Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
1984
Album Summary
Born in the U.S.A. is the seventh studio album by American rock singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. It was released by Columbia Records on June 4, 1984. The album's music was written by Springsteen and recorded with his E Street Band and producers Chuck Plotkin and Jon Landau at The Power Station and The Hit Factory in New York City over the course of several years. The process of recording the album was intertwined with that of his previous album, Nebraska. The cover featured an iconic photograph of Springsteen from behind, taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz. Born in the U.S.A. was met with positive reviews, which noted its more pop-oriented radio-friendly sound, and massive commercial success. It produced seven top-10 hit singles and was promoted with a worldwide concert tour by Springsteen. Born in the U.S.A. became his most commercially successful album and one of the highest-selling records ever, having sold 30 million copies by 2012. It has also been cited by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time. The album received a nomination for Album of the Year at the 1985 Grammy Awards.
WikipediaThis is the 4th Springsteen album I have gotten out of 70, 2nd this week. After listening to the album I ate at a McDonalds, read a Ronald Reagan biography and punch a commie in the dick. MERICA!
nice, and for every idiot that reads this, born in the usa is not a mindless patriotic song. "Cover me" surprisingly nice song
I'm from Jersey, so I'm legally obligated to give this a 5. (Kidding.) Aside from the somewhat cheesy, dated production, this is a great batch of songs. Tracks like "No Surrender" and "Dancing In the Dark" are classics, and even got me singing along. Favorite tracks: "No Surrender", "Bobby Jean", "Glory Days"
I had more respect for Bruce before listening to this. He's an okay songwriter and an awful musician. This sounds like music that was made for children.
I feel like a 60-year-old dad and it's great. Born in the USA is a classic, but a little too worn for me. I'm on Fire was Still nice, and refreshingly relaxed. The whole album is a fucking vibe I don't know what to say. I don't think it does anything particularly special, it just does everything well. No surrender/Glory Days are probably my favorites. Not perfect, but enjoyable as all hell, will be revisiting this, 7/8.
Springsteen has better albums than Born in the USA, but I don't know if he has a better collection of songs. What it might lack in cohesiveness or consistent tone, it more than makes up for in the fact that every single track is a classic. You could pick which songs would be the singles just by throwing darts at the tracklist. There is no filler, no song that you want to skip, just 45 straight minutes of beautiful music.
So I’d previously had a bias toward Born to Run between the two, but listening to this again reminded me of how many great hits & what a consistent feel this one has. Really good
Another fantastic album. every song is a great track that can be appreciated for either its uplifting backing track or it's hidden lyrical depth. This is just a really good album. 4.8/5 stars.
Ultimate dad rock with a small dose of cirngey good ol' boy lyricism. Good tunes though, nothing great, but good.
Packed with classics. The title track, I'm on fire, no surrender, glory days, dancing in the dark, my hometown. One or two weaker tracks but overall brilliant
I can't help but feel like Bruce is a bit cheesy, maybe it is just how much his songs are played. Still, I can't deny this album 5 stars. There are at least 5 epic songs on here.
