Reviews (page 9 of 14)
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
Niiiiiche
Always unfortunate when you don't get to listen to a record like this with completely fresh ears. Half the songs I've heard on the radio 20 times, never really paying attention. So now you meet the record somewhere between knowing and not knowing it. In general, this is a pop bangers record that I probably won't record to a lot.
Not all of them are my cup of tea, but I do see why it’s a classic
Found the melodies and lyrics a bit samey. Could imagine enjoying it once or twice but half way through the album it gets a bit boring. Enjoyed I'm on fire.
Perfect for a road trip across the usa
While I'm sure this is the point, the whole album gives "back in my day" vibes; it's very testosterone-enhanced country rock. I'm On Fire is lyrically gross, and Born in the USA sounds the same as Darlington County (or vice versa). My Hometown hits a little close nowadays. Dancing in the Dark is still a banger though.
Big sound. Some very catchy songs but the singing isn't always my thing.
Springsteen treff åpenbart ei nerve hjå folk, og det har fascinert seg sidan han alltid har vore langt frå å røre ved mitt nervesystem. Denne plata er ikkje vond å høyre på, samstundes så ser eg ganske kjapt fram til det er ferdig. Fekk fot på I’m Goin’ Down, anar ikkje kvifor.
Springsteen er noe av en akilleshæl for min del. Jeg hører, ser og forstår at han gjør mye riktig. De gode låtene er, ja, gode. Men så er det de dårlige, og de er helt forferdelige. Jeg var heller ikke gammel nok i 1984 til å forstå at dette var noe ganske annet enn sånn Kid Rock-aktig "USA! Best! Yeah!". Det sitter fortsatt i, det gjør jo det. Har lært meg å like en del av platene som kom før denne, men ikke Born in the U.S.A. Frustrerende plate fordi den så tydelig illustrerer hvor liten avstanden er mellom storhet og total katastrofe.
As an Aussie, I feel that Bruce Springsteen is The USA’s equivalent to Jimmy Barnes - the voice and power of the working class, someone who knows hard work, isn’t afraid to do it and voices it on behalf of the rest of his countrymen. When you listen to this album you can tell why the hits are the hits ( I know that’s stating the obvious but the other tracks are more subdued, demand less, there for are easily lost in the background of the day). The hits however, and yes I’m talkin the title track as well as I’m on Fire, Glory Days and Dancing In the Dark are still as powerful as ever and will always be a welcome edition to the soundtrack for long drives and reminiscing. Would I buy this record if I saw it in the $5 bargain bin - Yes for the hits and for the iconic album cover
This was old fashioned and nostalgic even when it was released and today it is definitively what you would call "Dad rock". That doesn't make it bad, it just doesn't excite me. Springsteen is a good poet and an average songwriter and musician as far as I'm concerned. I like him as a person and he seems a very decent human being standing up for the people and for the right things, but his music doesn't do much for me.
Mostly plodding mid-tier rock. That bloody snare ...
The record is okay, but I found it rather bland
At first I thought this would be the album that makes me understand, if not entirely agree with, the fanbase around this guy. As the album went on I ended up back where it started. (He's fine, sometimes even great, but inconsistently so.) Not even sure why - the back half of the album is strong and it doesn't include any of Springsteen's creepy songs about young girls - but even as it got to a song like Glory Days that I already liked quite a bit my enthusiasm dropped. I think part of it is that even when Springsteen's singing about age-appropriate women something about it kind of creeps me out? He's fine, excellent when he's angry about societal injustices or doing character work but even a fun pop song like Dancing in the Dark is facing an uphill battle with that overall vibe. Which is a shame because I think he actually makes great pop rock, I'm not saying the dude can't have fun and everything needs to be like the title track. settled on a three for this but I'm of multiple minds about it. might have edged into a low four without Working on the Highway and a couple other tracks, and I would have definitely liked I'm on Fire more if it weren't in such close proximity to Highway. It's not a great look.
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Born in the U.S.A., Glory Days, Dancing In The Dark I was relatively familiar with the singles going into this album. It was fine. Not my normal jam for sure, but I didn't have any objections to what I heard. This album will probably not enter any sort of rotation, and I don't really do individual liked songs, but if I did, the standout tracks would be on the list. Maybe I should start for the songs I like that come from albums I didnt much care for.
