Reviews (page 14 of 15)
Meh. The ‘America’ ness is a bit heavy handed for me. Couple of decent tracks.
Struggled a bit with this listen. It's certainly of a time and has an energy I wasn't able to connect with. However I'm on Fire is still an excellent song.
Standard Bruce stuff. The odd good singalong track, the odd cringey track, the rest standard Dadrock.
Very America, maybe a bit too much
I know I love this album more than most. Part of it is nostalgia, this was an album that came out when I first started to enjoy and understand music. Also, I think this album was an island of roots rock in a time of synth pop, New wave music and rising hair bands. Great album!
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
It’s a totally fine Springsteen album. Iconic thanks to a gross misunderstanding of the title track and a Courtney Cox cameo. It’s uneven at times.
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
It's not my fave style of music, but I also can't really fault the album. Fave track: Dancing in the Dark 5/5
I know this record from the singles which are all hot fire. Listening to the whole thing makes it clear why it's considered his best record.
Never been much of a Springsteen fan, but this album is ok.
Dancing in the dark
There's something about Bruuuce that always puts me off - is it the bombast? The hyper-masculinity? The fact that some songs sound like Meat Loaf? I just don't know, but when I sit down and listen to a full album, I do enjoy it and Born in the USA is a classic, with many of his biggest and best songs. The title track is oft-misinterpreted to be a chest beating patriot's song but if you actually listen to the verses, you'll see it's anything but and still relevant today. I'm on Fire, I'm Goin' Down, Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark - all fantastic songs and the rest was pretty good too. Overall I preferred Nebraska, which I also had come up recently - more intimate, emotional without going over the top, but I may have to start going through his discography to see what I've been missing.
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
A nice 4th of July present this was, despite being Australian. I knew and enjoyed the title track and Dancing in the Dark before today but the album as a whole was a pleasant suprise filled with decent tracks.
Likeable Bruce album, sounds like it's time, but some storming tracks.
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.
Man I hated this album when it came out. As a teenager in the crap-center of the horseshit Reagan years, yeah all I needed was more jingoistic bullshit (gee, sadly familiar...). Of course...nevermind that it actually wasn't jingoistic at *all* but that didn't stop the yahoos from using it OH SHIT BRUCE HAS A RED GD HAT IN HIS POCKET IT ALL MAKES SENSE (no it doesn't). Also nearly every song was played on the radio and MTV all.the.goddamn.time. Millions of others can corroborate this. I was wanting my Police/Rush/Van Halen not this. Also and I only realized this years later - this album made me *think* I hated Bruce Springsteen. But i didn't, and don't. As a little kid I loved Born to Run and most of his other late 70s work, so this threw me off the scent for years until I willingly rediscovered him. But do I still hate the album? I don't. But I also don't like it and never will. It's repetitive (that title song riff good god man, you couldn't have at a minimum written a middle 8 to call it off for half a minute?) as hell musically in every song, bombastically boring, at times too pop, at times too country. All too simplistically upbeat for my taste - I prefer the darker or more majestic Bruce, and not the lyrics - the music. If I had to choose personal high points, "Cover Me" isn't nearly as bad as I recalled and has a particularly killer guitar solo; "My Hometown" is a nice ballad. I didn't mind a re-listen today but I realized it was mostly because it was nostalgic and really threw me back to my early teen years. But it's just not an album I like - even if I'll absolutely admit it was arguably the biggest rock album of the last 40 years (to my chagrin). 3/10 2 stars.
not as spectacular as some of his other work 3.5
A very rare genuine 5star album. Barely puts a foot wrong at any stage. Absolutely cracking stuff - I just can’t work out whether if forced to choose one of his id have this or Tunnel of love
Does what he does - stadium rock that still manages to sound humble and rooted. It's a little samey and one paced, but the great songs make up for it.
Very nice. Kind of repetitive but the feeling is classic and not overdone. Not as cheesy as I expected.
This marks the third Bruce Springsteen album that I've gotten on this list, and while I don't think that I'll ever consider myself a Springsteen fan, I must say that I've enjoyed all three albums. This album is classic Sprinsteen, straight-ahead rock with a working class message. It's good all the way through, though one song sort of blends into the next since they all have a similar feel. The song I'm on Fire helps break up the monotony, though. Overall, though, there's nothing bad about this album that I can point to. The man makes solid work 4/5
Great album. Maybe a 4.5, the peak of Bruce's stadium rock, while still having solid commentary on being lower/middle class and American
Fantastic album
5/5 From start to finish it is one great song after another.
Springsteen. Vinilo.
Correcto. 4
Dadrock for the working class chad
This is the album that launched Bruce into the stratosphere. It rocks. It tells stories. It has so much heart. It has "I'm On Fire," which must be one of the greatest songs about desire that's ever been written.
Most tracks sound like they're background music to the closing credits if a rom com. And I don't mean that in a good way. But - I will say that Dancing in the Dark and Bobby Jean are very good songs that would make those closing credits pretty damn great.
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.
Cet album intervient dans une période très compliquée de la vie de Springsteen. Il est d'ailleurs revenu récemment sur cette période, déclarant qu'il y avait très clairement "une couille dans le paté" pendant ces années difficiles. Comme vous le savez désormais, la pochette de Darkness On The Edge Of Town avait fait l'objet d'un violent clash entre Bruce et son producteur, qui a refusé de céder aux caprices de Bruce en coupant la couverture de l'album au-dessus de son appareil génital. Six ans plus tard, Bruce refuse toujours d'écrire le moindre texte, et l'impatience commence à se faire sentir chez ses fans. Le producteur doit donc agir. Il se rendit donc directement au domicile de Bruce pour lui faire part d'une proposition. Arrivés devant la porte, le producteur se soumet à la règle tacite qui consiste à toquer 5 fois à la porte pour s'assurer que Bruce ouvre la porte habillé (Bruce a pour habitude de se promener nu comme un verre dans son domicile). Bruce ouvre alors la porte, et tend directement son doigt en direction de son producteur: "Tire mon doigt". Le producteur s'exécute, ce qui conduit Bruce à lacher instantanément un énorme pet, avant de s'esclaffer. Une fois remis de ses emotions, le producteur peut enfin expliquer son projet à Bruce: il a bien compris que Bruce avait été très heurté par le refus d'afficher ses "enormes couillasses" sur la pochette de l'album précédent, c'est pourquoi il a une contre-proposition: "Bruce, pourquoi ne pas afficher ton arrière train sur le prochain album?" "Mon gros cul poilu?" "Il faudra le recouvrir, mais en essence oui c'est bien de cela que l'on parle" Bruce était absolument séduit par l'idée, et se mit immédiatement à écrire l'album a succès que vous connaissez tous.