Re-listening for the generator (4 or 5 times). Pop-accessible rock at an apotheosis. Bruce and the E Street Band bat a thousand here. Down your drink whenever Clarence Clemons brings the house down. - “Born in the U.S.A.”, one of the famously misunderstood songs, blaring its chorus to obfuscate its restless subversion to the inattentive listener as the protagonist laments losing brothers at Khe Sanh and returning from hellacious Vietnam to find he’s been cast aside back home. - Bruce searches for a ride-or-die lady to back him up on “Cover Me”, followed by a sneaky favorite one-two combo in “Darlington County” and “Working on the Highway”, a little c’est la vie levity driving south down the coast before the album makes another emotional turn south. - The turn south is taken on the ode to loss “Downbound Train” and the electrically charged ode to lust “I’m on Fire” before a fiery defiance is gained on “No Surrender”, and discarded on the halfway-lamentation “Bobby Jean” discussing an old friend pulling an Irish exit. - Finally, the album points north to open the third act with an amazingly peppy look at a failing relationship and a protagonist crashing and burning when attempting to make moves on his partner, “I’m Goin’ Down”. Hey, maybe he should try that! - We’ve all got ‘em, and the E Streeters converge to describe a universal experience in “Glory Days”, jaw-jackin about the good old days. Hopefully the real glory days are yet to come; in the immortal words of Tony Soprano “‘remember when’ is the lowest form of conversation’”. - The synthesizer’s finest hour: “Dancing in the Dark”. One of my all-time favorites, the unshakeable rhythm never ceases to please, and the relentlessly relatable lyrics never fail to get a rueful yet defiant grin outta me. - We close with the meditative “My Hometown”, another set of unfortunately relatable lyrics. The author roams around his hometown, both as a son and as a father, pondering the neighborhood through trials and tribulations. (This author's hometown was permanently wounded by 90's American gov't budget cuts, from which it has settled into a slow decline. A particularly poignant closer.) Hell of an album here. Springsteen and the E Street Band take you on a joyride that feels like it’s 40/60 joy/ride relentlessly cruising down the freeway, down the boulevard, down the block; contemplating our perpetual restlessness with the windows rolled down, roaming about our territory observing a boisterously observant, seasonably warm Fourth of July. 10/10
Yo creo que cuando menos me cae mal Estados Unidos (el concepto?) es cuando sus músicos, cineastas, entertainers pues, toman la delantera. Este disco me emociona mucho, me hace creer en los gringos (?). La voz de Bruce me gusta bastante y acá creo que todo tiene un espíritu rockero, pero al tiempo se siente que ya hay una voluntad pop, o sea que todo mundo pueda escucharlo y sentirse a gusto; no sé cómo más explicarlo. Me gusta el hitazo "Born in the U.S.A.", "Darlington County" tiene mucho espíritu gringo igual y las otras favs "I'm On Fire", "I'm Goin' Down" y "Dancing in the Dark". 10/10
The Boss does stadium rock. Best Tracks: Born In The U.S.A., I'm On Fire, Dancing In The Dark
Eines der besten Alben aller Zeiten. Obwohl es ja teilweise breitbeinig und stadiontauglich ist, ist es nie peinlich. Und die Geschichten, die erzählt werden, sind autentisch über ein Amerika der Arbeiter ohne, herablassend zu sein. Mega! I am on fire.
Out of all the albums we've listened to so far, this one definitely has the most recognizable radio hits, and it's easy to understand why. The production is very triumphant, even if the lyrics are critical of American life. It's probably why "Born in the USA", a Vietnam War protest song that focuses on mistreated veterans, is still played at Republican Party rallies to this day. It's a strangely enticing combination of combining sentimentality and frustration with the reality of the American Dream. Fav Tracks: My Hometown, I'm Goin' Down, No Surrender, Born in the USA, Working on the Highway Rating: 4.5/5
Was soll ich sagen... Das einzig negative wäre, dass es halt der Gipfel der Popularität ist....
Been ages since I listened to this, but it still holds up. Very 80s, and yet still classic Springsteen.
Great album. Some very good deep cuts below the title track like Darlington County, No Surrender, and I’m on Fire. Downtown Train and My Hometown are the only duds to me.
Bought this at age 13 when it came out. Gets compared to Nebraska or The River all the time as they were contemporaries but this is not those albums. This is "mainstream" Bruce reaching out to his widest audience ever and nailing it. "Bobby Jean" is a lamentation of a girl he used to know that still hits that yearning feeling all these years later. A favorite.
Never have I so thoroughly enjoyed a guy who sounds eternally constipated essentially screaming about how much life sucks. And that'll probably never happen again.
