Reviews (page 8 of 13)
I wonder if there’s ever been a record that has as many bangers as this? I went through a big Springsteen phase about 10 years ago and havent listened to him much since, so this has been a nice reminder of how class he is. This album was also a mainstay in my Dads car as a kid, and brings back nice memories. It’s not my favourite of his (Darkness on the Edge of Town / Born to Run take that acolade), but it is the album I’d say is Bruce Springsteen. His band are phenomenal too - was lucky enough to see them at the Stadium of Light about 2010ish and for 3 hours straight they didn’t let up. Cool as fuck, and arguably the best live act around. 4.5
Ah the boss hey! Feels so American to me, but not the recent America, the American dream type America, the small town America... My dad is a huge fan, although I'm not sure how much of this album he played... Springsteen hipster. Don't think I've heard this album in full before I'm not a fan of born in the USA and dancing in the dark feels like a guilty pleasure. Can't help but picture Courtney Cox dancing However, there are some really great tracks on here that evoke that American dream feeling. Think I like no surrender best. Highlights are: Downbound train I'm on fire No surrender Dancing in the dark My hometown I'm pretty sure he has better albums than this, which will appear on this list, but still really enjoyed this 4.5
This is the most American album ever and includes a heavy social criticism
Knew some of the songs.
Surprised how many songs I knew. Not a Springsteen fan but this album has a lot of hits on it.
alright sure yea it's good, nice big soaring choruses and sax parts. everyone impersonating springsteen as their version of doing "rock vocals" for the last 40 years has kinda made it sound corny asf tho
he's the boss!
Here Bruce gets more anthemic than ever, and the most anthemic he possibly will ever, while still retaining the singular portraits of working class life he had explored on The River and Darkness. The ‘80s polish sometimes gets in the way, though the textures the synths add on “Dancing In the Dark,” for example, stick with you.
I didn’t really appreciate Bruce Springsteen’s music until years later, but my high-school self knew all the lyrics to all the hits from this album, envied Courtney Cox in the ‘Dancing in the Dark’ video and could probably pick Bruce’s ass out of a lineup.
So many pivotal classics that I actively opposed when this came out because I didn’t sit down with the album and really listen. It’s definitely one for the list.
Bruce Springsteen’s Born in The USA — a hard-thumping, fist-pumping collection of concert-ready mega pop songs — is an extravagant, yet devastatingly honest summation of the oft-coveted american dream: the feelings of freedom and superiority, wind blowing in your hair; the short-lived sense of existential victory; the repetitive doom of capitalism; the fear and tension bred by race and politics; and — maybe most important to the success of this record — the sheen of optimism that shields the decay underneath. every song is more vivid and vibrant than the one before — which is saying a lot, as the opener is full of life from the second the synths kick in. there are moments of quiet longing for more than the glorified american dream: on “I’m On Fire,” he yearns for romance, and then opens the b-side of the album with an ode to long-lasting friendship on “No Surrender”. there’s more to be had than the desire for a fast-paced, fist-pumping life — the darkness begins to rear its head in the latter half of the album, oppressive sadness and regret ooze out of the rapturous joy like sweat on skin, but the way they coexist so seamlessly is a testament to Springsteen’s acerbic storytelling. by the end of the record, you get the sense Springsteen has found the perfect, sweetest dream, and it’s a blast to join him on the ride.
mas gringo no se puede. pero del bueno.
A great rollocking listen still, after nearly *checks notes* 40 years
I bought this in the 80's and listened to it many times as a teenager.
wear polo and listen to boss
At first I was greatly upset by this album—the first few tracks were so stadium anthem-y, which is a great departure from the tracks on previous Springsteen albums that I’ve adored. But, as I got accustomed to the new sound, and came to realize the lyrical quality was just as consistent, I started warming up to it fast. I’m on Fire is a beautiful song that first tipped me off to this album’s quality, and the run of tracks from Glory Days onwards is absolutely classic stuff. Doesn’t reach the highs of some of his earlier, darker work, but still an excellent outing and an extension of an incredible streak of albums Springsteen was on from his debut onwards.
