Reviews (page 11 of 13)
Not bad, just not a fan of his voice.
Some great. Some I’d skip.
Couple of very good, classic songs. His clean vocals are so much better than his harsh vocals which are often unintelligible.
I like ‘I’m on fire’ and ‘Dancing in the Dark’. The rest I could live without.
Not a big Springsteen guy....I did like this album. I know it is too pop for some.
Tbh some classics on the album, but overall I was bored. The actual music didn’t hit me beyond the surface level and I genuinely don’t think I’d go out of my way to listen to it again. Favorite song- Dancing in the dark
Classical honest rock.
Teils passabler Rock'n Roll. Bekanntestes, eingängistes Lied ist das für das Album titelgebende.
This is not in my list of Springsteen albums that I enjoy. From this album forward, I moved away from his/their sound. I don't hate it, but some songs were too poppy for me to enjoy.
I like a little Springsteen sprinkled in among other artists, but a little Bruce goes a long way. This is what I call testosterone rock. NOT that there's anything wrong with it.
I mean he is good and all but still don't see the extreme hype I guess. Very listenable tho!
i don’t like it but i think it does what it does well
American music right here baby, crushin Bob Dylan 3.5
7/10
Alright pop. Nothing too fancy but it had the vibes. Lotta chachty sax if you are into that. It is more like an collection of the same music which makes it hard to stand for that long. American
I love what Bruce stands for but for some reason I get bored after a few tracks. May be too repetitive? Anyways, fav tracks: “Cover Me”, “I’m on Fire”, “Glory Days”. Album rocks but can’t hold my interest all the way through! 3/5
As a non-American, I had an entirely different idea of what Born In The U.S.A. would be like; actually I expected Springsteen to be one of those singers moaning about the good-old days and the glorious American dream. This… is not that! The stories in this album got surprisingly dark and are unfortunately all too relevant in these days of broken hopes, inequality and failed dreams. While I personally prefer Tracy Chapman’s more intimate delivery of these themes, Springsteen will be my go-to for some solid rock n roll sessions about failed glory days.
Dude made a lot of coin singing about how terrible life and times were. Talented.
3/5. I liked Born in the USA. The rest was forgettable.
Not as good as I expected
Not a huge fan but has pretty popular songs on it.
Later half of the album was definitely better. 6/10
I mean like. I like the hits on this for sure but most of the album just kind of plays through to fill up time. If I wanna feel american I'll listen to John Mellencamp or Tom Petty. 6/10
This might be the most American album I have ever listened to. It’s got country lyrics with not country music. I’m about half and half on the songs. The songs I liked were pretty good “Cover Me” “I’m on fire” “Glory Days” & “My Hometown”. “Dancing In The Dark” is a banger and the best song on the album, its not even close. The rest of the songs bordered on forgettable to I straight up didn’t like them. Hard to rate this one honestly. 6/10
I appreciate Bruce Springsteen for his writing, but I just can’t seem to really get into him Good album though
Second half was better than the first
A lot of it didn’t really stand out, a fairly middle-of-the-road 80s rock album as far as my two listens went. Some nice familiar numbers but I have to say the lyrics feel a bit cliche and I don’t think there’s anything remarkable about his vocals or musicality. Just a few catchy hooks. The title track is by far the redeeming moment and a couple of nice numbers in the closing run.
I like the idea of Bruce Springsteen more than than man’s music. The title track has been hilariously misinterpreted as blind patriotism. Darlington County is the exact same song as the title track. Downbound train is a good song but his voice is unintelligible. Yes, I can understand what he’s saying but the way he sings makes me hate it enough to make it unlistenable. Favourite songs are I’m on Fire, No Surrender, Glory Days, My Hometown.
Favorite track: Dancing in the dark It’s above neutral so I gave it a 3/5
Iconic often on radio
To be perfectly honest I'm not super into this but he does get a bonus for being a lesbian icon, bc those are few and far between. It's just him, James Dean, and Johnny Cash. I like "I'm on Fire" and "Bobby Jean"
It's good, but it's wildly overrated. Some good tunes on here, but not something I crave for. Wouldn't turn it off if it came on the radio. A legend to many, but not to me. A bit shouty.
Pretty good but songs sound similar
I love listening to American Conservatives even 35 years later singing Born In The USA with pride with it really about their country being a shithole. I do appreciate Springsteen’s subversiveness and the pictures he paints of regular American life but unfortunately lyrics might be edgy but the music isn’t, bordering on dad rock. I do love the last 3rd of the album. Dancing in the Dark is phenomenal 6.1/10
Classic Bruce. "Glory Days" is probably my favorite Springsteen track. 3.5 stars.
No es mi estilo, aunque le daré otra oportunidad
Bra album.
Great album, that feels of its era.
Ugh here we go
*pour one out for my uncle Luis. Fav song Downbound train
A decent album cant lie not much to say but i do like ut 3/5
In its time it was ok. I'm not a big Springsteen fan but there are worse albums out there.
The only Springsteen album that I've ever liked, because I'm really not a fan of his dulced tones lol. I'm on fire probably the track I liked best, and that's because Bruce draws on the softer tones in his voice, rather than the belted out lyrics of Born in the USA.
good album. Im not sure why it was as popular as it was at the time.
Good but not the best Springsteen. I like a lot of the live versions of these songs from the album that was released after this
More recognizable songs than I remember.
Ganz charmant, aber für mich nicht besonders herausragend. Auf Dauer vielleicht auch etwas anstrengend
Can't help but love The Boss
Pretty good
Born In The USA // I’m On Fire // Dancing In The Dark // 2.5/5
This is tough. I feel a little unfair giving it a low-ish rating - there were things I liked about it, it was fun in its own way, I can recognize its impact - but it just didn’t do anything for me today. It’s a little too cheesy. On a different day, maybe I’d rate it different. Highlights: - I’m on Fire - Cover Me - Downbound Train
Dancing in the Dark, and I'm on Fire are the only reason this gets a 3
not really a fan of Springsteen, but this album has a couple of the songs I do like from him.
This album felt like it would have been better if it hadn't been produced in the 80s with weak-*ss synth, the drum-machine-like beats, and sanitized arrangements. Gone is the ebullient, unleashed early Springsteen. Kind of a boring listen. Cover Me is a banger, I'm On Fire is a slower burn than I remember, Glory Days sounds better now, Dancing in the Dark, worse.
