Reviews (page 3 of 15)
I like his music with less synth but the songs have staying lower, especially the less popular ones
This album probably wouldn’t have been anything without the production, but also I hate the production.
Meh
I cannot stand this guys music.
I get why my dad loves Springsteen. If I were in my teens listening to this I'd be like wow, this really gets my teenage urge to get out of this place. Says "little girl" just a few too many times
Listened to this on kirkversary which is fitting I guess. I really like this album. I love rock Bruce Springsteen.
Solid stuff overall. A little hokey/dated but I think this was a good album overall.
8/10
I unexpectedly enjoyed some songs in this album; i'm always gonna be a fan of rock. However some songs just weren't for me :( Favourite song was either Cover Me or Dancing in the Dark
this album touched me like a republican congressman in a boy scout cabin
such a solid album and really hols its own even after all these years.
Initial post listing ranking: 8/10 Type of music / Reminds me of: Mom, Jean, old guy, AMERICA Thoughts: Wanted to rate it worse than it was. It won me over by the end. Really good and if I'm in the mood this would hit really hard. This album really really nails the style and does not deviate from it the whole album. This is a true "Album" in every sense of the word. Just pick a style of music and sticking to it. If you want that style then listening to this album cover to cover is a treat. Favorite Track: I'm On Fire (his voice is so good dang)
These songs are nostalgic for me, but feel very old fashioned for the times. This was not new and fresh music in 1984. For instance: comparing "My Hometown" with REM's "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville." They both came out in 1984, they are both country-tinged rock songs about sleepy towns. But one is musically looking forward and the other is looking backwards
This is a more varied album than I thought it would be. Never been a big Springsteen fan, and this is a great album.. but its not for me. Whatever it is where some people connect with this deeply, I don't have it. I wonder if he's got any more abstract songs. These seem to be very "I did this, we saw that, then this happened" style songs.. these rarely hook me, unless I can really discern a deeper meaning. The meaning of these is right up front. I can hear a little Bowie in here though. And some Silver Bullet Band. Elvis Costello, Neil Young. I think I'd rather listen to those artists. I don't know why. The themes around the right-wing turn of the country from 75 -> 85 are clear, and I appreciate that. Not whiney or preachy. Interesting to hear the concerns from 40 years ago, and think about the current emergency. All the same themes, magnified and transformed into a killing floor. I think I give this album a 4. Its clearly great and special, and meaningful. No songs skipped. I'm glad I finally listened to it. But, not for me. I can tell it is very much for some people, though.
Love this record. Might be his best. Though I suppose that is a worthy debate to have. 5/5
I had some of his stuff in the 70s, but then I started listening to King Crimson or whatever so I never looked back. But while post-1980 Bruce never really penetrated into my little punk/prog bubble, I have new respect for him because of the song he released last year, "Streets of Minneapolis." So here goes. This is fun good-time rock music with some introspective, sometimes dark lyrics. Still not really the kind of thing that I like anymore, but I can see why it's popular. 3 stars
merica. paar bangers paar echt ass
This has 3 songs I think are brilliant but this style of music is not really my thing and I find it cheesy.
Listened
classic album, lot of good hits, easy to listen to.
Really good album. Full of strong tracks. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.
Good lively album, very mainstream.
feeling generous so i'm giving this a 4 even though i despise heartland rock and this is very much the heartland rock final boss. something very funny about bruce making the most on-the-nose social commentary but the music was so authentic to the people he was parodying that they're still misunderstanding the songs 40 years later. rock-n-roll, mtv ready videos, an annie leibovitz shot album cover...this is truly america
I didn’t like born in the USA overall three out of five
Do I really have to give THIS a 5 star? Honestly, there was not one song that i did not enjoy. It's cheesy, it's way too patriotic, but damn... it's bangers on bangers. Low 5
couldnt get thru it, abusive ex loved it too much lol
Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: No Surrender and Cover Me Date listened: 20/06/26 Listen when: Drive with Dad Wow I liked this A LOT more than I thought I would. And he's a really great guy who's vocal about issues in America according to his wikipedia? Makes me love it even more.
Was this album title an intentional reference to his 70s masterpiece? As an 80s kid, this album was ubiquitous in a way that was nauseating. Just could not escape it. It’s to its credit that a lot of the non-singles material sounds like a bar band playing bar band standards, just turned up enough that it scans as arena rock. Surely that’s part of the attraction for longtime Boss fans?
I’ve always been something of a Springsteen hater for whatever reason. Maybe I heard too much of Born to Run when I was younger, but this album deserves its time in the sun- especially this close to a dubious at best celebration upcoming for the country’s birthday. I hope our glory days haven’t passed us by yet.
So many hits, this is truly an all-timer.
While I've never listened to this album front to back before, this is definitely the Springsteen album I'm most familiar with because of the number of hits that are on this album. When it came out, you couldn't turn on the radio or MTV without hearing one of these songs. And despite the meaning of "Born in the U.S.A." being misinterpreted for years by a lot of people, you still can't see a 4th of July fireworks show without hearing it. I'm just not a huge Springsteen fan. But, this is one of those albums where you have to be objective rather than subjective. Is it my thing? No. Does it belong on the list? Absolutely. I think Springsteen's music either resonates with you or it doesn't, but you can't deny his impact and the impact of this album on American culture.
One of the defining works of the 1980s. Only a shade less interesting than Born to Run, and overfamiliar these days, but that doesn't really matter. A classic for good reason.
Ahh one of my most listened to albums of all time. This is undeniably a very iconic album. The album cover, the title, the sound. I absolutely adore it. I'm On Fire feels like spiritual awakening on a hot summer night, one of the best songs of all time. I could probably keep yapping about this album so this short review should be enough 5/5
Never been a fan but also never really gave him a chance. I liked it more than I thought but still not my thing. I think I'd probably like it a lot more if it was recorded in the 70's. The thin, sterile 80's production kinda ruins it for me. A lot of the songs end up sounding like bar band music just because there's no warmth or character in the production. I will definitely never play this again which usually would mean a 2 or 1 star rating but I really agree with its place on the list and fully understand why it's an important album for americans. I'm glad I listened to it. Cover Me is the only song I liked that I hadn't heard before. His singing is different on that one, not the typical strained thing he normally does. I also like the singles I'm on Fire and Dancing in the Dark.
Coming back from Nam and being laid off from the factory has never sounded so good! An album full of singles….. literally, they released 8. The moment that Bruce’s stirring dirge balladry met 80’s production values and went stadium with snappy gated drums and synth pads that make this nostalgia bomb the absolute banger it was, is and always will be. YEAH!!! 💪🏼 4.7
Fantastic record. Lots of energy and bangers but also love how you can scratch beneath the surface if inclined and really delve into the lyrics which are quite in contrast to the upbeat music.