I really enjoyed listening to this album. Even though I'm not a big fan of Springsteen, his music is very much culturally relevant since I'm from New Jersey. I mean, he essentially put Asbury Park on the map and had it make a lot more money after he got popular. And it is always nice listening to an artist that still has a huge hold on state culture like that. I feel a little differently about Sinatra since he feels further removed than Bon Jovi or Springsteen when it comes to naming famous artists from the state.
fav tracks: cover me, i'm on fire, dancing in the dark, no surrender, i'm going down, working on the highway least fav: none
Lots of notable songs here, a few curve balls that are a bit jarring and brings the score down a touch but some of my all time favourite Beatles songs on this album but as a whole not one of my favourite Beatles albums.
Generally thought of myself as "not a Springsteen fan" but this album is super solid. Bop after bop, well done, I'm a convert.
I know I've listened to Born In the U.S.A. at least once before, because this album carries cultural weight. I am very familiar with at least half of the twelve tracks. It's been a long time since I last listened, and I had forgotten that some of the tracks were on this album. I like most of the tracks at least a little, and some of the tracks bring back some nostalgia for when they were on the radio. I wish I liked Bruce Springsteen as much as others do. I don't get swept into the music as much as some of Springsteen's super fans. There are tracks on this album that I would seek out ("I'm on Fire", "My Hometown"), probably for their melancholoy. I probably like Nebraska more than this, but Born In The U.S.A. is worthwhile.
The archetype of a great artist putting out a solid rock 'n roll album.
Good rollicking rock n roll - hardly slows. Surprisingly not as many hooks and catchy choruses as would be expected from such a top selling album. Classic Springsteen storytelling. Terrifically misunderstood title song!
A classic that I've never listened to since I haven't really been able to get into the Boss. Still not my favorite, but worth listening to. A weak 4 for me
Used to hate the Boss, now I kind of appreciate him, although Tom Petty will always be my guy. And while I much prefer Nebraska, which he did before this, I can’t deny how many of these songs are bangers, especially “Cover Me” and “My Hometown”. I do prefer the more rocking Bruce vs the poppy, synth-happy tracks that the biggest hits are, but I can concede that it’s good that he’s clearly having some fun here. Gonna go with B-, which is at least a full letter grade higher than I’d give it in the past.
4/5
dancing in the dark is the manifesto of my spirit - although too often i forget it (no surrender too) this is a good record folks, what do you want from me? lacking in insightful reviewing abilities i consulted my ma who is known to be a fan of this record, and she said: "just brucey baby" the question is, why didnt i think of this myself?
BOM
Massive boomer album, loved it
Great rock n roll
3/20- Driving to school Perfect encapsulation of Springsteen, every song resonates with me in some way and has a dynamic range of style
I had already heard quite a few tracks on this album but was enjoying myself nonetheless. Bruce Springsteen is the 80s for me (among others of course). New favorites are Cover Me and No Surrender.
As I sat down to listen to this album, I had an uncontrollable urge to shot gun 4 beer, clean my hunting rifle, and tattoo an eagle across my back. ‘Merica, fuck yeah.
A misunderstood classic protest album, I've heard the song Born in the USA so many times I didn't bother re-listening to, but the rest of the tracks are so blood good it wasn't missed, in fact it was a relief.
Born in the USA, I’m on fire, and dancing in the dark at nicely spread throughout, always like the hits to be balanced. One negative, really don’t like the synths on this album. Just has not held up over the years and sounds dated and cheesy
Good stuff
Daleko od najboljeg brucea ali opet...
This is such a fun pick-me-up after some serious, challenging albums. I don't think it's Bruce Springsteen's very best album, although it's packed to the gills with major hits, but it's upbeat, rocking, and a joy to listen to. Springsteen has a gift for writing solid rock tunes that are more thoughtful than they seem, and he's a good musician. The production on this one is a bit dated, but it has a feel-good 80s vibe that I enjoy despite myself.
Two Bruce in one week! Artist #114 - an album I've listened to twice before Ah so hard! It's not perfect but it's pretty bloody good!
i really dont know. torn between 3.5 and 4
Uno de los mejores álbumes de rock de los 80, duh.