Fucking love this album. Buzzing it popped up as I don't listen to it often. 1. Born In The USA - ironically this is the track that put me off Springsteen for so many years, assuming he was a boring dad rock patriot berk. Couldn't have been more wrong 8/10 2. Cover Me - One of his all time classics 9/10 3. Darlington County - It's very cheesey but good fun 7/10 4. Working On The Highway - As above. Chorus is v catchy 6.5/10 5. Downbound Train - A welcome change back to more classic Springsteen vibes with lyrics that paint a picture 9/10 6. I'm On Fire - Noncey lyrics, always found it a tad over-rated but it's v good 8/10 7. No Surrender - a stone cold banger 10/10 8. Bobby Jean - Best track on the album and top 5 overall, fucking love it. Especially as it's written about Steve van Zandt leaving the band <3 10/10 9. I'm Going Down - Another classic 10/10 10. Glory Days - Another in the good kind of cheesey category 8/10 11. Dancing In The Dark - Not enough guitar for me but it's incredible 9.5/10 12. My Hometown - A perfect ending 9/10
A departure from his earlier works and a more pop feel album than was heard from The Boss than before this. Very accessible, very 80s, this is a great album to dip into his works.
When Bruuuuuuuuce turned this album in, his manager, Jon Landau told him he needed a single for the radio. He went back and produced that single - Dancing in the Dark and an additional six more would be released. Every single record was a top-ten hit. You can't argue with this and you can't argue with Bruce because he is the Boss.
First time I’ve listened to it. I already knew Born in the USA and Dancing in the Dark, which I love, but I wasn’t much of a fan. Now that I’ve listened to the album, I understand why people love Bruce, it’s an amazing one!
The perfect album about the United States. Shame the ideals that Bruce wrote about have been perverted in the 37 years since this was released.
I’d forgotten how good this album is! Who can resist a spontaneous dance party when dancin in the dark come on
Born In The USA - Niet alleen de titel van een album, maar ook van een heel bekend nummer, zelfs bekend van de 2 Live Crew. Ik was meteen nieuwsgierig naar het album, en wat een fijn album is het! Allemaal leuke liedjes, ondanks dat er toch niet heel veel nummers zijn die er echt uit springen voor mij. Naast de bekende hits is voor mij de verrassing mij: "No Surrender" *****
23rd November 2021 Listened on the record player while working before we went to this weird bubble instillation in green Park. Bake off final win for guiseppe. Nothing to say. Perfection.
Great 1980's era Boss stuff. "Born In The USA" that so misunderstood Ronald Reagan Theme! is an amazing track as is "Downbound Train" Poet to the people is Brooooce! "Glory Days" is some song too and of course the Courtney Cox Dancing on the video for "Dancing In The Dark" is legendary. In My Collection already.
The archetypal blue collar rock album. Infectiously enjoyable. With a title track that humiliated US politicians who only read the title.
There are a lot of Springsteen's best songs on this album, and it marries the joy of some of his biggest hits with the emotional weight of his slower albums.
My personal favorite boss album. This is everything great about him. Hardcore Americana lyrics with soulful sax solos. His singing still has its flaws but this album not only rocks but has some great ballads too. It’s excellent. 9.0/10
Not the triumphant, blindly patriotic collection of anthems you might expect. Lyrically very introspective about America's rich tapestry and broad range of lifestyles and opportunities.
Great album, the first one from my run that I'm adding to my regular listening collection. Good to finally listen to some Springsteen - I'm a big Killers fan and their lead never shuts up about how much he loves Bruce. Best Songs: I'm On Fire, No Surrender, I'm Goin' Down, Dancing in the Dark
Excellent album all throughout with tons of great songs and probably peak Bruce, at least from a general popularity perspective. Tons of hits. 10/10.
OG America's ass. Postoje umjetnicka djela koja savrseno docaravaju osjecaje i atmosferu nekog vremenskog razdoblja, a ovaj album je to ucinio za Reagansku eru, rast neoliberalizma i ostatke Vietnamskog rata. Pripizdine, nezaposlenost, zgodne cure, zgodni momci, nezaposleni zgodni momci koji love zgodne cure u pripizdinama, globalizacija, ratovi, veterani i stari prijatelji su teme koje je Bruce usavrsio i doktorirao i zato bilo koja osoba na svijetu moze izvuci nesto za sebe iz njegovih tekstova. Upari to sa good ol' american rock'n'roll-om i dobijes ovaj album. Ima taj neki svoj flavour di mu grandioznost glazbe moze utisat poruku teksta i zato je tema albuma, a osobito pjesme born to run, nekada i ironicno krivo shvacena. Ali, bar meni, to samo pridonosi atraktivnosti albuma. Samo se razbacujem s peticama.