Didn't know I knew the songs in this album so well
Not my favourite Springsteen as it's a bit more commercial than his normal. However a couple of real sing along bangers is the result.
It's ok
Definitely an album of a time, both in the songwriting and production but also the alienation of Reagan's America that pummeled the 80s. The Boss can certainly write lyrics, but overall the songwriting is kind of meh and some of the rhythms wouldn't be out of place on a Raffi album.
This album I listen to a decent amount growing up. I have not heard many of the songs on here though. We obviously know the most famous song born in the USA. I don’t mind his voice, but some of the songs were hit or miss.
The Boss
Born to Run is one of my favorite albums but honestly this album sounds like Bruce is singing through some bad hemorrhoids. I’m on Fire is an all timer but overall no thank you.
His most commercial work by far, and as a result his songwriting and appeal suffer to an extent.
Ok.
Not that interesting.
Habe es mir nicht im Detail angehört (zu müde), war aber nicht schlecht. Nicht so wirklich meins, aber ganz okay.
Good
This is truly the most mid album I’ve heard so far. Like I don’t know how to describe it as anything else. Bobby Jean stood out to me. I don’t know, I know Bruce Springsteen is a liberal but I feel like the people who LOVE this album would call me a slur lol. That being said, I think (ignoring the conservatives who don’t understand this album’s message), I’d give it a 3. It’s not my cup of tea but it’s alright. Dancing in the Dark is a bop.
I'm on fire 5
Summary: A solid album. Consistently energetic (but relatively uninteresting) rhythm section backs an impressive vocal with occasional backing harmonies that really make some of the tracks shine. Love the style and callbacks to American (or British invasion) rock of the '50s and '60s, while staying true to the early '80s rock trends. Harmonies (chords) were very uninteresting, but I didn't actually notice this until the final track's fadeout. The production, as with many popular '80s tracks, is quite dated, and this detracts from a set of otherwise fairly strong country-pop-rock compositions. Born in the U.S.A.: Earworm chorus and a melody that is backed steadfastly by synth and piano. Brash, confident, \"lumbering caveman\" drumming (as Rick Beato might describe it). This could really do with some vocal harmonising, but overall a pretty convincing hit song. Cover Me: Very overblown vocal. I haven't listened to much Springsteen before, and I was secretly hoping his voice wouldn't be this... persistent. It's skillful singing, but it'll be a bit of a slog to get through the full album. Rockin' guitar backing the riff. Darlington County: Intro reminds me of Honky Tonk Women. Very country-ish. We hear some (self-?)harmonising in the chorus, and it was a jolly good time. Impressively catchy chorus considering there aren't any words. Reduction in texture at around 3:10 is a fantastic choice, and I almost wish the two previous tracks had followed in these footsteps. Working on the Highway: Clearly inspired by Elvis. A great fast-paced '50s American rock feel. Downbound Train: Fairly nondescript Springsteeny track with a solid backing (nice dreamy synth sounds a little back in the mix). Weak drums. I'm On Fire: Strange semi-electric guitar quality on this one - I dig it. The one-line chorus reminds me of Cash's Ring of Fire, although the delivery is quite different. Definitely an inspired album. Very strong track, and my favourite so far. No Surrender: A rocking start to side 2! This song has plenty of elements that make for a good American rock song: powerful vocals, tastefully placed vocal harmonies and synths, and a confident (yet still very simplistic) bass and drumbeat. \"La-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la.\" (Brucey, 1984) Bobby Jean: There's something really interesting happening in the instrumental but it's often too far back in the mix to properly appreciate. I'm Goin' Down: A very memorable chorus that again is lacking adequate vocal harmony. Strong piano in the rhythm section. Glory Days: Ooh, I've definitely heard this one before. The riff is very strong and easily the standout riff in the album. Effective use of synths, if slightly repetitive. The percussion has a little more emotion in it than in previous tracks, and it brings the album up spectacularly. I also notice myself slightly tuning out the lead vocal by this point in the album, not because it's necessarily bad, but because it's so similar between most tracks. Dancing in the Dark: Keyboard is cool but could be cooler. More than three distinct melody notes, maybe. (The vocal melody doesn't have this problem.) The vocals show a little more restraint, and crack at times, which is actually a huge strength of the song. There's a definite emotional contrast between sections. Very catchy as well. It makes sense that this is the most streamed track on the album. My Hometown: Light, tasteful keyboard and percussion. Bruce's voice is great for the second consecutive track, leaving me wondering why he placed all the songs with good vocals at the end of each side. Blend of acoustic and electric (via synth) is great. I realised as this song faded out that I hadn't heard any interesting chords in the last 45 minutes, and grew frustrated accordingly.
I expected to hate this, but it was actually alright.
Some good anthems. Provably heard them too much to have an impact. Can't knock it but nothing special. 6.5/10
Ei turhaan klassikko
USA USA USA
This was fine, I got the appeal. Some songs felt more genuine than others.
It's Bruce.
Classic Bruce
Okayish
I just don't find Springsteen's musical compositions interesting for whatever reason. It's otherwise a fine album with (obviously) plenty of hits and I can see it's influence on tons of acts that followed.
Solid if not particularly special to me
1. "Born in the U.S.A." 7/10 2. "Cover Me" 3. "Darlington County" 4:48 4. "Working on the Highway" 3:13 5. "Downbound Train" 3:35 6. "I'm on Fire" 2:40 7. "No Surrender" 4:01 8. "Bobby Jean" 3:48 9. "I'm Goin' Down" 3:30 10. "Glory Days" 4:15 11. "Dancing in the Dark" 4:04 12. "My Hometown"
Some of the songs are great, others are generic stadium country rock. Favorite song: glory days
Classic alb with some super well known tracks. Not my cup of tea though outside of those few tracks.
murrica.
You know, its a classic album. I definitely knew the first song born in the usa. The rest of the songs I didn't know, but they had the similar classic rock "summer" vibes. But I couldn't really get into it that much and thats just a personal thing for me.