Highlights: Born in the U.S.A., Dancing In the Dark
At Rock in Rio I saw the first time the band played this entire album in order. I also saw Bruce in Toronto in 1985 when this album was just released. The show started with them playing the title song with a big US flag being a back curtain. Regan wanted this to be his campaign song. Whoops! I guess he didn't check the lyric sheet. Reagan's quote from his campaign trail: "America's future rests . . . in the message of hope in the songs of a man so many young Americans admire - New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen" Alas, the bromance was one sided as Springsteen, speaking to the audience just before playing Badlands on the day after Reagan was elected said: “I don’t know what you guys think about what happened last night, but I think it’s pretty frightening," It has some other really good songs such as Glory Days and My Hometown and Darlington County is a heck of a lot of fun live. This is his best selling album but I can't get to a 5 since I never really liked Dancing in The Dark and there is a wee bit of filler. I'll save the 5 for the album with the rest of the songs he wrote at this time.
Best: Cover Me Worst: Glory Day
Had never listened to this all the way through before. BiUSA had me thinking this would be a 5 but then it dipper for a bit with some filler. Then it hits Bobby Jean and into Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark and My Hometown. Can't think of any other album that finishes as strongly. Best song Bobby Jean.
I try to knock this album but every time I listen to it, I'm reminded just how good it is. Oh, oh, oh, I'm on fire.
While there are some Springsteen albums I've grown to like more than this one, you can't deny this one's got the hits! Almost every song here is solid gold, baby!
Despite my thoughts leading into this album I actually quite enjoyed it. The hits hit and the rest goes along nicely. I'm not sure if I'll listen again but I don't cringe at the thought of it. I may be a (reluctant) convert?
Genres: Rock This is his seventh studio album. His first two albums were released in 1973. I first became aware of Springsteen in the eighties, but he has been performing since the mid-sixties. As well as being a singer and musician, he is a prolific and very successful songwriter providing hits for many other artists. This particular album sold 30 million copies worldwide and is one of the most commercially successful albums of all time. I loved half the tracks on the album. For me the other (less popular) tracks were OK. Clearly the album is well loved; the least played track has over 10 million plays on Spotify! Perhaps the other tracks will grow on me after listening some more.
I feel like I am listening to my mom's music. Bruce Springsteen sings powerfully about an America in decline, but rather than do anthing about it or offer some hope as to how to fix anything, he can't abandon his framing of one man versus the system and the system wins. His music is good his message sucks ass. Glory Days is a perfect example. His lyrics are all about repression, regression, yearning, and loss. He stirs a pot hoping to have a listener respond and fill in the gaps. It's effective, but i don't like it. It feels like I am being dragged through living all my worst moments.
Not a bad starter
I don't get Bruce Springsteen but this is a very good album.
Bruce in his finest form.
This may be Bruce Springsteen’s most energetic album. It is chock full of singles including the title track, ‘I’m On Fire’ and ‘Dancing in the Dark’ for starters. Once again we see Springsteen positioning himself as an Everyman, the voice of America’s disaffected working class. This is a good role for him and he does it very well. What’s really striking is his genuine love and affection for down and out small town America reflected in songs like ‘My Hometown.’ There is a melancholy to these songs that conjure images of closed factories and dilapidated neighborhoods making his lyrics all the more potent. The biggest drawback of this album is the dated production and instrumentals. However, they too are relics of their time just like the America that Springsteen immortalizes in song. Rather fitting then isn’t it.
Noice
Some of the synths have aged really badly but that's the only real negative. Every song is either poetic and emotional, an outright banger, or both
A couple of things were painfully 80s (looking at you, Born in the USA instrumental), but there are some quality songs on here. 8/10
acc such a cutie
Classic Bruce Not my favorite voice but brings back good memories
Classic album, was cool hearing how many songs on this album went on to stand the test of time. Super unique grit to Bruce’s voice that can be aggressive or gentle. Some of the songs had a surprisingly strong 50’s sound to the vibe and instrumentation. All around solid album, I now want to explore i more of Bruce’s albums going forward.
Pretty good (8,2 out of 10). Some big hits on this album, with Dancing in the Dark being my favourite.
