Bruce Springsteen - The Rising

Some things are just made to go together ... roast beef and Yorkshire pudding; fish and chips; strawberries and cream.

It seems the same applies to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

The last time they were in a studio together, the legendary Born In The USA album was the result in 1984.

No one would be bold enough to predict success on the same scale for the fruits of this reunion, but it fully justifies its first-week of release elevation to the top of the album charts.

Inspiration for this fine piece of work is the attack on the World Trade Center, none moreso than his tribute to the brave firefighters who lost their lives in Into The Fire.

The title track is one of the stand-out numbers as Springsteen's brilliant writing skills are seen at their very best

The hauntingly brooding Empty Sky brings back memories of how New York's skyline was irrevocably changed on that fateful day, but there are plenty of uplifting numbers like Let's Be Friends and Waitin' On A Sunny Day to jog you out of any maudlin thoughts.

Just as Born In The USA became an anthem for the American people, The Rising will be a significant marker in that country's rebirth from the ashes of September 11.

CLIVE PRATT