Bruce Springsteen released his 21st studio album, Only the Strong Survive, on Nov. 11. Springsteen, otherwise known as The Boss, is known for timeless albums such as Born in The U.S.A and screaming vocals that resonate with listeners. The title is a fitting name for this cover album of ’60s and ’70s soul, because only the strong can survive listening to it. 

The album lacks Springsteen’s infamous sweaty, soul-wrenching rock-soul sound, and it’s replaced with an overbearing arrangement of chords and horns that drown out Springsteen’s gravelly, tortured voice. The tepid tones of the album strip the songs of what would mark them as Springsteen productions, and in place of the “Springsteen sound,” a dull and dispassionate narrative emerges. 

Along with the dull tones, the lyrics create a disconnect with the audience. Springsteen sings of youthful love and the despair paired with it. Considering that Springsteen is a 73-year-old man who has been married to his wife for 31 years, he can’t relate to that feeling of chasing youthful love anymore and a bland, uninteresting emotion surfaces in his voice. 

This new album was the perfect time for Springsteen to make a debut as a semi-retired rock and roll star, with songs that could shift away from the struggles he faced in his youth and explore the difficulties he faces now. Instead of jumping onto the opportunity to create a new type of rock and roll that spoke to the problems he’s faced as he got older, Springsteen tried to recreate the albums of his 20s and failed drastically.

The lack of deep emotional connection makes the album feel like a never-ending, mind-numbingly boring loop, with no difference between each of the songs. It is clear that if The Boss stays on the track he’s on right now, the once household name of Bruce Springsteen will be completely forgotten.