It's like listening to a greatest hits album. I quite enjoyed My Hometown from this round of listening.
https://youtu.be/nEXVLPcvksM
Questionable lyrics but great choons. Listened about 6 times loved it
A classic
It was 1984, I think, or 1985, when I first got this album. I got it through the Columbia House Records & Tapes Club. I had gotten a bunch of Springsteen albums, but the only one I really went back to was “Born To Run.” Even “Born In The USA” did not overly thrill me. You have to understand, when you come from Jersey, you had to choose: Springsteen, Sinatra, or (later) Bon Jovi. I chose Springsteen. But then I kind of grew out it. It’s weird how that musical hero from that age left me. Maybe I just felt I had to like Springsteen for some reason, since “Born In The USA” was EVERYWHERE. Listening to the album in one sitting now, it’s a lot more polished than “Born To Run" (not necessarily a good thing). I keep joking about Springsteen becoming a country singer, and there are at least 2 or 3 songs that point to it here. The title track… it’s another one of those tracks with no bridge. This irks me, because it feels so repetitive. And yet the song itself is so well-known. “I’m On Fire” should have done more, it’s such a haunting song. “Glory Days” I can go my entire life without hearing again. Honest. It’s a good album with one or two iconic songs, but “Born To Run” is still his greatest album. This does not hold a candle to that. So it has to get a slightly lower rating, like a 4.4 maybe?
This album spawned so many singles and hits, but I think I liked them better before I became aware of the album Nebraska. I liked the latter's rawer sound and sometimes all the synth and E-Street band accompaniment on this album makes it sound a bit cheesy. Like Cover Me; now as I listen, the lyrics are a bit cheesy and the accompanying music feels almost too dance or synth sounding. Darlington County, Working on the Highway, and Bobby Jean (a bit less so) also felt that way - feels overproduced or like everyone is trying too hard to sound catchy. That being said, the album still has many great songs. Glory Days and Dancing in the Dark are still great tunes despite all their pomp - you can't not rock along to those songs. And though I didn't know No Surrender until now, I also liked it a lot despite its pomp. Other songs are a bit more reserved - not necessarily stripped down like on Nebraska, but not forced. Of its singles, I'm Goin Down and My Hometown feel that way. Ditto for Downbound Train, which I didn't know before. And then the title track and I'm on Fire (the best on this album) are still absolute classics. Both have fantastic lyrics - complicated, disenchanted, fiery. Born in the USA is delivered with such ferocity and yet mixed emotion, while I'm on Fire is haunting. Both give you the chills, for different reasons. It is not a perfect album, but it's still damn good.
Well, this was a surprise. I really enjoyed this album much more than I thought I would. I barely remember the songs on here making an impression on me back in the '80s when the were hits. Listening to the today I really appreciate the lyrics and overall mood of the album. I also didn't realize how many songs I knew on here and that he did a cover of Tom Waits' "Downtown Train." I also don't think that I every really understood the meaning of the title track as a child.
cool
No i wreszcie wylosowalo album z ktorego kojarzy sie pana Springsteena, a moze nie albumu co bardziej openingowe traku tytulowego, sama plyta jest z 84 i jest siodmym studyjnym krazkiem w jego dyskografii, tak jak poprzednie albumy nagrywana razem z E streetowa banda, a jak popularne traki to przeciez nie przypadkowo caly album jest utrzymany w konwencji popowej muzyki rokowej, wiec standardowe granie, ktore mozna puscic w radio polaczone z opowiesciami Springsteenowymi o zwyklych ludziach i ich problemach, oczywiscie na kanwie hamerykanskiej, wiec bedzie o weteranach, zmywaczach, hajlejowcach, czy ludziach bez roboty, nie zabraknie tez problemow sercowych, a to wszystko na upbeatowych kawalkach, ktore maskuja w pewny sposob przekaz liryczny opowiesci i w ten sposob je sprzedaja, bo kontentem lirycznym plyta nie rozni sie tak bardzo od ciemnosci na skraju miasta czy poprzedniej w dyskografii nebraski, a jednak brzmi zupelnie inaczej, 12 trakow na 46 minutach przynioslo panu brusowi trzy najpopularniejsze traki spotifajowe, wiec zalozenia albumu byly wykonane, stworzyc cos sluchalnego, a jednak nadal z tym samym charakterem co poprzednie krazki w dyskografii, bo pisanie o ludziach i myszach jest jak dla mnie czyms co charakteryzuje pana Springsteena, nawet bardziej niz charakterystyczne skillsy gitarkowe, ktorej na tej plycie najlepiej slychac na downbound train, ktory takze jest najmniej popowa kompozycja plyty z ktorej czuc bardziej nebraske niz born in the usa, dlatego tez idzie na plejke, obok utworu tytulowego, ktory i tak nie jest najpopularniejszym kawalkiem albumu, bo jest nim dancining in the dark, ktory brzmi prawie jak synthowa banda z tymi klawiszami, a jakos nie moge go z niczym skojarzyc
I don't usually like 80s music but I enjoyed this. I also recognised more of it than I thought I would
I'm really not sure how anyone could not appreciate Bruce Springsteen. I saw him on the Born in the USA tour and he did not disappoint. Of the five-album span starting with Born to Run, then Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River, Nebraska and finally Born in the USA, this is probably my least favorite, and yet it's still a 5 star album. Classic.
Never been a big Springsteen fan but he does have some great songs. First time listening to this all the way through although I was aware of most of the songs on the album. It's a great album and one of the rare instances where the title track might be the shittest song on the entire album. Strong 4
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.
