Jump to content

Examine individual changes

This page allows you to examine the variables generated by the Edit Filter for an individual change.

Variables generated for this change

VariableValue
Edit count of the user (user_editcount)
'229829'
Name of the user account (user_name)
'BattyBot'
Age of the user account (user_age)
45583942
Groups (including implicit) the user is in (user_groups)
[ 0 => 'bot', 1 => '*', 2 => 'user', 3 => 'autoconfirmed' ]
Page ID (page_id)
34417384
Page namespace (page_namespace)
0
Page title without namespace (page_title)
'Wrecking Ball (Bruce Springsteen album)'
Full page title (page_prefixedtitle)
'Wrecking Ball (Bruce Springsteen album)'
Action (action)
'edit'
Edit summary/reason (summary)
'[[WP:AWB/GF|General fixes]], replaced: |author=Up for Discussion | → | using [[Project:AWB|AWB]]'
Whether or not the edit is marked as minor (no longer in use) (minor_edit)
true
Old page wikitext, before the edit (old_wikitext)
'{{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums --> | Name = Wrecking Ball | Type = studio | Artist = [[Bruce Springsteen]] | Cover = Wreckingball.jpg | Released = March 5, 2012 <!-- earliest known date, per [[Template:Infobox album]] --> | Recorded = 2011 | Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[folk rock]] | Length = 51:40 | Label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] | Producer = [[Ron Aniello]], Bruce Springsteen | Chronology = [[Bruce Springsteen]] & [[the E Street Band]] | Last album = ''[[The Promise (Bruce Springsteen album)|The Promise]]''<br/>(2010) | This album = '''''Wrecking Ball'''''<br/>(2012) | Next album = ''[[Collection: 1973-2012]]''<br>(2013) | Misc = {{Singles | Name = Wrecking Ball | Type = Studio | single 1 = [[We Take Care of Our Own]] | single 1 date = January 19, 2012 | single 2 = [[Rocky Ground]] | single 2 date = April 21, 2012 | single 3 = [[Death to My Hometown]] | single 3 date = May 2012 }} }} '''''Wrecking Ball''''' is the seventeenth [[studio album]] by American recording artist [[Bruce Springsteen]], released March 5, 2012, on [[Columbia Records]]. It was named best album of 2012 by ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.<ref name="2012 albums">{{cite web |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-19691231 |title=50 Best Albums of 2012: Bruce Springsteen, 'Wrecking Ball' |work=[[Rolling Stone]] |accessdate=2013-01-07}}</ref> and along with the album's first single, "[[We Take Care of Our Own]]", was nominated for three [[Grammy Awards]].<ref name="cbs grammy">{{cite web |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/06/bruce-springsteen-nabs-three-grammy-nominations-springsteen-gets-two-more-2/ |title=Bruce Springsteen Nabs Three Grammy Nominations; "Springsteen" Gets Two More |last=Ives |first=Brian |date=December 6, 2012 |work=CBS New York |accessdate=2013-01-07}}</ref><ref name="grammy.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.grammy.com/news/bruce-springsteen-added-to-grammy-performance-lineup |title=Bruce Springsteen Added to Grammy Performance Lineup |date=February 2, 2012 |work=Grammy.com |publisher=[[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|The Recording Academy]] |accessdate=2013-01-07}}</ref> ==Background and recording== All but four songs were written in 2011. Three of the exceptions were songs previously released in live version, the other released on ''Wrecking Ball'':<ref>{{cite web| url= http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_music_blog/2012/01/new-bruce-springsteen-album-wrecking-ball-due-on-march-6.html |title=New Bruce Springsteen album, Wrecking Ball, due on March 6 |work=Soundboard Music Blog |publisher= Orlando Sentinel |date=January 20, 2012 |accessdate= 2012-03-03}}</ref> *"Jack of All Trades", which was written in 2009. During [[Bruce Springsteen]]'s recent [[Wrecking Ball Tour]] he addresses the crowd and tells about the current state of our economy, which inspired him to write this song three years previous. *"Wrecking Ball", which was written in 2009 prior to a series of E Street Band shows at [[Giants Stadium]] as a tribute to the venue, which was set to close and be demolished. Springsteen later dedicated a live version with revised lyrics to the closing of the [[Spectrum (arena)|Spectrum]] in Philadelphia. The song made other appearances throughout the final two months of the [[Working on a Dream Tour]];<ref>{{cite video|title=London Calling: Live in Hyde Park| medium=DVD| last= Springsteen| first=Bruce|date=June 22, 2010}}</ref> *"American Land", which was written during the 2006 [[We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions|Seeger Sessions]] with a studio version being recorded though never released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brucebase.wikispaces.com/The+Seeger+Sessions+-+Studio+Sessions|title=The Seeger Sessions - Studio Sessions |work=Brucebase|date=March 6, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-06}}</ref> The song was played throughout that tour and heavily on the subsequent two [[E Street Band]] tours; and *"Land of Hope and Dreams," which was written by Springsteen sometime in 1998 or early 1999 and first performed on the 1999 [[Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour|Reunion Tour]] with the E Street Band. A studio version was originally recorded in 2002 during the sessions for ''[[The Rising (album)|The Rising]]'' album although it was never released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brucebase.wikispaces.com/The+Rising+-+Studio+Sessions|title=The Rising - Studio Sessions|work=Brucebase|date=March 6, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-06}}</ref> The album includes what may be the final tracks featuring [[Clarence Clemons]], who died in June 2011. Clemons performs the saxophone solos on "Land of Hope and Dreams", and backing saxophone rhythms on the title track.<ref name="sleeve">{{cite web| url=http://www.greasylake.org/the-circuit/index.php?/topic/106725-wrecking-ball-sleeve-notes/ |title=Wrecking Ball sleeve notes |work=Greasy Lake Community |date=February 28, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-03}}{{Verify credibility|date=March 2012}}</ref> While the [[Wrecking Ball Tour|tour in support of the album]] features the full current E Street Band lineup, the only E Street Band members to appear on the album are Clemons, [[Steven Van Zandt]], [[Max Weinberg]], and [[Patti Scialfa]]; adjunct members [[Charlie Giordano]] and [[Soozie Tyrell]] are also heavily featured. The album features members of [[the Sessions Band]], including the horn section, and special guest appearances by [[Tom Morello]] and [[Matt Chamberlain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.omg.yahoo.com/news/morello-enlisted-springsteens-album-130000478.html |title=Morello enlisted for Springsteen's new album |work=Yahoo! omg! UK |date=January 19, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1677536/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball.jhtml |title=Bruce Springsteen Returns With New Album, Wrecking Ball |work=MTV |date=January 19, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-03}}</ref> == Music and lyrics == {{Quote box |quote = "It's [[protest music]], damn right about moral abstractions rather than those finely limned characters good little aesthetes get gooey about, and for me a cathartic up. Second half's less of a scour, which the anti-political find a blessed relief and I find a forgivable nod to [[humanism]] and [[Clarence Clemons]]." |source = —[[Robert Christgau]], on the album's subject matter.<ref name="Christgau"/> |align = right |width = 30em }} The ''Hollywood Reporter'' called the album Springsteen at his "angriest yet",<ref name="hollywoodreporter1">{{cite web| title=Bruce Springsteen's New Album Is His 'Angriest' Yet| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bruce-springsteen-album-angry-281412|accessdate=2012-01-13|work=Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> and some of the tracks address topics such as economic justice.{{cn|date=January 2013}} Musically, the album was described the ''Hollywood Reporter'' as being "very rock 'n' roll ... with unexpected textures—loops, electronic percussion[, and] an amazing sweep of influences and rhythms, from hip-hop to Irish folk rhythms."<ref name="hollywoodreporter1"/> ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' writer Stephen M. Deusner dubbed the album "a big rock record".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Deusner|first=Stephen M.|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/03/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball.html|title=Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball|journal=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|publisher=Paste Media Group|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-15}}</ref> Andy Gill of ''[[The Independent]]'' wrote of the album's musical style, "[I]t's couched in a mix of the classic Boss rock bombast and the muscular hootenanny [[folk rock|folk-rock]] of his ''[[The Seeger Sessions|Seeger Sessions]]'' album, with touches of noble [[gospel music|gospel]], poignant [[jazz]] trumpet and feisty [[Irish rebel music]] colouring the songs according to their mood."<ref name="Gill">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-columbia-7468183.html |title=The Independent review |location=London |first=Andy |last=Gill |date=March 2, 2012}}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]''{{'}}s Steven Hyden called it "a [[mainstream rock]] record" and noted that, musically, the album features "booming drums, squealing guitar solos, violins, banjos, trumpets, pianos, pots, pans, and every available hard surface at Bruce's home studio."<ref name="Hyden">{{cite news|last=Hyden|first=Steven|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball,70373/|title=Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball|newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]]|publisher=[[The Onion|Onion Inc.]]|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> Music writer [[Robert Christgau]] interpreted its first six tracks as "heavy irony shading over into murderous rage, with refurbished [[arena rock|arena-rock]] to slam it home". He cited the opening track "We Take Care of Our Own" as an example, writing that "it's perversely anti-political to lay any other interpretation on the opening [track], which cites places 'From the [[shotgun shack]] to [[Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the Louisiana Superdome|the Superdome]]' where we—meaning the U.S.A. so many Americans weren't even born in—documentably haven't taken care of our own."<ref name="Christgau"/> Steve Leftridge of [[PopMatters]] found the characters in the songs "less elusive about whom to blame for their troubles, cutting out the middle figures like foremen and hiring men and taking on the real culprits unambiguously."<ref name="Leftridge"/> He compared the album to Springsteen's ''[[The Rising (album)|The Rising]]'' (2002), writing that if that was his "[[September 11 attacks|9-11]] album", ''Wrecking Ball'' is his "[[Occupy movement|Occupy]] album".<ref name="Leftridge"/> == Songs == [[File:RisingTourGiantsStadiumLot.jpg|right|thumb|The title track was originally written as a tribute to [[Giants Stadium]] ''(pictured in 2003)'', when Springsteen and the E Street Band played the venue's final concerts.<ref name="Dombal">{{citation |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16364-wrecking-ball/|title=Pitchfork review|first=Ryan|last=Dombal|date=March 7, 2012}}</ref>]] According to Springsteen, in 2009 he wrote his first song about a "guy that wears a tie". Springsteen has "spent much of his career writing about characters struggling in tough economic times, but the [[Late-2000s financial crisis|financial crisis]] reportedly convinced him it was time to write about the people and forces that brought America to this 'ugly point.' [The album is an] indictment of Wall Street greed and corruption and a look into the devastation it has wrought."<ref name="greene1">{{cite web|first=Andy |last=Greene |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-bruce-springsteen-explains-his-experimental-new-album-20120217 |title=Exclusive: Bruce Springsteen Explains His Experimental New Album |work=Rolling Stone |date= February 17, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-03}}</ref> The opening track, "[[We Take Care of Our Own]]", recalls "[[Born in the U.S.A. (song)|Born in the U.S.A.]]" in terms of its themes that reflect Springsteen's frustration with the lack of accountability he sees in government. In the vein of "Born in the U.S.A.", the seemingly unabashedly patriotic chorus "Wherever this flag is flown/we take care of our own" is contrasted in the verses with references to the aftermath of [[Hurricane Katrina]] suggesting that perhaps we don't "take care of our own." The song "[[Death to My Hometown]]" is an angry, thinly veiled [[protest song]] regarding the practices of [[Wall Street]] bankers and the economic crisis for which Springsteen considers them accountable. "They destroyed our families’ factories and they took our homes/They left our bodies on the planks, the vultures picked our bones," he sings. The song features heavy [[Irish folk]] influences (including a prominent [[tin whistle]] riff), as well as samples of [[Sacred Harp]] singing. The title track was originally written in commemoration of the then-pending demolition of [[Giants Stadium]] in [[New Jersey]] and is written from the stadium's point of view ("I was raised out of steel here in the swamps of Jersey"). However, in the context of the album it becomes a defiant anthem in the face of economic adversity with the refrain "C'mon on and take your best shot/Let me see what you got/Bring on your wrecking ball!"