Born In The U.S.A.

Feels like some old man stadium rock. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, no not at all, just not for me

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

Koffor har eg hørt nesten alle sangane fra før

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".

Like a rust belt party. 2.4

I never understood the hype on Springsteen. I was hoping I’d get it after listening to a full album, but nope. Still not a fan. Listen again: probably not Purchase for my collection: I own it (inherited lol) Favourite Song: cover me

A great rollocking listen still, after nearly *checks notes* 40 years

I bought this in the 80's and listened to it many times as a teenager.

wear polo and listen to boss

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.

The thing that pisses me off the most is Glory Days. I hate it so much so I can’t believe it is one of the hits off of this album. I’m on fire is so creepy.

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

I listened to the album, but I can really remember anything about it >.< Probably means its unmemorable

Classic/10

At first I was greatly upset by this album—the first few tracks were so stadium anthem-y, which is a great departure from the tracks on previous Springsteen albums that I’ve adored. But, as I got accustomed to the new sound, and came to realize the lyrical quality was just as consistent, I started warming up to it fast. I’m on Fire is a beautiful song that first tipped me off to this album’s quality, and the run of tracks from Glory Days onwards is absolutely classic stuff. Doesn’t reach the highs of some of his earlier, darker work, but still an excellent outing and an extension of an incredible streak of albums Springsteen was on from his debut onwards.

I really enjoyed listening to this album. Even though I'm not a big fan of Springsteen, his music is very much culturally relevant since I'm from New Jersey. I mean, he essentially put Asbury Park on the map and had it make a lot more money after he got popular. And it is always nice listening to an artist that still has a huge hold on state culture like that. I feel a little differently about Sinatra since he feels further removed than Bon Jovi or Springsteen when it comes to naming famous artists from the state.

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.

One of the best rock albums, period. Its absolutly stunning. The boss, its pure brucy bliss. Other Bruce albums may have songs I prefer but there is not one on this that I dont like. 10/10 “You’ve just seen the heart-stopping, pants-dropping, house-rocking, earth-quaking, booty-shaking, Viagra-taking, love-making, legendary E STREET BAND!”

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.

The Motherload

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.

Such an iconic album.

fav tracks: cover me, i'm on fire, dancing in the dark, no surrender, i'm going down, working on the highway least fav: none

Some classics! But the hits outshine the rest of the album

Lots of notable songs here, a few curve balls that are a bit jarring and brings the score down a touch but some of my all time favourite Beatles songs on this album but as a whole not one of my favourite Beatles albums.

just a nice ride down a sunny road with bruce

Generally thought of myself as "not a Springsteen fan" but this album is super solid. Bop after bop, well done, I'm a convert.

It has some classics definitely, but not an amazing album all the way through.

It's not really for me. Songs get bland and repetitive quickly

I know I've listened to Born In the U.S.A. at least once before, because this album carries cultural weight. I am very familiar with at least half of the twelve tracks. It's been a long time since I last listened, and I had forgotten that some of the tracks were on this album. I like most of the tracks at least a little, and some of the tracks bring back some nostalgia for when they were on the radio. I wish I liked Bruce Springsteen as much as others do. I don't get swept into the music as much as some of Springsteen's super fans. There are tracks on this album that I would seek out ("I'm on Fire", "My Hometown"), probably for their melancholoy. I probably like Nebraska more than this, but Born In The U.S.A. is worthwhile.

You just have to be American to enjoy Bruce Springsteen, I guess. Regular dad rock - nothing bad, nothing offensive, but nothing that would stick in my mind either.

The archetype of a great artist putting out a solid rock 'n roll album.

I just don't enjoy Springsteen's vocal tone and how every line ends in mush mouth. The whole 80s country rock thing just isn't for me and any song that uses the phrase "little girl" while talking about being "on fire" for her gives me the MAJOR ick. Dancing in the Dark is a good song though

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

Good rollicking rock n roll - hardly slows. Surprisingly not as many hooks and catchy choruses as would be expected from such a top selling album. Classic Springsteen storytelling. Terrifically misunderstood title song!

All songs very similar, to the extent it felt like a long listen. Great at its heights, but not overly moved by it.

I've listened to this album probably a hundred times. I love each song.

A classic that I've never listened to since I haven't really been able to get into the Boss. Still not my favorite, but worth listening to. A weak 4 for me

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.

Nah. Dancing in the Dark is fun though. 1.5/5

Used to hate the Boss, now I kind of appreciate him, although Tom Petty will always be my guy. And while I much prefer Nebraska, which he did before this, I can’t deny how many of these songs are bangers, especially “Cover Me” and “My Hometown”. I do prefer the more rocking Bruce vs the poppy, synth-happy tracks that the biggest hits are, but I can concede that it’s good that he’s clearly having some fun here. Gonna go with B-, which is at least a full letter grade higher than I’d give it in the past.

Look bruce isn’t really one of my top artists or anything (I’ve even gave one of his albums a 2) but this is just great there’s not a bad song 5/5.

Har försökt och försökt men lyckas inte stå ut med prod och arr. Några ok låtar, dock.

Unpopular opinion but I’m Going Down is my favourite Springsteen song.

4/5

Top 3: I’m Goin Down Glory Days Dancing in the Dark

Very good stuff. Lots of big hits and lesser known hits, but this really packs a punch. This type of songwriting with a message is pretty hard to do well but he nails it. Also gets some points for nostalgia for sure, but I think I'm mostly being objective here.