Strong, strong start with the titular song 'Born in the USA,' which is great for reasons that most people unfortunately don't realize. A scathing review of America and its policies, the lyrics hit hard and are where the song really shines. It's the kind of song only Springsteen can sing, and he does it so well. Then the album keeps it going with 'Cover Me:' catchy and high energy. And actually, high energy is what I'd call the majority of this album. It's pretty impressive how he manages to keep the beat and spirit going throughout, even when he gets to a song like 'Downbound Train,' which slows things down a bit. Some songs are just certified hits, like 'Glory Days' and 'Dancing in the Dark.' Ultimately, it's not as fantastic as his 'Born to Run' album, but 'Born in the USA' is still an amazing album that solidifies Springsteen as a lyrical master whose voice is perfect for his words and themes.
Let’s start saying the obvious: Bruce is an all-time talent/genius whose average work (which this album feels like) is often well above the best output of other artists. And isn’t this a record we already know and is already too well known (and suffers from being so) and therefore needs no more knowing (or listening before death) and indeed might benefit from less knowledge? How would we feel about this record if it hadn’t been such a big hit. Tunnel of Love, for instance, would be more worth knowing (for being less well known and certainly less appreciated). There many good-to-very-good songs: “Bobby Jean,” “No Surrender,” “Downbound Train,” “I’m Going Down,” “Darlington County” are a clear notch down from Bruce’s best, though much better than mere filler and – again – much, much better than average outputs from lesser artists. Indeed, some of these songs would be the best work of other artists. So, this is largely down to how we feel about the “hits” (what charted, got radio play) and “the hit” (title track) in particular. “I’m on Fire” is a very good song, lovely and a touch haunting, but more accessible than mysterious (let’s be honest). Listening from the distance of years now (first time in near forever), I’ve noted the way the guitar sounds like “Every Breath You Take” which makes real sense, right, in the context of the reaching for commercial impact. “Cover Me” is basically replacement-level Boss, pretty good, pretty urgent, but non-transcendent. “Dancing in the Dark” is a good song, quite enjoyable, but in the broadest and most obvious way (the synth is vaguely AMSR, plus Courteney Cox [blah, blah, blah]). “Glory Days” I find obnoxious largely for 3 reasons: 1. the keyboard schmaltz (whatever) and 2. (more importantly) because it could/should have been much better. Imagine it as a dark ballad – solo acoustic, say – the bittersweet sentiments call for such. 3. The “speedball” for “fastball” mistake is borderline unforgivable, even allowing for the possibility that Bruce was attributing to the character in the song (though even he should have known better and I see no evidence of it being a druggie joke [by either Bruce or the song’s narrator]). Which brings us to the title track: “Born in the USA” is straight-up a great track. But the mass misinterpretation by huge numbers of listeners (many of them credulous, uninformed and uninterested in communities such as this one) begs the question of Bruce’s culpability. Could the anthemic-ness have been toned down to honor the darkness more directly? The song is dark, Bruce’s is ranting cri-de-couer-like, but rock fans (even his) want to, you know, rock, so here we are. It’s the dividing line of taste for entire generations and is so often the case the sheer numbers of my fellow Americans seem to be on a different side than the one on which I’ve landed. Has to be a 4 but a conflicted one, with multiple caveats.
Solid
Really enjoyed this. Could see it playing in the home. Will probably listen to again.
You know, I've listened to this album many times, and I'm struck today by the fact that this is possibly the most upbeat-downbeat album I've ever heard. Yeah, the anthems are there, they're full of energy and they still feel great to listen to. But dig in and listen, this is some dark stuff. It's more polished and has more of a pop sensibility than The River or Nebraska, but it takes you on the same kind of downbound journey. There's humor, pathos, slow burning passion, oppressive sadness, joy, regret. Somehow it all lives together here in this perfect little package. That's an incredibly rare thing and Springsteen makes it all seem so effortless. I was 13 years old when this album came out, so I couldn't relate to a lot of these songs at the time. Almost 40 years on, Springsteen is now one of my absolute favorite artists. I listen to him every day, and the depth of this album grows for me every time I hear it. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): I'm on Fire, I'm Goin' Down, Born in the USA, Dancing in the Dark, Downbound Train, Darlington County, Cover Me, Working on the Highway, No Surrender, Glory Days, My Hometown, Bobby Jean. It's actually hard to rank these. I have clear favorites in my mind, but as each song comes up, I change my mind and have a new favorite. This is that kind of album.
This wins the "Better than Eric Clapton" award.
It's both an amazing album (it has three of the best songs ever with I'm on Fire, Dancing In The Dark and the title track) and one of the most hideously overproduced 80s sounding things ever. It gets away with a lot of it because... Springsteen and the band, but I can't honestly put it up there with Born to Run.
If you like the thing that Springsteen does then you'll fucking love this album. If you find it a tad boring and a well done trope then like me you'll think this is bang average. Stonewashed.
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.
I just don't get the fascination with Springsteen. With the notable exception of Nebraska, it all just seems like simplistic, cheer-along-US-rawk. Lyrically more interesting than the music, this album is utterly uninteresting and cringe-worthy.
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
This album is remarkable from beginning to end. Each song can be a hit. The themes are classic Bruce, production is perfect, his voice is on fire, pun intended, and the band crushes it as always. A top 10 album of the 80s. I doubt this cannot be enjoyed at least a little by everyone. One of my favourites.
Great album, Bruce is able to pull off just about anything. Fast paced upbeat songs as well as slower, sad pieces, it always sounds like he was born to do exactly this. A album which contains half of his greatest hits has to be a 5 star rsting
Feels so familiar even though I'm sure I've only listened to the whole album a few times---probably heard the singles a million times on the radio in the '80s. Love those synthesizers. Fuck Reagan.
Tom petty > Springsteen > any hair metal 3
I'm on Fire. Skip everything else.
Nearly a 5 squelchy synths and a bit too much cheesy toppings on a few tracks but close.
über weite strecken ein sehr gut gemachtes pop/rock album mit einigen schwächen. glaube auch das album, was man am ehesten mit 80er rock identifiziert und da gehört es definitiv zu den besseren. der titelsong gehört mit 'fortunate son' wohl zu den am häufigsten missverstandenen songs überhaupt - interessanterweise geht es in beiden um den vietnamkrieg. muss man sich aber auch nicht wundern wenn man einen song so catchy macht und in der hook 'geboren in amerika' gröhlt. auch spannend dass beide songs immer wieder bei veranstaltungen für us-soldaten gespielt werden und jetzt auch mehr oder weniger direkt am imperialismus der vereinigten staaten beteiligt sind. bleibt natürlich die frage ob diese songs das nicht von anfang an waren. neben einigen schwächeren tracks gibts dann auch songs wie dancing in the dark die auch wieder klassiker sind. von den vier springsteen alben die ich bis jetzt gehört hab das schlechteste...