<ref>{{cite web|url = http://brucespringsteen.net/songs/wrecking-ball | title = Wrecking Ball—The Official Bruce Springsteen Website | accessdate = 2012-03-22}}</ref> The album version is only slightly differently arranged than the original live version and features no major lyrical changes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/2012/03/07/148132164/bruce-springsteen-a-universal-original-wrecking-ball |title=Bruce Springsteen: A Universal, Original 'Wrecking Ball' |date=March 7, 2012 |work=[[NPR]] |accessdate=2013-01-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=zeroblindterry1 |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWpG_ULYpr8 |title=Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball – October 2nd – PROSHOT |work=YouTube |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> This is one of the two songs on the album to feature [[E Street Band]] legendary saxophonist [[Clarence Clemons]], who died in 2011. The song "[[Rocky Ground]]" is perhaps the most experimental track on the album. While the song does recall Springsteen's previous work, such as the similarly [[gospel music]]–influenced "[[My City of Ruins]]" and the [[hip-hop]] tinged "[[Streets of Philadelphia]]", it features a brief [[rap]] by Michelle Moore, a first for a Springsteen song. The song features an atmospheric arrangement that includes a gospel choir and vocal looping (the words "I'm a soldier" from the Church of God in Christ Congregation's recording of "I'm a Soldier in the Army of the Lord" are looped throughout the song). The song's lyrics contain extensive religious imagery, including [[biblical]]ly-inspired lyrics such as "40 days and nights of rain washed this land/[[Jesus]] said the moneychangers in this temple will not stand,"<ref>{{cite web|url = http://brucespringsteen.net/songs/rocky-ground | title = Rocky Ground—The Official Bruce Springsteen Website | accessdate = 2012-03-22}}</ref> which reflect the theme of economic equality covered earlier in the album. However, the tone of this song is much more optimistic than most of the previous songs on the album despite its somber arrangement, with Springsteen singing "there's a new day coming" in response to the Gospel Choir's refrain "we've been traveling over rocky ground."<ref>{{cite web|last=Boilen |first=Bob |url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2012/02/29/147585148/one-day-only-song-premiere-listen-to-bruce-springsteens-rocky-ground |title=Song Premiere: Listen To 'Rocky Ground, From Bruce Springsteen's 'Wrecking Ball' : All Songs Considered Blog |work=NPR |date=February 29, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> The next and penultimate track, "Land of Hope and Dreams", continues the religious themes and more hopeful outlook with its uplifting lyrics and chorus that use an extensive train [[metaphor]] to express Springsteen's take on the [[American dream]]. "This train/dreams will not be thwarted/this train/faith will be rewarded," he sings. The song ends with a gospel choir singing excerpts from [[The Impressions]]' "[[People Get Ready (song)|People Get Ready]]" and Springsteen repeating "you just get on board/you just thank the Lord." Compared to its previous live version, which the E Street Band has been performing since 1999, it has been re-worked in a somewhat more compact version and now features [[electronic drums]] and the aforementioned use of a [[gospel choir]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Cory Cavin |url=http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/blogs/2012/03/stream-bruce-springsteens-land-of-hope-and-dreams-free-today/ |title=Stream Bruce Springsteen's "Land Of Hope And Dreams" Free Today! - Music |work=Late Night with Jimmy Fallon |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> The album's closing track, "We Are Alive," is a "campfire song"{{citation needed|date=March 2012}} for ghosts of the oppressed, martyred strikers, protesters, and immigrant workers. "I was killed in [[Maryland]] in 1877/When the railroad workers made their stand/I was killed in 1963/One Sunday morning in [[Birmingham]]," he sings during the verse. The chorus, however, has a much more celebratory tone with the refrain "We are alive/And though our bodies lie alone here in the dark/Our spirits rise/To carry the fire and light the spark/To stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart."<ref>{{cite web|url = http://brucespringsteen.net/songs/we-are-alive | title = We Are Alive—The Official Bruce Springsteen Website | accessdate = 2012-03-22}}</ref> The song, which has an Irish-wake feel to it, is an acoustic number with Springsteen being backed by [[mariachi]] horns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/mar/02/bruce-springsteen-we-are-alive |title=Bruce Springsteen's Wrecking Ball preview: listen now to We Are Alive &#124; Music &#124; guardian.co.uk |work=Guardian |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> The horn riff greatly resembles that from [[Johnny Cash]]'s hit "[[Ring of Fire (song)|Ring of Fire]]."<ref name="greene1"/><ref>{{cite web|author=CD Reviews |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/9087107/Bruce-Springsteens-new-album-Wrecking-Ball-track-by-track-review.html |title=Bruce Springsteen's new album Wrecking Ball: track by track review |work=Telegraph |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> == Critical reception == {{Album ratings | rev1 = [[Allmusic]] | rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Erlewine"/> | rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]] | rev2Score = A–<ref name="Christgau"/> | rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | rev3score = B<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20574759,00.html|title=Entertainment Weekly review|location = New York City|first = Melissa|last = Maerz |date = March 1, 2012}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Petridis"/> | rev5 = ''[[The Independent]]'' | rev5Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Gill"/> | rev6 = ''[[NME]]'' | rev6Score= 8/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/bruce-springsteen/12830 |title=NME Album Reviews – Bruce Springsteen – 'Wrecking Ball' |last=MacBain |first=Hamish |date=March 2, 2012 |work=[[NME]] |accessdate=2013-01-07}}</ref> | rev7 = [[Pitchfork Media]] | rev7Score= 5.9/10<ref name="Dombal"/> | rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | rev8Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Fricke"/> | rev9 = [[Slant Magazine]] | rev9Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="Cataldo"/> | rev10 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' | rev10Score = 7/10<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kandell|first=Steve|url=http://www.spin.com/#reviews/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-columbia|title=Bruce Springsteen, 'Wrecking Ball' (Columbia)|journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> }} ''Wrecking Ball'' was released on March 5, 2012, in the United Kingdom and on March 6 in the United States.<ref name="Leftridge"/> It received generally positive reviews from [[music criticism|music critics]]. At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[weighted mean|weighted average]] score out of 100 to reviews and ratings from selected mainstream critics, the album received a metascore of 78, which is based on 41 reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/wrecking-ball-2012|title=Wrecking Ball Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic|work=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> [[David Fricke]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the album a rave review, dubbing it "the most despairing, confrontational and musically turbulent album Bruce Springsteen has ever made."<ref name="Fricke">{{cite news|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/wrecking-ball-20120306 |title=Rolling Stone review|date=March 6, 2012}}</ref> [[BBC Music]]'s Ian Winwood dubbed the album "a work of commanding range and masterful execution", and complimented its music as "varied and surprising".<ref>{{cite web|last=Winwood|first=Ian|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/94m5|title=Review of Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball|work=[[BBC Music]] |date=March 2, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-09}}</ref> Steve Leftridge of [[PopMatters]] called it "cohesively designed" and wrote that it "finds Springsteen still firing on all cylinders—writing with poetic urgency, drawing on traditions old and new, singing and playing with prime strength and energy, and delivering a new set of killer melodies with fresh sonic wallop."<ref name="Leftridge">{{cite web|last=Leftridge|first=Steve|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/155399-bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball/|title=Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=March 5, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s [[Alexis Petridis]] wrote that the album "paints almost entirely in broad brushstrokes, but its bombast rarely seems hollow: it exists [...] in service of an anger that feels righteous, affecting and genuine."<ref name="Petridis">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/mar/01/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-review |title=The Guardian review | location=London | first=Alex |last=Petridis |date=March 1, 2012}}</ref> Andy Gill of ''[[The Independent]]'' found the album "much darker than any of Springsteen's earlier blue-collar tirades" and stated, "There's few, if any, moments of musical innovation, but in terms of political intent, there won't be a harder, more challenging album released all year."<ref name="Gill"/> In his consumer guide for [[MSN Music]], [[Robert Christgau]] gave the album an A– rating,<ref name="Christgau">{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=07d35c45-3d75-4910-aca3-87c842bbe30c|title=Bruce Springsteen/Madonna|work=[[MSN Music]] |publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=March 27, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref> indicating "the kind of garden-variety good record that is the great luxury of musical micromarketing and overproduction."<ref>{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/grades-90s.php|title=CG 90s: Key to Icons|work=Robert Christgau|year=2000|accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref> However, [[Slant Magazine]]'s Jesse Cataldo accused Springsteen of being "borderline [[jingoism|jingoistic]]" and called his perspective "[[wikt:rose-coloured#Adjective|rose-colored]]", writing that he "seems more concerned with overtures toward harmony than actual dissent, a newfound wishy-washiness that leaves him sounding entirely defanged."<ref name="Cataldo">{{cite web|last=Cataldo|first=Jesse|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball/2738|title=Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-09}}</ref> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[Allmusic]] found the album "cumbersome and top heavy" and stated, "Springsteen sacrific[es] impassioned rage in favor of explaining his intentions too clearly."<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite news|url=http://allmusic.com/album/wrecking-ball-r2396384/review|title=Allmusic review|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|date=March 6, 2012}}</ref> Although he commended the album's themes, ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' writer [[Greg Kot]] criticized its music as "sterile" and commented that Springsteen "lost his nerve as a coproducer, going for stadium bombast instead of the unadorned grit these stories of hard times demand."<ref>{{cite news|last=Kot|first=Greg|authorlink=Greg Kot|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/chi-bruce-springsteen-album-review-wrecking-ball-reviewed-20120301,0,894979.column|title=Bruce Springsteen album review; Wrecking Ball reviewed|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tribune Company]]|at=Arts & Entertainment section|date=March 1, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> Despite commending Springsteen's energy with the songs' "ambitious arrangements", Jon Caramanica of ''[[The New York Times]]'' found the "energy [to be] in service of deeply nebulous ideas" and stated, "the text is far more ambiguous, and in plenty of places on this album, just outright flat."