The band records eight tracks for the new album, but despite the recording quality and the band’s proficiency, the songs lack a “center” and feel “lifeless.” Landau and Springsteen determine that record production has changed and they must adapt. He meets producer Brendan O’Brien, who has worked with Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine, and they arrange a mutual “audition” in Atlanta. Before their meeting, however, the 9/11 attacks disrupt everything. New Jersey’s Monmouth County buries 150 souls lost in the attack. During a memorial concert for the victims, he meets the “Jersey Girls,” a group of women pushing for a 9/11 Commission to investigate the government’s actions and hold it accountable.

He participates in a national telethon to benefit survivors. The experience prompts him to write two new songs: “Into the Fire” and “You’re Missing.” O’Brien likes the material and urges Springsteen to write more. The resulting album—The Rising (2002)—features rock, gospel, party tunes, and diverse voices. As the band tours, he’s confident in their ability to spark a dialogue with the audience. The Rising is Springsteen’s attempt to create a language that addresses the trauma of 9/11 and human lives in general.