3.9/5. Good Bruce not best Bruce
Such a storyteller. Not even his best album and its chock full of hits.
I'm a sucker for 80s albums. Once you get past the title track which I'm sure you've heard hundreds of times, the album is deeper than you expect. I feel like 50% of people think Bruce Springsteen is a patriot, America First type of guy and 50% know that his music actually appeals to working class. He does a good job of making social commentary catchy. I'm On Fire is the best song on the album but Dancing In The Dark and Downbound Train are both great too
I grew up listening to this music.
Solid. Classic. Good stuff.
All his classics on a single album... Can you believe it?
Love the harmonica and the live sound. Neil young’s voice is great and unique. Although it’s much more country than I’d normally listed to, I Added the whole thing to my library.
Yes I love it. BITUSA is a childhood classic for me glory days too
Never got into Springsteen but this album is peak. Enough has been said about the irony of Born in the USA and many of it fans not realizing the critique of the USA in the lyrics, but oh boy just shows how a non-ironic sounding chorus can sway a song. Dancing in the Dark is prob my fav track. A buncha others are fine but typically not my thing. Still it's a 5 for legacy but a 3 for my enjoyment so... 4 it is.
Yeah, this is a really solid album! Some things still niggle (endless repetition of simple melodic lines, for example) but if I turn off my judgemental filters and get in the mood, most of these songs really hit the spot.
This is a real classic album with some very good songs - even the worst songs here I would still call 'good.' And any album with songs like Born in the U.S.A., Working on the Highway, I'm On Fire, Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark, and My Hometown deserves a high score in my book (or 1001albumgenerator-project). What I really don't like, however, is the mix, which, in typical early-to-mid-80s fashion is quite bright, but at the expense of the low end. Granted, you can hear the bass, but it's too tame to be really driving the groove. Also, there is constantly too much reverb on Springsteen's voice. Which is a real shame. 4/5
I like it
First song I ever danced to, and first song I ever sang to was the title track - at 4 years old - and it was my favourite song too. Obviously I grew up with Springsteen in the background - kind of uncool, but not ignorable, and went through most of my life just kind of thinking, one day I'll give him a proper listen. And in my late 30s I did - and I discovered the wonderful world of The Boss, Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, Nebraska - all stellar records, and while I did get into a number of individual tracks from this album - which are unavoidable if you grew up anywhere near guitar music, I kind of thought this is the 'cheesy' album - not up to the heights of it's predecessors. And yeah, well, there's a lot more to it than meets the idea. It starts with the title track which is a bit, well 'much' - even though it's such a great song at it's core, and probably one of the most misunderstood songs ever written. But after that, it's a well rounded record, upbeat throughout - not the most introspective - celebratory yet self-aware. Even here, Bruce manages to keep it multi-dimensional - talking about the Vietnam veterans shrouded in faux-jingo-ist anthem, which ends up being the most jingoist anthem ever used - mocking others' Glory Days, a prohibited affair in I'm on Fire, and so on so forth. Musically and lyrically, there's a lot to dig in and discover over the years. It loses one star, because you can't really play Born in the USA out too loud in many places, can you, and it's hardly avoidable in being the first track.
In my mind I tend to pair Born To Run and Born In The U.S.A. together, but this could not be further from the truth. Not only are they nearly a decade apart, but it's reflected in the sound too. Glossy synths line the melody of the opening title track, reflecting a more pop-focused album that's still grounded in Springsteen's signature heartland rock sound. This culminated as Springsteen's most commercially successful album, outselling Pink Floyd's The Wall or The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's. But moneymaking does not make a good album. Looking at the other songs, Born In The U.S.A. is certainly good but not exactly great. Springsteen acknowledged the step down in quality, stating "The rest of the album contains a group of songs about which I've always had some ambivalence." Perhaps the better-written songs could be found on the sister-album Nebraska, but that doesn't change the sheer level of this album's success. Born In The U.S.A. brought heartland rock to the masses and resonated with Americans to their core. Seemingly overnight, Bruce Springsteen had become the everyman: the blue-collar worker getting laid off, the Vietnam veteran with no support system, the father struggling to make ends meet. If it wasn't you, it was somebody you knew. The United States was irreversibly changed under Ronald Reagan. Born In The U.S.A. is the snapshot of this time.