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...

dancing in the dark is the manifesto of my spirit - although too often i forget it (no surrender too) this is a good record folks, what do you want from me? lacking in insightful reviewing abilities i consulted my ma who is known to be a fan of this record, and she said: "just brucey baby" the question is, why didnt i think of this myself?

BOM

This does nothing for me, although I can see / hear why people like Bruce and identify with the lyrics. I do feel like he is shouting at me most of time though. Enjoyed Dancing In The Dark more than expected. Maybe partly due to familiarity but it does stand out as a great tune and lyrics next to the others here.

It's very difficult to listen to this album in 2023. It made perfect sense in 1985. Even five years later and the world had changed. It's best approached as a document of the times. Skip the album title opener. It's a powerful song, but so deeply misunderstood. I love the idea the millionaire rock star living the blue collar dream. But Bruce somehow gets away with it. There's some great fun to be had here: Darlington County, Working on the Highway and Glory Days - a song that I relate to more with each passing year. I'm on Fire was a very odd choice for a single. It's very haunting. Dancing in the Dark is great for Dad Dancing. My Hometown is a wonderful album closer, and a hint as to what was to come.

BRO WHAT ABSOLUTE 7 STAR HOLY SHIT THIS IS SO AMERICAN FIRST KANYE THEN FUCKING COMMON???? AND THEN SPRING STEAM????? THIS GENERATOR IS A W ON GOD HOLY HELL

ESSE DISCO É BOM DE MAIS!!! NUNCA FUI TRISTE!!! 10/10

Just sounds washed out

Classic. A bit overplayed but hard to deny its influence

Dancing in the Dark and I'm on Fire are cool, but the rest is blatant nostalgia porn. Blech.

I enjoyed this more than I wanted to.

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.

absolute classic. dancing in the dark is 100% my favourite

Massive boomer album, loved it

Great rock n roll

STUK beter dan darkness

3/20- Driving to school Perfect encapsulation of Springsteen, every song resonates with me in some way and has a dynamic range of style

I had already heard quite a few tracks on this album but was enjoying myself nonetheless. Bruce Springsteen is the 80s for me (among others of course). New favorites are Cover Me and No Surrender.

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.

As I sat down to listen to this album, I had an uncontrollable urge to shot gun 4 beer, clean my hunting rifle, and tattoo an eagle across my back. ‘Merica, fuck yeah.

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.

A misunderstood classic protest album, I've heard the song Born in the USA so many times I didn't bother re-listening to, but the rest of the tracks are so blood good it wasn't missed, in fact it was a relief.

Classic Springsteen. Easy listening, just wish anyone on the right listened to the lyrics of born in the USA

Born in the USA, I’m on fire, and dancing in the dark at nicely spread throughout, always like the hits to be balanced. One negative, really don’t like the synths on this album. Just has not held up over the years and sounds dated and cheesy

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.

Good stuff

not a fan

Until now the only Springsteen album I was familiar with was "Nebraska", which I thought was stellar, perfect for Springsteen's biting commentary. This album came next in his discography, lauded by fans and critics as one of the greatest albums of all time. It did not live up to the hype. Lots of people describe this album as "Electric Nebraska", since most of the songs on it were recorded during the Nebraska sessions, later re-arranged with the E-Street Band. It's loud, poppy, anthemic, and completely juxtaposed by its lyrics of hardship and injustice. Except it's not. When it comes to Springsteen, taking on such an 80's pop sheen and becoming more overproduced than Atari's "E.T." hurt his style. The title track is great. "Bobby Jean" is a jam. But most other songs don't really hit that mark. And don't even get me started on the cheeseball-fest "Dancing in the Dark", overplayed to high hell on MTV with his other songs. Hell, you can't even dance to it very well (unless you really feel like doing an archaic version of "The Carlton" to the dancefloor's dismay). Overall, if you're a Springsteen fan or just hate Ronald Reagan (guilty as charged, lol), you'll love this album. But it is also very much a product of its time, and sorely in need of a remix that does away with all the bloody synthesizers.

I've written before about how I just don't get the cult surrounding Springsteen when I reviewed Born to Run, which is still true. I also said in my Born to run review that it wasn't because I thought the music was bad but because I just didn't get it. That's second bits is what I have to revise here, because I find almost no value in this album. Its 45 minutes of awful 80's plinky plonky synths, lead guitar lines that are totally devoid of any kind of personality and vocals just sounds like he's phoning it in. The lyrics are at best cliché and at wors downright creepy, I'm on Fire properly gave me the ick. So I don't get the hype and I really disliked the music so unlike Born to Run this falls into 'Dislike' territory

Fantastic album from start to finish, didn't get repetitive as I thought it would. 5*

Thought I’d find it cliche and dad-rocky, but just banger over banger. Closest I’ll get to the levels of freedom our humble neighbours over the pond get

Daleko od najboljeg brucea ali opet...

Well made but not my style at all, it was hard to listen to.

About a 7/10, a lot of the middle of the album melded into one but was still enjoyable

Own on Vinyl

This is such a fun pick-me-up after some serious, challenging albums. I don't think it's Bruce Springsteen's very best album, although it's packed to the gills with major hits, but it's upbeat, rocking, and a joy to listen to. Springsteen has a gift for writing solid rock tunes that are more thoughtful than they seem, and he's a good musician. The production on this one is a bit dated, but it has a feel-good 80s vibe that I enjoy despite myself.

:/ downbound train isn't awful

His best album! Legendary one!

Two Bruce in one week! Artist #114 - an album I've listened to twice before Ah so hard! It's not perfect but it's pretty bloody good!

i really dont know. torn between 3.5 and 4

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.