5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background
Not my style. Not my cake
Great album. Classic stuff.
- best opening ever... totally a classic.
No denying the opening track hits like a freight train- however if he was such a good artist why does he need to keep going back to that formula for so many tracks on the album. It ended up feeling repetitive even though the tracks were good and there were some great tracks in between the ones that felt like ‘born to run’ mark II. ‘Downbound train’ and ‘I’m on fire’ as well as ‘dancing in the dark’ all getting turned up. I’m just not entirely sure what all the fuss is about personally and I’ll probably get hate for that but I guess that’s the power of music. Best track- ‘I’m on fire’ Worst track- ‘I’m going down’ 7/10 Ok so a refresh and this is a first on this journey- I have listened to the album again this morning and it’s hit that little differently and I whacked it up a few notches and actually maybe I misjudged based on the feeling of repetition and therefore after second listen I’m Going to bump up the score to 8.5/10
Brooce! An album that reeks of decline and defiance, but of a country I don't know which means, in the end, it doesn't really resonate with me over here on the other side of the Atlantic. But it is still hard to resist the relentless tribute to false promises and let-downs that runs through the massive title track. Bruce gets his much wanted hits in the pop productuon of Cover Me, Dancing in the Dark, Glory Days and others. There's the usual introspection along the way as well. But...rarely makes me feel a thing other than thanks for taking me along for the ride. Best Track - Bobby Jean. The desperation of this song is the one that hit me deeper than any other. Worst Track - Darlington County. Probably fun to play, but definitely not to listen to. 7/10
A consistently great album. Working on the Highway and I’m Going Down are my personal faves. It also has the obvious hits of Born in the USA, Dancing in the Dark and Glory Days. It’s pretty stacked
I got to see Springsteen and the E Street Band on tour for this album back in 1985 at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Phenomenal album and phenomenal concert!
This album was inescapable when it came out. Other than the videos I never listened to it, a much younger me was into heavier music so I was diametrically opposed to keyboards. This is nowhere close to my favorite Bruce album but man, it plays like a greatest hits collection. Listening to My Hometown and getting the goosebumps, dude has a real talent for writing 'Everyman' songs that hit you right in the feels.
Very thumpy Def from the 80’s American life is rough rock Not something I would listen to in my free time Pretty specific audience
can't stand him
10/10
Dece
RAHHH MERICA🇺🇸🦅🦅
very Americana. also the album cover is perhaps one of the most iconic photos of jeans ever. a good time but not really my thing
increíble, consistente, completo, muy yankee e icónico 10/10
You guys might recall that many years ago I was in to "we shall overcome," a 2006 album by Springsteen that is largely folk music. That album is a good bit cooler than this one. Of course, we have to analyze this from the lens that this was just the kind of music that people did at the time. I would say this album was a pattern B: the one song I recognized, the title track, was probably the least interesting. There was some half decent stuff among the rest of the tracks, but not good enough to get a three. His voice is unique and I don't mind it.
This was huge, when it came out in 1984. Half of the songs were top 10 hits (tracks 1, 2, 6, 9, 10, and 11). The things I didn't like then are the things I don't like now - in particular the ham-fisted snare on the 2 & 4, and (to some extent) Bruce's voice. And also, to a lesser extent, the over-exposure to the hits on the radio. I much prefer the (much) quieter and introspective album that preceded this one, "Nebraska," from 1982, which I still own. Two of the songs that I like best, not surprisingly, are the quiet songs that end both sides of the record (tracks 6 and 12 - even though track 6 was a hit), which are closer in sound and spirit to the "Nebraska" album. And, also not too surprising, I also sort of like tracks 5, 7, and 8, which weren't hits. Republican politicians over the years have made the mistake of trying to use "Born in the U.S.A." as a right-wing anthem but, to his credit, Springsteen keeps shooting them down, and has been particularly active and vocal in speaking out against Trump and ICE the past year or two. I wonder how I would have rated this if I'd never heard any of these songs before? Probably still a 3? Anyway, that's what I'm giving this one -- which is, in a way, part 4 and part 2.
I don't enjoy the big snare on 2 and 4 or Bruce's yelling, so "I'm On Fire" is probably my favorite song. The melodies are not deft, either. Very in-your-face. I do appreciate the storytelling, but I can't get past the quality of the music.
I am aware of its historical significance and the tracks here are iconic. However , for me, not much set this apart sufficiently from the similar records
Classic and iconic album.
Awesome
MURICAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. liked it, but I'm not american, so idk. pretty good. bruce really has a leading voice that nobody can really find, and i'm pretty sure a patriotic american teenager from the 80s would hold this album tightly close to their heart.
Eh
bruce springsteen?? but it’s summer. more like bruce summersteen
Pretty good album had a lot of bangers. Definetly felt like the USA.
Lots o' 80s era hits on here. But I must confess, The Boss has never really been my cuppa. Of the hits, the standouts for me are: I'm on Fire and Dancing in the Dark. But overall, this album is just middling rock with call backs to 50s era rock, simplistic keys and drums, and while the lyrics are generally good in the critical, obervational sense, It just doesn't move me. I'm glad the Boss and the E-Street band exist and I'm a fan of Springsteen using his platform to speak up for the working class. But that doesn't garner any more stars, unfortunately.
I don't really care too much for Bruce Springsteen's blue collar anthemic songs, typified by this album. Having said that, I do think this is an album deserving of its place in this list. I've given it a bonus point because the title track confuses right wing politicians.
Сара 3,5 Марко 4
Not my jam but he is definitely talented
You can tell how successful an album is when you know most of the tunes having never listened to it before. But It's only when listening to it from start to finish that it struck me how simplistic and repetitive Bruce Springsteen songs are. It doesn't seem to have done him any harm though and it's an album i'll listen to again.
An ok album propped up by some of the very big hits
The album that introduced Bruce to the masses. Love so many of these songs.
Bunch of classics, can't go wrong with most of the album.
****Spoiler warning ***** Born in the USA is not a pro-American song.
Amazing 80’s rock! I only knew a few song sin the album, but the new were unbelievable too! This has definitely been a big influence on American music and probably more! I’d recommend Born in the U.S.A, Cover me, Downbound train, I’m on fire, Glory days, Dancing in the dark and Hometown
Love this album, have it on vinyl
full of bangers
It's one note. But its a very good note. I wish 'I'm on Fire' wasn't so creepy
Probably really a 3 I guess but I know I didn't enjoy it that much, and I've never been even lukewarm on the hits here. So for me, I'm not coming back to this one
No offense to the boss, but I find his music to just be okay. Maybe it's because I've heard it a million times before and am tired of it, idk. Dancing in the Dark will forever be a bop though.