<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|last=Caramanica |first=Jon |last2=Jon |first2=Pareles |authorlink=Jon Pareles |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/arts/music/pareles-and-caramanica-on-springsteens-wrecking-ball.html?_r=1|title=Pareles and Caramanica on Springsteen’s ‘Wrecking Ball’|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|location=New York|page=AR18|date=March 4, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> In the same review, [[Jon Pareles]] argued that the album is "sincere, ambitious and angry, which can lead to mixed outcomes. It also — which may be a surprise on an album billed as a broadside — holds some of Springsteen’s most elaborate studio concoctions since ''[[Born to Run]]''."<ref name="nytimes"/> == Commercial performance == The album debuted at No. 1 in 16 different countries including both the US and UK charts with approximately 196,000 and 74,000 records sold, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|author=Roger Friedman |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/03/13/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-number-1-but-with-lower-numbers/ |title=Bruce Springsteen "Wrecking Ball" Number 1, But With Lower Numbers |work=Forbes |date=March 13, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Barrett |first=Annie |url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/03/14/album-sales-bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball/ |title='Wrecking Ball': Bruce Springsteen edges out Adele &#124; The Music Mix &#124; EW.com |work=Music-mix.ew.com |date=March 14, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> "Wrecking Ball" became Springsteen's tenth No. 1 album in the United States, tying him with [[Elvis Presley]] for third-most No. 1 albums of all-time. Only the [[The Beatles|Beatles]] (19) and [[Jay-Z]] (12) have more No. 1 albums.<ref>{{cite web|author=Up for Discussion |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/502085/bruce-springsteen-squeaks-by-adele-earns-tenth-no-1-album |title=Bruce Springsteen Squeaks By Adele, Earns Tenth No. 1 Album |work=Billboard.com |date=March 14, 2009 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> President [[Barack Obama]] used "We Take Care of Our Own" as one of his top campaign songs and it was played during many of his re-election campaign stops including right after his victory speech on election night. Springsteen also appeared at quite a few of his late campaign stops where he performed a short acoustic set. Use of the song helped boost sales of the song by 409%.<ref>http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/retail/president-obama-s-dnc-speech-boosts-bruce-1007948182.story?imw=Y</ref> == Accolades == The album and its single, "We Take Care of Our Own" was nominated for three [[Grammy Awards]] including [[Best Rock Performance]] and [[Best Rock Song]] for "We Take Care of Our Own" and [[Best Rock Album]]. Springsteen along with the E Street Band performed at the event.<ref name="cbs grammy" /><ref name="grammy.com" /> [[Rolling Stone]] named ''Wrecking Ball'' the number one album of 2012 on their Top 50 albums of 2012 list.<ref name="2012 albums" /> ==Track listing== ''Wrecking Ball'' was released as a two-[[Gramophone record|LP]] set, a single [[Compact Disc|CD]], and a [[Music download|digital download]]. The CD and download versions were also available in a "Special Edition" format, which included two bonus tracks along with exclusive photos and artwork.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brucespringsteen.net/albums/wreckingball.html |title=Wrecking Ball |work=brucespringsteen.net |publisher=Bruce Springsteen |accessdate=2012-03-03}}</ref> The vinyl version included a copy of the standard CD (without the two additional tracks). In the track listing below, the track numbers correspond to the digital release. {{tracklist | all_writing = Bruce Springsteen | headline = Side one | title1 = [[We Take Care of Our Own]] | length1 = 3:54 | title2 = Easy Money | length2 = 3:37 | title3 = Shackled and Drawn | length3 = 3:46 }} {{tracklist | headline = Side two | title4 = Jack of All Trades | length4 = 6:00 | title5 = [[Death to My Hometown]] | length5 = 3:29 | title6 = This Depression | length6 = 4:08 }} {{tracklist | headline = Side three | title7 = Wrecking Ball | length7 = 5:49 | title8 = You've Got It | length8 = 3:48 | title9 = [[Rocky Ground]] | length9 = 4:41 }} {{tracklist | headline = Side four | title10 = Land of Hope and Dreams | length10 = 6:58 | title11 = We Are Alive | length11 = 5:36 }} {{tracklist | headline = Bonus tracks | title12 = Swallowed Up (In the Belly of the Whale) | length12 = 5:28 | title13 = American Land | length13 = 4:25 }} *Shackled And Drawn Contains elements of “Me And My Baby Got Our Own Thing Going” (J.Brown/L. Collins/F. Wesley/C. Bobbitt),Dynatone Publishing Company (BMI). All rights administered by Unichappell Music, Inc. (BMI). All rights reserved. *Death To My Hometown Contains Excerpts From “The Last Words Of Copernicus” (Alabama Sacred Harp Convention) Sacred Harp Publishing, admin. by Global Jukebox Publishing (BMI). Velma Johnson and The Alabama Sacred Harp Singers, Recorded September 12, 1959, Fyffe, Alabama by Alan Lomax, assisted by Shirley Collins. Under Exclusive License By Odyssey Productions, Inc. from The Alan Lomax Collection at The American Folklife Center, Library Of Congress. AK-47 sound clip Freesound/Noise Collector. *Rocky Ground Contains Excerpt From “I'm A Soldier In The Army Of The Lord” (Traditional). Church Of God In Christ Congregation, Recorded July, 1942, Clarksdale, Mississippi by Alan Lomax, John W. Work and Lewis Jones. Under Exclusive License by Odyssey Productions, Inc. from The Alan Lomax Collection at The American Folklife Center, Library Of Congress. *Land Of Hope And Dreams Contains elements of “People Get Ready” (C. Mayfield), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI) and MijacMusic (BMI). All rights administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI). All rights reserved. *American Land Inspired by "He Lies in the American Land" by Andrew Kovaly/[[Pete Seeger]].<ref name="wikispaces1">{{cite web|url=http://brucebase.wikispaces.com/Wrecking+Ball+-+Studio+Sessions |title=Brucebase - Wrecking Ball - Studio Sessions |publisher=Brucebase.wikispaces.com |date= |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> ==Personnel== The album's personnel include the following: {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} *[[Bruce Springsteen]] – vocals, [[guitar]]s, [[banjo]], [[piano]], [[organ (music)|organ]], [[Drum kit|drums]], [[Percussion instrument|percussion]], [[Loop (music)|loop]]s *[[Ron Aniello]] – guitar, [[Bass guitar|bass]], keyboards, piano, drums, loops *[[Max Weinberg]] – drums (tracks 7, 11 & 13) *[[Matt Chamberlain]] – drums (track 3, 5, 8, 10) *[[Charlie Giordano]] – accordion, piano, organ, synth, celeste (track 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 & 13) *[[Soozie Tyrell]] – violin (track 2 – 7, 10 & 11) *[[Clarence Clemons]] – saxophone (tracks 7 & 10) *[[Tom Morello]] – electric guitar (track 4 & 6) *[[Greg Leisz]] – banjo, mandocello (track 11) [[lap steel guitar]] (track 8) *Marc Muller – pedal steel (track 8) *[[Steve Van Zandt]] – mandolin (track 10 & 13) Horn Section: *Curt Ramm, Clark Gayton, Stan Harrison, [[Ed Manion]], Dan Levine, Art Baron (tracks 3, 4, 7 – 10) *Curt Ramm – trumpet solo (tracks 4 & 7) *Darrel Leonard – trumpet solo (track 11) Additional musicians: *Kevin Buell – marching drum (track 5) *Rob Lebret – electric guitar (track 7) *Clif Norrell – tuba (track 3) *Steve Jordan – tambourine (track 2) Backing Vocals: *[[Patti Scialfa]] (vocal arrangements), Lisa Lowell, [[Soozie Tyrell]] (tracks 1 – 3, 6, 7, 10 & 11) *Michelle Moore – (tracks 9 & 10) *Cindy Mizelle – outro vocal (track 3) *[[Steve Van Zandt]] – (tracks 7, 10 & 13) *[[Ron Aniello]] – (tracks 1 & 12) Group Vocals: *Ross Petersen, [[Ron Aniello]], Clif Norrell, Rob Lebret – (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 & 13) Choir: *Victorious Gospel Choir – (tracks 9 & 10) Founder & Director: Lilly “Crawford” Brown Strings: *New York Chamber Consort – (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7 & 12) Strings arranged and conducted by Rob Mathes Mixing Engineers: *[[Mark "Spike" Stent]] – (track 1) *[[Rich Costey]] – (track 2) *[[Bob Clearmountain]] – (tracks 3, 4, 5 – 8 & 11) *[[Chris Lord-Alge]] – (tracks 5, 10 & 13) *[[Ron Aniello]], Ross Peterson – (tracks 9 & 12) {{col-end}} == Charts == {{Multicol}} ===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- !scope="col"|Chart (2012) !scope="col"|Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"|[[IFPI|Austrian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=austriancharts.at |language=German | accessdate =2012-03-18 |title=Austria Top 40 – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[ARIA Charts|Australian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://twitter.com/AustraliaCharts/status/315604991496830976 |work=twitter.com/australiancharts |language=English | accessdate =2013-04-04 |title=Bruce Springsteen re-enters Australian charts}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|2 |- !scope="row"|[[Belgian Albums Chart]] (Flanders)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=Ultratop.be |language=Dutch |accessdate=2012-03-18 |title=Charts Vlaanderen – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Belgian Albums Chart]] (Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=Ultratop.be |language=French |accessdate=2012-03-18 |title=Charts Belgique Francophone – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|3 |- !scope="row"|[[Canadian Albums Chart]] |style="text-align:center;"|3 |- !scope="row"|[[Croatian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.hdu-toplista.com/index.php?what=arhiva&w=details&id=996 |work=HDU-Toplista.com | language = Croatian | accessdate =2012-08-21 | title = Top Kombiniranih – Tjedan 11. 2012.}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Czech Republic]] ([[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|IFPI]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php?a=titul&hitparada=14&titul=150171&sec=b04c4138cdfe03fc03f5d2adb9d2e0cb|title=Czech album charts|work=IFPI Czech Republic }}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|4 |- !scope="row"|[[Danish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://danishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=Danishcharts.com |accessdate=2012-03-18 |title = Danish Charts – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Dutch Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=Dutchcharts.nl |language=Dutch |accessdate=2012-03-18 |title=Dutch Charts – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Finnish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | work = Finnishcharts.com | accessdate =2012-03-18 |title=Finnish Charts – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[German Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/title/Bruce+Springsteen/Wrecking+Ball/longplay | work = Musicline.de | language = German | accessdate =2012-03-30 | title = Bruce Springsteen – Chartverfolgung – Wrecking Ball (Longplay)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Greek Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyta.gr/index.php?ID=3kVi3FN5njkJtcWM |title=CYTA |work=Cyta.gr |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|18 |- !scope="row"|[[MAHASZ|Hungarian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum&lista=top40&ev=2012&het=10&submit_=Keres%E9s|title=MAHASZ – Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége |work=[[Association of Hungarian Record Companies|Mahasz]] |accessdate=2012-03-19}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|2 |- !scope="row"|[[Irish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2012&year=2012&week=12 | work = Chart-track.co.uk | accessdate =2012-03-30 | title = Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 22 March 2012}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Italian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fimi.it/classifiche_result_artisti.php?anno=2012&mese=03&id=396 | work = [[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]] | language = Italian | accessdate =2012-03-18 | title = Artisti – Classifica settimanale dal 05/03/2012 al 11/03/2012 }}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[New Zealand Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | accessdate =2012-03-18 | title = VG-Lista - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Norwegian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | publisher = Norwegiancharts.com | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = VG-Lista – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Polish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=724&lang=en | publisher = [[OLiS]] | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = OLiS - Sales for the period 05.03.2012 - 