My least favorite Bruce lp Been a fan since 74, have most of his stuff, but this one I can do without The title track is one of the most misunderstood songs But not his best overall

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.

Solid album from start to finish

Artificially flavored laboratory developed music specially designed to say all the words corny Americans live to hear. It must be good. He said Hometown and USA and work and young girl and by-god he's just like us.

Not my favorite Springsteen. Doesn’t seem to have the same bite and passion as some of his older stuff.

An absolute triumph from the Boss. There has arguably never been a sequence of albums so contrasting in tone and sound as Born in the USA and its predecessor, but I’ve been lucky enough to have them both on this project in the last week and they simply serve to demonstrate just how good Springsteen’s songwriting could be. No question, the title track lends itself to jingoists who completely miss its satirical edge. You can’t blame Springsteen for that. You can argue that off-record, his political posturing could be a bit more coherent. I would say that what bugs me is not so much that he’s too radical. Rather, he isn’t radical enough. Nevertheless, back to this record. The production is pompous and totally extravagant. It’s a calcified relic of 80s excess. But underneath some of the superficial fluff lies the thing which elevates Bruce Springsteen above your average pop star. There’s a heart and sincerity in his work, and an energy from the E-Street band which is totally invigorating. There are anthems, and then there is the title track. One of the greatest tunes ever written in my opinion. Any cartoonish optimism is tempered by a bitter sense of reality in Springsteen’s character work, and it results in an emotional concoction which carries this record effortlessly. I listened to this about 3 or 4 times before reviewing and I must emphasise that I had never heard it all the way through beforehand. “No Surrender” (another track open to misinterpretation , though admittedly only in Glasgow) is a personal highlight for me. But if I haven’t made it obvious enough so far, this album is deservedly in the conversation about all-time greats (warts and all). So that’s two consecutive perfect scores for Mr. Sprinkles. Never thought I would say that.

Uno de los mejores álbumes de rock de los 80, duh.

Melodías tan mecánicas y brillosas; letras tan pueriles; y gritos lo suficientemente estridentes como para hacer de la masa cerebral una sustancia informe, y poder hilvanar con ella una alegre disposición al tedio.

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

Easiest 5/5 so far.

Yea, straight fire.

Rounding up my 2.5 on this one.

Highlights: Born in the U.S.A., Dancing In the Dark

It's decent, but not as good as some of his other work.

At Rock in Rio I saw the first time the band played this entire album in order. I also saw Bruce in Toronto in 1985 when this album was just released. The show started with them playing the title song with a big US flag being a back curtain.  Regan wanted this to be his campaign song. Whoops! I guess he didn't check the lyric sheet.   Reagan's quote from his campaign trail: "America's future rests . . . in the message of hope in the songs of a man so many young Americans admire - New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen" Alas, the bromance was one sided as Springsteen, speaking to the audience just before playing Badlands on the day after Reagan was elected said: “I don’t know what you guys think about what happened last night, but I think it’s pretty frightening,"  It has some other really good songs such as Glory Days and My Hometown  and Darlington County is a heck of a lot of fun live. This is his best selling album but I can't get to a 5 since I never really liked Dancing in The Dark and there is a wee bit of filler. I'll save the 5 for the album with the rest of the songs he wrote at this time. 

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.

Wow, seven top 10 hits from this album! It’s a sure thing right? Nope, this is probably the Boss’ most commercial album so it doesn’t appeal to me at all. This is far too redneck and Murican heartland for me. Give me Born to Run or Darkness on the edge of town instead any day.

Best: Cover Me Worst: Glory Day

Had never listened to this all the way through before. BiUSA had me thinking this would be a 5 but then it dipper for a bit with some filler. Then it hits Bobby Jean and into Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark and My Hometown. Can't think of any other album that finishes as strongly. Best song Bobby Jean.

I try to knock this album but every time I listen to it, I'm reminded just how good it is. Oh, oh, oh, I'm on fire.

Pretty decent.

While there are some Springsteen albums I've grown to like more than this one, you can't deny this one's got the hits! Almost every song here is solid gold, baby!

Full marks. No notes. Every track an absolute banger.

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...

Despite my thoughts leading into this album I actually quite enjoyed it. The hits hit and the rest goes along nicely. I'm not sure if I'll listen again but I don't cringe at the thought of it. I may be a (reluctant) convert?

3-4. Einige gute Songs, aber insgesamt eher mittelmäßig.

Sorry Boss. I'm not really into it in general. It feels way too broad rock n roll and I just don't think it's for me for the most part. 'No Surrender' has got something about it and 'Dancing in the Dark' is a real air-punching tune.

Too much Bruce Springsteen

Genres: Rock This is his seventh studio album. His first two albums were released in 1973. I first became aware of Springsteen in the eighties, but he has been performing since the mid-sixties. As well as being a singer and musician, he is a prolific and very successful songwriter providing hits for many other artists. This particular album sold 30 million copies worldwide and is one of the most commercially successful albums of all time. I loved half the tracks on the album. For me the other (less popular) tracks were OK. Clearly the album is well loved; the least played track has over 10 million plays on Spotify! Perhaps the other tracks will grow on me after listening some more.

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.

I feel like I am listening to my mom's music. Bruce Springsteen sings powerfully about an America in decline, but rather than do anthing about it or offer some hope as to how to fix anything, he can't abandon his framing of one man versus the system and the system wins. His music is good his message sucks ass. Glory Days is a perfect example. His lyrics are all about repression, regression, yearning, and loss. He stirs a pot hoping to have a listener respond and fill in the gaps. It's effective, but i don't like it. It feels like I am being dragged through living all my worst moments.