Great album that I used to not really appreciate. Any album with a single that becomes an anthem for the very thing it is criticizing gets a 1 star bump for me
The inclusion of this album on the list does not surprise me in the slightest
sooooooooooooooooo Americana
its fine!
Bruce has been both good and bad on this list, and this album is definitely a good one. It’s possible I’ve heard this album in full as a kid, but I definitely don’t remember it well. Enjoyable listen
that s fucking good
Well...the boss...not really my thing but nice songs.
Like the piano, drums are basic yet fun to listen to, not a lot of crazy bass fills/riffs but most had really great bass, well dynamics
I'm a little biased because there's a lot of nostalgic memory with this album. When I was 8 years old I remember hearing it on the radio. Just good old classic rock and roll piano bass drums classic songwriting.
The most up beat, down beat album I’ve heard. Knew half the songs just from being alive when this was released. Not a big Bruce fan but I have to hand it to him here.
Decent all the way through -
Yesterday was the 42nd anniversary of the release of Born in the USA. I can still recall the excitement I felt at the time, running out to the store to grab the album and listen to it for the first time. Dancing in the Dark had already been released as a single, and I loved it, but also it sounded so different from what we were used to with Bruce. It had been four years since The River, his previous rock record. Nebraska came in 1982 and it was so different, so my anticipation for a return to a rock and roll sound was even more heightened. I played it over and over that first day and absolutely loved it. I enjoyed all of the songs and each one became a favorite in some way upon listening further. A couple of months later I saw him live for the first time and it was the greatest concert I'd ever been to, and still is to this day. Shortly after that, however, the album was taking on a life of its own and it was everywhere. And everyone was talking about Bruce. And as time passed and seven of the songs became hit singles, I grew very critical of the record and began to actively avoid playing it. For years after I was disappointed when one of the songs would be played live, except for Downbound Train which was always my favorite. When this came up today from the generator I had very mixed feelings. I hadn't listened to the full album in years, but the last time I did I kinda enjoyed it again. As always, I try to listen as if I'm hearing it for the first time, and I wasn't certain I'd be able to do that today. From the beginning of the title track I was hooked. I didn't sing along and just listened. And I found that I absolutely loved it again. Every song has a different sound, even though they all have that 80's feel. I could hear the fun they had recording it and It all popped for me as it did back on June 4th, 1984. There wasn't a single song I felt like skipping, and I again knew why this thing became the behemoth it once was. Lyrically it's relatable by just about anyone who's ever struggled in life. And musically the band is just kicking it. Every one of the band members has their chance to shine, and they do. I can't even say which songs were standouts, as they all were in one way or another. Welcome back Born in the USA!
Great message and some great moments. Just like with all of Bruce’s catalogue, it’s sonically equivalent to Taylor Swift’s simplicity and unironic overclichéing. That being said, I think I prefer this Bruce album over all his other ones. The lyrics to the title song cut very deep.
This is the 3-est 3 so far. Some bangers here, solid album, inoffensive crowd pleaser. It’s no Nebraska though, let’s be real.
2nd worst thing about NJ
Classic. Summer vibes with the windows down.
Guzel ama ben biraz daha yavas sarkilar seviyorum Sesi bekledigimden daha iyi ve 7 sarkisi us top 10’a girmis yani iyidir ama asiri begendigim sadece downbound train var diyebilirim
I started this album grumbling about dad rock and 'merica, but it did grow on me a little by the end. The song writing (and lyricism) is pretty good, the voice and instrumentation is I guess an acquired taste.
How does that not get 5 stars? He is The Boss for a reason
He’s “the Boss” for a reason.
Like most albums I’ve heard from the Boss, it has some really high highs, and a bunch of songs that are fine (and I’m sure are amazing live), but I would be skipping if I listened again. Still overall pretty great.
Tracks I liked hearing for the first time were Downbound Train, I'm Goin' Down, & Glory Days. Not my favourite type of music even though I'm on Fire is one of my favourite songs of all time. He was definitely a cool dude.
class
Buen disco. Tiene un hitazo que es "Dancing in the Dark" Después bastante cumplidor. 7/10
I think if I were American I would love this album. Sound like longing for a simpler time. Working class, your gal, time passes, regrets. It's really quite beautiful. It doesn't quite match the typical divorced dad archetype that we have in Australia, but it means the same, if not more. Good.
only bruce album I liked
There's not a bad song on this album. Springsteen's band is tight and he has a gift for speaking to working-class struggles without coming across as overly preachy. The worst thing about Springsteen is when he attracts fans who chant "USA! USA!" while completely missing the point. This album is a breath of fresh air after being assigned Steve Earle (aka Temu Springsteen) the other day.
Not gonna lie, i hate Bruce Springsteen
People have been saying the USA sucks for longer than I've been alive
Great
Great album despite having so many hits that they have been overplayed ever since. Favorite song: I'm On Fire
but all he kept talking about was...glory days. 4.1
Cheese blues
He's an okay songwriter but I really can't get behind his vocals. Whenever I wear a white tshirt and blue jeans I always joke that I feel like Bruce Springsteen because of this album cover haha.
tedious.
I admit it - I like The Boss. I understand his love of The Workers, The Unions, women, towns that aren’t what they were, the trauma of deindustrialisation, the violence of becoming useless. I am a manual worker after all, and from a place that would make Springsteen misty eyed (Grimsby). I am also in love with a man who loves The Boss, so I have developed an extra fondness for his brand of straight camp, his intense form romance. I just think it’s fun - is it not one of the gayest album covers of all time? Puts one in mind of Homer taking Bart to the steel mill. Dancing in the Dark is a good love song. I just wish he wouldn’t say ‘little girl’ quite so much.
Wild how an album could be this good and contain none of my 10 favorite Bruce songs.
Not a fan of Bruce
Bruce'i hääl kõlab viski-joogiselt ja ärasuitsetatuna, aga pole kumbagi. Ma ei saa aru, kuidas ta pole häälekahjustust saanud terve oma karjääri jooksul. Siin on häid lugusid, aga see ülejäänud kraam on liiga filler ja vb üksluine, isegi kui mulle meeldib see muusika. 3.49/5
To paraphrase everyone's favourite shadowy youtuber, this album was when Springsteen decided that he didn't want to just be the best artist out there, he also wanted to be the biggest. This album is a great collection of rock songs, but the emphasis on producing hits does mean the album can feel a little one note.
80s rock with loud snare drums and synth. The songs are a lot of fun even when the subject matter is depressing. It's very straightforward though and by the end of the album I was getting a bit sick of the simple drum beats and repetitive riffs. The title track is overplayed and too simple for my taste, and Dancing in the Dark is in a similar boat. The real surprise on the album for me was I'm On Fire, which was a nice change of pace.