11.03.2012}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|10 |- !scope="row"|[[Portuguese Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://portuguesecharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | publisher = Portuguesecharts.com | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = Portuguese Charts - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|4 |- !scope="row"|[[Spanish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | publisher = Spanishcharts.com | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = Spanish Charts - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Swedish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | publisher = Hitparade.ch | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = Swedish Charts - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Swiss Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | publisher = Hitparade.ch | language = German | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = Swiss Charts - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/3/2012-03-17/ | publisher = [[The Official Charts Company]] | accessdate = 30 March 2012 | title = 2012 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive - 17th March 2012}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard 200|200]]<ref>{{cite web | url = {{BillboardURLbyName|artist=bruce springsteen|chart=Billboard 200}} | work = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | accessdate = 30 March 2012 | title = Bruce Springsteen Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |} {{Multicol-break}} ===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- !scope="col"|Chart (2012) !scope="col"|Position |- !scope="row"|Australian Albums Chart<ref>http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/top-100-albums-chart---2012/1016</ref> |align="center"|82 |- !scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)<ref>http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2012&cat=a</ref> |align="center"|19 |- !scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)<ref>http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2012&cat=a</ref> |align="center"|66 |- !scope="row"|Dutch Albums Chart<ref>http://www.dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2012&cat=a</ref> |align="center"|10 |- !scope="row"|German Albums Chart<ref>http://www.viva.tv/charts/54-viva-jahrescharts-2012-album</ref> |align="center"|32 |- !scope="row"|Italian Albums Chart<ref>{{Cita web | url = http://www.sorrisi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Top100_album_2012.pdf | format = PDF | publisher = [[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]] / ''[[TV Sorrisi e Canzoni]]'' | language = Italian | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6DiKI87yH | archivedate = 16 January 2013|title=Top 100 Album Combined - Classifica annuale (dal 2 Gennaio 2012 al 30 Dicembre 2012)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|17 |- !scope="row"|Spanish Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.promusicae.org/files/listasanuales/albumes/Top%2050%20ALBUMES%202012%20.pdf |title=Top 50 Albumes Anual 2012 |publisher=Promuiscae.es |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|10 |- !scope="row"|Swedish Albums Chart<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20120101 | publisher = Hitlistan.se. [[Sverigetopplistan]] | language = Swedish | accessdate = 17 January 2013 | archivedate = 17 January 2013 | archiveurl = http://archive.is/u8pfp | title = Årslista Album - År 2012}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|5 |- !scope="row"|Swiss Albums Chart<ref>http://hitparade.ch/year.asp?key=2012</ref> |align="center"|22 |} {{col-end}} ==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true|certyear=2013}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|award=Platinum|salesamount=20,814|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=France|award=Gold|type=album|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|certyear=2012|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|award=Platinum|type=album|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|certyear=2012|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true|certref=<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fimi.it/temp/cert_Gfk_week2312.pdf | publisher = [[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]] | language = Italian | accessdate = 19 June 2012 | title = Certificazioni Album fisici e digitali dalla settimana 1 del 2009 alla settimana 11 del 2012 | format = PDF}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|id=201211|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|id=13_01|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true|certref=<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=54&dfom=0000000&newi=0&height=462&platform=Win32&browser=MSIE&navi=no&subframe=Mainframe | publisher = [[Sverigetopplistan]] | language = Swedish | accessdate = July 20, 2012 | title = Veckolista Album - Vecka 28, 13 juli 2012 | archivedate= July 20, 2012 | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/69IEpEUHF}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Bottom}} ==References== {{reflist|30em}} {{Bruce Springsteen}} {{Major League Baseball on TBS}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Wrecking Ball}} [[Category:Bruce Springsteen albums]] [[Category:2012 albums]] [[Category:Columbia Records albums]]'
New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext)
'{{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums --> | Name = Wrecking Ball | Type = studio | Artist = [[Bruce Springsteen]] | Cover = Wreckingball.jpg | Released = March 5, 2012 <!-- earliest known date, per [[Template:Infobox album]] --> | Recorded = 2011 | Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[folk rock]] | Length = 51:40 | Label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] | Producer = [[Ron Aniello]], Bruce Springsteen | Chronology = [[Bruce Springsteen]] & [[the E Street Band]] | Last album = ''[[The Promise (Bruce Springsteen album)|The Promise]]''<br/>(2010) | This album = '''''Wrecking Ball'''''<br/>(2012) | Next album = ''[[Collection: 1973-2012]]''<br>(2013) | Misc = {{Singles | Name = Wrecking Ball | Type = Studio | single 1 = [[We Take Care of Our Own]] | single 1 date = January 19, 2012 | single 2 = [[Rocky Ground]] | single 2 date = April 21, 2012 | single 3 = [[Death to My Hometown]] | single 3 date = May 2012 }} }} '''''Wrecking Ball''''' is the seventeenth [[studio album]] by American recording artist [[Bruce Springsteen]], released March 5, 2012, on [[Columbia Records]]. It was named best album of 2012 by ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.<ref name="2012 albums">{{cite web |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-19691231 |title=50 Best Albums of 2012: Bruce Springsteen, 'Wrecking Ball' |work=[[Rolling Stone]] |accessdate=2013-01-07}}</ref> and along with the album's first single, "[[We Take Care of Our Own]]", was nominated for three [[Grammy Awards]].<ref name="cbs grammy">{{cite web |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/06/bruce-springsteen-nabs-three-grammy-nominations-springsteen-gets-two-more-2/ |title=Bruce Springsteen Nabs Three Grammy Nominations; "Springsteen" Gets Two More |last=Ives |first=Brian |date=December 6, 2012 |work=CBS New York |accessdate=2013-01-07}}</ref><ref name="grammy.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.grammy.com/news/bruce-springsteen-added-to-grammy-performance-lineup |title=Bruce Springsteen Added to Grammy Performance Lineup |date=February 2, 2012 |work=Grammy.com |publisher=[[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|The Recording Academy]] |accessdate=2013-01-07}}</ref> ==Background and recording== All but four songs were written in 2011. Three of the exceptions were songs previously released in live version, the other released on ''Wrecking Ball'':<ref>{{cite web| url= http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_music_blog/2012/01/new-bruce-springsteen-album-wrecking-ball-due-on-march-6.html |title=New Bruce Springsteen album, Wrecking Ball, due on March 6 |work=Soundboard Music Blog |publisher= Orlando Sentinel |date=January 20, 2012 |accessdate= 2012-03-03}}</ref> *"Jack of All Trades", which was written in 2009. During [[Bruce Springsteen]]'s recent [[Wrecking Ball Tour]] he addresses the crowd and tells about the current state of our economy, which inspired him to write this song three years previous. *"Wrecking Ball", which was written in 2009 prior to a series of E Street Band shows at [[Giants Stadium]] as a tribute to the venue, which was set to close and be demolished. Springsteen later dedicated a live version with revised lyrics to the closing of the [[Spectrum (arena)|Spectrum]] in Philadelphia. The song made other appearances throughout the final two months of the [[Working on a Dream Tour]];<ref>{{cite video|title=London Calling: Live in Hyde Park| medium=DVD| last= Springsteen| first=Bruce|date=June 22, 2010}}</ref> *"American Land", which was written during the 2006 [[We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions|Seeger Sessions]] with a studio version being recorded though never released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brucebase.wikispaces.com/The+Seeger+Sessions+-+Studio+Sessions|title=The Seeger Sessions - Studio Sessions |work=Brucebase|date=March 6, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-06}}</ref> The song was played throughout that tour and heavily on the subsequent two [[E Street Band]] tours; and *"Land of Hope and Dreams," which was written by Springsteen sometime in 1998 or early 1999 and first performed on the 1999 [[Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour|Reunion Tour]] with the E Street Band. A studio version was originally recorded in 2002 during the sessions for ''[[The Rising (album)|The Rising]]'' album although it was never released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brucebase.wikispaces.com/The+Rising+-+Studio+Sessions|title=The Rising - Studio Sessions|work=Brucebase|date=March 6, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-06}}</ref> The album includes what may be the final tracks featuring [[Clarence Clemons]], who died in June 2011. Clemons performs the saxophone solos on "Land of Hope and Dreams", and backing saxophone rhythms on the title track.<ref name="sleeve">{{cite web| url=http://www.greasylake.org/the-circuit/index.php?/topic/106725-wrecking-ball-sleeve-notes/ |title=Wrecking Ball sleeve notes |work=Greasy Lake Community |date=February 28, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-03}}{{Verify credibility|date=March 2012}}</ref> While the [[Wrecking Ball Tour|tour in support of the album]] features the full current E Street Band lineup, the only E Street Band members to appear on the album are Clemons, [[Steven Van Zandt]], [[Max Weinberg]], and [[Patti Scialfa]]; adjunct members [[Charlie Giordano]] and [[Soozie Tyrell]] are also heavily featured. The album features members of [[the Sessions Band]], including the horn section, and special guest appearances by [[Tom Morello]] and [[Matt Chamberlain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.omg.yahoo.com/news/morello-enlisted-springsteens-album-130000478.html |title=Morello enlisted for Springsteen's new album |work=Yahoo! omg! UK |date=January 19, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1677536/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball.jhtml |title=Bruce Springsteen Returns With New Album, Wrecking Ball |work=MTV |date=January 19, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-03}}</ref> == Music and lyrics == {{Quote box |quote = "It's [[protest music]], damn right about moral abstractions rather than those finely limned characters good little aesthetes get gooey about, and for me a cathartic up. Second half's less of a scour, which the anti-political find a blessed relief and I find a forgivable nod to [[humanism]] and [[Clarence Clemons]]." |source = —[[Robert Christgau]], on the album's subject matter.<ref name="Christgau"/> |align = right |width = 30em }} The ''Hollywood Reporter'' called the album Springsteen at his "angriest yet",<ref name="hollywoodreporter1">{{cite web| title=Bruce Springsteen's New Album Is His 'Angriest' Yet| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bruce-springsteen-album-angry-281412|accessdate=2012-01-13|work=Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> and some of the tracks address topics such as economic justice.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} Musically, the album was described the ''Hollywood Reporter'' as being "very rock 'n' roll ... with unexpected textures—loops, electronic percussion[, and] an amazing sweep of influences and rhythms, from hip-hop to Irish folk rhythms."<ref name="hollywoodreporter1"/> ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' writer Stephen M. Deusner dubbed the album "a big rock record".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Deusner|first=Stephen M.