Also auch wenn das definitiv eine glattpolierte Version von Johnny Cash ist hat das immer noch genug Spirit und Authentizität um den Kitsch irgendwie legitim zu machen. Das ist einfach schön hernest irgendwie. Ich konnte das echt gut durchhören da waren einige Highlights dabei. Hat schon seinen Klassiker Status verdient, Springsteen ist safe einer der besseren populären Rockacts aus der Ära.
liebe ihn und ohne ihn wären the war on drugs und kurt vile NICHTS
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.
Klassieke Springsteen stamper. Zijn latere werk vind ik wat verfijnder en mooier. Desalniettemin een sterk album
Nooit helemaal gedraaid, best leuk, maar erger me wel echt kapot aan die slechte teksten van die baas... vandaar de 2!
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.
Nothing can touch Born to Run. But lord are there some great tracks on this one. I think this album is amazing, and yet I also think it has become over rated. Darkness on the Edge of Town and Born to Run are appropriately rated. This one, somehow as good as it is, is elevated in some circles as THE Springsteen album. It is not, but it is great. And yet it is still 5 stars.
Though I don't think this is Springsteen's best record, it was definitely his most popular, best selling and most commercially successful album. The Boss had broken through into the mainstream (if he hadn't already), not just Springsteen fans, but a whole new younger audience that were swayed by the popular music videos they're were for this record. The dance-worthy, Dancing in the Dark, was his biggest hit (there were 7 top ten singles on the album) despite being one of the least-Springsteen-ish sounding songs of his career. A huge tour followed and the American (and world-wide) public couldn't get enough! Apparently, Bruce did because he never released an album afterwards that was anything as accessible and hit-worthy as Born In The U.S.A.
OK I wasn’t too taken in by Darkness on the Edge of Town, but I liked this one quite a bit. He’s doing more shouting and growling than moaning here, and even when he does do moaning-voice I can deal with it better because it’s not nearly as pronounced in the audio mix.
Better than I was expecting
Damn there are some really good songs on this album. From beginning to end might be The Boss's strongest effort. The only criticism I could levie is that on some songs the 80s production can sound somewhat dated. Still 5 🌟
This record is a heater all the way through.
Born In The U.S.A.
I don't care if he "sold out". I do like commercial, top 40 stuff. And this one checked soooo many of the boxes.
They are not all my favorite songs... i like the darker quieter aspect of Bruce, so I'm on Fire, Downbound Train, I'm Goin' Down are the most interesting to me. I was thinking this was going to be a "4" , but there's just too many amazing tracks, finishing with 4 bangers in a row.
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
This album is iconic for so many reasons it's hard to do a comprehensive review. Let's just say that I feel like this album is a "must listen"
Top Tracks: > Downbound Train > Born in the USA > I'm on Fire > No Surrender > Glory Days > Dancing in the Dark > My Hometown
Bobby jean sax solo still slaps after all these years
So consistently good. 4
02/09/2022 + Classic summer rock. + Absolutely LOVE "I'm On Fire" - such a surprising song with unexpected vulnerability. + Packed with other classic singles that stand the test of time. Really, really great stuff here.
I thought I would enjoy this more but the overly synthetic 80s synths undercut all the fun boppy tracks that springsteen came up with, aside from the title track where they create a clever juxtaposition between the shining, proud synth line and the cynical nature of the lyrics. I prefer his heartland rock stuff over this by a lot.
3 só por causa dancing in the dark.
Fiiiiiiiire
I’m a simple man. I hear the boss I vote five stars
Jäklar vad stor han är Bruce ändå. Jag har inte lyssnat på honom självmant mer än en handfull gånger och inte heller har jag någon i min närhet som har medfört en passiv lyssning. Trots det känns det som jag hört de flesta låtarna så pass mycket att jag känner mig trygg med dom. Och bra är det också, med undantag av titelspåret! (?) "Va? Vad menar jag?". Visst är det fint när trummorna slår igång och på det sättet är det ett väldigt bra sätt att inleda ett album. Men resten av låten spinner inte igång något alls utan det känns som en trist refräng som jag hört alldeles för många gånger. Det är kanske det som en grunden egentligen, jag är less på den. Däremot de andra låtarna som känns household som "Im On Fire" (mys), "I'm Going Down" (svängig rytm i verserna), "Glory Days" (okej, den här är rätt trist) och "Dancing In the Dark" (dansvänlig och energibringande) känns bara trevliga när de går igång. Av de jag inte kände igen så tar låten "Downbound Train" definitivt priset. Direkt när den drar igång faller jag helt för det lilla riffet som smyger in. Allt som allt så är det ett väldigt bra album och Bruce har nog förtjänat att ha lite status inom musiksfären och jag tycker inte han behöver skämmas när folk går runt och kallar honom för papi. Oj, näe just det... Papi är ju någon annan. Jag menar ju självklart ledaren, chefen, bossen! Eller som våra internationella vänner skulle säga; THE BOSS! Bäst: "Downbound Train"
Wonderful. Could do with a remaster.
Fucking fantastic!
Easily the best Springsteen album I’ve gotten. Born in the USA, dancing in the dark, and glory days are all classic bangers
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.
OG America's ass. Postoje umjetnicka djela koja savrseno docaravaju osjecaje i atmosferu nekog vremenskog razdoblja, a ovaj album je to ucinio za Reagansku eru, rast neoliberalizma i ostatke Vietnamskog rata. Pripizdine, nezaposlenost, zgodne cure, zgodni momci, nezaposleni zgodni momci koji love zgodne cure u pripizdinama, globalizacija, ratovi, veterani i stari prijatelji su teme koje je Bruce usavrsio i doktorirao i zato bilo koja osoba na svijetu moze izvuci nesto za sebe iz njegovih tekstova. Upari to sa good ol' american rock'n'roll-om i dobijes ovaj album. Ima taj neki svoj flavour di mu grandioznost glazbe moze utisat poruku teksta i zato je tema albuma, a osobito pjesme born to run, nekada i ironicno krivo shvacena. Ali, bar meni, to samo pridonosi atraktivnosti albuma. Samo se razbacujem s peticama.