Incredible album. Some all time hits. A few songs seem dated, but overall it’s timeless.
Klassikere på klassikere! Jeg bliver mere og mere en fan af The Boss. Der er lidt af den der råbe-ting han kører meget jeg ikke er så vild med (Born In The USA fx.) men for det meste præges albummet af at han jo sagtens kan synge, og virkelig er en dygtig sangskriver, og har dygtige musikere med på albummet også. Highlights: Dancing in the Dark I'm on Fire
Over-rated, over-hyped, over-cooked. Please, go away. 1
Merica
too motivational/cringy lyrics
Bruce is fine and all. The 80s rock is not always what I find myself wanting., but it's hard to dislike.
It's energetic, it's upbeat, every song brings up the man's car. It's good.
While knowing a few songs from this album, this is my first time listening to it in full. Something about the nostalgic instrumentation and Bruce’s vocal performance just keep you hooked or returning back to the music. It’s a great nostalgia trip and will always be there to give us a brief feeling and a glimpse into that time. While not something I’ll personally listen to on a regular basis, I appreciate what it did and wouldn’t mind if it occasionally came on my shuffle.
Album #101, Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A., ⭐⭐⭐ I like Bruce Springsteen. I always enjoy listening to him, but I virtually never reach for him when I’m listening to music unless it’s a real conscious decision. This is a pretty great album, but today it didn’t do a huge amount for me. It felt a bit too long and repetitive. I feel like it gets its point across early enough. He’s a great songwriter, but he does seem to write the same kind of song over and over again. It’s a great song, but I grew weary of it towards the end. With the negatives out of the way, the positives are that this is a much more raggedy sounding album than I thought it would be. The instrumentation is a lot looser and messier than singles like Dancing in the Dark would have you believe. Not a complaint at all, I really liked that about it. Speaking of the singles, this album has a bunch of bangers on it too, and they’re all good. I love the aforementioned Dancing in the Dark, I’m on Fire and the title track. But deeper cuts like Downbound Train are very effective too. Not much more to say really. The three-star reviews are the hardest ones to write. I don’t like it as much as Darkness on the Edge of Town and not nearly as much as Nebraska. Still, a worthwhile listen.
Not what I would normally listen to. I was prepared to dislike it, but it was much better than I expected. Favorite track(s) Cover Me Downbound Train I'm On Fire
My hundredth day of the generator! Hardly a better way to celebrate it than with the Boss himself.
Overall: 4.15 (rounded to 4) Originality: 3.5 Virtuosity: 4 Enjoyment: 4.5 1. Born in the U.S.A. - 5 2. Cover Me - 5 3. Darlington County - 4 4. Working on the Highway - 4 5. Downbound Train - 5 6. I'm on Fire - 5 7. No Surrender - 4 8. Bobby Jean - 3 9. I'm Goin' Down - 5 10. Glory Days - 5 11. Dancing in the Dark - 5 12. My Hometown - 5
Si pudiera describir este álbum seria Marlboro rojo, un car wash y Dr. Pepper, porque sin dudas es el gran representante de la clase trabajadora de Estados Unidos, contándonos las típicas historias de charlas de amigos sobre los años dorados en un Dinner de carretera y las desgracias amorosas y económicas de un yankee promedio, sin dejar de lado las canciones alegres sobre amor y otras muy mal interpretadas (la canción homónima del álbum por ejemplo), sin dudas Bruce Springsteen me dejó una gran sorpresa con este trabajo, me gustó mucho, y creo que si fuera uno de esos yankees mecánicos de algún pueblo del centro de los estados, este disco sería uno de mis grandes favoritos.
💭
Been steadily warming up to Bruce as I get older.
The Boss firing on all cylinders. As a kid I fell for the fast ones—Cover Me, Working on the Highway, No Surrender, Bobby Jean, I'm Goin' Down, Dancing in the Dark—these days I'm On Fire
Every song on this album is a banger. A story about the everyday that makes you want to get up and say 'fuck yeah, this is America.' The boppy beats are tinged with sadness and struggle. Is 'Born In The U.S.A.' an ode to America or a critique? Is the music so good it almost doesn't matter because it's just that objectively catchy? Only giving this a 4 because 'Born To Run', 'The River', and 'Darkness On The Edge of Town' are just...chef's kiss, no notes. This album is gold, but sometimes feels a little too sentimental and soft.
Actually pretty depressing front to back but an absolutely essential album in music history. A couple true bangers around a constant theme of “things just aren’t how they used to be”
I recently did a deep dive on Nebraska and fully opened the floodgates for me with Bruce. This album has never been my favorite but it was cool to hold it up to Nebraska, knowing how close they were, and appreciating this flip side of that coin. The context of these songs is so much darker than they sound, something I think I wasn’t paying enough attention to when I was younger. I still hate a couple of the kick-down-the-door “HOO HA!” songs if you know what I mean. The highs here are so high though. I’ll be returning.
Every song is a banger - totally of its time, and all the better for it! Favourite tracks: Born In The USA (top tier classic), Downbound Train, I'm On Fire, Dancing In The Dark
buen album, me hizo acordar a adam Sandler
Sentí que transmuté a un fat milkshake lover American, fantástico shalala shalalalala
ya entendí el chiste de son como niños 2. 3.5
Album 39/1001. Listened 6/2/2026. Absolute perfection. No notes. Can listen to this forever and not get bored.
I know it’s criticism of the US but it’s still SOO painfully US and not enough criticism for my taste.. also his voice in some of these is a bit annoying to listen to- sorry! Dancing in the dark IS that good though
A classic really. Upbeat, blue collar tunes. Depressing but makes you feel alive and motivated.
me gusto bastante, siento q son los temas que aparecen en las peliculas de los 90’s/2000’s.
6/10 Best songs: Cover Me, Downbound Train Bruce has been my mom's favorite musician for at least 45 years at this point, so if I disliked him I'd probably be disowned. The good news is that I don't dislike this album; it's essentially Midwest/rural/small-town rock at its core, and it does it quite well. The bad news is that I find a lot of it pretty repetitive/hokey, and I can't STAND the number of times he sings "little girl." I realize that at the time it was acceptable to use this verbiage to refer to adult women, but I find it incredibly misogynistic and gross. It feels like he's singing about an actual child, which is extraordinarily off-putting. Besides that... I suppose the album isn't that bad. I can tell my mom I didn't hate it and she won't disown me, so that's good, anyways.
Familiar with some of this of course. Not sure if I'm a bit tired of Bruce. Nah, it's undeniably a good album. 4/5.