02/09/2022 + Classic summer rock. + Absolutely LOVE "I'm On Fire" - such a surprising song with unexpected vulnerability. + Packed with other classic singles that stand the test of time. Really, really great stuff here.
This album is iconic for so many reasons it's hard to do a comprehensive review. Let's just say that I feel like this album is a "must listen"
They are not all my favorite songs... i like the darker quieter aspect of Bruce, so I'm on Fire, Downbound Train, I'm Goin' Down are the most interesting to me. I was thinking this was going to be a "4" , but there's just too many amazing tracks, finishing with 4 bangers in a row.
I don't care if he "sold out". I do like commercial, top 40 stuff. And this one checked soooo many of the boxes.
Damn there are some really good songs on this album. From beginning to end might be The Boss's strongest effort. The only criticism I could levie is that on some songs the 80s production can sound somewhat dated. Still 5 🌟
Nothing can touch Born to Run. But lord are there some great tracks on this one. I think this album is amazing, and yet I also think it has become over rated. Darkness on the Edge of Town and Born to Run are appropriately rated. This one, somehow as good as it is, is elevated in some circles as THE Springsteen album. It is not, but it is great. And yet it is still 5 stars.
Great album, Bruce is able to pull off just about anything. Fast paced upbeat songs as well as slower, sad pieces, it always sounds like he was born to do exactly this. A album which contains half of his greatest hits has to be a 5 star rsting
This album is remarkable from beginning to end. Each song can be a hit. The themes are classic Bruce, production is perfect, his voice is on fire, pun intended, and the band crushes it as always. A top 10 album of the 80s. I doubt this cannot be enjoyed at least a little by everyone. One of my favourites.
You know, I've listened to this album many times, and I'm struck today by the fact that this is possibly the most upbeat-downbeat album I've ever heard. Yeah, the anthems are there, they're full of energy and they still feel great to listen to. But dig in and listen, this is some dark stuff. It's more polished and has more of a pop sensibility than The River or Nebraska, but it takes you on the same kind of downbound journey. There's humor, pathos, slow burning passion, oppressive sadness, joy, regret. Somehow it all lives together here in this perfect little package. That's an incredibly rare thing and Springsteen makes it all seem so effortless. I was 13 years old when this album came out, so I couldn't relate to a lot of these songs at the time. Almost 40 years on, Springsteen is now one of my absolute favorite artists. I listen to him every day, and the depth of this album grows for me every time I hear it. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): I'm on Fire, I'm Goin' Down, Born in the USA, Dancing in the Dark, Downbound Train, Darlington County, Cover Me, Working on the Highway, No Surrender, Glory Days, My Hometown, Bobby Jean. It's actually hard to rank these. I have clear favorites in my mind, but as each song comes up, I change my mind and have a new favorite. This is that kind of album.
Strong, strong start with the titular song 'Born in the USA,' which is great for reasons that most people unfortunately don't realize. A scathing review of America and its policies, the lyrics hit hard and are where the song really shines. It's the kind of song only Springsteen can sing, and he does it so well. Then the album keeps it going with 'Cover Me:' catchy and high energy. And actually, high energy is what I'd call the majority of this album. It's pretty impressive how he manages to keep the beat and spirit going throughout, even when he gets to a song like 'Downbound Train,' which slows things down a bit. Some songs are just certified hits, like 'Glory Days' and 'Dancing in the Dark.' Ultimately, it's not as fantastic as his 'Born to Run' album, but 'Born in the USA' is still an amazing album that solidifies Springsteen as a lyrical master whose voice is perfect for his words and themes.
I'm really not sure how anyone could not appreciate Bruce Springsteen. I saw him on the Born in the USA tour and he did not disappoint. Of the five-album span starting with Born to Run, then Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River, Nebraska and finally Born in the USA, this is probably my least favorite, and yet it's still a 5 star album. Classic.
