Song of the Day 9/20: Bruce Springsteen, “Letter to You”

Bruce Springsteen dropped a new single Sept. 10, the title track to an upcoming album with the E Street Band recorded live in Springsteen’s home studio, no overdubs, in just five days last December.

When I heard it the day it was released I was underwhelmed. It’s mid-tempo, soft-rocking and musically basic, nothing rousing or anthemic about it — like a lot of the music Springsteen has released in the past 20 years, it struck me as generic and forgettable. But I’ve heard it a few times since and it’s grown on me. It scans like a survivor’s testament, and Springsteen puts some sincerity into his delivery. Due for Oct. 23 release, the album just might be the right Springsteen for the moment.

For all his success, Springsteen has not had a gold album in the US since 2009’s “Working on a Dream,” and as an indication of his intent to end that streak he’s re-recorded three songs that date to his earliest days but have never been officially released. More on that soon.