Phenomenal album. Great songs from start to finish. I love the rawness of his characters and the heartfelt lyrics. The production values are insane too.
1. Im not born in the U.S.A so I don't really fwt, beat is good tho. 2. Slaps 3. Not vibing to this one. So far the drums have been really good on every track tho. 4. This is good. 5. I like the lyrics but the melody just ain't it. The more silent part near the end saved the song for me. 6. I like the vibe, good lyrics. 7. Sounds too plain / basic for me. 8. Sounds too plain / basic for me. 9. Sounds too plain / basic for me. 10. Not vibing to this one 11. I have no idea why this is the most played song of the album, not feeling this. 12. Good lyrics. Good vibe. Good song to end the album. Well, pretty basic album tbh. Theres some good songs but since Im from Europe and wayy younger I don't really fw alot of the stuff on this album. Favourites from the album are: 2, 4, 6, 12 Sidenote: Reminds me of a finnish artist named Pate Mustajärvi.
Kinda pop, not really my thing. Has a really 80s vibe with the synth rock tunes. The first music is iconic but one of the ones i disliked the most. Very pop, synth and repetitive. Not really my thing. Overall a decent album, very american and representative of its time. Kinday country rock.
I still don't love Bruce Springsteen but this is a good record. And hopefully everyone going through this list understands that actual meaning behind Born in the USA.
What an iconic album. So many hits and such a great theme. Truly show the ups and downs of being an American and American life.
Absolute banger of an album. Bruce does no wrong. The title track is legendary of course, but two of my other favorites of Bruce's are here: Dancing in the Dark, and Glory Days. If you somehow never heard Bruce before, this is a great showcase of some of his finest work.
w/o this album, that is no _nebraska_. also, it’s a damn fine album of 80s pop rock. while I greatly prefer _nebraska_, this is a second perfect album by Bruce
Contrary to my expectations, Bruce has a knack for making catchy pop songs with synthesizers and 80s beats - without losing his rough edge. Faves: Born in the U.S.A., Cover Me, Darlington County, Glory Days, Dancing In the Dark
classic rock, with a little R&B rock thrown in. Hip shaking rock. America.
liked this a lot more than i thought. a band at the top of their game
More like Bored in the UK
One of my favourite albums of all time. I throughly enjoy this top to bottom any time I listen.
I didn't realize most of the Bruce Springsteen songs I know are from this album.
Whatever your personal views of Bruce may be and there are many “takes” on Bruce both as an artist and as a man, it is hard to deny the place that this record holds in American culture. The archetype of midwestern rock n roll and the hardest working band in music with legendary 3+ hour sets, this New Jersey native and working class champion defined the genre on this record. The songs are catchy, meaningful and for large slice of Americans indecipherable as the title track’s inappropriate use in many America first events belies knowledge of the songs true meaning. For me, the record doesn’t really resonate but I recognize the incredible musicianship and the heart behind the songs. My favorites are not the hits. Working On The Highway which reminds me of Rank and File and their cowpunk sound, Downbound Train where I can almost believe that Bruce was working at a car wash, and My Hometown are in my opinion the best songs on the record. Perhaps it’s because the others are overplayed. Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark, I’m on Fire and Born in the USA are undeniably great songs. There is likely little dispute that there are no bad songs on the record. Sure, time has made some of them sound cringey at times but that is probably because the dressing hung on this record because of the complicated relationship people have with Bruce more so then with this record. 5/5
I hated "Born in the USA" so much when I was younger that I didn't give Springsteen a chance until someone made me listen to Nebraska. Then, I only liked that one album for a long time. Now, I appreciate several of his albums, and it's amazing how many amazing songs are on this album that are very different in feel from "Born in the USA." "I'm on Fire" could fit in with Nebraska. "My Hometown" is similar though not quite as good. I also think "Dancing in the Dark" is a greaty pop-rock song.
4/5. While it does have some of the greatest songs ever put to record, some songs feel like filler and cheesy in a way that takes away from the cohesiveness of the album. Still one of my favorite albums of all time, Downbound Train continues to be one of the best songs Bruce ever wrote and the emotions of that and Bobby Jean with completely different feelings of losing someone are fantastic. Born in the U.S.A. as a song still hits the working class reality of America better than just about any other song and I'm On Fire is a hauntingly sensual ode. Darlington County, Working on the Highway and I'm Going Down feel out of place on an otherwise pretty poignant record.
3.3/5 Half of the album wasnt anything to write home about, but all the hits propelled this to new heights. A classic album.
The highs are very high here, but albums tracks just don't grip me at all, they seem to be quite a week, so I expected this would get 5 stars, but maybe not after all… Definitely a strong 4 though! Also I think this is the first record on the list which made me think of writing about current US politics here lol
Honestly not the 5/5iest of 5/5, but it's just a banger after banger after banger album. "Dancing in the Dark" is one of my favourite songs of all-time, "Glory Days" is fun, "Cover Me" is a great rocker, "Born in the U.S.A" is some good '80s political stuff, "Downbound Train" is cool, and stuff like "My Hometown", "No Surrender", "Working on the Highway", and "Darlington County" are all fine album tracks.
My favourite Springsteen album. Not one filler.
They should make a musical of this
Top album, from a top musician
Iconic
The boss!
A classic
Elsk elsk elsk.
Nebraska goes pop rock.
Mid.
This is a great album.
kind of country. not my music i guess but born in the usa is very patriotic. i think americans are proud of this song!)
So freaking good
bomb
Not my thing. Surprisingly quite a few bangers that i knew though. 3.5/5. Dancing in the Dark.
Already previously listened and liked 7 out of 12 tracks.
Americana rock and roll really isn't for me, and most of these tracks I've heard way too much on classic rock radio. However, there are some tracks on here that I've never heard before and aren't too bad. Downbound Train is probably the most tolerable one, but man does he love to repeat himself.
Pretty good album, has a good vibe to it. Everyone knows Born in the U.S.A, and it's still a good song.
Dancing in the Dark is my jam and I appreciate the protest songs but my god The Boss really loves a loud fucking song, every song has a backbeat and an organ.
Oftentimes cheesy and bad, definately overplayed, but hard not to feel those drums in the title track
Born In The U.S.A. ei oo koskaan iskenyt muhun kappaleena. En oo tosin syntynytkään Usassa. Mutta kai se parhaimpiin menee kun siihen on niin tottunut. Sama on koko Brucen kanssa, se on tosi ok. Ja nää kappaleet on vaan ok. Kuten koko levy. Parhaat: Dancing In the Dark, No Surrender, Born In The U.S.A.
Kamo sreće da niko nikad nije rođen in the usa.