ммм Спрингстин (одна и та же песня всю жизнь)
Has a few very recognizable radio songs I’ve heard hundreds of times growing up that I enjoy (Glory Days and Dancing in the Dark), but overall I didn’t enjoy the album in its entirety. Feels illegal being from New Jersey and giving this anything less than a 4, but it’s one of the less cohesive and consistent albums I’ve heard. I also think Bruce’s voice is a hit or miss depending on the song.
3/5. Everybody knows Born In The USA, but I have to believe Dancing in the Dark is my favorite song on the album. Glory Days is also a classic.
Extremely classic, a carbon copy of the 80s and all it envelops
As iconic as this album is, this was actually my first time listening to it. I have a lot of respect for Bruce but, I hate to say it, other than the few well known tracks, this album didn’t really resonate with me.
Bruce Springsteen does nothing for me; mediocre country-rock.
3.2 I wish Americans were real <3 I actually liked this more than I thought I would..... some songs were very samey so if you like the style you'll love the album. I ended up liking about half of them and not really caring about the other. fave songs: Cover Me, Working on the Highway, No Surrender
More big hits on one album than anything else I can think of. It's a bit samey and the shout/groan-singing gets a little tiring by the end. However, there's enough hooks here to supply a fishing competition. There were only one or two tracks here I hadn't heard before and they were so similar to the others that it was hard to tell the difference. It's not music I particularly like or would choose to listen to, but I have to give credit for the sheer quality of the songs here and the staying power to make an 80s album that is so iconic. It's not as cheesy as I thought it was going to be and I would even go as far as saying that I quite enjoyed listening to this, even though once in a lifetime is enough for me. 3-stars for a middle-of-the-road experience.
The title track, while nice like 15 years ago, has been played by so many shithead bigot snowflake Republicans that it has forever tainted the track. I also find the sentiment of American patriotism in the song is almost propaganda and feels like it sparks nationalist feelings, especially in children. I guess I'm just too cynical and fed up with the America of today and the way the people of the generation this song was for fucked up and continue to fuck up the country with no remorse. The rest of the album is okay I guess. A low 3/5 for boomer rock
AJ: drunken new jersey story telling ridiculousness. It’s ok.
A true classic of its type.
Too familiar to be interesting
Couple of bangers, but Bruce is a "greatest hits" artist for me, not someone who I want to listen to whole albums from.
iconic 80s stuff
Love how many Americans living in fly-over states think they're making this grand patriotic statement by blasting the title track from their overly lifted Ford and Chevy pickups while completely missing the point. This album is almost a greatest hits when it comes to my limited knowledge of Springsteen's catalog, but I know a large chunk of them just from the radio of my childhood. Listen to Cover Me, Darlington County, I'm On Fire, Dancing In The Dark
BRUUUUUUCE
The daddest of dad rock records. Constant recognisable classics: admirable, macho, thoughtful. I simply have never found Springsteen terribly exciting.
Average
In order to listen to this I had to get myself in the correct headspace. First, to remind myself that this record is largely misunderstood. It is not intended as some rah-rah nationalistic celebration but an album by the songwriter who's preceding album, Nebraska, was essentially written at the same time as Born in the USA and is openly critical of big business and the situations that working people find themselves in. Second, to shed some of the personal associations with this album in terms of who in my life has championed it (and that I largely disagreed with). Third, prepare myself for some saxophone (which I am so often troubled by in "rock and roll"). Fourth, just forget every Springsteen video associated with the album while I listen. Fifth, that red cap in the back pocket isn't the same as what a red baseball hat means today. Sixth, ignore that letter spacing on the cover... I think you can get it that this album has a lot of baggage. And yet, and yet, right from the opener if you're paying attention you're going to understand that the music is going to play with opposites sometimes and you'll need to keep an open mind — upbeat music and cynical lyrics: Born down in a dead man's town / The first kick I took was when I hit the ground You end up like a dog that's been beat too much / 'Til you spend half your life just covering up, now And, I think this is the fundamental misunderstanding of this record, the arrangements and instrumentation are intended to produce radio hits (and they certainly did!) but the sentiments behind the lyrics are local, labor, tired and a bit jaded.
Today’s album is certainly considered a classic by many, with its immediately recognisable album cover jumping straight out at any viewers with no apologies. I’ve always considered The Boss to be somewhat overrated, and this will be the second album of his that I listen to in full. Let’s see if I can be swayed yet! Songs I already knew: Born In The USA, I’m On Fire, Glory Days, Dancing In The Dark Favourites: I’m On Fire, Bobby Jean I found this to be fine overall, with a few catchy songs here and there. I’m not sure why but this music just doesn’t wow me as much as it does for a lot of other people. His voice is distinct, as is the music itself - they often sound like Springsteen songs even before the vocals come in. I’d say this is worth a listen, but I doubt I’ll be returning to listen again.
The big hits that everyone knows off this album kick ass, but I didn’t really get anything more out of the rest of the album. It’s good but not as great as I was expecting from its reputation
Decent Americana but I don't love Springsteen's voice on a lot of these songs.
decent album to start the week cos it's generally quite uplifting, even if a USA-fest. Some of his bigger hits on this one, i can see why it's on the list although musically it's not a masterclass
Some middling songs on here, but the album as a whole means something to me, as a musical marker for a certain time in my life
only 3 because i wasn't born in the usa
It's a good album with some great songs... but this "classic" Bruce isn't the Bruce I really like. I prefer the Nebraska/Ghost of Tom Joad Bruce. The synthesizers and saxophones of the E Street Band don't really do it for me. But, overall, it was a good listen.
Can't make my mind up about Springsteen, some of his songs are iconic, sound huge and I can convince myself that hes brilliant. Other songs on this make him sound like a dodgy cover band and I don't get it at all. I think it's to do with if his voice is appropriate for a particular song, I think the longer the note he sings the better. It's decent, I do get why he's a megastar but he's not a personal favourite.
I don't have any prior love for Springsteen but I enjoyed the hit singles here. However, the rest of the album was pretty forgettable. Feels like the album is targeting a specific type of person and I am not in that camp. Highlights: Born In The U.S.A. Cover Me Dancing In The Dark
first listen an okay record
Boring, noting special, noting bad either
I have to give it to him; this is definitely the most American album I’ve ever heard. The songwriting, the instrumentation, everything about it oozes patriotism. It’s ok, but nothing about the instrumentation makes me want to come back; it’s textbook acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, vocals, etc. I will say that Bruce Springsteen does this cliche to a perfection, though.