Iskreno, ne vidim taj hype oko njega općenito. I understand tho. Vidi se zašto je album toliko voljen, hvaljen, catchy je, plesljiv, pozitivnog tona.
ROOOOOĐEN U ZAAAGREBUUUUUUUU. A ti Bruce moš odjebat opet, al ovaj put je bar 2 jer imaš slušljivih na ovom albumu.
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
Excellent album all throughout with tons of great songs and probably peak Bruce, at least from a general popularity perspective. Tons of hits. 10/10.
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.
Leí una review que decía que esto sonaba a música para niños. Extrañamente en algunas partes lo puedo entender, pero todos tenemos un niño en nuestro interior :]
Buenos jams la verdad. Nota real: 3,75. Su voz y las letras molan. Lo escuché muy fragmentado pero sin embargo son temas. Son temardos. Son temitas. Hay como 3 mega hits que resultan ser las mejores canciones. Bastante icónico. Adiós!
What a great album, so many good songs, so many hits. Very enjoyable to listen too.
Great album, the first one from my run that I'm adding to my regular listening collection. Good to finally listen to some Springsteen - I'm a big Killers fan and their lead never shuts up about how much he loves Bruce. Best Songs: I'm On Fire, No Surrender, I'm Goin' Down, Dancing in the Dark
This is the third Springsteen album I've had, and the third strike he's gotten. I sincerely hope we don't get a fourth.
God Bruce, it's rough. So bland across the board. A few songs I enjoyed, but mostly the sound of everything I dislike about classic rock.
Bruce Springsteen. The steorotypical American rockstar. I haven't heard of his music before, partly because yes I'm living under a rock, but mostly because I wasn't "Born in the USA". "Born in the USA", apparently his masterpiece, is a perfect introduction to this kind of music. It hit all of my expectations with such music. But what surprised me is how well it delivered those generic rock sounds. Also, the Pearl Jam-ish energy of it made me think for a moment that it's released in the '90s, but as I listened closer, I heard the synths and other pop elements present in the '80s. Does that mean that this album is ahead of it's time? Perhaps. But whatever, kudos for not letting the music be engulfed by those '80s synthpop sounds. And kudos for using such an uplifting and melancholic flavor of rock despite the criticizing nature of the lyrics. I'm not surprised that many misinterpreted the title track as a totally patriotic song.
My Dad had this on vinyl, so it got some heavy rotation when I was about five. Now, the tentpole tracks (Born in the USA, Cover Me and Dancing in the Dark) lack the punch I remember, but I'm on Fire is an absolute masterpiece; Springsteen baring a vulnerable heart underneath his gruff exterior.
It was great
This made no impression on me whatsoever
Love it
Springsteen's first 'pop' album. Some good tracks but this was the start of songs in the formulaic Lucky Town mould. Not my favourite album.
Not the triumphant, blindly patriotic collection of anthems you might expect. Lyrically very introspective about America's rich tapestry and broad range of lifestyles and opportunities.
it's above average but doesn't move me much.
My personal favorite boss album. This is everything great about him. Hardcore Americana lyrics with soulful sax solos. His singing still has its flaws but this album not only rocks but has some great ballads too. It’s excellent. 9.0/10
I still think he's Top 3 most overrated acts of all time but... I dig it
One of the easiest 5s so far.
There are a lot of Springsteen's best songs on this album, and it marries the joy of some of his biggest hits with the emotional weight of his slower albums.
A few bangers, a few stinkers. Overall, I enjoyed it. Screw the haters.
Well, hit after hit after hit. Strong dad-rock vibe!
The archetypal blue collar rock album. Infectiously enjoyable. With a title track that humiliated US politicians who only read the title.
He Bossed it.
He's not called the Boss for nothing.
so klassischer rock is ja eigentlich net meins aber da sind so viele coole nummern drauf. jede für sich besonders und trotzdem schlüssig als ganzes
Ist halt "The Boss", was soll man sagen...
Einige echte Kracher oben, der rest solide. Ich mag the boss.
Not listened to ‘The Boss’ much but really enjoyed this. Dancing in the Dark is a bop.
Excelente disco
More commercial than his earlier work...
One of my favorite albums of all time
Asskolli skemmtileg plata alltaf hreint.
Classic, at least 8 great songs on this album.
Listened to. Owned.
Like everything else Springsteen, this is hit or miss. This is more a nostalgia album for me than something that I would actively listen to.
ugh. I'm sorry. I just don't like this music. I don't know why. It seems boring? I know i'm a huge minority. I'll never know if I actually just don't like popular stuff. But nothing except dancing in the dark catches my attention but like, there are covers of that song that I think are absolutely beautiful and almost chilling and when he sings it i just do not get that at all.
Brilliant album, a collection of great songs
7/10
Perfect
Great 1980's era Boss stuff. "Born In The USA" that so misunderstood Ronald Reagan Theme! is an amazing track as is "Downbound Train" Poet to the people is Brooooce! "Glory Days" is some song too and of course the Courtney Cox Dancing on the video for "Dancing In The Dark" is legendary. In My Collection already.
Hits are hits, filler is bleh
Great hits but it just isn’t my style.
They didn’t call him the boss for nothing. This is the masterpiece!!
Other than the title track, a solid album.
Naturally, of my era, I was aware of Mr. Springsteen, The Boss, on MTV. From the songs of the time it seemed like he was performing and contorting having his fingernails pulled out with pliers. I never went back and actually listened to this record. Thanks to this project I resolved to try it out, despite defiance. How could I have known his velvety crooning would melt my wretched heart?
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.
8/10 pretty great 80s rock
23rd November 2021 Listened on the record player while working before we went to this weird bubble instillation in green Park. Bake off final win for guiseppe. Nothing to say. Perfection.
Classic Americana, I like it
Is this the so called "dad-rock"? Definitelly yes. Is it good? Also yes. There's a couple of meh tracks in the middle but there's also a lot of good stuff here. Not an album I would listen to on repeat but when the mood comes some "dad-rock" is perfectly fine.
That's great
Послушать фоном.
Confirmed the Boss isn’t for me. I do like “I’m on Fire” though.
certified banger
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.
Liked it more than I expected. It's working class porn, but it kind of rocks. Not a big fan of the Boss but this album was more than solid.
