Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Magic to Reignite the "Magic" on Oct. 2

It's official. After months of rumor and speculation the word came down earlier Thursday in the form of an official press release. Bruce Springsteen will release his first new album with the E Street Band since 2002's The Rising on October 2. The album is called "Magic."

And with the expected tour with said E Street Band to follow, it is also official that I simply cannot be held responsible for my "obsessive" behaviour, which I expect to extend well into next year.

Details on the tour are still sketchy at present, and manager Jon Landau is staying tight lipped about it.

But the aforementioned rumor and speculation has the tour --widely expected to be Springteen's final bow with the E Street Band -- begining sometime in October, with buildings already said to be on hold in such cities as New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Detroit, Oakland, and of course East Rutherford, New Jersey.

This "first leg" would last about a month before heading over to Europe. A second leg would commence in America early in 2008 (hopefully including some Northwest shows) if Bruce follows the routing of recent tours. Stadium shows will then most likely keep the show on the road through this summer.

But back to the album.

Magic is said to be both "E Street Band heavy" and very "sonically guitar driven" according to Landau in a Rolling Stone Magazine Article published today.

The song titles also sound intriguing. The presumed first single, "Radio Nowhere," is described by Landau as a song that "has a real anthemic quality to it. If it doesn't get you out of your seat, I don't know what will." Another track, called "Girls In Their Summer Clothes" is said to have a "little bit of a Pet Sounds-type feeling mixed in with the sound of the E Street Band."

Holy Crap! When can I get my hands on this thing?

Of what is described as the lone political track, called "Devils Arcade" Landau says: "He gets some images across that are very powerful and will certainly give you a feeling of where he's coming from, but on balance [politics] is not the primary intention of this record."

Magic was recorded over a two month period in Atlanta, Georgia earlier this year. Brendan O' Brien, who produced both The Rising and Devils & Dust for Springsteen, once again also produced Magic. In addition to the Rolling Stone article above, Lisa McKay has an excellent report on the album's release over at Blogcritcs Magazine.

Here is the track listing for Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band's "Magic," due out October 2:

Track Listing:

1. "Radio Nowhere"
2. "You'll Be Comin' Down"
3. "Livin' in the Future"
4. "Your Own Worst Enemy"
5. "Gypsy Biker"
6. "Girls in Their Summer Clothes"
7. "I'll Work for Your Love"
8. "Magic"
9. "Last to Die"
10. "Long Walk Home"
11. "Devil's Arcade"