Solid alum from the boss. Would give 3.5 stars if I could
It's fine, definitely not the best Springsteen album. Hits are the highlights. 80s synthy production in places really dates much of the album, isn't ideal for the type of songs he writes so hasn't held up as well as his early 80s records. Never a massive fan of Glory Days either. 5/10
Man, this album. And The Boss in general. The more I listen the more I flex away. Some repeat listens make me into a fan. I came into this project fairly hostile to Bowie. And now? I would definitely consider myself a low-key lover, even. I mean I have given him… two or three 5s so far, despite myself. But Springsteen? I keep listening, cause, you know, he’s on all the lists. And I appreciate. But I also cringe when I see an album cover donning his Iconic iconography. He and I just don’t jive. 3 Boolean: True - not going to argue this point
classic quite timely bc dancing w the dark was listened to quite a few times this weened
The first song is great and makes you want to sing along. Everything else is pretty forgettable.
Non è sicuramente il suo miglior album. Il suono non mi piace e molte cose sembrano buttate lì casualmente (anche alla batteria). Detto ciò, non fa schifo e contiene comunque due delle sue canzoni più famose, "Born in the USA" e "Dancing in the Dark".
More of the usual. Some hits, some filler
Yeah good album - way '80's. Got some bangers on it. Quite bleak?
En oo pahemmin ikinä pomosta välittänyt mutta onhan tää tämmöstä faijarokkia ja kai tällekin on aikansa ja paikkansa
Sillai kun tää SPRANGsteeni nyt ei oo ehoton suosikki itelle, niin tässä rojektissa kun kolmatta levyä veivataan, niin pohdituttaa kuinka paljon ilmasu eroo siitä aiemmasta. Lähinnä, että kyllähän se jos tykkää ruispalasta niin haluaa, että sitä ruispalaa on aina tarjolla ja sitä tulee lisää. Eikä haittaa vaikka joskus sinne pistetään jotain karpaloo sekaan, jolla voi sitten hullutella. Sitten jos on sen ruispalan suhteen enempi hyvän päivän tuttu, kun nautiskelija, niin en tiiä pitäskö arvioida sitä leipää enempi niinkun kokonaisuutena kuin paketti kerrallaan. Vähän siis puskee kuituähkyä ja viesti on kyl tullut perille siitä mimmosta pomoiluu nää levyt on. Katotaan tulevaisuudessa miten lista arpoo, että tuleeko näitä viel lisää. Voihan se olla, että esim. 300 muun artistin jälkeen on taas helpompaa pomoilla. Ei ziiz mitään vikaa, mut tän levyn hititkin on jotenkin vähän turhan tussuja nimikkoraitaa myöten omaan makuun. Nonii. Eli ihan kelpo.
It's a good album, but the big singles tend to grate on me a bit at this point — "Born in the USA" and "Dancing in the Dark" just got overplayed on the radio. I had forgotten that the car in "Darlington County" was a T-top! So evocative of that time. I definitely have enjoyed hearing those album tracks again.
3.5
The songs from this album were everywhere on the radio in the 80s, so I did not listen to the whole album in sitting until this. Good, consistent album. Not really my style, but I'm on Fire is stellar.
I wish more radio stations would play more than just Born in the USA, cause some of the songs on here really hit home for me. Almost wanna say that Born in the USA shouldn’t be the top song on this album, but what do I know?
Didn't really want any more Bruce Springsteen. But this is so much better than the others imho. Encapsulates the working man spirit, the disdain towards arrogant and disconnected politicians and substitutes the deeper, hopeless and poetic vibe (Nebraska) with a much more precise and poignant jab that is easier and catchier. This is a: 3.6
I want to like this. I do. But. Yeah. It just doesn’t hit right. Bruce’s raspy vocals, the sense of earnestness without depth, idk, didn’t expect to have the reaction I did. I mean I pretty sure I have heard this album before. But I didn’t pay attention. Anyway, I gave Billy Joel’s The Stranger a 4 or 5 and I giving this a 3. My husband says that makes NO SENSE. What can I say? 3 Boolean: True
It's fine
I like Bruce but I’ve never liked this one very much.
appreciated but stadium rock is just not at all my thing
Some undeniably great songs but just not a massive fan of this style of production. I find a lot of 80s arena rock a bit over-polished. I suspect I will prefer his earlier albums.
