Oh dear.
Oh dear. oh dear.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
It hurts me to say it but I, and everybody else in the world, overestimated the current Springsteen and Madonna albums. I gave them both "A-" but they haven't really sustained that grade and it has nothing to do with the music..
Madonna is a pop singer and pop singers are popular or they are nothing and MDNA is not popular. MDNA is so roundly despised that a Superbowl appearance and an obligatory album added to the price of each ticket to her live show together couldn't stop it getting its brains beaten out by Lionel Richie. Let's just face up: it isn't even vaguely popular and nothing Madonna could do, especially not her ridiculous on line only publicity, could move the needle. There is a Smirnoff remix album NOBODY CAN GET.
Springsteen sunk without a stone as well, but that was expected. What was also expected was that Wrecking Ball would kick hard on stage and it doesn't. Song after stillborn song curls up on stage and withers and die and Springsteen has another dog hanging over his head for the next two years. How long before he dumps the sucker and gets back to greatest hits?
Springsteen wants to prove he is still relevant and he is still relevant but not as a songwriter. He needs to dig deeper and be more honest with his audience, he needs to write about things like longterm marriage and raising kids and money, having lots and lots of money. And he doesn't. He writes about stuff that is just completely unsuited for him.
So while I liked the album fine on record, on stage it is disastrous.
Both albums fail to live up to their job descriptions: they fail their creators. And therfore both albums are overrated.