|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/03/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball.html|title=Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball|journal=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|publisher=Paste Media Group|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-15}}</ref> Andy Gill of ''[[The Independent]]'' wrote of the album's musical style, "[I]t's couched in a mix of the classic Boss rock bombast and the muscular hootenanny [[folk rock|folk-rock]] of his ''[[The Seeger Sessions|Seeger Sessions]]'' album, with touches of noble [[gospel music|gospel]], poignant [[jazz]] trumpet and feisty [[Irish rebel music]] colouring the songs according to their mood."<ref name="Gill">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-columbia-7468183.html |title=The Independent review |location=London |first=Andy |last=Gill |date=March 2, 2012}}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]''{{'}}s Steven Hyden called it "a [[mainstream rock]] record" and noted that, musically, the album features "booming drums, squealing guitar solos, violins, banjos, trumpets, pianos, pots, pans, and every available hard surface at Bruce's home studio."<ref name="Hyden">{{cite news|last=Hyden|first=Steven|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball,70373/|title=Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball|newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]]|publisher=[[The Onion|Onion Inc.]]|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> Music writer [[Robert Christgau]] interpreted its first six tracks as "heavy irony shading over into murderous rage, with refurbished [[arena rock|arena-rock]] to slam it home". He cited the opening track "We Take Care of Our Own" as an example, writing that "it's perversely anti-political to lay any other interpretation on the opening [track], which cites places 'From the [[shotgun shack]] to [[Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the Louisiana Superdome|the Superdome]]' where we—meaning the U.S.A. so many Americans weren't even born in—documentably haven't taken care of our own."<ref name="Christgau"/> Steve Leftridge of [[PopMatters]] found the characters in the songs "less elusive about whom to blame for their troubles, cutting out the middle figures like foremen and hiring men and taking on the real culprits unambiguously."<ref name="Leftridge"/> He compared the album to Springsteen's ''[[The Rising (album)|The Rising]]'' (2002), writing that if that was his "[[September 11 attacks|9-11]] album", ''Wrecking Ball'' is his "[[Occupy movement|Occupy]] album".<ref name="Leftridge"/> == Songs == [[File:RisingTourGiantsStadiumLot.jpg|right|thumb|The title track was originally written as a tribute to [[Giants Stadium]] ''(pictured in 2003)'', when Springsteen and the E Street Band played the venue's final concerts.<ref name="Dombal">{{citation |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16364-wrecking-ball/|title=Pitchfork review|first=Ryan|last=Dombal|date=March 7, 2012}}</ref>]] According to Springsteen, in 2009 he wrote his first song about a "guy that wears a tie". Springsteen has "spent much of his career writing about characters struggling in tough economic times, but the [[Late-2000s financial crisis|financial crisis]] reportedly convinced him it was time to write about the people and forces that brought America to this 'ugly point.' [The album is an] indictment of Wall Street greed and corruption and a look into the devastation it has wrought."<ref name="greene1">{{cite web|first=Andy |last=Greene |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-bruce-springsteen-explains-his-experimental-new-album-20120217 |title=Exclusive: Bruce Springsteen Explains His Experimental New Album |work=Rolling Stone |date= February 17, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-03}}</ref> The opening track, "[[We Take Care of Our Own]]", recalls "[[Born in the U.S.A. (song)|Born in the U.S.A.]]" in terms of its themes that reflect Springsteen's frustration with the lack of accountability he sees in government. In the vein of "Born in the U.S.A.", the seemingly unabashedly patriotic chorus "Wherever this flag is flown/we take care of our own" is contrasted in the verses with references to the aftermath of [[Hurricane Katrina]] suggesting that perhaps we don't "take care of our own." The song "[[Death to My Hometown]]" is an angry, thinly veiled [[protest song]] regarding the practices of [[Wall Street]] bankers and the economic crisis for which Springsteen considers them accountable. "They destroyed our families’ factories and they took our homes/They left our bodies on the planks, the vultures picked our bones," he sings. The song features heavy [[Irish folk]] influences (including a prominent [[tin whistle]] riff), as well as samples of [[Sacred Harp]] singing. The title track was originally written in commemoration of the then-pending demolition of [[Giants Stadium]] in [[New Jersey]] and is written from the stadium's point of view ("I was raised out of steel here in the swamps of Jersey"). However, in the context of the album it becomes a defiant anthem in the face of economic adversity with the refrain "C'mon on and take your best shot/Let me see what you got/Bring on your wrecking ball!"<ref>{{cite web|url = http://brucespringsteen.net/songs/wrecking-ball | title = Wrecking Ball—The Official Bruce Springsteen Website | accessdate = 2012-03-22}}</ref> The album version is only slightly differently arranged than the original live version and features no major lyrical changes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/2012/03/07/148132164/bruce-springsteen-a-universal-original-wrecking-ball |title=Bruce Springsteen: A Universal, Original 'Wrecking Ball' |date=March 7, 2012 |work=[[NPR]] |accessdate=2013-01-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=zeroblindterry1 |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWpG_ULYpr8 |title=Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball – October 2nd – PROSHOT |work=YouTube |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> This is one of the two songs on the album to feature [[E Street Band]] legendary saxophonist [[Clarence Clemons]], who died in 2011. The song "[[Rocky Ground]]" is perhaps the most experimental track on the album. While the song does recall Springsteen's previous work, such as the similarly [[gospel music]]–influenced "[[My City of Ruins]]" and the [[hip-hop]] tinged "[[Streets of Philadelphia]]", it features a brief [[rap]] by Michelle Moore, a first for a Springsteen song. The song features an atmospheric arrangement that includes a gospel choir and vocal looping (the words "I'm a soldier" from the Church of God in Christ Congregation's recording of "I'm a Soldier in the Army of the Lord" are looped throughout the song). The song's lyrics contain extensive religious imagery, including [[biblical]]ly-inspired lyrics such as "40 days and nights of rain washed this land/[[Jesus]] said the moneychangers in this temple will not stand,"<ref>{{cite web|url = http://brucespringsteen.net/songs/rocky-ground | title = Rocky Ground—The Official Bruce Springsteen Website | accessdate = 2012-03-22}}</ref> which reflect the theme of economic equality covered earlier in the album. However, the tone of this song is much more optimistic than most of the previous songs on the album despite its somber arrangement, with Springsteen singing "there's a new day coming" in response to the Gospel Choir's refrain "we've been traveling over rocky ground."<ref>{{cite web|last=Boilen |first=Bob |url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2012/02/29/147585148/one-day-only-song-premiere-listen-to-bruce-springsteens-rocky-ground |title=Song Premiere: Listen To 'Rocky Ground, From Bruce Springsteen's 'Wrecking Ball' : All Songs Considered Blog |work=NPR |date=February 29, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> The next and penultimate track, "Land of Hope and Dreams", continues the religious themes and more hopeful outlook with its uplifting lyrics and chorus that use an extensive train [[metaphor]] to express Springsteen's take on the [[American dream]]. "This train/dreams will not be thwarted/this train/faith will be rewarded," he sings. The song ends with a gospel choir singing excerpts from [[The Impressions]]' "[[People Get Ready (song)|People Get Ready]]" and Springsteen repeating "you just get on board/you just thank the Lord." Compared to its previous live version, which the E Street Band has been performing since 1999, it has been re-worked in a somewhat more compact version and now features [[electronic drums]] and the aforementioned use of a [[gospel choir]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Cory Cavin |url=http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/blogs/2012/03/stream-bruce-springsteens-land-of-hope-and-dreams-free-today/ |title=Stream Bruce Springsteen's "Land Of Hope And Dreams" Free Today! - Music |work=Late Night with Jimmy Fallon |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> The album's closing track, "We Are Alive," is a "campfire song"{{citation needed|date=March 2012}} for ghosts of the oppressed, martyred strikers, protesters, and immigrant workers. "I was killed in [[Maryland]] in 1877/When the railroad workers made their stand/I was killed in 1963/One Sunday morning in [[Birmingham]]," he sings during the verse. The chorus, however, has a much more celebratory tone with the refrain "We are alive/And though our bodies lie alone here in the dark/Our spirits rise/To carry the fire and light the spark/To stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart."<ref>{{cite web|url = http://brucespringsteen.net/songs/we-are-alive | title = We Are Alive—The Official Bruce Springsteen Website | accessdate = 2012-03-22}}</ref> The song, which has an Irish-wake feel to it, is an acoustic number with Springsteen being backed by [[mariachi]] horns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/mar/02/bruce-springsteen-we-are-alive |title=Bruce Springsteen's Wrecking Ball preview: listen now to We Are Alive &#124; Music &#124; guardian.co.uk |work=Guardian |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> The horn riff greatly resembles that from [[Johnny Cash]]'s hit "[[Ring of Fire (song)|Ring of Fire]]."<ref name="greene1"/><ref>{{cite web|author=CD Reviews |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/9087107/Bruce-Springsteens-new-album-Wrecking-Ball-track-by-track-review.html |title=Bruce Springsteen's new album Wrecking Ball: track by track review |work=Telegraph |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> == Critical reception == {{Album ratings | rev1 = [[Allmusic]] | rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Erlewine"/> | rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]] | rev2Score = A–<ref name="Christgau"/> | rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | rev3score = B<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20574759,00.html|title=Entertainment Weekly review|location = New York City|first = Melissa|last = Maerz |date = March 1, 2012}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Petridis"/> | rev5 = ''[[The Independent]]'' | rev5Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Gill"/> | rev6 = ''[[NME]]'' | rev6Score= 8/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/bruce-springsteen/12830 |title=NME Album Reviews – Bruce Springsteen – 'Wrecking Ball' |last=MacBain |first=Hamish |date=March 2, 2012 |work=[[NME]] |accessdate=2013-01-07}}</ref> | rev7 = [[Pitchfork Media]] | rev7Score= 5.9/10<ref name="Dombal"/> | rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | rev8Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Fricke"/> | rev9 = [[Slant Magazine]] | rev9Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="Cataldo"/> | rev10 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' | rev10Score = 7/10<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kandell|first=Steve|url=http://www.spin.com/#reviews/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-columbia|title=Bruce Springsteen, 'Wrecking Ball' (Columbia)|journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> }} ''Wrecking Ball'' was released on March 5, 2012, in the United Kingdom and on March 6 in the United States.<ref name="Leftridge"/> It received generally positive reviews from [[music criticism|music critics]]. At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[weighted mean|weighted average]] score out of 100 to reviews and ratings from selected mainstream critics, the album received a metascore of 78, which is based on 41 reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/wrecking-ball-2012|title=Wrecking Ball Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic|work=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> [[David Fricke]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the album a rave review, dubbing it "the most despairing, confrontational and musically turbulent album Bruce Springsteen has ever made."