feels newly revealing, and the warmth of Springsteen’s personal introduction only adds to its charm. It’s not a victory lap — more a letter from the vaults, full of missed chances and alternate realities. A gift for fans, but more than that, a reminder of his range.