This is a great album. It took me a little while to get into Springsteen, mostly because I misinterpreted a lot of what he was about based on the title track of this album. When I was younger I incorrectly thought this was a pro-America, jingoistic rallying cry. I also didn't grow up with his music in my house. I have a good friend who is a massive Springsteen fan and would play this album a lot at the restaurant we worked at and it really turned me into a fan. It's not my favorite of his albums but it's really strong songwriting and all great songs. Standout Tracks: Born In the U.S.A., Darlington County, Working On The Highway, Downbound Train, I'm On Fire, No Surrender, I'm Goin' Down, Glory Days, Dancing In the Dark

The boss. What can I say? Ett av mine favorittalbum fra en av mine favorittartister

Springsteen’s ass wowed us all. Are you a soulful and contemplative singer songwriter of the people whose struggling to find the recognition and wide public appeal you seek? Put your ass in some jeans and stick it on your next album cover! Instant success! Seriously though, this album is an unstoppable juggernaut of Springsteen hits. It may not be what The Boss feels most proud of in terms of showcasing his songwriting talents, but damn if it doesn’t slap the whole way through. Dancing in the Dark will always be an upbeat but aching favourite of mine for all time. That song alone merits a 5 star rating, but again, the whole album fucking rocks. Quality stuff, this is the high watermark of 80s rock n roll.

I first listened to this album a few years ago, and felt neutral about it. In the years since that first listen, I’ve become a naturalized US citizen. Maybe there’s something in the water but I loved it this time. I can’t find it in me to give this anything less than 5. It’s too good. “I’m On Fire” has been one of my favourite songs for years and this album deserves a 5 based on that alone. Who knew becoming a US citizen was all it took to have an appreciation for The Boss?

Not a bad starter

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.

I don't get Bruce Springsteen but this is a very good album.

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

Hidden Gems In this Album, rather enjoyed it

Bruce in his finest form.

So American it hurts

This may be Bruce Springsteen’s most energetic album. It is chock full of singles including the title track, ‘I’m On Fire’ and ‘Dancing in the Dark’ for starters. Once again we see Springsteen positioning himself as an Everyman, the voice of America’s disaffected working class. This is a good role for him and he does it very well. What’s really striking is his genuine love and affection for down and out small town America reflected in songs like ‘My Hometown.’ There is a melancholy to these songs that conjure images of closed factories and dilapidated neighborhoods making his lyrics all the more potent. The biggest drawback of this album is the dated production and instrumentals. However, they too are relics of their time just like the America that Springsteen immortalizes in song. Rather fitting then isn’t it.

Noice

Some of the synths have aged really badly but that's the only real negative. Every song is either poetic and emotional, an outright banger, or both

Good album

Bunch of bangers

9/10 yeah it's pretty great.

10/10. I love this album. The way that Born in the USA and My Hometown bookend the album elevates the rest of the songs, bringing out their themes of loss of innocence in a changing, America. Musically, I think there's a lot to be said for Born to Run being Springsteen's best work, but this album is definitely my favorite.

A couple of things were painfully 80s (looking at you, Born in the USA instrumental), but there are some quality songs on here. 8/10

Love it always!

acc such a cutie

Loved it

Classic Bruce Not my favorite voice but brings back good memories

Classic album, was cool hearing how many songs on this album went on to stand the test of time. Super unique grit to Bruce’s voice that can be aggressive or gentle. Some of the songs had a surprisingly strong 50’s sound to the vibe and instrumentation. All around solid album, I now want to explore i more of Bruce’s albums going forward.

This is what I expected Bruce Sprinsteen to sound like. Super cheesy and a bit lame. I'm not a fan of this. Fortunately, I found other Springsteen records on this list to be much more interesting and enjoyable. Rating: 2/5 Playlist track: Born in the U.S.A. Date listened: 05/01/23

Best Bruce album. Best tracks aren't the obvious choices. But Dancing in the Dark and I'm On Fire are peak Springsteen for me.

Pretty good (8,2 out of 10). Some big hits on this album, with Dancing in the Dark being my favourite.

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.

3.9/5. Good Bruce not best Bruce

An album which starts with one of the most misunderstood songs in popular music and never lets up the pace. Springsteen is an essential American voice , exploring the myth and reality of this country’s ideals and giving dignity back to the working class.

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.

Such a storyteller. Not even his best album and its chock full of hits.

can't seem to get into springsteen - 3 stars

LP

I can only take Bruce Springsteen in small doses. One song on the radio, fine, but after a few it all starts sounding the same to me and I just want him to stop yelling in my ears. Also, not too happy with having Born In The U.S.A. stuck in my head for the rest of the day..

I'm a sucker for 80s albums. Once you get past the title track which I'm sure you've heard hundreds of times, the album is deeper than you expect. I feel like 50% of people think Bruce Springsteen is a patriot, America First type of guy and 50% know that his music actually appeals to working class. He does a good job of making social commentary catchy. I'm On Fire is the best song on the album but Dancing In The Dark and Downbound Train are both great too

I grew up listening to this music.

Having read about the history behind the songs, and listened to it from a young age (mother had bought the cassette) this will always hold a place in my heart. Just a classic through and through

5/5 One of the classics from my era. Start to finish it is amazing. Favorite song: My Hometown

Brilliant. Clear and obvious influence on The Killers, and pretty much all stadium rock. I never knew how many singles were from this one album - 6 out of 12 tracks charted!