<ref name="Fricke">{{cite news|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/wrecking-ball-20120306 |title=Rolling Stone review|date=March 6, 2012}}</ref> [[BBC Music]]'s Ian Winwood dubbed the album "a work of commanding range and masterful execution", and complimented its music as "varied and surprising".<ref>{{cite web|last=Winwood|first=Ian|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/94m5|title=Review of Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball|work=[[BBC Music]] |date=March 2, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-09}}</ref> Steve Leftridge of [[PopMatters]] called it "cohesively designed" and wrote that it "finds Springsteen still firing on all cylinders—writing with poetic urgency, drawing on traditions old and new, singing and playing with prime strength and energy, and delivering a new set of killer melodies with fresh sonic wallop."<ref name="Leftridge">{{cite web|last=Leftridge|first=Steve|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/155399-bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball/|title=Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=March 5, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s [[Alexis Petridis]] wrote that the album "paints almost entirely in broad brushstrokes, but its bombast rarely seems hollow: it exists [...] in service of an anger that feels righteous, affecting and genuine."<ref name="Petridis">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/mar/01/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-review |title=The Guardian review | location=London | first=Alex |last=Petridis |date=March 1, 2012}}</ref> Andy Gill of ''[[The Independent]]'' found the album "much darker than any of Springsteen's earlier blue-collar tirades" and stated, "There's few, if any, moments of musical innovation, but in terms of political intent, there won't be a harder, more challenging album released all year."<ref name="Gill"/> In his consumer guide for [[MSN Music]], [[Robert Christgau]] gave the album an A– rating,<ref name="Christgau">{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=07d35c45-3d75-4910-aca3-87c842bbe30c|title=Bruce Springsteen/Madonna|work=[[MSN Music]] |publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=March 27, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref> indicating "the kind of garden-variety good record that is the great luxury of musical micromarketing and overproduction."<ref>{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/grades-90s.php|title=CG 90s: Key to Icons|work=Robert Christgau|year=2000|accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref> However, [[Slant Magazine]]'s Jesse Cataldo accused Springsteen of being "borderline [[jingoism|jingoistic]]" and called his perspective "[[wikt:rose-coloured#Adjective|rose-colored]]", writing that he "seems more concerned with overtures toward harmony than actual dissent, a newfound wishy-washiness that leaves him sounding entirely defanged."<ref name="Cataldo">{{cite web|last=Cataldo|first=Jesse|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball/2738|title=Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-09}}</ref> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[Allmusic]] found the album "cumbersome and top heavy" and stated, "Springsteen sacrific[es] impassioned rage in favor of explaining his intentions too clearly."<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite news|url=http://allmusic.com/album/wrecking-ball-r2396384/review|title=Allmusic review|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|date=March 6, 2012}}</ref> Although he commended the album's themes, ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' writer [[Greg Kot]] criticized its music as "sterile" and commented that Springsteen "lost his nerve as a coproducer, going for stadium bombast instead of the unadorned grit these stories of hard times demand."<ref>{{cite news|last=Kot|first=Greg|authorlink=Greg Kot|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/chi-bruce-springsteen-album-review-wrecking-ball-reviewed-20120301,0,894979.column|title=Bruce Springsteen album review; Wrecking Ball reviewed|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tribune Company]]|at=Arts & Entertainment section|date=March 1, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> Despite commending Springsteen's energy with the songs' "ambitious arrangements", Jon Caramanica of ''[[The New York Times]]'' found the "energy [to be] in service of deeply nebulous ideas" and stated, "the text is far more ambiguous, and in plenty of places on this album, just outright flat."<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|last=Caramanica |first=Jon |last2=Jon |first2=Pareles |authorlink=Jon Pareles |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/arts/music/pareles-and-caramanica-on-springsteens-wrecking-ball.html?_r=1|title=Pareles and Caramanica on Springsteen’s ‘Wrecking Ball’|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|location=New York|page=AR18|date=March 4, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> In the same review, [[Jon Pareles]] argued that the album is "sincere, ambitious and angry, which can lead to mixed outcomes. It also — which may be a surprise on an album billed as a broadside — holds some of Springsteen’s most elaborate studio concoctions since ''[[Born to Run]]''."<ref name="nytimes"/> == Commercial performance == The album debuted at No. 1 in 16 different countries including both the US and UK charts with approximately 196,000 and 74,000 records sold, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|author=Roger Friedman |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/03/13/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-number-1-but-with-lower-numbers/ |title=Bruce Springsteen "Wrecking Ball" Number 1, But With Lower Numbers |work=Forbes |date=March 13, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Barrett |first=Annie |url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/03/14/album-sales-bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball/ |title='Wrecking Ball': Bruce Springsteen edges out Adele &#124; The Music Mix &#124; EW.com |work=Music-mix.ew.com |date=March 14, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> "Wrecking Ball" became Springsteen's tenth No. 1 album in the United States, tying him with [[Elvis Presley]] for third-most No. 1 albums of all-time. Only the [[The Beatles|Beatles]] (19) and [[Jay-Z]] (12) have more No. 1 albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/502085/bruce-springsteen-squeaks-by-adele-earns-tenth-no-1-album |title=Bruce Springsteen Squeaks By Adele, Earns Tenth No. 1 Album |work=Billboard.com |date=March 14, 2009 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> President [[Barack Obama]] used "We Take Care of Our Own" as one of his top campaign songs and it was played during many of his re-election campaign stops including right after his victory speech on election night. Springsteen also appeared at quite a few of his late campaign stops where he performed a short acoustic set. Use of the song helped boost sales of the song by 409%.<ref>http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/retail/president-obama-s-dnc-speech-boosts-bruce-1007948182.story?imw=Y</ref> == Accolades == The album and its single, "We Take Care of Our Own" was nominated for three [[Grammy Awards]] including [[Best Rock Performance]] and [[Best Rock Song]] for "We Take Care of Our Own" and [[Best Rock Album]]. Springsteen along with the E Street Band performed at the event.<ref name="cbs grammy" /><ref name="grammy.com" /> [[Rolling Stone]] named ''Wrecking Ball'' the number one album of 2012 on their Top 50 albums of 2012 list.<ref name="2012 albums" /> ==Track listing== ''Wrecking Ball'' was released as a two-[[Gramophone record|LP]] set, a single [[Compact Disc|CD]], and a [[Music download|digital download]]. The CD and download versions were also available in a "Special Edition" format, which included two bonus tracks along with exclusive photos and artwork.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brucespringsteen.net/albums/wreckingball.html |title=Wrecking Ball |work=brucespringsteen.net |publisher=Bruce Springsteen |accessdate=2012-03-03}}</ref> The vinyl version included a copy of the standard CD (without the two additional tracks). In the track listing below, the track numbers correspond to the digital release. {{tracklist | all_writing = Bruce Springsteen | headline = Side one | title1 = [[We Take Care of Our Own]] | length1 = 3:54 | title2 = Easy Money | length2 = 3:37 | title3 = Shackled and Drawn | length3 = 3:46 }} {{tracklist | headline = Side two | title4 = Jack of All Trades | length4 = 6:00 | title5 = [[Death to My Hometown]] | length5 = 3:29 | title6 = This Depression | length6 = 4:08 }} {{tracklist | headline = Side three | title7 = Wrecking Ball | length7 = 5:49 | title8 = You've Got It | length8 = 3:48 | title9 = [[Rocky Ground]] | length9 = 4:41 }} {{tracklist | headline = Side four | title10 = Land of Hope and Dreams | length10 = 6:58 | title11 = We Are Alive | length11 = 5:36 }} {{tracklist | headline = Bonus tracks | title12 = Swallowed Up (In the Belly of the Whale) | length12 = 5:28 | title13 = American Land | length13 = 4:25 }} *Shackled And Drawn Contains elements of “Me And My Baby Got Our Own Thing Going” (J.Brown/L. Collins/F. Wesley/C. Bobbitt),Dynatone Publishing Company (BMI). All rights administered by Unichappell Music, Inc. (BMI). All rights reserved. *Death To My Hometown Contains Excerpts From “The Last Words Of Copernicus” (Alabama Sacred Harp Convention) Sacred Harp Publishing, admin. by Global Jukebox Publishing (BMI). Velma Johnson and The Alabama Sacred Harp Singers, Recorded September 12, 1959, Fyffe, Alabama by Alan Lomax, assisted by Shirley Collins. Under Exclusive License By Odyssey Productions, Inc. from The Alan Lomax Collection at The American Folklife Center, Library Of Congress. AK-47 sound clip Freesound/Noise Collector. *Rocky Ground Contains Excerpt From “I'm A Soldier In The Army Of The Lord” (Traditional). Church Of God In Christ Congregation, Recorded July, 1942, Clarksdale, Mississippi by Alan Lomax, John W. Work and Lewis Jones. Under Exclusive License by Odyssey Productions, Inc. from The Alan Lomax Collection at The American Folklife Center, Library Of Congress. *Land Of Hope And Dreams Contains elements of “People Get Ready” (C. Mayfield), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI) and MijacMusic (BMI). All rights administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI). All rights reserved. *American Land Inspired by "He Lies in the American Land" by Andrew Kovaly/[[Pete Seeger]].<ref name="wikispaces1">{{cite web|url=http://brucebase.wikispaces.com/Wrecking+Ball+-+Studio+Sessions |title=Brucebase - Wrecking Ball - Studio Sessions |publisher=Brucebase.wikispaces.com |date= |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> ==Personnel== The album's personnel include the following: {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} *[[Bruce Springsteen]] – vocals, [[guitar]]s, [[banjo]], [[piano]], [[organ (music)|organ]], [[Drum kit|drums]], [[Percussion instrument|percussion]], [[Loop (music)|loop]]s *[[Ron Aniello]] – guitar, [[Bass guitar|bass]], keyboards, piano, drums, loops *[[Max Weinberg]] – drums (tracks 7, 11 & 13) *[[Matt Chamberlain]] – drums (track 3, 5, 8, 10) *[[Charlie Giordano]] – accordion, piano, organ, synth, celeste (track 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 & 13) *[[Soozie Tyrell]] – violin (track 2 – 7, 10 & 11) *[[Clarence Clemons]] – saxophone (tracks 7 & 10) *[[Tom Morello]] – electric guitar (track 4 & 6) *[[Greg Leisz]] – banjo, mandocello (track 11) [[lap steel guitar]] (track 8) *Marc Muller – pedal steel (track 8) *[[Steve Van Zandt]] – mandolin (track 10 & 13) Horn Section: *Curt Ramm, Clark Gayton, Stan Harrison, [[Ed Manion]], Dan Levine, Art Baron (tracks 3, 4, 7 – 10) *Curt Ramm – trumpet solo (tracks 4 & 7) *Darrel Leonard – trumpet solo (track 11) Additional musicians: *Kevin Buell – marching drum (track 5) *Rob Lebret – electric guitar (track 7) *Clif Norrell – tuba (track 3) *Steve Jordan – tambourine (track 2) Backing Vocals: *[[Patti Scialfa]] (vocal arrangements), Lisa Lowell, [[Soozie Tyrell]] (tracks 1 – 3, 6, 7, 10 & 11) *Michelle Moore – (tracks 9 & 10) *Cindy Mizelle – outro vocal (track 3) *[[Steve Van Zandt]] – (tracks 7, 10 & 13) *[[Ron Aniello]] – (tracks 1 & 12) Group Vocals: *Ross Petersen, [[Ron Aniello]], Clif Norrell, Rob Lebret – (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 & 13) Choir: *Victorious Gospel Choir – (tracks 9 & 10) Founder & Director: Lilly “Crawford” Brown Strings: *New York Chamber Consort – (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7 & 12) Strings arranged and conducted by Rob Mathes Mixing Engineers: *[[Mark "Spike" Stent]] – (track 1) *[[Rich Costey]] – (track 2) *[[Bob Clearmountain]] – (tracks 3, 4, 5 – 8 & 11) *[[Chris Lord-Alge]] – (tracks 5, 10 & 13) *[[Ron Aniello]], Ross Peterson – (tracks 9 & 12) {{col-end}} == Charts == {{Multicol}} ===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- !scope="col"|Chart (2012) !scope="col"|Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"|[[IFPI|Austrian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=austriancharts.at |language=German | accessdate =2012-03-18 |title=Austria Top 40 – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[ARIA Charts|Australian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://twitter.com/AustraliaCharts/status/315604991496830976 |work=twitter.com/australiancharts | accessdate =2013-04-04 |title=Bruce Springsteen re-enters Australian charts}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|2 |- !scope="row"|[[Belgian Albums Chart]] (Flanders)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=Ultratop.be |language=Dutch |accessdate=2012-03-18 |title=Charts Vlaanderen – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Belgian Albums Chart]] (Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=Ultratop.be |language=French |accessdate=2012-03-18 |title=Charts Belgique Francophone – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|3 |- !scope="row"|[[Canadian Albums Chart]] |style="text-align:center;"|3 |- !scope="row"|[[Croatian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.hdu-toplista.com/index.php?what=arhiva&w=details&id=996 |work=HDU-Toplista.com | language = Croatian | accessdate =2012-08-21 | title = Top Kombiniranih – Tjedan 11. 