Great combination of bomastic production and cynical content. The big gated drums, the cheesy keyboards, the corny sax, big dumb classic rock sound and hoarse vocals pointing out how crap everything's become but also that the good old days are a stupid myth.
Ok this one actually pissed me off a little bit. Soundslop.
Good album. I'd never listened through the whole thing but I saw a movie that had a lot of it one time. Some skips for sure but a few bangers
Not a fan of Born in the USA and all the sounds kind of sounded the same
yeah man, idk. I guess you had to be there.
Bekend album. Goed, maar omdat ik het al goed ken geen verrassing
love this
Such a nostalgic album and I don’t mean it brings me back, it just takes me to a time that was so different yet so similar. Genius songwriting and amazing storytelling. The Boss’s magnum opus!
Fantastic album full of proper American hits. I tend to enjoy his later stuff over his older stuff, but in my opinion this is the pick of his historical releases. Great music.
i like how he's a little gay with it
Pretty iconic stamp of a record that defines the American mid-80s and the headspace of the people at that time, from its iconic Annie Leibovitz cover photo to its infusion of synthesizers and maximalist 80s production (which may not be perfect but certainly recognizable). A pretty huge risk on Bruce's part to really take a bite out of the trendy sounds of the time, but he really gets them correct, especially on the synthpop "Dancing in the Dark," proto-Orbison revival "I'm on Fire," and the tejano rock "I'm Goin' Down."
I like Bruce, it would be rude not to, but mostly I can't make out what he's saying 😐
If any Bruce Springsteen albums are a 5, and I think they must be, then it's this one. BOOOORN IN THE USAAAA, I screamed relatably as I coasted down the A34 towards Oxford. Yep, still slaps.
Recht repetitiv.
A classic album. Every track is brilliant. The title track as we know is an indictment of post Vietnam America.
Solid "Americana rock" from the Boss. I won't beat around the bush though, this got over for me just based on how good the title track is. Just an all time classic song.
Retawded
But not his best album in my opinion. Born to run is a 5
Toyed between a 4 and a 5. There's some great songs on here, but didn't find myself won over by the album in toto
A strong 4, throughout the album is solid with the obvious hits at the start and towards the end.
I was not born in the USA. Dragged up by a few hits
some songs sounded the same, imo, but it was pleasant.
Mad respect for the Boss, just not my vibe
Damn, I guess this just isn't for me. "Heartland rock" is such an odd niche, and I guess it's interesting, and I do see the appeal, but I don't feel the need to listen to the love for and tribulations of Ye Olde American life. Not to mention, I feel like his voice is frustrating to listen to. And as decent as any of these songs are, it still sounds smack dab like an 80s album - this is not a good thing. Fave tracks: - Cover Me - Downbound Train - I'm On Fire - No Surrender - Glory Days - Dancing In the Dark
An absolute classic. All the songs sound rather similar, but it's a great song.
RAHHH🦅🦅🦅 FREEDOM RAHHH🦅🦅🦅🦅 AMERICA BEST COUNTRY RAHHH🦅🦅🦅🦅 WE ARE THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WHOLE WORLD Party in the U.S.A. is miles ahead of Born in the U.S.A. I hate that song with a passion. It makes me hate that country even more. IT'S NOT EVEN THE HIT ON THIS GODFORSAKEN ALBUM???? Damn, I’ve lived a lie. Words cannot begin to describe how much I hate Bruce Springsteen, so I will not even attempt to do that. This is so American it makes me want to puke. Am I too European for this? Maybe. But I hate America with the utmost passion. Come after me; come to Romania if you even know where that is. Transylvania, to be as specific as possible. No, it’s not a country of its own, and no, it wasn't invented for Hotel Transylvania. With all of this out of the way, "Downbound Train" is fine; hands down the best song on this album. "I'm on Fire" is really eh on lyrics. What's the men's obsession with calling every woman "little girl"? Or maybe she was a little girl, who knows? Or he is the little girl, since he "wakes up with the sheets soaking wet." It's okay, Bruce; many men wet the bed at your big boy age. I don't even know which possibility is worse: that one, or the fact that he's cumming on the bed... ohhh, sweat. Yeah, that's a possibility too. A boring one at that. Is "Bobby Jean" also a girl's name? Or a nickname? Or is he crying over a man? It would make more sense for the Republican crowd. Okay, I'm on "Glory Days" now, and I have a theory. There's this Bobby guy mentioned who got divorced from that girl in the song who has two kids with him. What if, now stay with me, what if it's the same Bobby as the one in "Bobby Jean"? What if they were having a secret, scandalous, illicit affair, then Bobby got caught and left town out of pure shame and possibly death threats, since this is the South? "Dancing in the Dark" is the hit on this album? I've never heard it, but again, I'm Romanian. It's kinda eh. It's fine but so boring; it sounds so Bruce Springsteen, I don't know what else I can say. Is it sampling something, or is that something sampling it? I swear I recognize that tuh nu nu nu. In conclusion: I hate Bruce Springsteen, I hate America, and I hate country music. This album is fine, I guess, if you like country, but otherwise, no, just no. It's not unbearable; I don't want to outright somehow explode my eardrums, but I would never in a million years actually put any of these songs on. NEVER.
Антигойда
The only good thing about getting this album is that I'll never get it again.
Great album and a good timestamp of both music and history.
3 músicas de jeito, o resto é entulho. o tema é sempre o mesmo, não elabora grande coisa, e a sonoridade é estanque.
Firstly, all I know about Bruce Springsteen is that he was portrayed by Jeremy Allen White in a recent biopic movie, that’s literally it. So I was quite looking forward to listening to the album. It started so boyish and, you know, american so I was prepared to just let it go and forget about it when it’s over. But, man, was I wrong. It’s like almost every next song was better than the previous one. Can’t say it impressed me a lot but I added many tracks to my playlist and it was an overall nice experience.
relly god album
Bruce is a king
Pretty good stuff, nothing extraordinary, but a good listen.
Quintessential Springsteen album. Not my favourite of his but the best summary of him and his career
Sama tyyli jatkuu koko albumin ajan.
not bad, kinda fun, lots of weird samples
*I'm not a big Bruce guy but the B side of this album rocks. *I'm on Fire, Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark are all great
I fuck with the cover.
Le Johnny américain finalement
C'est pas désagréable, c'est pas inoubliable.
Great album and takes me back to my youth.