It was aight
I think this album feels very upbeat. And the lyrics that I do understand I feel work well to contrast the instrumentation of the music. Maybe it's my non-american ears, but I really don't connect at all with most of the Springsteen material. This style of Americana just does not connect and I would say it lacks much of the punch it would have if I were american. I like parts of this, but it just doesn't really resonate with me. I think a big part of why I don't like Springsteen's music as much is cause of his voice. It just grates at points for me and he almost comes across as being tone deaf with certain songs. I'm sure a lot of my enjoyment lacking with this album is because I don't have that American experience. So I can understand why you probably would like this if you weren't me. Fav Track: Cover Me
Bruce mid-steen: Some bangers in here for sure and arguably the better of the Steen albums, but not enough to make me want to come back. Fave track: Dancing in the Dark
Revisiting this induced a clear epiphany - Bruce Springsteen's music is mediocre and is not required listening by any stretch of the information. "Born in the U.S.A was in fact not the patriotic pro-American anthem some people thought it was at the time - it was actually a scathing anti-war take protesting Vietnam and-" that's cool, I don't care. The song is actually incredibly annoying due to being so repetitive and is still misinterpreted by an astonishing number of Americans almost 40 years later. I reckon the Venn diagram of Bruce Springsteen fans and people who think every single piece of music after the 90s is garbage is a circle. I know which side of the fence I'd like to be on. 2.5/5
I really like what Bruce Springsteen is doing as a person and an artist, but probably would not listen to his music
6/10
I don’t get the hype
i'm not american, working or interested in love so the lyrics didn't really connect. there's a very clear theme in them tho so. i respect it ig. music didn't blow my mind, but i had a good time. favourites: cover me, downbound train, bobby jean.
solo puedo pensar en adam sandler en son como niños
Better than I remember it if I’m honest. Still a bit basic check shirt rock for me. 3.5 stars
3. Yeah. Max 3. No more. Okay. I am so tired.
Definition of a solid album
Classic Americana rock
Has 3 or 4 outstanding songs on it. The rest are middling classic rock.
A ton of great songs, but just kind of lacks the emotion that Darkness on the Edge of Town has Favorite Songs: Born In The USA, Cover Me, Downbound Train, Dancing in the Dark
Honestly expected to enjoy this more at the outset, but it was... fine? Nothing that special to me honestly. I knew a song or maybe two, but I don't particularly enjoy them. I'm sure it was foundational, but I was pretty meh on it.
Don't know what it it, but something about the synth and drums always bothered me. Kills the vibe. Love what they're going for, but can't enjoy it. I blame Max.
Solid album. Beyond the hits it still plays well. Title track has that great anthemic vibe, even if it did take most people 30 years to figure out what it was about. The stripped down version on the Nebraska 82 Expanded Edition is better (in fact Nebraska is a better album).
Last decent thing he has done
Not a very stable album, the hit songs are great, but too many toinky toink piano dad rock tracks as well.
Me gusto, pero mid, me gustó la historia que hay detrás de la canción más famosa “Born in the U.S.A.”, y ya, lowkey sentí que serían canciones que pondrían en stranger things
If the American dream had emotional depth but slightly paedophilic undertones
Maybe it's because I'm not American, and maybe it's because Springsteen's heyday was a fair bit before my time, but I never really understood what made "The Boss" so great. I'm told he still has the goods live and puts on a show like nobody else. That's fine and all, but the studio records just read as plain, no-frills rock with a saxophone to my ears, and that's a sound I find instantly dated. It's Tom Petty if decided to start yelling a lot more. And I'll give it to Springsteen, he's shouting for his life out there on these songs. The tracklist reads like a greatest hits compilation, though you might find yourself waiting for a hit single to kick in since the gulf between album cuts and singles is a mile wide. There's one very strong deep cut here, "Downbound Train," which I think could have been a minor single at some point. Despite the pure-hearted rock and roll atmosphere Springsteen was projecting at the time, there's a lot of 80s synth washes and distinctly shiny AOR polish on the production of this thing. You don't have to look further than the keyboard hits on the title track or the very Police-sounding "I'm on Fire," apparently a major hit that I've never heard before listening to this album. There are also some distinctly old-school cool songs here, like "Glory Days," which sounds like it was written by the local small-town band for their prom before a major label swooped in and prettied it up in the studio. It's followed up by the one Springsteen song I can say I like, "Dancing in the Dark." I'm of the opinion that it's the one song where Springsteen does everything I want him to do: he tones down his shouty delivery, lets his immense, stadium-ready chorus writing shine, and creates a danceable, upbeat song. Honestly, my main issue with this album is that so much of it sounds so serious and dour its attempt to be uplifting - the title track is the complete opposite of this though, with its national-anthem posturing combined with its criticism of the military industrial complex. I guess Springsteen was still shaking off Nebraska, released 2 years prior to this arena-rock giant. Probably his most accessible, commercial album, and the best entry point into his glory years catalogue. Key Tracks: Born in the U.S.A., Downbound Train, Dancing in the Dark
As with previous Bruce albums, this just isn’t my thing. Maybe I’m not country boy enough. Obviously there is some great lyricism and storytelling in this - born in the USA being a prime example. I really like I’m on fire, I think it’s sexy, although I also think that the chromatics version is way better - but he gets credit for writing it, so. 2.5 rounded up.