This album spawned so many singles and hits, but I think I liked them better before I became aware of the album Nebraska. I liked the latter's rawer sound and sometimes all the synth and E-Street band accompaniment on this album makes it sound a bit cheesy. Like Cover Me; now as I listen, the lyrics are a bit cheesy and the accompanying music feels almost too dance or synth sounding. Darlington County, Working on the Highway, and Bobby Jean (a bit less so) also felt that way - feels overproduced or like everyone is trying too hard to sound catchy. That being said, the album still has many great songs. Glory Days and Dancing in the Dark are still great tunes despite all their pomp - you can't not rock along to those songs. And though I didn't know No Surrender until now, I also liked it a lot despite its pomp. Other songs are a bit more reserved - not necessarily stripped down like on Nebraska, but not forced. Of its singles, I'm Goin Down and My Hometown feel that way. Ditto for Downbound Train, which I didn't know before. And then the title track and I'm on Fire (the best on this album) are still absolute classics. Both have fantastic lyrics - complicated, disenchanted, fiery. Born in the USA is delivered with such ferocity and yet mixed emotion, while I'm on Fire is haunting. Both give you the chills, for different reasons. It is not a perfect album, but it's still damn good.
This is the album that launched Bruce into the stratosphere. It rocks. It tells stories. It has so much heart. It has "I'm On Fire," which must be one of the greatest songs about desire that's ever been written.
A very rare genuine 5star album. Barely puts a foot wrong at any stage. Absolutely cracking stuff - I just can’t work out whether if forced to choose one of his id have this or Tunnel of love
It's not my fave style of music, but I also can't really fault the album. Fave track: Dancing in the Dark 5/5
I know I love this album more than most. Part of it is nostalgia, this was an album that came out when I first started to enjoy and understand music. Also, I think this album was an island of roots rock in a time of synth pop, New wave music and rising hair bands. Great album!
An iconic album. Many tracks still get regular air play on stations with rock and maybe even oldie formats. In this exercise of listening to all these albums this is the first album I could say I already knew pretty well. Still it’s amazing to hear how many great songs there are. Cover Me rocks. Farmington County is super fun. My Hometown is heartbreaking. So much of these songs mourn a loss of something I’m not sure I ever knew. In part it’s the dream that’s been lost. And somehow Bruce turns that into a party.
The BOSS! So many bangers on this album. Not sure what more to say. Bruce is a great mix of like Petty, the Stones, Johnny Cash, and everything else that's good about music.
So I'm some bloke who is a mix of South African, Austrian and now living in NZ . However when listening to this I feel as 'American' as apple pie from the Mid West . I start singing the next song on the album before the current one is done - it can only be a strong 5 for me.
Smack in the middle of an incredible (unprecedented?) run of eight 5-star albums to start his career, the production may sound occasionally dated but it’s a sequence of absolutely expert songwriting and performance that has kept stadiums filled ever since.
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Born in the USA, Cover me, Working on the highway, I’m on fire, No surrender, Glory days, Dancing in the dark, My hometown
not my favorite Springsteen album, but it's hard to deny how classic and epic it is; lyrically meaningful, sonically digestible, rock n roll
The instruments are certainly dated. Even Bruce's voice goes that way, though it is emblematic of overall endearing effect of the sounds. The palette of American symbols produces an iconographic atmosphere, and certain ones - the prisons and refineries - are unfortunately timeless. The cover controversy is evocative of a strange kind of patriotism, but is also a reminder that the album is easy to play at a party. Very few misses on the tracklist. "They don't make music like this anymore" except, perhaps, one of my favorite 2019 releases.
Look, it’s not his best work. A couple duds (Darlington County, Working on the Highway), but it’s The Boss. Some of his best, most high profile tunes show up on this thing.
Tycker den här skivan är bra. Har aldrig riktigt lyssnat på Bruce innan. Den tidigare skivan som var med var lite för 'rough around the edges' för min smak. Men här tycker jag det flyger mycket bättre.
I liked this Springsteen album way more than the previous. This one was way more entertaining.
One of the all-time greats! I only pick 4 because 3-4 other Bruce albums are 5s in my book and this one doesn't quite stack up for me.