Solid. Classic. Good stuff.

All his classics on a single album... Can you believe it?

It's good. I'm not a huge Springsteen fan and It's not one I'd listen to very often

3 stars

Love the harmonica and the live sound. Neil young’s voice is great and unique. Although it’s much more country than I’d normally listed to, I Added the whole thing to my library.

2.4

Not one bad song on a legendary album

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.

Good album

Yes I love it. BITUSA is a childhood classic for me glory days too

5/5

I once had the pleasure of seeing Springsteen play the whole of this album and it was incredibly good. What a great record. Best song of many is Hungry Heart

Acabei escutando na sequência de outro álbum dele, assim foi demais pra mim de rock americano clássico. E reconheci hits dos anos 80.

He's just so sincere, and so quintessentially American, so masculine. It's not hard to believe that this is one of the best selling albums of all time. Delivered by anyone else, these songs might seem like a joke. But not coming from The Boss.

I'm a pretty big fan of The Boss in general, and I love many of his albums, but I think this may be his best. It's one of those instances where an artist's creative and commercial zenith were one and the same. He had refined the sound of his band to a well oiled machine by this point, and also honed his songwriting to a fine edge - losing his initial flowery Dylanesque poetics almost completely, trading it in for an incredibly refined and nuanced directness. Every song is an anthem of one kind or another, often misinterpreted as some kind of patriotic chest thumping heartland rock. I implore you to read the lyrics to "Born In The USA." It is one of the most emotionally complex pop songs you will ever hear. The music does such an incredible job of sweeping you up in these catchy sing alongs, that you often don't even notice that the lyrics are often telling a very different story. This album covers such an incredibly rich emotional territory, like a book of short stories about the contemporary blue collar life of its time. Capturing the essence of that experience in what I believe to be an honest, or at least authentic, way.

Never got into Springsteen but this album is peak. Enough has been said about the irony of Born in the USA and many of it fans not realizing the critique of the USA in the lyrics, but oh boy just shows how a non-ironic sounding chorus can sway a song. Dancing in the Dark is prob my fav track. A buncha others are fine but typically not my thing. Still it's a 5 for legacy but a 3 for my enjoyment so... 4 it is.

Like it. On fire heat

It's got some great all-American songs, but some real weak points, like Darlington County and Workin' on the Highway.

Bellissima la prima. Bruce Springsteen è Capitan America. Ha un tono più allegro del solito, almeno dal punto di vista musicale. Anche quelle che seguono mi piacciono tantissimo! I'm on fire altro capolavoro, che gioca sul tono più sommesso e tranquillo. Scende un po' dopo questa, ma di nuovo Dancin' in the dark è un altro capolavoro... Come dicevo l'album ha un tono più allegro, ma nel pieno stile del Boss; bellissimo!

I'm going to start with Pete Seeger. Bruce made a Seeger tribute album in 2006 and it is fantastic, his rework of Seeger's songs is astounding considering how wooden and uninspiring Seeger's work is (see Michael Gray's entry on him in the Dylan encyclopaedia). I note that Seeger record as everything swung into Bruce's favour, his limited voice and sometimes grating hokey enthusiasm all clicked. And, importantly, he didn't write any of the tunes. I don't know what to think when it comes to Bruce. While on one level I get it, on another I find his mega popularity unfathomable. I wonder about the way mass media guides us towards pluralist ignorance, is this a 20th/21st century phenomenon? Je ne sais quoi my arse Bruce. I love Born to Run, love it to death but I was 12 in 1975 so it's part of my rites of passage soundtrack. Darkness, good record, Nebraska has some great moments and then there's this. He toured this record in 85 and I saw him at the Ent Cent and was massively underwhelmed by the whole thing. I think there are two problems; firstly he's backed by a very unimaginative bar band, they are good but they are and will always be the kind of guys who played as Chuck Berry's pick up band. Secondly, bar a few absolute gems, Bruce is not a very good songwriter. I reminded of Roy and HG's joke about David Williamson, he had six great plays in him, the problem is he wrote 20. Ditto Bruce, he had one maybe two shots in the locker, and he fired a thousand. Most of these songs are awful, and I mean awful, as follows: Born in the USA/Cover Me/Darlington/Working on the Highway/No Surrender/Bobby Jean (I mean seriously, fuck off Bruce)/I'm Going Down/ Glory Days (see Bobby Jean)/Dancing in the Dark ("I get up in the evening and I ain't got nothing to say, I go to bed feeling the same way" thanks for sharing Bruce, we're kind of tired and bored with you too) . He's lamenting boring stories of glory days when his most of career is telling the same boring stories, oy vey! Downbound Train has a good riff, and you can hear the drums, but again those lyrics...you stink Bruce. My Hometown, ah c'mon enough already with the corn, corn dog. I'm on Fire is a fine song, here he shows what he is sometimes capable of, fine words, a great atmosphere and...good grief...an interesting arrangement. This record is shithouse, really, really shithouse. It gets a point for I'm on Fire.

Yeah, this is a really solid album! Some things still niggle (endless repetition of simple melodic lines, for example) but if I turn off my judgemental filters and get in the mood, most of these songs really hit the spot.

I’m a big boss fan, but I never liked this album. I just played it for the first time in years & it hasn’t improved. There isn’t a track on it that I ever got off on. I loved his 70’s output but there are a bunch of his lp’s since then that just didn’t do it for me. This is one of them.