Now here is how you kick off a week. I haven't listened to all of his albums yet, and I'm not a huge fan of him anyway, but this is probably my favorite BS album. Born in the USA is a childhood classic that I remember being on a slideshow our dad would show us. One of the original home movie songs, so to speak. But on top of that I'm on Fire and Dancing in the Dark both reach pretty close in quality. Three awesome songs plus a smattering of pretty good songs on top of it go give this a real Americana feel.
top notch brucey
Run went well, saw mouse for first time though…
Matkittu vähän eppuja.... Syyttömänö syntymään biisiä... Muuten hyvä... Paljon tunnetta äänessä.. se hyvä..
baita som, de consistencia
Classic Springsteen tracks here; evocative, moving, memorable tales from the working class man, invariably laid off by the lumber mill or the factory and falling in hard times. If the production is a little splashy, the songwriting makes up for it.
6/12, 50%
Makes you feel like a kid growing up in the 80s. The album explores middle America and the innocence and trauma of it all. It does make you nostalgic for a different time. Best Songs: Born in the USA, Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark Worst Songs: Darlington County
might deserve 5 stars just for the title track but there's a bit of filler here
Really good album and quite solid down the line rock and roll, enjoyable listen
not bad
💚
Classic. Had never had the chance to listen to it all the way, very much liked Cover Me.
Unbelievable amount of singles. Weird to listen and notice he’s kind of a weak singer that brings incredible energy with a great band. Obviously a classic.
Mooi hoor! Papa en mama luisterden dit vroeger heel vaak, en best veel liedjes werden in de Valom ook gespeeld door Summerland op de kermis. Ik was lekker door aan het luisteren zónder dat ik doorhad dat de cd al afgelopen was en ik 'best of Bruce' aan het luisteren was. Veel meer herkenbaar dan ik dacht. 'Rauwe' stem, en nu ik wat bewuster luister zit er nog wel aardig verhaal in ook!
Very classic album with many great hits
Ceux qui mettent moins de 4 sont de droite
Classic album
if you don't get out of my way when "dancing in the dark" comes on, then it's your fault if you get clocked. this album was full of some old fashioned rock and roll. two of the boss’s biggest songs were here, and ugh did he deliver. the e street band backing him sounded great, too. really, the album left me with a feeling of homesickness. “my hometown” definitely hits the listener over the head with that, especially since it finishes the album. the boss’s voice sounded soulful at times, which definitely contributed.
This album is quintessential Americana heartland rock, but not for the reasons many Americans think it is. Let me explain. It is incredibly common on American Independence Day to hear the song Born in the USA blaring at every neighborhood barbecue and community fireworks show. Many folks cling to the song like some kind of badge of superior patriotism. It's just one of those songs that has become as synonymous with patriotism as the American national anthem. But here's the thing that they fail to get (which is crazy, because it's literally in the lyrics): Born in the USA (the song) is NOT about being proud of being American. It's about the STRUGGLES of being American. It's about how American soldiers were used as cannon fodder in the Vietnam War and how, when they came back, they found difficulties in adjusting to everyday life again, because of inflation, because of trauma, because of lack of support from their government. Because the government treated those who returned from Vietnam as being as good as dead. The soaring chorus lyrics "born in the USA" are intentionally antithetical to the purpose of the song; the verses are meant to make a mockery of the chorus and make the chorus feel hollow. But the real message of this album was buried by blind American patriotism. Apply this concept to Born in the USA (the album), and you have what this album is really about. Again, it is about being American, but not in the way patriotic people should be gloating about. It's about the struggles of blue collar life in America. The album cover captures it perfectly as well, with a clear blue collar type of person (white shirt, tattered jeans, faded hat) emblazoned on the front. This person isn't thriving. This person is getting by. Looking at this album for what it is, it has great, meaningful lyricism encapsulated in very catchy melodies and foot-stomping beats. It really tells a cohesive, real story of life from front to back, which is what makes it such a shining example of the heartland rock genre, and a profound piece of American rock in general. It no doubt launched and furthered the popularity of other heartland rock acts, as well. This album has a number of well known radio hits, and it was great to experience it from front to back. I only wish more Americans appreciated it for what it really is, and not for what they idealize it to be.