I didn't love this album, but I found it okay to listen to. I'm not going to download it, but I didn't mind listening to it.
solid riffs and progression, lyrics initially unimpressive but understanding the context makes it better
I haven't listened to a great deal of album Springsteen - obviously a few of these songs have become massive cultural icons, so I've heard them a lot. Really enjoyed listening to the whole thing. Can definitely see why it was so massive. Quite a bit of it had a Dexys Midnight Runners vibe, which I liked. Fave track "I'm on Fire" - although "Dancing in the Dark" is a great karaoke tune...
I think the non-singles on this album are all fairly weak even if they are catchy as hell. The singles, however, are all-timers. I'm on fire is probably my second favorite Bruce track.
“Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen (1984) With appealing performances by the E Street Band—heavy driving rhythms, memorable grooves, tasteful background vocals, this is music that rocks. It’s an ironically excellent invitation to a stadium concert. Max Weinberg’s drumming is so good, strong, and consistent on the backbeat that after listening, I’d be willing to pitch in to buy him another snare head. Musically, while these tracks lack variety, they are uniformly powerful. Melodies are attractive, if somewhat predictable. “I’m on Fire” is a refreshing departure, punctuating the rock with somber folk. Nice. Springsteen’s lyrics tell vivid first-person stories, depicting working class characters who are alternatively lamenting or celebrating circumstances that are readily understandable to a wide audience. Evocative of thoughtful reflections of the listener’s younger years, whether near or distant. “Dancing in the Dark” is powerfully introspective, clearly the most poetically effective song in the collection. And “My Hometown” provides a sensibly easy closing track. Lead vocals cry out on track after track, as if Springsteen is very much aware of his relatively unidimensional attack and timbre (Again, “I’m on Fire” is a colorful exception—I’m sure I’m in the minority here, but I think this track is the highlight of the album). This album will undoubtedly remain a standard of the era. 4/5
Pues chido, pero no mucho de mi agrado. Cool la vibra rodeo y algunas partes de guitarras entretenidas y por ahi unos que otros saxs que le dan un toque chido. Creo que la que más me gustó fue Cover Me.
Probably the least timeless Springsteen has ever sounded but also the most hooky. Some of these songs are smashes right out the gate, while the worst of them just sound like retreads of similar material. Overall solid in my opinion
Guest entry for biggestjosh from AER. My love for Bruce runs deep. One of the my most reliable self-checks of mental health is to put on the Boss, any album from his unrivaled 1970s run, and if I can feel it, I know my outlook and neurochemistry is in good shape. Bruce is a mirror. Bruce is a mirror for American men who view life as an endless struggle that must be met with generous love, empathy for those at the bottom, and extended moaning and grunting. Bruce is Steinbeck. He's a mirror for the underclass, and he's not coopting their plight for his gain. I think he's honestly trying to reach and elevate them through music, and it just so happens to resonate with a lot of people for that reason. He has no room in his 71 year old Jersey Shore body for satire. This album before this, Nebraska, is dark, depressing, critically acclaimed, stripped down, and speaks to blue collar heartland themes, and lots of people hated it. This album is dark, depressing, critically acclaimed, and tackles blue collar heartland themes with a full E Street Band treatment, and it produced 8 huge hit singles. Sad acoustic folk doesn't speak to the middle class. Maybe they want to hear 50s rock songs blown up with a 12 piece band and a small dash of 80's synths to sound just relevant enough, but not too alienating. Music about the common man, for the common man, in the style of the common man. And then Reagan uses your songs at his convention. Think about someone you know who loves Bruce. Maybe they're white, middle class, from an older generation, and slightly liberal. Maybe they voted Biden. Maybe find casinos delightful. Maybe they could use a raise. Maybe they're more likely to buy you a drink. Maybe they eat at Subway every now and then, but get a meatball sub. I think some of the songs on here are great. The second half is especially strong. A-
Klinkt helemaal niet zoals ik had verwacht. Verrassend, maar fijn. Zeker een artiest die live tot zijn recht zou komen.