3 absolute classics with some lowkey bangers sprinkled in there. Easy 5 star
A lot of good songs
Från Sticky Fingers jeansskrev till detta jeansarsle. Otroliga hits på detta album, känns som varannan låt blivit en rockklassiker. Och bra är det också. Cover Me, Downbound Train, och I'm Going Down är skitbra. No Surrender är snabb och härlig. Dancing in the Dark är vad Glory Days önskar att den var, en riktig banger. Bobby Jean, I'm On Fire, och My Hometown är vackra. Speciellt I'm On Fire. Bara melodin är nog för att väcka starka känslor. Några svagare spår, som Darlington County och Working on the Highway gör att albumet inte riktigt nåt en femma. Men ändå, en jävla KLASSIKER. Bästa låt: I'm On Fire.
Born In The USA - Niet alleen de titel van een album, maar ook van een heel bekend nummer, zelfs bekend van de 2 Live Crew. Ik was meteen nieuwsgierig naar het album, en wat een fijn album is het! Allemaal leuke liedjes, ondanks dat er toch niet heel veel nummers zijn die er echt uit springen voor mij. Naast de bekende hits is voor mij de verrassing mij: "No Surrender" *****
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
I'm just not a fan of Bruce Springsteen.
Solid album
Classic rock is classic. Some of it more classic than others.
Really liked this album. Heard it multiple times
Gute laune ami rock. Einige Lieder kannte ich schon
Kinda repetative.
yikes!
not my kind of thing
It feels sacrilegious to say, but I don’t really like this album. It of course has some timeless bangers. But, I’m not one for lyrics, for me they rarely make a song, and if they’re the only thing going on, it usually loses me. The simple looping guitar riffs and drums, with earnest but rough vocals, doesn’t do it for me. Highlights: Born in the USA, Dancing in the Dark
I’d forgotten how good this album is! Who can resist a spontaneous dance party when dancin in the dark come on
Not a bad track. pre-MAGA without the vitriol.
Very chill and surprisingly sweet. Could be a little more funky. 3/5
Holy shitfuck, I hate his voice. Plus, Darlington County is just Born In The USA with different words. It's literally 2 tracks later!! Shameless. Fav new track: I'm Goin' Down as it was the most ridiculous.
Not for me
I didn't realise how many of these songs I actually knew until I listened to this and they're actually kinda bangers.
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
Ugh. Does anyone like Bruce Springsteen, or is this just the album men listen to to feel closer to their estranged fathers? Solid meh.
YES
The perfect album about the United States. Shame the ideals that Bruce wrote about have been perverted in the 37 years since this was released.
Bruuuuce!
a cocktail of energy, melancholy and nostalgia.
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?
This is pertnear a greatest hits album on its own. Five all-time classics. Damn.
Oh, boy. I can barely stomach early Springsteen. And it's all downhill once you get past Darkness On The Edge of Town. The Boss, my ass.I'll give Springsteen credit for one thing: he doesn't approach this material tentatively. The martial, strident, echoey drums and the droning plastic synths of the title cut are a perfect fit for Springsteen's shout singing. I know the lyrics are critical, but I don't care. I can't get past how vile this is. I prefer Joe Piscopo's version. At least it's funny. Things don't approve as the album goes along. Humorless, strident, lacking any subtlety or nuance whatsoever, fully buying into his own myth, Born in the USA is unbearable.
First time I’ve listened to it. I already knew Born in the USA and Dancing in the Dark, which I love, but I wasn’t much of a fan. Now that I’ve listened to the album, I understand why people love Bruce, it’s an amazing one!
When Bruuuuuuuuce turned this album in, his manager, Jon Landau told him he needed a single for the radio. He went back and produced that single - Dancing in the Dark and an additional six more would be released. Every single record was a top-ten hit. You can't argue with this and you can't argue with Bruce because he is the Boss.
Excelent. Almost a perfect album.
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.
A departure from his earlier works and a more pop feel album than was heard from The Boss than before this. Very accessible, very 80s, this is a great album to dip into his works.
This album is what comes to mind when I think about musicians in the '80s adding synthesizers to their music simply because it was the thing to do at the time and having it just fail miserably. I don't like Bruce in general, but the production on these songs makes this whole record feel particularly disingenuous and superficial.
Of Springsteen’s near flawless, decade and a half run of albums at the beginning of his career, this is probably my least favorite. “No Surrender” still rules though.
They’re some tight buns. Antihero of the proud yanks, I like Dancing in the Dark but feel the album is a bit overrated
Flaccid
Ехали на дачу плакали всей машиной
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.
Not a fan
Залупа какая-то юса пропаганда
Quite one dimensional. Like he is straining constantly. I hadn't much of it before, I imagine I won't here much of it again in the future! All comes across as quite dated - musically and lyrically. Saved from 1* by Dancing in the Dark.
Fucking love this album. Buzzing it popped up as I don't listen to it often. 1. Born In The USA - ironically this is the track that put me off Springsteen for so many years, assuming he was a boring dad rock patriot berk. Couldn't have been more wrong 8/10 2. Cover Me - One of his all time classics 9/10 3. Darlington County - It's very cheesey but good fun 7/10 4. Working On The Highway - As above. Chorus is v catchy 6.5/10 5. Downbound Train - A welcome change back to more classic Springsteen vibes with lyrics that paint a picture 9/10 6. I'm On Fire - Noncey lyrics, always found it a tad over-rated but it's v good 8/10 7. No Surrender - a stone cold banger 10/10 8. Bobby Jean - Best track on the album and top 5 overall, fucking love it. Especially as it's written about Steve van Zandt leaving the band <3 10/10 9. I'm Going Down - Another classic 10/10 10. Glory Days - Another in the good kind of cheesey category 8/10 11. Dancing In The Dark - Not enough guitar for me but it's incredible 9.5/10 12. My Hometown - A perfect ending 9/10
Some nice songs, not completely my style. But to make a protest song that everyone can sing (un-ironically) along too is special.
Never have I so thoroughly enjoyed a guy who sounds eternally constipated essentially screaming about how much life sucks. And that'll probably never happen again.
I only have one ‘the boss’ and it’s MY WIFE!!! Am I right, fellas?? Never really been a Bruce guy. Sorry
Exhaustively boring safe boomer rock
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.
