Thirty-five years as a justifiable rock musician allows Bruce Springsteen an opinion on the state of over-the-air radio, and he takes it--and takes the medium to the woodshed on the ruthless ˝Radio Nowhere.˝ The opening smash sets the tone, with the ageless Boss wondering, ˝Is there anybody out there?˝ before imploring, ˝I just want to hear some rhythm.˝ Then, with E Street Band in tow, Springsteen goes on to retrace every step between here and Greetings from Asbury Park, hand-delivering more could-be, would-be hits than anything he’s done since Born in the USA. Credit producer Brendan O’Brien for the wall of sound that backs ˝Girls in Their Summer Clothes,˝ which sets the atmosphere for one of the great vocal performances by Springsteen, who plays the misfit ˝in the cool of the evening light˝ watching the girls ˝pass me by.˝ With piano, glockenspiel, and infinite guitars, the rocker ˝I’ll Work for Your Love˝ recalls The River, with Springsteen even settling for blue-collar hero in matters of the heart. ˝Livin’ in the Future˝ could be an out-take from Darkness on the Edge of Town, with shades of Election Day blasting away with the boastful sax of Clarence Clemons and Little Steven’s relentless backing vocals. There’s even a hint of Nebraska on ˝Terry’s Song,˝ an earnest (and mostly solo) accolade with Springsteen acknowledging the death of a friend: ˝When they built you, brother/They broke the mold.˝ The hidden track closes this unforeseen comeback, and for 48 minutes the nearly 60-year-old Bruce Springsteen sounds 35 again. --Scott Holter