Born in the USA - overplayed dad rock, enjoyable more of a surprise than a chosen song Cover me- very groovy ballad the guitar is sick aswell Darlington county - very decent Working on the highway - quite repetitive Downbound train - very good I’m on fire - knew this song very good No surrender -needs a re listen zoned out Bobby Jean - very samey I’m going down- a bit repetitive Glory days - a good song Dancing in the dark - sick cunt tune My hometown - nice closing songs gives a sense of nostalgia
i liked it, first half was better for me than the second, but again not my favorite genre
Another iconic album by Bruce. Never been much of a fan. I actually think I like the cover art more than the album itself as it conjures the free lifestyle of the 80s. Bless them simple times.
Pure Bruce. I'm not sold on him but he goes down like a cheap wine.
This is by far the best of the Springsteen albums. Anguish tarnished with hope, mixed in with a bit of destructive hedonism from time to time. I can't claim to like Springsteen - I have no common frame of reference. "Cover me" had me giggling the peurile giggle of a teenage boy. The rest of it was, well, OK.
This was never my favorite Springsteen album, and in fact, was the album that made me stop buying his records. I don't hate it, it just doesn't excite me in the same way "Born To Run" and "Darkness" does. I saw Springsteen live on this tour, amidst all the massive hype of how amazing he was as a live performer, and he was better than that. It was one of the best shows I had ever seen, still is. He was great, and at his prime. This album... the opener is fantastic, though the keyboard sound suffers from being thin and generally lousy, and that is the case throughout this album. Even the better songs, like "Cover Me," are hampered by the lousy keyboard sound and a reliance on a repetitive, uninspiring keyboard pad. When it comes to it, I don't love these songs. Apart from the title track, the hits ("Dancing in the Dark," "Glory Days") are at the bottom of the pack in my estimation of Springsteen's greatest hits, and the tedious ones ("I'm Going Down") are just not fun to listen to, so it spells my being unmoved by this set of songs and the production of the album.
Not a fan, but at the same time, damn. Dude had so many hits on this thing, you gotta hand it to him.
Listening with my 1984 ears this was an amazing anthem album. Not as much of a fan as I was then. Saw the Boss so many times and I don't feel the need to ever see him again.
Obviously a classic, but I just don't think I'll ever be a Springsteen fan
It's a good album, but I wouldn't call it one of the greatest of all time. Most of it feels very samey. The only standouts are the title track, Dancing In The Dark and My Hometown. The rest is either take or leave. You could probably even cut a few tracks from the album and no-one would bat an eyelid. I'm On Fire certainly wouldn't be missed. I'm also not a huge fan of the mixing. Outside of the drums, saxophone, and occasionally guitar (for example in Darlington County), it's difficult to make out any of the instruments. Bizarrely, the bass is panned hard to the left and is difficult to make out unless you're listening for it. Overall, it's a good album but I certainly wouldn't call it one of the greatest of all time. Nor would I call it a must-listen. Favourite song: Dancing In The Dark Least favourite: I'm On Fire
Oh good, gated drums. I just can’t become a Boss super fan (sorry Thomas)
2.5
3.5
A giant when it came out, and still a great album. In retrospective I do find it a bit too mainstream, and would consider a few other Springsteen albums, both earlier and later, to be better
I was never a big Bruce Springsteen fan and could never see what all the fuss was about. That said, this album contains the classic Springsteen tracks "Born in the U.S.A.", "I'm on Fire", and "Dancing in the Dark".
Born in the USA So much snare drum. Used to not like it but I think the drum sound and feel are kinda growing on me. Dancing in the Dark is my favorite tune.
Really leaning into the cheesy 80’s production with the sax and drums. Dancing in the dark is cool.
Heard it before?: Yes Enjoy it?: Yeah, it sounds odd but this would be the perfect album for a bbq. Most tracks just sound like summer anthems Favourite song: Track 7 - No Surrender
Dancing in the dark will always be a banger
Hmm. Många som påminner mycket om Born in the USA asså på melodin eller så är de bara nått jag inbillar mig. Men sure hade kunnat lyssna på igen.
Bättre ån många tvåor och sämre än treor… men det lutar nog åt det bättre men man tröttnade lite.
I heard this often as a child, as my parents had the cassette. Probably from the Columbia House record club. It's hard for me to comment on it solely as an album, as it is too wrapped up in nostalgia. I haven't heard some of these deep cuts for 30 years, but I still know every note.
An OK album, obviously born to run was amazing and the standout song on the album. Backstreets and thunder road were also good. No bad song on the album but the rest were not particularly remeberable.
I have never understood the love for Bruce Springsteen's music, but I had never listened to full album before. And now, I still don't get it. Downbound Train and I'm on Fire were good.
Some classics! But the hits outshine the rest of the album
It has some classics definitely, but not an amazing album all the way through.
It's Bruce. You know you're getting the peanut butter on the roof of your mouth vocals and similar sounding instrumentals.
I remember listening to this as a kid a lot and liked it a lot more than I do now. I still enjoy it as a whole, but the non-hits are not that great.
Born in the U.S.A., Cover Me, Darlington County, No Surrender, Glory Days and Dancing in the Dark. Liked it more than I thought. Not his best and not his worst. This is his least boring album so far. I’m on Fire is a dog shit song.
I imagined Carlton doing his little dance to most of these songs. downbound train, my hometown, I'm on fire is the best song on the album
All songs very similar, to the extent it felt like a long listen. Great at its heights, but not overly moved by it.
This feels like something my uncle would put on after asking if I wanna hear some real music. Then I would watch the family turn up while drinking their bud light
I've never been a huge fan of Springsteen's style, but his songs undeniably have a ton of heart and he's a great song writer and band leader. I've listened to Born In The USA off and on since I was a kid, and it always kind of hits the same: I really like listening to it but I will rarely ever choose to listen to it.
Har försökt och försökt men lyckas inte stå ut med prod och arr. Några ok låtar, dock.
Top 3: I’m Goin Down Glory Days Dancing in the Dark
Holy cow the snare on every 2 and 4 of this record is so consistent. It's maybe the most defining feature of this record. As for the review, it's alright. I am not a fan of this kind of rock. This is well put togeather and I have always liked Springsteen's message. Then the record just sort of ends...