Faves: I'm on Fire Dancing in the Dark My Hometown
NJ NUMBA ONE BABY. Great album
first album i got for this project and it's one i'm already familiar with! you could be forgiven for thinking that the opening title track is the only outright bitter song on here, but the venom in his voice as he barks his way through [BORN IN THE U.S.A.] seeps through and infects the entire album, and that bitterness comes in a range of flavours: the listless exhaustion of [DANCING IN THE DARK] ; the palpable tension at the heart of [I'M ON FIRE] ; and, man, oh MAN, the utter heartbreak of that final verse in [BOBBY JEAN]... even a track like [GLORY DAYS], which on any other album might end up straightforward Remember The Good Ol' Days nostalgia-bait, is transformed in this context - what else can anyone do but sit around and drink themselves numb and reminisce about a time when things didn't feel so hopeless? by the time we reach the end, however, it's as if that venom has finally worn off, and [MY HOMETOWN] has a greater sense of clarity than anything before it. he sings of the violent racial tensions he witnessed as a teenager, as if coming to remember that those days weren't as glorious as he'd led himself to believe. he finally seems to accept that his hometown doesn't anything left to offer, and that's it time to move on, if not for himself then for his little boy. over 40 years later, as i find myself closing in on the age Bruce Springsteen was at this album's release, it's painful to think how much i can relate to. a generation that feels forgotten, defined by aimlessness. high streets decorated with boarded-up windows. no jobs, no money, no hope. nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go.
Good not great.
like when he yells and says rhgbruhughfhugh, which is every song. I like I'm on Fire and Dancing In the Dark
not much to say; it's a great American album. i don't listen to it often, but i was raised on it. maybe this is a bit heretical but i like Springsteen as an activist more than as a musician. cool that he uses his immense cultural presence to advocate for folks in need (while all the gen x dads like mine listened to him while they were driving to vote for Reagan again in '84)
some bangers on here for sure. someone at work said "i didn't peg you for a springsteen kinda guy" when he saw that was what i was listening to
Classic
Growing up, I never felt like it was summer until my dad turned on this album or ‘Born to Run.’ Bruce was (is still) praised like a god in my parents house. The singles from this one are great but I’ve never thought of it as an incredible album. ‘Nebraska’ and ‘The River’ are hard to beat.
Bruce is a pretty titanic figure for me and he’s one of the few that can successfully marry genuine political and social commentary with big dumb rock music. It disturbs me immensely that there are people 40+ years later who have never listened to the lyrics of the title track beyond its chorus. I’m docking points because it sounds so of-its-time in a way that 70s Bruce doesn’t and because there’s not near enough Big Man sax.
If I listened to this start to finish at a dive bar, I'd quit my job and work at a factory
Wow
Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Könnte ein Best-of sein.
No me convence
Bruce divides opinion but to me this is a great album full of great songs, an easy 5/5. I can see from some reviews that there are, even now, people who don’t listen to the title track beyond the title.
Must hear before you die? Well, this is another one you've probably already heard one million billion trillion times. The Boss at his most bombastic and kind of awful, really. Still, one bonus star for being some kind or other of a landmark album.
iconic
I’ll start by saying Springsteen is not for me but I can appreciate the album for what it is and acknowledge that his music resonates with a lot of working class folks. This album is monotonous and essentially an hour of the same song over and over again… I do appreciate the use of 80’s style synth, but overall it sounds over produced or something. It would be nice to hear a stripped down Springsteen album that let the voice and lyrics shine more and have those elements create an atmosphere- a’la “I’m on Fire” Then again this album is more about being bright and anthemic, it is what it is. The man is an icon in the same vein as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Elvis etc. and I found myself wondering if he and artists like him aren’t all just industry plants using the Americana mythos to promote some kind of nationalist government propaganda. The style is a mix of folksy singer-song writer, country music, conventional rock and 80’s pop. I also feel like I can hear a prelude to white boy indie-folk artists like Elliot Smith, Conner Oberst, Ben Ginbard etc. in there too. At the end of the day, this album is more vibe than tangible substance, my mind wanders while listening… it just doesn’t hold me or my attention long enough to start caring. Also, let’s be honest y’all, man’s voice is obnoxious, is he singing or yelling at me from across a crowded bar? I can hardly understand what he’s saying half the time
Interesante álbum de rock mi favorita es cover me
never knew how many of his hits I knew, pretty solid album
Fav Tracks: Dancing In The Dark 8/10 - It was a really good album. Every song is a bop Heard before? ---–- ✅ Saved a Song? ----- ✅ Saved Album? --–-- ✅ Will Listen Again? -- ✅
Not my thing. Didn’t like his vocals and all the songs bored me. Nothing standout about the album at all.
"he could throw that *speedball* by ya'.." i'm here to state that's absolutely not a term that's ever been used in baseball parlance 4.5/5
Great songs, great artist
ok. did not know glory days was a springsteen song
More working class angst from Bruce! Probably his most accessible album. Feel like most of the album was released as singles. I'm On Fire is the highlight.
Classic
A banger then, a banger now. Five stars for a classic.
it's 3.75
glory days is insane.
Pffff…
How ironic I listen to this the day HE texts me about our dog. This is a seminal album for a reason
I didn't know until now that the title song isn't a patriotic yee-haw American eagle song, but a poignant critic of said sentiment.
This was a lot more enjoyable than I had anticipated. Springsteen always struck me as a bit over the top, just too earnest, more American than it's ever necessary to be. The quality on this album is hard to argue with though. Great song after great song throughout. I just wish Bruce would take a breathe and smile occasionally though.
Just a classic record. Not the best Bruce imo, but it’s a so important to American Rock and Roll
K tomuto klasickému albumu som sa nedávno vrátil. Zdal sa mi iný, ako keď vyšiel. Niektoré pesničky som si ani nepamätal, ale BS nepatrí u mňa k top interpretom. Aj tak mu dám 4
I like the singles on this probably my favorite is dancing in the dark. Maybe that makes me basic. I’ve never been a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, but this is enjoyable enough. If I had to listen to a Bruce Springsteen album, it would probably be this one. I know that that true Indie choice is Nebraska, but I just find it too depressing.
Not my favourite era of Springsteen but still a great album full of classics
I don't understand who this music is for. It sounds like it's trying to evoke the gool old days that never really existed, but the lyrics go in a different direction. Maybe that's the point? It's a huge miss for me. I know it's important to some people. It was big in the 80s, when I was a kid. I could not wait for this to be over; it is not for me. Sorry, Bruce.
loved!