I respect Springsteen more than I enjoy his music. I really dig Nebraska, and you know what, there are some great tunes here.
Previously known. Nostalgic and a couple of strong hits, but not mind-blowing.
The hits are great the other songs not so much… I guess that's why they aren't hits. Working on the Highway was a rough listen
Heh, Vaimon faija.
Not a huge fan of Springsteen and I can’t say this did anything to change that unfortunately. Pretty typical 80s rock n roll overall. I definitely don’t hate it, maybe if I payed more attention to the commentary he’s making here then it might click. But I much prefer the darkness and grittiness of Nebraska to the clean, commercial production of this one.
1. 4.5 2. 3.5 3. 3 4. 4 5. 3.5 6. 4 1. 3 2. 3.5 3. 4 4. 5 5. 4.5 6. 4
I preferred his first album to all the others.
Ну а как это может быть интересно не американцу
I can listen to some Bruce grunting, but truthfully, only the opener, Dancing in the Dark and I'm on Fire, nothing else sticks.
- well i actually listened to the lyrics, lol - there are more songs on here that i recognize than i thought
This sounds aggressively like the 4th of July. They gave me 2 Springsteen albums in a week! I liked Born To Run much more which had a more grand sound with all the instruments and the storyline of leaving somewhere. This album was more synthy and relying on hooks and stuff but felt much lies epic. Dancing in the Dark is awesome though.
Этот альбом был у меня на виниле, но не так давно я решил расстаться с ним по причине не частого прослушивания. Я подумал: «нужно ли мне иметь на полке альбом про Америку, социальную несправедливость, взрослении и надеждах?». Наверное этот альбом можно переложить и спроекцировать на любую страну по вашему желанию и эти темы довольно универсальны и актуальны, но мне хотелось бы честно признаться, что идея для меня это только часть общей картины. Музыка Брюса раскрашивает все в звездно полосатую обертку которая делает эти универсальные идеи слишком Американскими. Примерно такое же с Бобом Биланом. Про него же еще шутят что «песни Боба Дилана звучат лучше когда их поет не Боб Дилан». Но из этих двух я выберу Брюса.
Bruce isn't for me, but I can't explain why. Nothing to complain about
kinda just rock and roll
At first I was skeptical but the more i listened, the more it grew on me. I enjoyed and it sort of was summer coded. My fav song: I’m On Fire.
Some classic bangers mixed with wack 80s production and Springsteen blue collar cosplay lyrics. Workin on the highway blastin thru bedrock broooooooo 6/10
Jesus 1001 gods. 4th of July was 2 weeks ago. The wound of my mom queuing this shit up is too fresh. I just can’t fucking stand this dude rambling and shouting man. I do really enjoy quite a bit of the bruisers tunes but this album has always turned me off. Liberal guy makes red neck rock album but also anti war. Pick a lane bro you’re lame as fuck. I heard he’s a preacher these days. Can’t believe we pulled this on my boys birthday. Surely he’ll be eating dinner with the fam bumping Bobby Jean. Praying for them. On a real note, this was around the time bruiser had finally dethroned Dylan in his own lane, As far as political sound writing goes. Idk the writing isn’t even bad here necessarily, it’s just a weird transitional phase of rock where everything is pulling layers from the new wave, and for the most part, it’s a tough sell for me. But there’s some decent tracks on here.