2012.}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Czech Republic]] ([[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|IFPI]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php?a=titul&hitparada=14&titul=150171&sec=b04c4138cdfe03fc03f5d2adb9d2e0cb|title=Czech album charts|work=IFPI Czech Republic }}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|4 |- !scope="row"|[[Danish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://danishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=Danishcharts.com |accessdate=2012-03-18 |title = Danish Charts – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Dutch Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=Dutchcharts.nl |language=Dutch |accessdate=2012-03-18 |title=Dutch Charts – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Finnish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | work = Finnishcharts.com | accessdate =2012-03-18 |title=Finnish Charts – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[German Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/title/Bruce+Springsteen/Wrecking+Ball/longplay | work = Musicline.de | language = German | accessdate =2012-03-30 | title = Bruce Springsteen – Chartverfolgung – Wrecking Ball (Longplay)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Greek Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyta.gr/index.php?ID=3kVi3FN5njkJtcWM |title=CYTA |work=Cyta.gr |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|18 |- !scope="row"|[[MAHASZ|Hungarian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum&lista=top40&ev=2012&het=10&submit_=Keres%E9s|title=MAHASZ – Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége |work=[[Association of Hungarian Record Companies|Mahasz]] |accessdate=2012-03-19}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|2 |- !scope="row"|[[Irish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2012&year=2012&week=12 | work = Chart-track.co.uk | accessdate =2012-03-30 | title = Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 22 March 2012}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Italian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fimi.it/classifiche_result_artisti.php?anno=2012&mese=03&id=396 | work = [[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]] | language = Italian | accessdate =2012-03-18 | title = Artisti – Classifica settimanale dal 05/03/2012 al 11/03/2012 }}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[New Zealand Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | accessdate =2012-03-18 | title = VG-Lista - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Norwegian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | publisher = Norwegiancharts.com | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = VG-Lista – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Polish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=724&lang=en | publisher = [[OLiS]] | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = OLiS - Sales for the period 05.03.2012 - 11.03.2012}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|10 |- !scope="row"|[[Portuguese Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://portuguesecharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | publisher = Portuguesecharts.com | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = Portuguese Charts - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|4 |- !scope="row"|[[Spanish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | publisher = Spanishcharts.com | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = Spanish Charts - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Swedish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | publisher = Hitparade.ch | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = Swedish Charts - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[Swiss Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a | publisher = Hitparade.ch | language = German | accessdate = 18 March 2012 | title = Swiss Charts - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/3/2012-03-17/ | publisher = [[The Official Charts Company]] | accessdate = 30 March 2012 | title = 2012 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive - 17th March 2012}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row"|US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard 200|200]]<ref>{{cite web | url = {{BillboardURLbyName|artist=bruce springsteen|chart=Billboard 200}} | work = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | accessdate = 30 March 2012 | title = Bruce Springsteen Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |} {{Multicol-break}} ===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- !scope="col"|Chart (2012) !scope="col"|Position |- !scope="row"|Australian Albums Chart<ref>http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/top-100-albums-chart---2012/1016</ref> |align="center"|82 |- !scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)<ref name="ultratop.be">http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2012&cat=a</ref> |align="center"|19 |- !scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)<ref name="ultratop.be"/> |align="center"|66 |- !scope="row"|Dutch Albums Chart<ref>http://www.dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2012&cat=a</ref> |align="center"|10 |- !scope="row"|German Albums Chart<ref>http://www.viva.tv/charts/54-viva-jahrescharts-2012-album</ref> |align="center"|32 |- !scope="row"|Italian Albums Chart<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.sorrisi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Top100_album_2012.pdf | format = PDF | publisher = [[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]] / ''[[TV Sorrisi e Canzoni]]'' | language = Italian | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6DiKI87yH | archivedate = 16 January 2013|title=Top 100 Album Combined - Classifica annuale (dal 2 Gennaio 2012 al 30 Dicembre 2012)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|17 |- !scope="row"|Spanish Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.promusicae.org/files/listasanuales/albumes/Top%2050%20ALBUMES%202012%20.pdf |title=Top 50 Albumes Anual 2012 |publisher=Promuiscae.es |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|10 |- !scope="row"|Swedish Albums Chart<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20120101 | publisher = Hitlistan.se. [[Sverigetopplistan]] | language = Swedish | accessdate = 17 January 2013 | archivedate = 17 January 2013 | archiveurl = http://archive.is/u8pfp | title = Årslista Album - År 2012}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|5 |- !scope="row"|Swiss Albums Chart<ref>http://hitparade.ch/year.asp?key=2012</ref> |align="center"|22 |} {{col-end}} ==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true|certyear=2013}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|award=Platinum|salesamount=20,814|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=France|award=Gold|type=album|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|certyear=2012|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|award=Platinum|type=album|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|certyear=2012|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true|certref=<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fimi.it/temp/cert_Gfk_week2312.pdf | publisher = [[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]] | language = Italian | accessdate = 19 June 2012 | title = Certificazioni Album fisici e digitali dalla settimana 1 del 2009 alla settimana 11 del 2012 | format = PDF}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|id=201211|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|id=13_01|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true|certref=<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=54&dfom=0000000&newi=0&height=462&platform=Win32&browser=MSIE&navi=no&subframe=Mainframe | publisher = [[Sverigetopplistan]] | language = Swedish | accessdate = July 20, 2012 | title = Veckolista Album - Vecka 28, 13 juli 2012 | archivedate= July 20, 2012 | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/69IEpEUHF}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|title=Wrecking Ball|artist=Bruce Springsteen|autocat=true}} {{Certification Table Bottom}} ==References== {{reflist|30em}} {{Bruce Springsteen}} {{Major League Baseball on TBS}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Wrecking Ball}} [[Category:Bruce Springsteen albums]] [[Category:2012 albums]] [[Category:Columbia Records albums]]'
Unified diff of changes made by edit (edit_diff)
'@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ |align = right |width = 30em }} -The ''Hollywood Reporter'' called the album Springsteen at his "angriest yet",<ref name="hollywoodreporter1">{{cite web| title=Bruce Springsteen's New Album Is His 'Angriest' Yet| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bruce-springsteen-album-angry-281412|accessdate=2012-01-13|work=Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> and some of the tracks address topics such as economic justice.{{cn|date=January 2013}} Musically, the album was described the ''Hollywood Reporter'' as being "very rock 'n' roll ... with unexpected textures—loops, electronic percussion[, and] an amazing sweep of influences and rhythms, from hip-hop to Irish folk rhythms."<ref name="hollywoodreporter1"/> +The ''Hollywood Reporter'' called the album Springsteen at his "angriest yet",<ref name="hollywoodreporter1">{{cite web| title=Bruce Springsteen's New Album Is His 'Angriest' Yet| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bruce-springsteen-album-angry-281412|accessdate=2012-01-13|work=Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> and some of the tracks address topics such as economic justice.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} Musically, the album was described the ''Hollywood Reporter'' as being "very rock 'n' roll ... with unexpected textures—loops, electronic percussion[, and] an amazing sweep of influences and rhythms, from hip-hop to Irish folk rhythms."<ref name="hollywoodreporter1"/> ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' writer Stephen M. Deusner dubbed the album "a big rock record".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Deusner|first=Stephen M.|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/03/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball.html|title=Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball|journal=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|publisher=Paste Media Group|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-15}}</ref> Andy Gill of ''[[The Independent]]'' wrote of the album's musical style, "[I]t's couched in a mix of the classic Boss rock bombast and the muscular hootenanny [[folk rock|folk-rock]] of his ''[[The Seeger Sessions|Seeger Sessions]]'' album, with touches of noble [[gospel music|gospel]], poignant [[jazz]] trumpet and feisty [[Irish rebel music]] colouring the songs according to their mood."<ref name="Gill">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-columbia-7468183.html |title=The Independent review |location=London |first=Andy |last=Gill |date=March 2, 2012}}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]''{{'}}s Steven Hyden called it "a [[mainstream rock]] record" and noted that, musically, the album features "booming drums, squealing guitar solos, violins, banjos, trumpets, pianos, pots, pans, and every available hard surface at Bruce's home studio."<ref name="Hyden">{{cite news|last=Hyden|first=Steven|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball,70373/|title=Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball|newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]]|publisher=[[The Onion|Onion Inc.]]