I had written a whole review on each song, and IT DID NOT SAVE SINCE MY TABS CLOSED for ABSOLUTELY NO REASON, but i will try to recap the songs i remember: Born in the USA : gosh i am in awe and in fear of the state of Bruce Springsteen's vocal cords after hearing this masterpiece. Awesome song though. I hope his vocal cords are okay. Darlington County (and Glory Days): Reminds me of the road trip my dad, brother and I made when we moved to Texas and we passed through Ohio, Kentucky, Oklahoma, ect... but make it 80s!! Also reminds me of the last night and the day of before we moved and a few friends came by to help clean and load things in the car in a hurry. No Surrender is the ultimate training montage song man, its fire! Going down: 'I'm going down, down, down...' pretty catchy! i feel like I've heard the tune before. Maybe in another song? Bobby Jean: As a person who grew up moving a lot, this song relates to me a TON, whether in the romantic context or not. Dancing in the dark: This and Made to Run are the only Bruce Springsteen songs I knew beforehand! I LOVE this song, especially for running or getting ready. My Hometown: Feels like the happy, calm parts of a movie where no one is really doing anything, just basking in the sun on a lazy summer day, or the sunset on one's face.
Am really enjoying this. I've heard his hits, but never really listened to his music at large. The other songs seem to just be an extension of the hits. Great songwriting, probably misunderstood at the time, but in these times most of these songs hit hard. Definitely "working man's tunes"
Iconic, however much of the same.
Solid but too American for me (even though the title track is not as patriotic as it sounds). I prefer a couple of the derivatives of this in Sam Fender and The Killers. Dancing In the Dark is an all timer though.
Top!
Natuurlijk een super album
As soon as I heard the melody of the first song I knew I wan’t going to like it. I’m open to a lot of music genres, but this type of rock sounds very country to me, which unfortunately does not satisfy my musical palette.
Bruce sounds like he's constipated throughout. If you really listen to lyrics as well, almost makes me wonder if this guy likes too young of ladies. Creepy. Music itself American Rock, somewhat decent.
This is a good album but there is a couple of the more jangly Americana sounding ones which bring it down a bit. It's not Springsteen's best work and if you really want to hear Born in the USA, check out the live 12 string version from the early 2000s. Makes that song so much better.
I really enjoyed this, and didn't think I would. Obviously I know born in the USA and glory days, but every track was good and also knowing the standing of Bruce Springsteen and his values his lyrics are even more poignant.
I know we’re supposed to say that the people who think Born in the USA is a flag-waving anthem haven’t listened to the lyrics, but I think on some level Springsteen wanted to have his air-punching, MTV-conquering, stadium-filling cake and eat it with this album. And fair play to him, he totally pulled it off. (Also, you know how Todd Rundgren said he always thought Bat Out of Hell was a Born to Run parody? No Surrender suggests the influence went both ways.)
Lots of classic songs here but like just about every other Bruce Springsteen there's also a lot of filler
Classic for so many but still not my number one selection
Sometimes, famous albums are famous for a reason. I didn’t think I’d enjoy this that much but that was good!
This is #day617 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's my fourth album from the Boss already. I've rated all his previous ones a 3, and I guess I'm doing the same here. Or… am I? There are quite a few highlights, and I do get why it matters. First off, the artwork... instantly recognizable and spot on. Then the music itself, of course: huge drums, synth hooks… anthem after anthem. Pretty definitive elements for the '80s sound. And that sax, as always, I love it. The perfect candidate for a classic rock radio station, but not only that. I'm giving it a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day618.
Mandatory ride. 3.7
good listen! not usually into country but was nice to change, also fun to be listening to this nowadays that being born in the US might not be that nice
zu gut um nur einen song auf die 1001-favoritenliste zu setzen.
Ein absolutes Highlight!
A fantastic and powerful album.
Fine good not for me
I kew a couple of songs but Is not my favorite
Born In The U.S.A. was previously one of those songs for me that's overplayed at events or stores that I'd just tune out it was even playing. That was until I found it had a deeper meaning behind it if you actually pay attention that gave me a new found respect for the song. Despite that, I wouldn't say I would really want to play it in my free time and I feel pretty similar about the album. Solid project especially at the time, but not something I'm personally gonna reach for when I wanna listen to something. Bruce has a great voice and there's some catchy melodies, but I'm not much in the audience this record would garner. All this though I can say does not apply to Dancing in the Dark which is a great tune and easily my favorite here.
Maybe a bit too samey for me but the hits are hits!
Classic
Not for me whatsoever.
Merica 🦅
I prefer Bruce's 70s work but it's undeniable how iconic Born in the USA is, the song and the album. Keep fighting the good fight Bruce.
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band held a long, tight grip on the charts (both at home and abroad) with Born in the U.S.A., the album which launched Springsteen to a totally new level of stardom. his previous full-length, Nebraska, gave his typical working-class subject matter a decidedly downtrodden mood, in stark contrast to the optimism his songs' characters had displayed, even in the face of stark adversity, on previous records. Born in the U.S.A. brings the E Street Band back to give these themes an even deeper dissection, but you'd almost never know it by the way it sounds. my mom, a Springsteen lifer since The River, remembers this era of his fondly, but I've always had some slight misgivings about this album in particular. this was Springsteen's entry into the pop fold, a musical direction which some long-time fans of his (and even The Boss himself) have expressed pretty serious reservations about in the years since. for me, it's not hard to see why; the huge, gated reverb on the snare drum, the omnipresent slapback delay on Springsteen's vocals, the dated synth tones (take a shot every time I mention those in a review), and the tinny mix are all hallmarks of 80s production that I think are better left in the past. the E Street Band are as tight a unit as ever, of course, but I think they've made albums together—both before and after Born in the U.S.A.—which present them in a more timeless state. there's also the fact that, despite the anti-Reagan, anti-war, pro-working-man angle being arguably even stronger than ever (most notably embodied on the once-widely-misunderstood title track), Springsteen's image was turning into that of a muscular, all-American patriot. there's a dissonance between his visual/musical presentation and the songs themselves, particularly in terms of subject matter; it's embodied most prominently with "Working on the Highway", a song about a man who skips town with a child bride that sounds like a dance party. to his credit, Springsteen scaled back pretty much immediately after the Born in the U.S.A. promo cycle finally got finished, disbanding the E Street Band for a while and repositioning himself outside of the mainstream pop field, continuing to explore increasingly mature themes while bucking trends almost entirely. those albums might have sold far less well, but they certainly come off as more honest. I definitely don't dislike Born in the U.S.A. by any stretch of the imagination; after all, any album that gets seven singles to chart in the U.S. top 10 has to be hitting on something! and, yeah, there's no shortage of Springsteen's usual earworms on display, even if the songs themselves are far less complex than on previous albums. God only knows how many times I've gotten "Glory Days" or "Dancing in the Dark" or "I'm on Fire" stuck in my head since I first heard them as a kid. I just find myself butting up further and further against the production and arrangements as time goes on. decent 6/10.
Love Bruce. Bobby Jean my fave song
A little surprised that I enjoyed all of the songs, 4/5. Favourite song: No Surrender