Just sounds washed out
7/10 me gusta pero la guea esta tan quemada q suena cmo background music al final y no me deja meterme bien en la guea. igual aunq le estoy tirando un 7 lw esta overrated
A pretty good generic rocker. I've never understood the hype attached to the Boss. He's good enough but there were lots of better acts out there during his ascendancy.
What I really like about this challenge is that a few times I get an album that I’m sold on and I don’t enjoy listening much. This is one of those. I’m like ‘yeah, course, born in the USA.’ And the listen through feels so underwhelming. Without the context and the appreciation of the entire catalogue, and album like this one doesn’t land the same. Grateful to The Boss for many things and some tracks on this album are incredibly important to me but it’s not one I’ll listen to over and again.
I know this is Springsteen's classic album but for some reason it doesn't really touch me.
This record is not exactly my 'jam' but it's obviously great. I think I kind of hated the title track when I was younger but wow is it growing on me as I get older (and inspect the lyrics more deeply). I'm On Fire is a tremendous track and would be a hit if it were released today. Overall a great listen. The synths are a bit forward in the mix and the "80's" drum sound is grating, but otherwise a pretty great record.
There is no doubt that he is a skilled musician and knows to create songs that will get people out on the Big Joe's Tavern dance floor. However, I would not be one of those people on the dance floor.
Classic Springsteen. Easy listening, just wish anyone on the right listened to the lyrics of born in the USA
Er ekki að fíla þetta níundatugar hljómborðssound, og fíla ekki alltaf sönginn, svo sem í titilaginu. Þessi plata virkar líka svolítið langdregnari en Born to run. En að því sögðu þá eru þarna lög sem ég kann að meta, svo sem Dancing in the Dark, Glory days og My hometown.
About a 7/10, a lot of the middle of the album melded into one but was still enjoyable
Not my favorite Springsteen album. It's a bit all-over-the-place, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. There are some solid tracks ("I'm on Fire" perhaps my favorite), but there's something about it that doesn't hold my attention as tightly as Born to Run, Nebraska, or even Tunnel of Love (which I consider one of his best and far superior to BITUSA).
Goede teksten, middle of the road rock.
Big fan of Bruce, but I think this is one of my least fave of his "major" albums. The audio mix (esp on Born in the USA) is not great. The radio singles aren't exactly in my top either. All that said, it's still Bruce. So you have to give credit where it's due to an American songwriting icon.
Not my favorite Springsteen. Doesn’t seem to have the same bite and passion as some of his older stuff.
Las canciones bien rockeras como Cover Me me gustan bastante. Después rebalsa lo yanqui q es con canciones tipo Darlington County o Downbound Train, y ya no me agrada tanto. Working on the Highway y No Surrender tienen cosas de los Dire Straits que me parecieron muy copadas, desde el estribillo, las guitarras y como canta el chabon, es muy Industrial Disease. Superó mis expectativas. 6/10
Rounding up my 2.5 on this one.
It's decent, but not as good as some of his other work.
Dancing in the Dark is definitely the low point of Bruce's career. I remember my shock and disappointment the first time I heard it. Plus, it got played in the discos and it was awful to dance to, with it's super slow beat. Then of course, there's Born in the USA which most of the flag-wavers, including Ronald Reagan, didn't realize was an anti-war song. Once you get past those, there are a handful of good songs, if you can bear the 80s radio-friendly production. I'm tempted to give this a lower mark by comparing it to Springsteen's earlier efforts, but in comparison to mid 80s releases by other mega-bands, like U2 or Dire Straits, this holds up pretty well.
Pretty decent.
3/5 I was more impressed than I thought I would be, but still not a huge fan overall. I listened to it twice a s still can't remember it...
3-4. Einige gute Songs, aber insgesamt eher mittelmäßig.
Pretty country-sounding songs, which I am not too big on. Does have the classic songs Dancing in the Dark and Born in the USA. Cover Me was a nice surprise from the album, but otherwise the other songs were okay with nothing else really standing out to me.
The first track always sounds corny to me, but I understand its anti-patriotism. So I guess it might intentionally sound like this. Listening to the lyrics I do enjoy the song more. Track #2 cover me sounds better than track #1 to me, though a bit repetitive. That drum beat is frustrating, its very apparent in track #3. I find track #3 a bit obnoxious in general. Do not enjoy the shalalala which occur followed by sax. Downtown train is a nice change up in the tracklist, a bit more relaxed and beautiful. Track #6 starts out in a similar tone to track #5 good track. Track #7 doesn't seem that interesting on face value. Bobby Jean (#8) is a really good track. I'm going down was a powerful tune. Glory days is back to a bit too corny for my liking. Dancing in the dark is a punishing track, very 80s. My hometown is a solid finish. Its like a 3.4 for me.
Some great standout tunes but a lot of samey filler songs that don't really go anywhere
Undoubtedly a great songwriter, but Bruce leaves me cold
So American it hurts
Loved it
Springsteen is stille going strong
This is my second Bruce Springsteen album. Containing one of his most known songs that is highly misinterpreted and one of the unironically misused songs of all time. His music is alright, this album contains some of his biggest hits. I think he's a bit overrated as a musician. Not terrible but not something I would enjoy listening to often.
Some old classic Springsteen on here. Not my favourite cup of tea but it works. Working class multi millionaire sings about how down to Earth he is. It’s just fine. Much nicer listen for the casual ear than Nebraska.
can't seem to get into springsteen - 3 stars
It's good. I'm not a huge Springsteen fan and It's not one I'd listen to very often
3 stars
There were many turns Springsteen could have taken after the blockbuster variety show that was The River, which in retrospect puts a cap on 70s Bruce. He took the pop and bar band vibes of Hungry Heart and made a whole album following up on that. This is a Big Album, like they made in the eighties and just don't do anymore. Seven singles in the States (I think 5 in the UK) and endless rotation on MTV. Has it aged well? Not really. The title track is rendered virtually unlistenable to by virtue of the production, the Monster Hit is rendered virtually unlistenable to by virtue of being Dancing In The Dark. There's some good stuff here - Downtown Train and My Hometown in particular - but there are no tracks that would make it onto my Desert Island Bruce Disks. It can only be three stars, so that there's proper room for Tunnel of Love or Nebraska on 4, and Darkness.. on 5.