|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> @@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ However, [[Slant Magazine]]'s Jesse Cataldo accused Springsteen of being "borderline [[jingoism|jingoistic]]" and called his perspective "[[wikt:rose-coloured#Adjective|rose-colored]]", writing that he "seems more concerned with overtures toward harmony than actual dissent, a newfound wishy-washiness that leaves him sounding entirely defanged."<ref name="Cataldo">{{cite web|last=Cataldo|first=Jesse|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball/2738|title=Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-09}}</ref> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[Allmusic]] found the album "cumbersome and top heavy" and stated, "Springsteen sacrific[es] impassioned rage in favor of explaining his intentions too clearly."<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite news|url=http://allmusic.com/album/wrecking-ball-r2396384/review|title=Allmusic review|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|date=March 6, 2012}}</ref> Although he commended the album's themes, ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' writer [[Greg Kot]] criticized its music as "sterile" and commented that Springsteen "lost his nerve as a coproducer, going for stadium bombast instead of the unadorned grit these stories of hard times demand."<ref>{{cite news|last=Kot|first=Greg|authorlink=Greg Kot|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/chi-bruce-springsteen-album-review-wrecking-ball-reviewed-20120301,0,894979.column|title=Bruce Springsteen album review; Wrecking Ball reviewed|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tribune Company]]|at=Arts & Entertainment section|date=March 1, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> Despite commending Springsteen's energy with the songs' "ambitious arrangements", Jon Caramanica of ''[[The New York Times]]'' found the "energy [to be] in service of deeply nebulous ideas" and stated, "the text is far more ambiguous, and in plenty of places on this album, just outright flat."<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|last=Caramanica |first=Jon |last2=Jon |first2=Pareles |authorlink=Jon Pareles |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/arts/music/pareles-and-caramanica-on-springsteens-wrecking-ball.html?_r=1|title=Pareles and Caramanica on Springsteen’s ‘Wrecking Ball’|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|location=New York|page=AR18|date=March 4, 2012|accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> In the same review, [[Jon Pareles]] argued that the album is "sincere, ambitious and angry, which can lead to mixed outcomes. It also — which may be a surprise on an album billed as a broadside — holds some of Springsteen’s most elaborate studio concoctions since ''[[Born to Run]]''."<ref name="nytimes"/> == Commercial performance == -The album debuted at No. 1 in 16 different countries including both the US and UK charts with approximately 196,000 and 74,000 records sold, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|author=Roger Friedman |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/03/13/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-number-1-but-with-lower-numbers/ |title=Bruce Springsteen "Wrecking Ball" Number 1, But With Lower Numbers |work=Forbes |date=March 13, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Barrett |first=Annie |url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/03/14/album-sales-bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball/ |title='Wrecking Ball': Bruce Springsteen edges out Adele &#124; The Music Mix &#124; EW.com |work=Music-mix.ew.com |date=March 14, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> "Wrecking Ball" became Springsteen's tenth No. 1 album in the United States, tying him with [[Elvis Presley]] for third-most No. 1 albums of all-time. Only the [[The Beatles|Beatles]] (19) and [[Jay-Z]] (12) have more No. 1 albums.<ref>{{cite web|author=Up for Discussion |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/502085/bruce-springsteen-squeaks-by-adele-earns-tenth-no-1-album |title=Bruce Springsteen Squeaks By Adele, Earns Tenth No. 1 Album |work=Billboard.com |date=March 14, 2009 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> +The album debuted at No. 1 in 16 different countries including both the US and UK charts with approximately 196,000 and 74,000 records sold, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|author=Roger Friedman |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/03/13/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-number-1-but-with-lower-numbers/ |title=Bruce Springsteen "Wrecking Ball" Number 1, But With Lower Numbers |work=Forbes |date=March 13, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Barrett |first=Annie |url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/03/14/album-sales-bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball/ |title='Wrecking Ball': Bruce Springsteen edges out Adele &#124; The Music Mix &#124; EW.com |work=Music-mix.ew.com |date=March 14, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> "Wrecking Ball" became Springsteen's tenth No. 1 album in the United States, tying him with [[Elvis Presley]] for third-most No. 1 albums of all-time. Only the [[The Beatles|Beatles]] (19) and [[Jay-Z]] (12) have more No. 1 albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/502085/bruce-springsteen-squeaks-by-adele-earns-tenth-no-1-album |title=Bruce Springsteen Squeaks By Adele, Earns Tenth No. 1 Album |work=Billboard.com |date=March 14, 2009 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> President [[Barack Obama]] used "We Take Care of Our Own" as one of his top campaign songs and it was played during many of his re-election campaign stops including right after his victory speech on election night. Springsteen also appeared at quite a few of his late campaign stops where he performed a short acoustic set. Use of the song helped boost sales of the song by 409%.<ref>http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/retail/president-obama-s-dnc-speech-boosts-bruce-1007948182.story?imw=Y</ref> @@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ !scope="row"|[[IFPI|Austrian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=austriancharts.at |language=German | accessdate =2012-03-18 |title=Austria Top 40 – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|1 |- -!scope="row"|[[ARIA Charts|Australian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://twitter.com/AustraliaCharts/status/315604991496830976 |work=twitter.com/australiancharts |language=English | accessdate =2013-04-04 |title=Bruce Springsteen re-enters Australian charts}}</ref> +!scope="row"|[[ARIA Charts|Australian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://twitter.com/AustraliaCharts/status/315604991496830976 |work=twitter.com/australiancharts | accessdate =2013-04-04 |title=Bruce Springsteen re-enters Australian charts}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|2 |- !scope="row"|[[Belgian Albums Chart]] (Flanders)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Wrecking+Ball&cat=a |work=Ultratop.be |language=Dutch |accessdate=2012-03-18 |title=Charts Vlaanderen – Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (album)}}</ref> @@ -319,10 +319,10 @@ !scope="row"|Australian Albums Chart<ref>http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/top-100-albums-chart---2012/1016</ref> |align="center"|82 |- -!scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)<ref>http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2012&cat=a</ref> +!scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)<ref name="ultratop.be">http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2012&cat=a</ref> |align="center"|19 |- -!scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)<ref>http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2012&cat=a</ref> +!scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)<ref name="ultratop.be"/> |align="center"|66 |- !scope="row"|Dutch Albums Chart<ref>http://www.dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2012&cat=a</ref> @@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ !scope="row"|German Albums Chart<ref>http://www.viva.tv/charts/54-viva-jahrescharts-2012-album</ref> |align="center"|32 |- -!scope="row"|Italian Albums Chart<ref>{{Cita web | url = http://www.sorrisi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Top100_album_2012.pdf | format = PDF | publisher = [[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]] / ''[[TV Sorrisi e Canzoni]]'' | language = Italian | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6DiKI87yH | archivedate = 16 January 2013|title=Top 100 Album Combined - Classifica annuale (dal 2 Gennaio 2012 al 30 Dicembre 2012)}}</ref> +!scope="row"|Italian Albums Chart<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.sorrisi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Top100_album_2012.pdf | format = PDF | publisher = [[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]] / ''[[TV Sorrisi e Canzoni]]'' | language = Italian | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6DiKI87yH | archivedate = 16 January 2013|title=Top 100 Album Combined - Classifica annuale (dal 2 Gennaio 2012 al 30 Dicembre 2012)}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|17 |- !scope="row"|Spanish Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.promusicae.org/files/listasanuales/albumes/Top%2050%20ALBUMES%202012%20.pdf |title=Top 50 Albumes Anual 2012 |publisher=Promuiscae.es |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref> '
Lines added in edit (added_lines)
[ 0 => 'The ''Hollywood Reporter'' called the album Springsteen at his "angriest yet",<ref name="hollywoodreporter1">{{cite web| title=Bruce Springsteen's New Album Is His 'Angriest' Yet| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bruce-springsteen-album-angry-281412|accessdate=2012-01-13|work=Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> and some of the tracks address topics such as economic justice.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} Musically, the album was described the ''Hollywood Reporter'' as being "very rock 'n' roll ... with unexpected textures—loops, electronic percussion[, and] an amazing sweep of influences and rhythms, from hip-hop to Irish folk rhythms."<ref name="hollywoodreporter1"/>', 1 => 'The album debuted at No. 1 in 16 different countries including both the US and UK charts with approximately 196,000 and 74,000 records sold, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|author=Roger Friedman |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/03/13/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-number-1-but-with-lower-numbers/ |title=Bruce Springsteen "Wrecking Ball" Number 1, But With Lower Numbers |work=Forbes |date=March 13, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Barrett |first=Annie |url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/03/14/album-sales-bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball/ |title='Wrecking Ball': Bruce Springsteen edges out Adele &#124; The Music Mix &#124; EW.com |work=Music-mix.ew.com |date=March 14, 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref> "Wrecking Ball" became Springsteen's tenth No. 1 album in the United States, tying him with [[Elvis Presley]] for third-most No. 1 albums of all-time. Only the [[The Beatles|Beatles]] (19) and [[Jay-Z]] (12) have more No. 1 albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/502085/bruce-springsteen-squeaks-by-adele-earns-tenth-no-1-album |title=Bruce Springsteen Squeaks By Adele, Earns Tenth No. 1 Album |work=Billboard.com |date=March 14, 2009 |accessdate=2012-04-07}}</ref>', 2 => '!scope="row"|[[ARIA Charts|Australian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://twitter.com/AustraliaCharts/status/315604991496830976 |work=twitter.com/australiancharts | accessdate =2013-04-04 |title=Bruce Springsteen re-enters Australian charts}}</ref>', 3 => '!scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)<ref name="ultratop.be">http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2012&cat=a</ref>', 4 => '!scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)<ref name="ultratop.be"/>', 5 => '!scope="row"|Italian Albums Chart<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.sorrisi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Top100_album_2012.pdf | format = PDF | publisher = [[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]] / ''[[TV Sorrisi e Canzoni]]'' | language = Italian | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6DiKI87yH | archivedate = 16 January 2013|title=Top 100 Album Combined - Classifica annuale (dal 2 Gennaio 2012 al 30 Dicembre 2012)}}</ref>' ]
Whether or not the change was made through a Tor exit node (tor_exit_node)
0
Unix timestamp of change (timestamp)
1370787502