Can really imagine I have much to say about Born to Run that wouldn’t retread territory that’s been gone over many, many times. I was interested to read that it came out of basically the same recording sessions that produced Nebraska, and listening to it in this context gave it some additional texture for me, and made sense. They really are two sides of a coin. I like it as I generally like Springsteen, though it would not make my top three of his albums... maybe not even my top five.
During the first 4 songs, I enjoyed the theme of working-class blues that does not view it through rose-colored glasses.
eh, it was good
Own this one on vinyl and have listened to it, plenty already. 8/10.
Pomon musa ei ehkä ole omalla listalla ihan kärjessä, mutta tämän levyn kuunteli mielellään läpi. Ehkäpä oma lemppari hänen tuotannostaan. Vahva 3,5*
Aiempiin vastaantulleisiin levyihin verrattuna tää nappas heti ja piti otteessaan loppuun asti. Vaikka pari, syystäkin, hittiä levyltä löyty, niin kaikki biisit oli vähintään hyviä
The boss.
Defines the 80s!
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 cared for this album, not in the redneck context nor the anti-war context.
Ultimate dad rock with a small dose of cirngey good ol' boy lyricism. Good tunes though, nothing great, but good.
Fantastic. Incredible album, consistent throughout and packed with hits. Love Springsteens work.
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
Best Springsteen album by far, and worth 5 stars for its place in personal history. I find it funny how, over the years, the songs I least liked from the album have become my album favourites. But that's just an aside...
1984: Born in the USA, I'm On Fire, Dancing In the Dark
Couldn’t get through it, but I did try
In this album Springsteen begins his courtship with Americana at large. There are still the intricate lyrical ballads telling about the common-man experience, but they now have some twang in some parts. Pairing this with multiple singles and stand out tracks including the often misinterpreted "Born in the USA". This album shines as a solid entry although not his best.
I get tired of Bruce Springsteen's raunchy and screamy vocals quite fast, though I can't deny the lovely irony of Born In The Usa becoming a patriotic anthem despite it being meant as an anti-Vietnam message. The rest of the record is mediocre, the lyrics are extremely sappy and dumb, and god, I can't get over how annoying Bruce's singing is. 2/5.
sucks.
i don't like this album but i'm on fire changed my life so idk how to rate this
Bought this at age 13 when it came out. Gets compared to Nebraska or The River all the time as they were contemporaries but this is not those albums. This is "mainstream" Bruce reaching out to his widest audience ever and nailing it. "Bobby Jean" is a lamentation of a girl he used to know that still hits that yearning feeling all these years later. A favorite.
This was just "okay" to me. Some of the songs sound like "what old people listen to at the bar" to me. Of course, I'm sure the music I love will be that pretty soon.
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.
It was a good listen but something I probably won't chill and listen to. The hits are classics though
Yeah still not a fan. Cheesy cringey vocals and lyrics. Boring instrumentation. I just can't see the appeal.
Not my favorite Bruce album, but still heads and tails above most.
It's the Boss!!!
To me, this is the last of Springsteen's superb albums that started with Born to Run a decade prior. That being said, he's already on the road to decline. This album is his most popular, and I assure you have heard several of these songs many times before. This album is his poppiest yet, but his songwriting skills are still among the best in the industry. Also, I can't tell if the album cover is based on Sticky Fingers, but if so it could be perfect since it conveys a blue-collar worker facing the other way, which I always interpreted as the a dynamic between rockstars and the working class, setting up the theme for the album. It's hard to criticize "Born in the USA" due to its mainstream nature, but I will say I hate how the use of synthesizers shroud the lyrics beyond the chorus. It's no wonder nobody knows what this song is about. Even if you try paying attention to the lyrics, good luck. I thought the yellow man was referring to Native Americans for a long time. That being said, the chorus and sound is catchy and upbeat, juxtaposing the passive-aggressive lyrics. "Cover Me" has my favorite tune, and bravo to Springsteen's voice. "Darlington County" has the most entertaining lyrics, with some humor thrown in. "Downbound Train" is an emotional track about a lost lover, complimented by the next track "I'm on Fire" about a potential lover. Love the way he can convey his emotions so strongly, yet confused why it's one of his popular songs. "No Surrender" and "Bobby Jean" are another pair of related songs that shift from optimism to depsair. "Glory Days" is my favorite. Despite the heavy use of synth again clouding the lyrics, it's catchy and relatable to everyone. Look up the full version with the missing version. I think it's a necessary completion of the song to see how this isn't confined to just your generation. "Dancing in the dark" is another favorite of mine, and I love how meta the song is and how it actually became a huge hit.
Cool album. Most songs are not surprising, but very consistent.
This is good. Very listenable
The ultimate blue collar album. Most of Springsteen’s biggest hits are here, and a lot of good stuff in between. I’m On Fire is a big highlight, and who doesn’t know Dancing in the Dark? Not a big Bruce fan but this whole album is probably his most listenable.
classic
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
This is the 4th Springsteen album I have gotten out of 70, 2nd this week. After listening to the album I ate at a McDonalds, read a Ronald Reagan biography and punch a commie in the dick. MERICA!
Excellent start to an album, very catchy and inspirational. Born in the U.S.A. was the perfect title track and is still my favorite song in the album. Cover me is a great song. Album is an 8/10.
First track makes you want to take on the world. Good from start to finish.
Great album. Some very good deep cuts below the title track like Darlington County, No Surrender, and I’m on Fire. Downtown Train and My Hometown are the only duds to me.
It took me a little while to come around to appreciating Bruce. Some of the overproduction / radio hit friendly aspects of this album, which was my first real exposure to him as a kid, was a bit too much. Later in life, I found Nebraska and it really opened up the doors to taking him more seriously. Not that I disliked him prior, it just felt a bit too much like posturing. Relistening to this, yeah, the production is still a bit too glossy for me, but the songs and feel are solid and strong.
I'm Goin' Down is Springsteen's best song.
Pas fan
The Boss!!! Amazing album. An all-time favorite.
-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
Nice
Veeery close to the full 5, wonderful
I like. Men er ikke lige i mood for det
Good album.
So far I have rather enjoyed this album. However, I am not the biggest fan of the music style. It is better than some of the others.
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.