I never got Bruce. His records just don't grab me (exception: Nebraska). I know his songs resonates for a lot of people, but they don’t for me. I think most of his material is, for me, a bit overworked. I listened through, but, honestly, it washes over me every time and I am unmoved. While Born to Run is a bit more focussed than some of his previous Wall of Sound-esque production, the songs are perfectly engineered to go over gangbusters in a stadium show. A lot of credit for the sound should probably go to Bob Clearmoutain’s mixing, which is designed to make the records pop on the radio. Bruce really owns that kind of stadium show (from what I hear), but it's not my cup of tea. This record is bar-band rock and roll, dumbed down and polished up suitable for radio play and stadium sing-alongs. This is not subtle. The lyrics are often clichéd and bombastic, the riffs simple and repetitive. The sparkling sheen of synthesizers and overly-processed drums updates the essentially 60s rock and arrangement, down to the cheesy sax solos. The drum sound offends me so much: the leaden, synthetic beat of this album is heavy on the rock, but squeezes all of the roll out of these songs. I struggle with the lyrical content; Richard Williams in Q magazine described the title track as trying “to bury the anti-war message of Born In The USA beneath an impenetrable layer of clenched-fist bombast". This was, in his view, "downright irresponsible." I find it hard to reconcile his ostensible criticism of Reagan-era America and its treatment of the faux-working class character he portrays (a character based on his fathers and others around him, but not himself, as he freely admits in his Broadway show), with the triumphant presentation (which is easily and often confused with jingoism). Many of the songs have the most ridiculously stooped, lowest common denominator lyrics. “I’m on Fire” is probably the most interestingly arranged song on the record, but a bit creepy. This record strikes me as faux-working-class bellowing over bombastic production, punctuated with unnecessary saxophone solos. At least he has cut down on the mumbling that mars his earlier records.

Not really my thing

I can't stand Bruce Springsteen

This is a real classic album with some very good songs - even the worst songs here I would still call 'good.' And any album with songs like Born in the U.S.A., Working on the Highway, I'm On Fire, Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark, and My Hometown deserves a high score in my book (or 1001albumgenerator-project). What I really don't like, however, is the mix, which, in typical early-to-mid-80s fashion is quite bright, but at the expense of the low end. Granted, you can hear the bass, but it's too tame to be really driving the groove. Also, there is constantly too much reverb on Springsteen's voice. Which is a real shame. 4/5

I'm probably not going to come back to listen to this album again. It is undeniable to me though, that this is one solid rock album cover to cover. Not my preference, but I'll give Born In The USA my salute.

I like it

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.

Powerful straightforward 1980ies rock n roll. Whith a great poet screaming his soul out off his chest. Love it!

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.

First song I ever danced to, and first song I ever sang to was the title track - at 4 years old - and it was my favourite song too. Obviously I grew up with Springsteen in the background - kind of uncool, but not ignorable, and went through most of my life just kind of thinking, one day I'll give him a proper listen. And in my late 30s I did - and I discovered the wonderful world of The Boss, Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, Nebraska - all stellar records, and while I did get into a number of individual tracks from this album - which are unavoidable if you grew up anywhere near guitar music, I kind of thought this is the 'cheesy' album - not up to the heights of it's predecessors. And yeah, well, there's a lot more to it than meets the idea. It starts with the title track which is a bit, well 'much' - even though it's such a great song at it's core, and probably one of the most misunderstood songs ever written. But after that, it's a well rounded record, upbeat throughout - not the most introspective - celebratory yet self-aware. Even here, Bruce manages to keep it multi-dimensional - talking about the Vietnam veterans shrouded in faux-jingo-ist anthem, which ends up being the most jingoist anthem ever used - mocking others' Glory Days, a prohibited affair in I'm on Fire, and so on so forth. Musically and lyrically, there's a lot to dig in and discover over the years. It loses one star, because you can't really play Born in the USA out too loud in many places, can you, and it's hardly avoidable in being the first track.

-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

In my mind I tend to pair Born To Run and Born In The U.S.A. together, but this could not be further from the truth. Not only are they nearly a decade apart, but it's reflected in the sound too. Glossy synths line the melody of the opening title track, reflecting a more pop-focused album that's still grounded in Springsteen's signature heartland rock sound. This culminated as Springsteen's most commercially successful album, outselling Pink Floyd's The Wall or The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's. But moneymaking does not make a good album. Looking at the other songs, Born In The U.S.A. is certainly good but not exactly great. Springsteen acknowledged the step down in quality, stating "The rest of the album contains a group of songs about which I've always had some ambivalence." Perhaps the better-written songs could be found on the sister-album Nebraska, but that doesn't change the sheer level of this album's success. Born In The U.S.A. brought heartland rock to the masses and resonated with Americans to their core. Seemingly overnight, Bruce Springsteen had become the everyman: the blue-collar worker getting laid off, the Vietnam veteran with no support system, the father struggling to make ends meet. If it wasn't you, it was somebody you knew. The United States was irreversibly changed under Ronald Reagan. Born In The U.S.A. is the snapshot of this time.

Can't start a fire without a spark

Now here is how you kick off a week. I haven't listened to all of his albums yet, and I'm not a huge fan of him anyway, but this is probably my favorite BS album. Born in the USA is a childhood classic that I remember being on a slideshow our dad would show us. One of the original home movie songs, so to speak. But on top of that I'm on Fire and Dancing in the Dark both reach pretty close in quality. Three awesome songs plus a smattering of pretty good songs on top of it go give this a real Americana feel.