Acabei escutando na sequência de outro álbum dele, assim foi demais pra mim de rock americano clássico. E reconheci hits dos anos 80.
It's got some great all-American songs, but some real weak points, like Darlington County and Workin' on the Highway.
I don't think I'll like Springsteen's other albums very much if this is his most accessible one. I didn't think anything of more than half the songs on this album. His voice can be a little grating, especially in Born in the U.S.A. I didn't expect to like this album much, but there were actually a few songs on here that I liked. My favourite song was Cover Me.
Another artist I know by reputation and basically just 1 song, the one that gives the title to today’s album. I’m not American and wasn’t expecting to connect or be interested in patriotic rock, but Born in the USA is not that at all!!! Instead, Springsteen sings about disillusion, the lie of the American Dream, and what it feels like to grow up knowing there’s no future, no way out. The music’s made to fill stadiums; no wonder so many ppl ignored the more critical parts and focused on the catchy lines. Personally it’s not the type of rock I’m drawn to (not enough variation, sounds to… clean?) but I definitely see why it deserves a place on the list, and I leave with a big dose of respect for The Boss.
Great piece of Americana. Apart from the 5 or so "hits", I was taken by the bluesy nature of the album.
Bruce Springsteen has a couple of actually fantastic hits. Most of his output, however, is just chaff. The songs are cheesy, melodramatic and completely worn-out before they're halfway through. This album has one fantastic standout hit in the form of Dancing In The Dark and pretty much all of the rest is chaff. Possibly, rounding this up from 2.5 stars might be too generous. But the album is at least reasonable as background music.
-Favourite song "Cover me" -Did not like that none of the songs flowed together nicely. -Songs were very catchy and poppy. Overall, not as bad as I thought it would be. It is not my kind of music but I understand why some people would like it.
born in the usa : 5/10 cover me : 8/10 darlington county : 4/10 working on the highway : 5/10 downbound train : 3/10 i’m on fire : 4/10 no surrender : 7/10 bobby jean : 5/10 i’m goin down : 3/10 glory days : 6/10 dancing in the dark : 7/10 my hometown : 3/10
It's Springsteen. It's bombastic. It suits a calling but isn't as strong as his earlier work.
There are quite a few tracks on this album that I think that I would be a big fan of, if not for the Bruce vocals. They just really turn me off.
After listening to Born to Run and The Rising, I thought I'd be ready to like this and went in pretty optimistic. But I'm afraid this did not go well for me and my ear holes. The songs that were familiar had worn out their welcome long ago and the songs I didn't know didn't really speak to me today. I'm a little jealous of Springsteen fans because their feelings for him seem to run so deep. (I'm sure I feel like that about somebody else. Lots of somebodies else. But, you know, no such thing as too much love, right?) I'm pretty sure there's a Springsteen album that I could love. I will keep looking. p.s. Anyone else find the line "Hey, little girl, is your daddy home?" monumentally creepy?
First time listening to the full album made by Bruce Springsteen - somehow I expected a record full of hits and entertaining music like the titular "Born in the U.S.A.". Instead, I was greeted by one of the most famous songs ever and eleven others, completely anonymous tracks. The rest of the album was surprisingly average, which was even more noticeable in contrast to the great opener. One exception might be another single - "Dancing in the Dark", which has a little bit more recognisable riff and chorus, but somehow this song just disappears in the sea of mediocrity. Perhaps I am too harsh in my evaluation of the album, which has seen so much success over the years, but strong lyrics and one "anthem" for a generation of americans in 80s is not enough for me to declare it a masterpiece. Essentially, it is not my style and I am a little disappointed in the quality of this album.
One of the most overrated albums of all time. Some of the songs are decent, sometimes even *more* than that (example: "I'm On Fire" )... But boy oh boy, how *poorly* the cheesy instrumentation and hackneyed arrangements on this one have aged. It's everything you could hate the eighties for, at least if you have even a little bit of taste left on your tongue. One day, *maybe* I will buy a secondhand copy of this one to complete my Springsteen collection, currently stopping at *Nebraska*. But it will probably be nothing but a completist consumer's compulsion, nothing more... Number of albums left to review or just listen to: less than 800, I've temporarily lost count here Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: approximately a half so far Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter (including this one, only for "historical" reasons and its popular appeal at the time) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter
I heard this so many times in the late 1980’s that I pretty much quit listening to Springsteen completely (except for “Rosalina” - that song rocks!). Can’t bring myself to queue this up, so I’m basing my rating on 35 year old memories. Probably deserves better…
Born in the U.S.A. (the song) is overrated. Bruce, in general, is overrated. Now that that's out of the way, I'm pleasantly surprised with this album. It's better than I previously remembered, and while it certainly isn't groundbreaking or original, it's easy to listen to. The deep cuts are better than the hits
decent, a bit samey in latter half of album. fav song: Cover me Least fav song: I'm on fire
3.5/5. It has its moments
Not bad dar nu chiar stilul meu. Gets you moving tho Hopa nu mă așteptam să aud ceva cunoscut - interesantă varianta asta originală de la I'm On Fire All in all n-aș zice nu unei alte reascultări 3.5/5
Nice jam.
good album! easy listening, and classic songs!
bah non .
Brill album, personally prefer Springsteen's 'Live from Dublin' and would recommend this to anyone who underestimates the man. I grew up loving this album, and still love it to this day.
Mye jobb og jernbane. Men sjefen er sjefen
Literally put me to sleep
album mostly overrated
Much preferred the second half of the album, more impactful lyrics and more enjoyable melodies and hooks for my taste. Overall this isn't my kind of music, and many of the songs seem very similar.
Not my cup of tea, but it definitely has exposed me to the American spirit. I don't regret listening to it, but I probably wouldn't listen to it again, at least in its entirety. The highlights for me were: Cover, Glory days
Just fine
Many hits and much deeper lyrics than I thought, but ultimately not my thing
some cracking tunes on there but not enough to keep me coming back for more
Standard Bruce stuff. The odd good singalong track, the odd cringey track, the rest standard Dadrock.
Very America, maybe a bit too much
Not really a fan of Springsteen and feel like he's a bit overrated but this album definitely has some tunes - I probably won't revisit except for a couple of tracks though
I thought I'd hate it, but it was OK.