Chillin in the usa
If you think Bruce makes stupid music, you’re stupid… simple as
Springsteen's seminal album tells the tale of people who have been beaten down but refuse to quit. Enjoyable, but you have to be in the mood for it.
A handful of well known tunes. A lot of filler.
They don't call him The Boss for no reason. Major nostalgic vibes drip off this thing. Yearning chord progressions aplenty, sax solos, and that gravelly impassioned voice of ol' Brucey Boy.
Some classic bangers like “I’m On Fire,” “Born in the U.S.A.,” and “Dancing in the Dark.” Was hoping some of the songs I hadn’t heard on the album would be similarly good, but I only found that I hadn’t heard them for good reason.
I know it's good but not really my thing. Didn't add to library
It's more pop influenced than I expected, especially in the songs that don't get radio play. There's a reason those songs don't get radio play; they aren't that good. It's a good album that is worth an occasional listen, but I strongly prefer 'Born to Run'. 'Dancing in the Dark' and 'I'm on Fire' are both well known and the best on the album easily. 'No Surrender' is less popular but pretty good.
Kind of a mixed bag for me.
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.
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.
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.
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
Correcto. 4
Dadrock for the working class chad
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.
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?
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.
I don't usually like 80s music but I enjoyed this. I also recognised more of it than I thought I would
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Klassieke Springsteen stamper. Zijn latere werk vind ik wat verfijnder en mooier. Desalniettemin een sterk album
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.
This record is a heater all the way through.
Top Tracks: > Downbound Train > Born in the USA > I'm on Fire > No Surrender > Glory Days > Dancing in the Dark > My Hometown
So consistently good. 4
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"
Easily the best Springsteen album I’ve gotten. Born in the USA, dancing in the dark, and glory days are all classic bangers
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!
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.
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.
I still think he's Top 3 most overrated acts of all time but... I dig it
A few bangers, a few stinkers. Overall, I enjoyed it. Screw the haters.
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.
More commercial than his earlier work...
Asskolli skemmtileg plata alltaf hreint.
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.
7/10
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?
8/10 pretty great 80s rock
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.
Послушать фоном.
certified banger
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.
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.
Solid album
Really liked this album. Heard it multiple times
I didn't realise how many of these songs I actually knew until I listened to this and they're actually kinda bangers.
YES
a cocktail of energy, melancholy and nostalgia.
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.
Ехали на дачу плакали всей машиной
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
Fantastic. Incredible album, consistent throughout and packed with hits. Love Springsteens work.
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
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.
It was a good listen but something I probably won't chill and listen to. The hits are classics though
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.
This is good. Very listenable
classic
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.
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.
Nice
Veeery close to the full 5, wonderful
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.
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
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
A meme.
Fast so gut, wie sein Podcast mit Obama :)
Klinkt helemaal niet zoals ik had verwacht. Verrassend, maar fijn. Zeker een artiest die live tot zijn recht zou komen.
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-
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
Very good. Loses a mark for the sax obviously
Pues chido, pero no mucho de mi agrado. Cool la vibra rodeo y algunas partes de guitarras entretenidas y por ahi unos que otros saxs que le dan un toque chido. Creo que la que más me gustó fue Cover Me.
“Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen (1984) With appealing performances by the E Street Band—heavy driving rhythms, memorable grooves, tasteful background vocals, this is music that rocks. It’s an ironically excellent invitation to a stadium concert. Max Weinberg’s drumming is so good, strong, and consistent on the backbeat that after listening, I’d be willing to pitch in to buy him another snare head. Musically, while these tracks lack variety, they are uniformly powerful. Melodies are attractive, if somewhat predictable. “I’m on Fire” is a refreshing departure, punctuating the rock with somber folk. Nice. Springsteen’s lyrics tell vivid first-person stories, depicting working class characters who are alternatively lamenting or celebrating circumstances that are readily understandable to a wide audience. Evocative of thoughtful reflections of the listener’s younger years, whether near or distant. “Dancing in the Dark” is powerfully introspective, clearly the most poetically effective song in the collection. And “My Hometown” provides a sensibly easy closing track. Lead vocals cry out on track after track, as if Springsteen is very much aware of his relatively unidimensional attack and timbre (Again, “I’m on Fire” is a colorful exception—I’m sure I’m in the minority here, but I think this track is the highlight of the album). This album will undoubtedly remain a standard of the era. 4/5
I think the non-singles on this album are all fairly weak even if they are catchy as hell. The singles, however, are all-timers. I'm on fire is probably my second favorite Bruce track.