An emblematic, career-defining record from the Boss that would come to cement his place in the pop culture pantheon. In a way, I also see this record as setting the template of possibly half of the Springsteen records to follow, oscillating between albums like this and folkie narratives in the vein of Nebraska. In that respect, it's an artist distilling what they do best, albeit into a more commercially appealing package. One the one hand, I think this makes it a crowning achievement, but this pinnacle feels like it represents a bit of a calcifying of what Springsteen has to offer. It's simpler, more direct, but that also flattens some of the urgent complexity of his earlier work. I think it also undermines the power of the E Street Band a little. Max Weinberg drums like a terrifying robot here and some of the others are buried in the mix. Anyway, those reflections have more to do with what would follow than this album in and of itself. It's triumphant, and yet undercut by difficult stories of dreams deferred, unfulfilled, and utterly broken. There are sparks of hope that shine through, however. I also feel like this album is a little backloaded. I'd argue that there's a few weaker tracks on Side A (i.e. "Working on the Highway") that nevertheless support the narrative in a way Side B doesn't necessarily do. I sometimes find myself reaching for the skip button on these ones. As anthemic as it is, I think this version of "Born in the USA" is somewhat undone by its arrangement compared to the sparse version to surface in the years following. "Dancing in the Dark" is still my favourite song about the creative process. In short, while this isn't my favourite Springsteen record (that might be Darkness on the Edge of Town?), it totally deserves a spot on this list for its cultural significance and killer singles. 4.5/5 Favourite tracks: Dancing in the Dark, I'm On Fire, No Surrender, Glory Days
This triumphant album could easily be a greatest hits album. You can see why it Springsteen's most mainstream album with its straight up rock and roll bringing heartland music to the masses. As with the song Born in the USA the music itself somehow drive the lyrics into a more positive direction than maybe it should. Quite a few of the choruses turn into anthems thus drawing the focus away from some of the lyrics. I don't doubt that the cover with the American flag sticking out of his back pocket also had a lot to do with that. Great album and with few exceptions songs that stay with you and come to life every time you listen again. Favorite songs: Dancing in the Dark (one of my favorites BS Songs), Glory Days, No Surrender, My Hometown. 4.5/5
So far I have rather enjoyed this album. However, I am not the biggest fan of the music style. It is better than some of the others.
It took me a little while to come around to appreciating Bruce. Some of the overproduction / radio hit friendly aspects of this album, which was my first real exposure to him as a kid, was a bit too much. Later in life, I found Nebraska and it really opened up the doors to taking him more seriously. Not that I disliked him prior, it just felt a bit too much like posturing. Relistening to this, yeah, the production is still a bit too glossy for me, but the songs and feel are solid and strong.
Excellent start to an album, very catchy and inspirational. Born in the U.S.A. was the perfect title track and is still my favorite song in the album. Cover me is a great song. Album is an 8/10.
The ultimate blue collar album. Most of Springsteen’s biggest hits are here, and a lot of good stuff in between. I’m On Fire is a big highlight, and who doesn’t know Dancing in the Dark? Not a big Bruce fan but this whole album is probably his most listenable.
To me, this is the last of Springsteen's superb albums that started with Born to Run a decade prior. That being said, he's already on the road to decline. This album is his most popular, and I assure you have heard several of these songs many times before. This album is his poppiest yet, but his songwriting skills are still among the best in the industry. Also, I can't tell if the album cover is based on Sticky Fingers, but if so it could be perfect since it conveys a blue-collar worker facing the other way, which I always interpreted as the a dynamic between rockstars and the working class, setting up the theme for the album. It's hard to criticize "Born in the USA" due to its mainstream nature, but I will say I hate how the use of synthesizers shroud the lyrics beyond the chorus. It's no wonder nobody knows what this song is about. Even if you try paying attention to the lyrics, good luck. I thought the yellow man was referring to Native Americans for a long time. That being said, the chorus and sound is catchy and upbeat, juxtaposing the passive-aggressive lyrics. "Cover Me" has my favorite tune, and bravo to Springsteen's voice. "Darlington County" has the most entertaining lyrics, with some humor thrown in. "Downbound Train" is an emotional track about a lost lover, complimented by the next track "I'm on Fire" about a potential lover. Love the way he can convey his emotions so strongly, yet confused why it's one of his popular songs. "No Surrender" and "Bobby Jean" are another pair of related songs that shift from optimism to depsair. "Glory Days" is my favorite. Despite the heavy use of synth again clouding the lyrics, it's catchy and relatable to everyone. Look up the full version with the missing version. I think it's a necessary completion of the song to see how this isn't confined to just your generation. "Dancing in the dark" is another favorite of mine, and I love how meta the song is and how it actually became a huge hit.