I don't get Bruce Springsteen personally. I know millions of people do so I suppose it's just me. Hits aside I enjoyed I'm Goin' Down. Overall I'll say its fun album, something you can dance to when no one is watching. A best album of all time? I don't know but it does scream homeboy Americana till the cows come home.
I can see why this album is important, I just don't personally *love* it, you know? Not my favorite from Brucey.
🤮 3? catchy but terrible
The Boss’s Born in the USA was ok 3/5. The boss has a very grunge voice. That being said his voice has a bravado that you kind of just have to imitate. You can’t karaoke any song with out closing your eyes, sweating profusely and straining your voice. Standouts Born in the usa I’m on fire Dancing in the dark My hometown
his music is good and fun album but there isn’t much else to say? it’s just very bland and yes. i know it was a huge album and i can see why, it’s fun and easy to follow.
not as spectacular as some of his other work 3.5
Never really heard why Bruce got so much adulation, but everyone to his own. His heart is in the right place though
Cet album est d'une certaine façon le chef-d'œuvre de Springsteen. Pour le remettre dans son contexte, Bruce sort d'une longue période de dépression au cours de laquelle il confie souvent à ses amis voir « la queue à moitié molle » selon ses propres mots. La cause de ce passage à vide est intimement liée à son album précédent : Darkness on the Edge of Town. Pour celui-ci, le chanteur avait insisté pour que la pochette montre bien son sexe et ses testicules. Le photographe ainsi que ses producteurs se sont opposés à cette idée, et seul le haut du corps de l'artiste apparaîtra finalement. Pour le chanteur, c'est un drame. Les textes de son CD sont selon lui impossible à comprendre sans avoir vu ses « énormes couillasses ». Six ans plus tard, ses proches et ses collaborateurs toquent à sa porte. Toute personne qui côtoie Springsteen sait qu'il faut toquer au moins cinq fois par précaution puisque l'intéressé a pour habitude de se promener les fesses à l'air dans son salon. En ouvrant la porte, Springsteen leur fait sa farce préférée qu'il nomme la « couillasse surprise ». Il s'agit d'une astuce qu'il a lui même élaborée ; au dessus de son caleçon, il fait dépasser une roubignole et attend que les invités la remarquent. Ses proches et producteurs lui expliquent alors le projet : on ne peut pas faire figurer de pénis sur la pochette d'un album. Cependant, faire apparaître un cul est parfaitement autorisé par la loi. À ce moment précis, Springsteen est aux anges. Il va pouvoir montrer son cul à l'Amérique. Quelques pets gras plus tard, l'album est dans la boîte et se vendra à plus de cent trente millions d'exemplaires.
There's a couple of obvious big ones which saves it from my initial 2 star rating, but on the whole the boss continues to disappoint me.
Nowhere near as good as Steve Bruce. I guess not being born in the USA has been really detrimental to the listening experience. I have seen him live though...for one song. I was watching the Gaslight Anthem (remember them?) and Brucey joined them for a song for some reason. It was fairly unremarkable.
Boss. I like earnest, blue collar rock n' roll Bruce but I could do without the more new wave-y stuff on here.
Few good songs. Production style has really aged itself.
This would be a great album if it wasn't marred by cheesy 80s production. I've heard the demo of Born in the USA from the Nebraska Sessions -- imagine if he recorded this album in the 70s
Tom petty > Springsteen > any hair metal 3
I'm on Fire. Skip everything else.
Ich hab gestern echt mal reingehört. Das ist kitschige aber durchaus gute Pop Musik. Es ist bisschen schwer den Bias zu überwinden weil die Produktion echt maximal Pop ist, aber fand es auf jeden Fall nicht schlecht.
Vind Bruce best tof, maar dit album vond ik niet op alle fronten heel sterk. Maar toch een ruime voldoende.
Dit is echt vroege-jeugdsentiment! Goeie plaat hoor! Heel vaak gehoord vanaf de achterbank bij mijn ouders in de auto. Meeste tracks hebben een erg prettige drive en energie. Tof om weer een keer integraal te horen.
Born in the USA vind ik een ronduit vervelend nummer. De rest leuk voor een keer. Voor het foute 'I'm on fire' heb ik een zwak.
Better than I was expecting
Born In The U.S.A.
Good
Love Springsteen,this album is ok some good songs .I don’t think it’s his best work though
America...fuck yeah. This was good tbf, really enjoyed dancing in the dark
3 só por causa dancing in the dark.
Bit of the boss. Actually a lot better listened to as a whole than just the singles. Better than expected but still a bit too heartland rock to be something I really think I’ll dig back into again.
Iskreno, ne vidim taj hype oko njega općenito. I understand tho. Vidi se zašto je album toliko voljen, hvaljen, catchy je, plesljiv, pozitivnog tona.
That gated snare in Born in the U.S.A. helped to stand up the Reagan regime. One of the most misunderstood songs in American history.
In terms of rhythm, a lit bit too American for me, but I like it!
Like the sound of the music, not a huge fan of his voice but catchy
Maybe I just had low expectations for this album but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, the first several songs were pretty decent. Bruce "King Mumbles" Springsteen actually belted out the lyrics full-voice and fully enunciated! Miracles do happen! But then we hit "Downtown Train" and I couldn't understand a dang word. Why, when you CAN sing, would you choose to sound like you just got out of oral surgery? King Mumbles strikes again. And can we also talk about the themes here? Pining for the "glory days" of your youth is such a pathetic, boomer thing. And yet, here it is, raised up on a pedestal for all to worship as some sort of American ideal. It's gross and lost the album another star.
it's above average but doesn't move me much.
Well, hit after hit after hit. Strong dad-rock vibe!
Hits are hits, filler is bleh
Great hits but it just isn’t my style.
Bruce Springsteen's seventh studio album released in 1984. It has been cited by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time. Nice atmosphere of 80s, nice music, nice vocals, but... Actually overall it's boring... Maybe because of trying to get radio-friendly sound. But it's good music for driving tho. "Dancing in the dark" is the best one for me. "My Hometown" also nice.
Always feels a bit like listening to random country music. It's not too bad but doesn't catch me.
I know it’s a classic, but just doesn’t have that catchy hook or soul that gets me going.