Been ages since I listened to this, but it still holds up. Very 80s, and yet still classic Springsteen.
Some good tunes. Dancing In The Dark and Glory Days. Not one to run to!
Kann da nichts besonderes dran finden, aber die Musik ist der Hammer!
Was soll ich sagen... Das einzig negative wäre, dass es halt der Gipfel der Popularität ist....
Not 100% my kind of music but I have no criticism to make. This is a great album.
This triumphant album could easily be a greatest hits album. You can see why it Springsteen's most mainstream album with its straight up rock and roll bringing heartland music to the masses. As with the song Born in the USA the music itself somehow drive the lyrics into a more positive direction than maybe it should. Quite a few of the choruses turn into anthems thus drawing the focus away from some of the lyrics. I don't doubt that the cover with the American flag sticking out of his back pocket also had a lot to do with that. Great album and with few exceptions songs that stay with you and come to life every time you listen again. Favorite songs: Dancing in the Dark (one of my favorites BS Songs), Glory Days, No Surrender, My Hometown. 4.5/5
Masterpiece. Bruce is a treasure and must be protected at all costs
Not a great fan of Brucie Baby.
Out of all the albums we've listened to so far, this one definitely has the most recognizable radio hits, and it's easy to understand why. The production is very triumphant, even if the lyrics are critical of American life. It's probably why "Born in the USA", a Vietnam War protest song that focuses on mistreated veterans, is still played at Republican Party rallies to this day. It's a strangely enticing combination of combining sentimentality and frustration with the reality of the American Dream. Fav Tracks: My Hometown, I'm Goin' Down, No Surrender, Born in the USA, Working on the Highway Rating: 4.5/5
An emblematic, career-defining record from the Boss that would come to cement his place in the pop culture pantheon. In a way, I also see this record as setting the template of possibly half of the Springsteen records to follow, oscillating between albums like this and folkie narratives in the vein of Nebraska. In that respect, it's an artist distilling what they do best, albeit into a more commercially appealing package. One the one hand, I think this makes it a crowning achievement, but this pinnacle feels like it represents a bit of a calcifying of what Springsteen has to offer. It's simpler, more direct, but that also flattens some of the urgent complexity of his earlier work. I think it also undermines the power of the E Street Band a little. Max Weinberg drums like a terrifying robot here and some of the others are buried in the mix. Anyway, those reflections have more to do with what would follow than this album in and of itself. It's triumphant, and yet undercut by difficult stories of dreams deferred, unfulfilled, and utterly broken. There are sparks of hope that shine through, however. I also feel like this album is a little backloaded. I'd argue that there's a few weaker tracks on Side A (i.e. "Working on the Highway") that nevertheless support the narrative in a way Side B doesn't necessarily do. I sometimes find myself reaching for the skip button on these ones. As anthemic as it is, I think this version of "Born in the USA" is somewhat undone by its arrangement compared to the sparse version to surface in the years following. "Dancing in the Dark" is still my favourite song about the creative process. In short, while this isn't my favourite Springsteen record (that might be Darkness on the Edge of Town?), it totally deserves a spot on this list for its cultural significance and killer singles. 4.5/5 Favourite tracks: Dancing in the Dark, I'm On Fire, No Surrender, Glory Days
Eines der besten Alben aller Zeiten. Obwohl es ja teilweise breitbeinig und stadiontauglich ist, ist es nie peinlich. Und die Geschichten, die erzählt werden, sind autentisch über ein Amerika der Arbeiter ohne, herablassend zu sein. Mega! I am on fire.
A meme.
Fast so gut, wie sein Podcast mit Obama :)
not as bad as i thought it would be
Another fantastic album. every song is a great track that can be appreciated for either its uplifting backing track or it's hidden lyrical depth. This is just a really good album. 4.8/5 stars.
3/5 too romantic for my taste
Klinkt helemaal niet zoals ik had verwacht. Verrassend, maar fijn. Zeker een artiest die live tot zijn recht zou komen.
Een paar goede nummers, maar ook een paar nummers die te repetitief zijn als rocknummer
The Boss does stadium rock. Best Tracks: Born In The U.S.A., I'm On Fire, Dancing In The Dark
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.
Guest entry for biggestjosh from AER. My love for Bruce runs deep. One of the my most reliable self-checks of mental health is to put on the Boss, any album from his unrivaled 1970s run, and if I can feel it, I know my outlook and neurochemistry is in good shape. Bruce is a mirror. Bruce is a mirror for American men who view life as an endless struggle that must be met with generous love, empathy for those at the bottom, and extended moaning and grunting. Bruce is Steinbeck. He's a mirror for the underclass, and he's not coopting their plight for his gain. I think he's honestly trying to reach and elevate them through music, and it just so happens to resonate with a lot of people for that reason. He has no room in his 71 year old Jersey Shore body for satire. This album before this, Nebraska, is dark, depressing, critically acclaimed, stripped down, and speaks to blue collar heartland themes, and lots of people hated it. This album is dark, depressing, critically acclaimed, and tackles blue collar heartland themes with a full E Street Band treatment, and it produced 8 huge hit singles. Sad acoustic folk doesn't speak to the middle class. Maybe they want to hear 50s rock songs blown up with a 12 piece band and a small dash of 80's synths to sound just relevant enough, but not too alienating. Music about the common man, for the common man, in the style of the common man. And then Reagan uses your songs at his convention. Think about someone you know who loves Bruce. Maybe they're white, middle class, from an older generation, and slightly liberal. Maybe they voted Biden. Maybe find casinos delightful. Maybe they could use a raise. Maybe they're more likely to buy you a drink. Maybe they eat at Subway every now and then, but get a meatball sub. I think some of the songs on here are great. The second half is especially strong. A-
Boring as fuck
The title track and Glory Days are clearly killer. Otherwise, nice storytelling and pretty basic 80's stuff going on.
So I’d previously had a bias toward Born to Run between the two, but listening to this again reminded me of how many great hits & what a consistent feel this one has. Really good
An essential album for sure!
Music was pretty good, but the lyrics killed me. If I could give half stars, I'd rate it 2.5 because I felt it was overwhelmingly average
Probably the least timeless Springsteen has ever sounded but also the most hooky. Some of these songs are smashes right out the gate, while the worst of them just sound like retreads of similar material. Overall solid in my opinion
not my thing but appreciate it