It was a good listen but something I probably won't chill and listen to. The hits are classics though
In this album Springsteen begins his courtship with Americana at large. There are still the intricate lyrical ballads telling about the common-man experience, but they now have some twang in some parts. Pairing this with multiple singles and stand out tracks including the often misinterpreted "Born in the USA". This album shines as a solid entry although not his best.
Best Springsteen album by far, and worth 5 stars for its place in personal history. I find it funny how, over the years, the songs I least liked from the album have become my album favourites. But that's just an aside...
Fantastic. Incredible album, consistent throughout and packed with hits. Love Springsteens work.
Aiempiin vastaantulleisiin levyihin verrattuna tää nappas heti ja piti otteessaan loppuun asti. Vaikka pari, syystäkin, hittiä levyltä löyty, niin kaikki biisit oli vähintään hyviä
Pomon musa ei ehkä ole omalla listalla ihan kärjessä, mutta tämän levyn kuunteli mielellään läpi. Ehkäpä oma lemppari hänen tuotannostaan. Vahva 3,5*
During the first 4 songs, I enjoyed the theme of working-class blues that does not view it through rose-colored glasses.
Can really imagine I have much to say about Born to Run that wouldn’t retread territory that’s been gone over many, many times. I was interested to read that it came out of basically the same recording sessions that produced Nebraska, and listening to it in this context gave it some additional texture for me, and made sense. They really are two sides of a coin. I like it as I generally like Springsteen, though it would not make my top three of his albums... maybe not even my top five.
Of Springsteen’s near flawless, decade and a half run of albums at the beginning of his career, this is probably my least favorite. “No Surrender” still rules though.
I didn't realise how many of these songs I actually knew until I listened to this and they're actually kinda bangers.
Från Sticky Fingers jeansskrev till detta jeansarsle. Otroliga hits på detta album, känns som varannan låt blivit en rockklassiker. Och bra är det också. Cover Me, Downbound Train, och I'm Going Down är skitbra. No Surrender är snabb och härlig. Dancing in the Dark är vad Glory Days önskar att den var, en riktig banger. Bobby Jean, I'm On Fire, och My Hometown är vackra. Speciellt I'm On Fire. Bara melodin är nog för att väcka starka känslor. Några svagare spår, som Darlington County och Working on the Highway gör att albumet inte riktigt nåt en femma. Men ändå, en jävla KLASSIKER. Bästa låt: I'm On Fire.
Liked it more than I expected. It's working class porn, but it kind of rocks. Not a big fan of the Boss but this album was more than solid.
Is this the so called "dad-rock"? Definitelly yes. Is it good? Also yes. There's a couple of meh tracks in the middle but there's also a lot of good stuff here. Not an album I would listen to on repeat but when the mood comes some "dad-rock" is perfectly fine.
Naturally, of my era, I was aware of Mr. Springsteen, The Boss, on MTV. From the songs of the time it seemed like he was performing and contorting having his fingernails pulled out with pliers. I never went back and actually listened to this record. Thanks to this project I resolved to try it out, despite defiance. How could I have known his velvety crooning would melt my wretched heart?
Like everything else Springsteen, this is hit or miss. This is more a nostalgia album for me than something that I would actively listen to.
Not listened to ‘The Boss’ much but really enjoyed this. Dancing in the Dark is a bop.
so klassischer rock is ja eigentlich net meins aber da sind so viele coole nummern drauf. jede für sich besonders und trotzdem schlüssig als ganzes