Damn, stone cold classic. Now that we've had a handful from the Boss I feel more comfortable calling this his best. It's got great, legendary hits and some fantastic deep cuts too. American heritage rock, no frills. I adore the title track, if only for being the most misunderstood song in the history of this country. Patriots from sea to shining sea chanting and fist pumping along (hot dog in hand) to a song about the Vietnam War as a trap that ensnares a young troublemaker, kills his friend, and ruins his entire life (which was never great to begin with). AND THAT'S ONLY THE OPENER! There's depth in so many directions, look at "I'm On Fire," one of my favorite love songs ever. Not really a sacred or comforting love, but one that's crawling under your skin like a disease, waking you up in the middle of the night. I'll never forget the use of that song in the movie "The Hunter," truly haunting stuff. I didn't even mention Cover Me, Glory Days, or DANCING IN THE DARK? This is basically a greatest hits. Man, I love this album. I loved it before relistening today, but now I can say I *five-star, 10/10* love it. Favorite tracks: I'm On Fire, Born in the USA, Dancing in the Dark, Cover Me, Glory Days, Downbound Train, No Surrender, Working on the Highway. Album art: Iconic. Looks like an ad for Levi's or something, that's how well-constructed this is. Worn jeans, a beat up hat, white shirt, a working man's ass in front of the stripes of the American flag. Again, like the title track, it's patriotism writ large in a way that's obviously meant for critique, but dammit it also gets the patriot in you fired up because it's red white and blue. Duality baby, we love it. 5/5

top notch brucey

Nope, just can't do it. I am allergic to this bloke

It's Springsteen. It's bombastic. It suits a calling but isn't as strong as his earlier work.

Run went well, saw mouse for first time though…

Matkittu vähän eppuja.... Syyttömänö syntymään biisiä... Muuten hyvä... Paljon tunnetta äänessä.. se hyvä..

Still the boss

Top 3 best albums ever: 3. David Bowie: Let's Dance (even better if the movie version of Cat People had been included) 2. Madonna: Like A Virgin (version with Get into the Groove) 1. This album: perfect as is.

I’ve never considered myself much of a Bruce Springsteen fan, but I get why this was such a monster album. It’s amazing and I loved the whole thing.

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?

If you had asked I would have denied ever hearing this entire album, but I’m pretty sure not only have I heard it, I even remembered some of the song order. Fantastic album. Classic Bruce.

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.

baita som, de consistencia

Classic Springsteen tracks here; evocative, moving, memorable tales from the working class man, invariably laid off by the lumber mill or the factory and falling in hard times. If the production is a little splashy, the songwriting makes up for it.

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

6/12, 50%

I've heard all these songs so much, it's difficult to listen with a fresh perspective, but I really tried to. The lyrics are powerful and provide an interesting commentary on the social climate of the time. I wish I could get over Springsteen's strained vocal performance and uninspiring musical arrangement because I think the songwriting is brilliant.

"Boomer: The Album"

The sleepiest goddamn rock album I've ever listened to. 2/5 at best.

One of my all time favourite albums

Great album

Corny.

Outstanding and memorable.

Wow. This is I think the best album we've had of the 230 odd that I've reviewed so far. Never listened to this start to finish before, and it's mindblowingly good. Energy, pathos, a really interesting window into a side of America that I don't think anyone's captured as well as he has (definitely not musically). Was umming and ahhing about buying tickets for his Hyde Park show this summer, but so so glad I did it now! 5/5.

Classic.

Bruce is good but idrfw this album

Bruce is bad. You know this. (Besides that one song about Atlantic City)

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…

One of the popular reviews on this site for this album says "After listening to the album I ate at a McDonalds, read a Ronald Reagan biography and punch a commie in the dick. MERICA!" and I love that so many people and politicians can not quite piece the album's themes together and still enjoy it. A great vignette of American stories. Also highly recommend Dessa's cover of 'I'm Goin' Down' || I don't have anything more unique to say, but I really appreciated this quote from the wiki by Marty Karas: "a quintessential pop album that was also a perfect distillation of the anger and bitterness seething beneath the surface of Reagan-era America."

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

Makes you feel like a kid growing up in the 80s. The album explores middle America and the innocence and trauma of it all. It does make you nostalgic for a different time. Best Songs: Born in the USA, Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark Worst Songs: Darlington County

Classic Bruce. Although I do prefer some of his earlier albums

might deserve 5 stars just for the title track but there's a bit of filler here

decent, a bit samey in latter half of album. fav song: Cover me Least fav song: I'm on fire

Really good album and quite solid down the line rock and roll, enjoyable listen

not my favorite Springsteen album, but it's hard to deny how classic and epic it is; lyrically meaningful, sonically digestible, rock n roll

3.5/5. It has its moments

not bad

💚

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

It’s got a few tunes it’s got some filler - it’s not something I’d go back to.

Nice jam.

good album! easy listening, and classic songs!

Classic. Had never had the chance to listen to it all the way, very much liked Cover Me.

Unbelievable amount of singles. Weird to listen and notice he’s kind of a weak singer that brings incredible energy with a great band. Obviously a classic.

Mooi hoor! Papa en mama luisterden dit vroeger heel vaak, en best veel liedjes werden in de Valom ook gespeeld door Summerland op de kermis. Ik was lekker door aan het luisteren zónder dat ik doorhad dat de cd al afgelopen was en ik 'best of Bruce' aan het luisteren was. Veel meer herkenbaar dan ik dacht. 'Rauwe' stem, en nu ik wat bewuster luister zit er nog wel aardig verhaal in ook!

