random ramble:
Magic just feels and sounds right, it seems like an album that shouldn't work but it just does. I'm not one of those truly hardcore fans that think an artist can do no wrong on an album, and while yes I did love the semi-unpopular-among-his-fans albums Devils and Dust and the Seeger Sessions, Ghost of Tom Joad . However.. I can't say I'm a fan (aside from a couple of songs of eachalbum) of The River (blasphemy, i know), Born in the USA, or HT/LT.
I don't know what it is exactly about Magic that I can't stop listening to it and thoroughly enjoying more each time. My first reaction to it was very 'meh', the production, the mixing, his voice all seemed kinda off. Then, suddenly, by the third listen or so it all just fell together into place, I no longer heard the odd vocal mixing but heard the songs for what they were: the lyrics, the instruments complimenting one another and the tone and mood of the album felt coherent.
There were no beautiful, upligitng, soulful songs such as You're Missing, My City of Ruins, Empty Sky or Into The but there weren't any bland fillers either as The Rising had.
Bottom line is that I couldn't be happier or proud to call myself a Springsteen fan( even if nobody around here that I know likes him
or makes fun of me for liking "old people" music). The man has been abundant in his creativity in the last couple years and I'm frankly very thankful for that. (I mean...since this is a U2 board, I'll use them as an example.. since 2000 ..U2 has released...what 2 albums? ..while Bruce has released 4 albums which are quite eclectic and unique from one another).
he sure does.. 
