The second release from the boss picks up the pace and adds some new style and zest. Nowhere is this more apartment than in the very first track: “The E Street Shuffle.”

Springsteen kicks his Dylan schtick on the first track and throws in some funky beats and slap bass. I can even smell some Latin flare in the last instrumental part of the song.

“Sandy” takes a totally different turn and throws in an accordion! Lyrically, it’s Springsteen at his best, ranting about carnival rides and making out under the boardwalk. Musically, the bari sax and accordion give it an Italian feel.

“Kitty’s Back” brings some of the funkiness back and brings excitement with blaring big band horn parts, jumping organ licks, walking bass lines and Clapton-esque guitar lines. It’s the E Street Band at its finest.

“Wild Billy’s Circus Story” brings back the accordion and the Italian street fair feel and even adds a tuba! The lyrics paint pictures of freak shows at the circus.

“Incident on 57th Street” is a rousing ballad with edgy lyrics about a New York City love story. In the vein of “Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ,” there are enough words to fill a book and they read like a novel.

“Rosalita” is certainly the most popular track on the disc and there’s a reason for that. This dance-y Springsteen love story speaks in first person and you know what he’s talking about when he sings about how his record deal is on the way so he can impress her father.

“New York City Serenade” drags on for ten minutes. It’s slow and piano driven and the lyrics do not seem to go anywhere. I wouldn’t be so critical if the rest of the album didn’t have so many strong tracks.

In “The Wild, the Innocent…” the boss starts to find his own voice, but the songs are still riskier than Springsteen’s later albums. From Latin funk to Italian carnival music, The E Street band brings us Jerseyana at its finest and signs it with Springsteen’s signature storyteller lyrics about fake people who get into real trouble, fall into true love and discover true heartbreak in real places.