Very classic album with many great hits

Ceux qui mettent moins de 4 sont de droite

bah non .

Classic album

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.

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

Dad Rock Essential

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.

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.

Mye jobb og jernbane. Men sjefen er sjefen

Aldri vore fan av Springsteen Men var på konsert med han ein gong for mange år sidan for nokon ga vekk billettar Er fortsatt ikkje fan 3

While definitely not my typical album, there's no denying that Dancing in the Dark and Born in the USA are incredible Hits

Literally put me to sleep

if you don't get out of my way when "dancing in the dark" comes on, then it's your fault if you get clocked. this album was full of some old fashioned rock and roll. two of the boss’s biggest songs were here, and ugh did he deliver. the e street band backing him sounded great, too. really, the album left me with a feeling of homesickness. “my hometown” definitely hits the listener over the head with that, especially since it finishes the album. the boss’s voice sounded soulful at times, which definitely contributed.

This album is quintessential Americana heartland rock, but not for the reasons many Americans think it is. Let me explain. It is incredibly common on American Independence Day to hear the song Born in the USA blaring at every neighborhood barbecue and community fireworks show. Many folks cling to the song like some kind of badge of superior patriotism. It's just one of those songs that has become as synonymous with patriotism as the American national anthem. But here's the thing that they fail to get (which is crazy, because it's literally in the lyrics): Born in the USA (the song) is NOT about being proud of being American. It's about the STRUGGLES of being American. It's about how American soldiers were used as cannon fodder in the Vietnam War and how, when they came back, they found difficulties in adjusting to everyday life again, because of inflation, because of trauma, because of lack of support from their government. Because the government treated those who returned from Vietnam as being as good as dead. The soaring chorus lyrics "born in the USA" are intentionally antithetical to the purpose of the song; the verses are meant to make a mockery of the chorus and make the chorus feel hollow. But the real message of this album was buried by blind American patriotism. Apply this concept to Born in the USA (the album), and you have what this album is really about. Again, it is about being American, but not in the way patriotic people should be gloating about. It's about the struggles of blue collar life in America. The album cover captures it perfectly as well, with a clear blue collar type of person (white shirt, tattered jeans, faded hat) emblazoned on the front. This person isn't thriving. This person is getting by. Looking at this album for what it is, it has great, meaningful lyricism encapsulated in very catchy melodies and foot-stomping beats. It really tells a cohesive, real story of life from front to back, which is what makes it such a shining example of the heartland rock genre, and a profound piece of American rock in general. It no doubt launched and furthered the popularity of other heartland rock acts, as well. This album has a number of well known radio hits, and it was great to experience it from front to back. I only wish more Americans appreciated it for what it really is, and not for what they idealize it to be.

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

Chillin in the usa

If you think Bruce makes stupid music, you’re stupid… simple as

Just fine

Many hits and much deeper lyrics than I thought, but ultimately not my thing

Springsteen's seminal album tells the tale of people who have been beaten down but refuse to quit. Enjoyable, but you have to be in the mood for it.

I'm On Fire and Dancing In The Dark aside, this is pretty rubbish and sounds like it could have been generated by an AI after hearing Born To Run. Not good

Classic

A handful of well known tunes. A lot of filler.

Great album!

They don't call him The Boss for no reason. Major nostalgic vibes drip off this thing. Yearning chord progressions aplenty, sax solos, and that gravelly impassioned voice of ol' Brucey Boy.

Instant classic, I forgot how much I enjoy the song I’m on fire

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.

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.

First listen: 1- boooorn in the usaaaaa (not first time hearing this song obv) 2- very 80s 3- darlington? 4- ugh 5- 80s ballad 6- the guitar is good in this one. Actually i like the instrumentals best. Lyrics are meh. Wack fade out ending. 7- wait i am enjoying this song a lot. Best song on the album so far. 8-piano nice 9-i have heard this song before too. I think maybe is going down down down down 10-oh i know this one too. Got sick of listening to it

+ Born in the USA (3 STARS) + Cover Me (3 STARS) + Darlington County (2 STARS)-- sounds like forced country. Reminds me of RDJ's "Man Like Me" + Working on the Highway (2 STARS) -- Tf is this Jerry Lee Lewis? Hot Patootie Bless My Soul + Downbound Train (2 STARS) -- I like the guitar and background, but his voice is obnoxious + I'm On Fire (2 STARS) -- Boring + No Surrender (3 STARS) -- I'm a sucker for nostalgia + Bobby Jean (2 STARS) -- Meh. Didn't sell it for me + I'm Goin' Down (1 STARS) -- Yuck. Very repetitive. + Glory Days (3 STARS) -- I think I knew this one. Decent chorus + Dancing in the Dark (5 STARS) -- a bop + My Hometown (2 STARS) -- Meant to be warm and fuzzy but too boring OVERALL: 2.5 STARS

Some classic bangers like “I’m On Fire,” “Born in the U.S.A.,” and “Dancing in the Dark.” Was hoping some of the songs I hadn’t heard on the album would be similarly good, but I only found that I hadn’t heard them for good reason.

I know it's good but not really my thing. Didn't add to library

It's more pop influenced than I expected, especially in the songs that don't get radio play. There's a reason those songs don't get radio play; they aren't that good. It's a good album that is worth an occasional listen, but I strongly prefer 'Born to Run'. 'Dancing in the Dark' and 'I'm on Fire' are both well known and the best on the album easily. 'No Surrender' is less popular but pretty good.

some cracking tunes on there but not enough to keep me coming back for more

Kind of a mixed bag for me.