It’s hard to ignore what an iconic monolith of the 80s this is. Bruce captures the experience, plight, and hope in spite of it all of the working class American in ways nobody else could and he deserves all the credit in the world for that. That being said, it really doesn’t pique my interest that much. Musically it’s pretty much as dull as pop gets, maybe a few notches above completely dull. I personally find it very uninspiring and even complacent, despite all the sadness woven through his lyrics, there seems to be an acceptance that the working class life is the one he and his folk are destined to live forever and they better learn to like whatever aspects of it they can. I get the sentiment and I don’t doubt it spoke to many many Americans in its time. But in 2021, it exists in my mind as a relic of the 80s rather than something timeless. Usually when I hear this album or the title track being used in modern society it’s done in a fashion utterly unaware of the sentiment and purpose behind it, for example blasting the song at Trump or Ted Cruz rallies unironically. My opinion of this is, if you’re gonna do simple basic pop music, don’t expect the general population to pick up the nuance. More power to those who have been comforted, inspired, or serenaded by Bruce’s unending accounts of Tommy riding in the car past the cops til it broke down and he took a piss on the side of the highway while trying to fix the muffler as Suzy got out and asked when she could go home to her Daddy, etc etc etc….but that gets stale for me after about 2 minutes. 3 stars to balance my biased boredom with others justifiable love of this album and it’s objective legacy as an icon of the 80s
not my kind of thing
Very chill and surprisingly sweet. Could be a little more funky. 3/5
So this is an indictment of American imperialism, but I've had too much Springsteen in too short a span of time. Good album, but not a great one for me
Wow this dude loves construction work, baseball, and tight pants! Pretty much the epitome of America in the 80s. Lots of classic rock radio jams and some pretty decent deep cuts. What can you say?
First time listening to this album completely or really any full album by the Boss. I knew some of the songs and some were good. The rest were kind of meh.
They’re some tight buns. Antihero of the proud yanks, I like Dancing in the Dark but feel the album is a bit overrated
and "Dancing in the Dark", the last to be recorded, on February 14, 1984. The latter was written overnight, after co-producer Jon Landau convinced Springsteen that the album needed a single. According to Dave Marsh in Glory Days, Springsteen was not impressed with Landau's approach. "Look," he snarled, "I've written 70 songs. You want another one, you write it." After blowing off some steam, Springsteen came in the next day with the entire song written. Marsh, Dave. Glory Days. Pantheon. Born in the U.S.A. became the first compact disc manufactured in the United States for commercial release when CBS and Sony opened its CD manufacturing plant in Terre Haute, Indiana in September 1984. Wikipedia
Just a lot of shouting. Not my tempo.
Some nice songs, not completely my style. But to make a protest song that everyone can sing (un-ironically) along too is special.
I only have one ‘the boss’ and it’s MY WIFE!!! Am I right, fellas?? Never really been a Bruce guy. Sorry
According to political writer Peter Dreier, the music's "pop-oriented" sound and the marketing of Springsteen as "a heavily muscled rocker with an album cover featuring a giant US flag, may have overshadowed the album's radical politics."
Well, he played it safe. Nothing extraordinary.
My first Springsteen album was not a fun listen, so I braced myself for this, and it wasn't bad, although the second half tested my patience. "I'm Goin' Down" may be about sexual frustration, but it works better as an ode to oral sex, imo. Best track: No Surrender
It's fine. All the songs sound like oldies pop, but I think where the "magic" lies within this album is the lyrics. Although I don't personally resonate with them, I can see why this would be on the list. Favorite track: No Surrender
Never really listened to Springsteen until I saw the film "Blinded by the Light", which made me want to give him a try. I found "Darkness on the Edge of Town" was a pretty cool album. This one is more anthemic, and I'm suspicious of anthems. Pretty good songwriting/storytelling. 3.5*
Leaves a bit cold … 😬 Sax is great though
This album has not aged well. It made me cringe in a couple of places while listening with my 12 year old son. Has a couple of great songs.
Cool album. Most songs are not surprising, but very consistent.
Decent, perhaps a tiny bit overrated. Dated sounding, but some good songs. Springsteen isn't the best singer.
One of the all time classic albums, even though I would not actively go out and listen to it, but can appreciate the significance it's had on the music landscape. Best: Born in the USA, Dancing in the Dark Worst: Bobby Jean
-title track instantly teleports me to my dad’s garage -cover me is very good! didn’t expect to be a fan of what’s going on so far
I like. Men er ikke lige i mood for det
its a classic for american discography, generally i like bruce springsteen but this album isnt it
Some good tunes, a little monotonous rhythmically, but great lyrics about very relatable stuff.
Some good tunes. Dancing In The Dark and Glory Days. Not one to run to!
not as bad as i thought it would be
3/5 too romantic for my taste
Een paar goede nummers, maar ook een paar nummers die te repetitief zijn als rocknummer
Really gotta be in the right mood for it. I remember one golden afternoon in our canoes on Ross Lake when I was vibing on mushrooms and fishing and Ashton blasted some sax-heavy Springsteen track and it really jetted me away to the astral plane. I've got a soft spot for music that works best for me in only very specific contexts. Sadly my small office isn't quite the right context for this album, but I still enjoyed it for the most part.
His lyrics are good, but the music just has never been there and isn’t there now. Perhaps he was cursed and born one generation too late. Maybe it would be better as a spoken word album. Max Weinberg is a perfectly mechanical robotic drummer. Bobby Jean almost got me there, almost. Really backloaded the hits in the end of the album, but it wasn’t enough to win me over. 3 for me.
The title track and Glory Days are clearly killer. Otherwise, nice storytelling and pretty basic 80's stuff going on.
It was fine. It evoked a very specific feeling.
Muy suyo. Puro rock suave con mayúsculas
Bruce solid as always
Never been a big fan but in giving it another shot I liked some of the songs that weren't his more popular ones. This album may have been peak Springsteen but it's not his best work IMO. His more recent stuff (last two albums) are actually quite good.
I know this is an iconic album and all, but I just can't get into Springsteen. There were some good songs, but overall this was just okay.
Meh
Country music disguised as pop
Dancing in the Dark brings this up to a 3. Otherwise its just not really my cuppa tea
3
Never my favorite, but not bad
NOPE