Very nice
c
I haven't listened to a great deal of album Springsteen - obviously a few of these songs have become massive cultural icons, so I've heard them a lot. Really enjoyed listening to the whole thing. Can definitely see why it was so massive. Quite a bit of it had a Dexys Midnight Runners vibe, which I liked. Fave track "I'm on Fire" - although "Dancing in the Dark" is a great karaoke tune...
Good, couple banger tracks. Nostalgic sound
solid riffs and progression, lyrics initially unimpressive but understanding the context makes it better
I didn't love this album, but I found it okay to listen to. I'm not going to download it, but I didn't mind listening to it.
One of the all-time greats! I only pick 4 because 3-4 other Bruce albums are 5s in my book and this one doesn't quite stack up for me.
Clássico
I liked this Springsteen album way more than the previous. This one was way more entertaining.
apesar do imperialismo norte americano.......
My kinda Music and I know people like him but not top tier imo
One of his best albums. But most albums are OK.
BRUUUCCEEEE
Classic American vibes. Good shit on inauguration day
3.5 rating
Tycker den här skivan är bra. Har aldrig riktigt lyssnat på Bruce innan. Den tidigare skivan som var med var lite för 'rough around the edges' för min smak. Men här tycker jag det flyger mycket bättre.
Look, it’s not his best work. A couple duds (Darlington County, Working on the Highway), but it’s The Boss. Some of his best, most high profile tunes show up on this thing.
The instruments are certainly dated. Even Bruce's voice goes that way, though it is emblematic of overall endearing effect of the sounds. The palette of American symbols produces an iconographic atmosphere, and certain ones - the prisons and refineries - are unfortunately timeless. The cover controversy is evocative of a strange kind of patriotism, but is also a reminder that the album is easy to play at a party. Very few misses on the tracklist. "They don't make music like this anymore" except, perhaps, one of my favorite 2019 releases.
no surrender glee cast version x
Better than I thought it would be
It was ok! I don't think I was in the right place to listen to this really. It was nice background music but it didn't grab me the way I expected.
I really like his voice, it’s deep but quiet and favourite song I’m going down. I rated 8.3/10
Meh
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
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
This has 3 songs I think are brilliant but this style of music is not really my thing and I find it cheesy.
Good lively album, very mainstream.
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?
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.
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
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
Dece
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
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 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
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
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
An ok album propped up by some of the very big hits
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.
sooooooooooooooooo Americana
Decent all the way through -
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.
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.
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.
Buen disco. Tiene un hitazo que es "Dancing in the Dark" Después bastante cumplidor. 7/10
Great album despite having so many hits that they have been overplayed ever since. Favorite song: I'm On Fire
Cheese blues
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.
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
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.
Merica
Bruce is fine and all. The 80s rock is not always what I find myself wanting., but it's hard to dislike.
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.
💭
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
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
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.
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.
More like Bored in the UK
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.
kind of country. not my music i guess but born in the usa is very patriotic. i think americans are proud of this song!)
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.
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.
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
yeah man, idk. I guess you had to be there.
i like how he's a little gay with it
Recht repetitiv.
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
Антигойда
3 músicas de jeito, o resto é entulho. o tema é sempre o mesmo, não elabora grande coisa, e a sonoridade é estanque.
relly god album
Pretty good stuff, nothing extraordinary, but a good listen.
Sama tyyli jatkuu koko albumin ajan.
I fuck with the cover.
Le Johnny américain finalement
C'est pas désagréable, c'est pas inoubliable.
Good not great.
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)
No me convence
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.
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.