Okay I heard this album twice and one thing I noticed is how it all meshes together. The songs that aren’t classics just sometimes feel so out of place or unintelligible. It takes a lot of elements of rock and roll and a lot of times it feels like parody rather than true expression. There is a moment in a few songs where I hear the spark, the multi instrumentalism that Bruce is known for. No surrender is a great rock and roll song that actually feels so 1980s while also keeping the Bruce style. Moments like this live in the back half and we compare that to Goin down which is just a run of the mill Bruce song that is enjoyable but you are left with 2 major questions. What makes this so Americana? What the hell is he talking about? Bruce makes no effort to keep the theme of the album throughout some songs seem so strong while some just feel like pop songs that made their way to tell the story of being American. It’s all just fine to me. Nothing that makes me jump out of my seat to go see the Bruiser in concert. It’s nice actually hearing the songs he sang live but this album takes a while to ramp up and once it does it’s essentially over. I’m not sure what I expected. Bruce Springsteen is an iconic who controversy is minimal and has a passion for music. How can his highs be so high and the lows be so low. I respect this album it’s part of my collection and probably made so many new rock and roll fans but in the modern era, the songs with meaning have bubbled to the top and the others are a mixed bag
First listen, great. Love the production and some songs stood out. Need another listen.
Too white for me. Maybe if I was a 45 year old dad who owns a ford f-150 and lives in oklahoma I'd like this more. I do get why it's so popular though
I like Springteen’s politics and focus on the working class but his voice is so grating!
This was dad rock central. Swarming with dad rock essence from front to back. If this album could walk, Im positive it would take you fishing, teach you to throw a baseball, and sling burgers on the BBQ every sunday.
Molto migliore di quanto mi aspettassi ma nulla di memorabile per i miei gusti
12 songs that split the difference between the best of all time and literally whatever good ass pic for latent homosexuals
I’ve had my lifetime fill of the title track, but Dancing in the Dark still slaps.
I think one has to be in the mood for Born In The USA.
Got this on the semi-quincentennial. Gets extra points for confusing conservatives for 40+ years.
"I'm on Fire" comes off disgusting with the lyrics and I don't understand why we don't talk about that more. If not for that song I might've ranked it higher.
Good songs. You really picture the characters and situations. Shit recording. Bruce must have been so jealous that the Attractions worked with Costello
You know, I always rolled my eyes a little at The Boss because he is such quintessential dad rock. Overly busy and too much saxophone. But to be fair, this album is fun, full of energy, and while there may not be much variety in the songs, they are well written enough to have each their own flavor. Enjoyable listen.
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
Очень уж американский и очень уж отточенный для меня.
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
this album touched me like a republican congressman in a boy scout cabin
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!)
Not my thing. Surprisingly quite a few bangers that i knew though. 3.5/5. Dancing in the Dark.
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.
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.
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.
glory days is insane.
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
loved!
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.
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.
Lots of classic songs here but like just about every other Bruce Springsteen there's also a lot of filler
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.
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.
3/5. I admittedly am just not the biggest fan of this specific Springsteen album, but there’s still enough good songs and strong storytelling here to where it’s an enjoyable experience overall. There is of course the title track “Born in the USA” about the struggles of returning Vietnam veterans, which for decades now has been misused at Republican rallies as a patriotic anthem despite it not being one. But I honestly do not like the song very much at all, I find the production to be a bit much and Springsteens vocals are a bit grating to me on it. In terms of the singles I prefer “glory days” and “dancing in the dark.” the production of the album is probably its biggest setback in general for me, it just suffers a bit from that 80’s over-production that I’m not the biggest fan of.
A quintessential summer album. That being said I was often bored.
There’s so much Elvis and Johnny cash in his sound. Only knew the hits off this record, enjoyed it a lot more than expected. Not totally my cup of tea but great songwriting and very listenable. I understand why he’s so beloved. The energy and upbeat vibes of the whole album are in complete contrast to its narrative and subject matter which is fascinating, and maybe explains why so many people misunderstand the title track.
I don't really understand this concept. I guess it's good.
I get the appeal, and I really enjoyed some of these songs. But overall, it’s just okay to me.
Like is just a case of making the most middle of the road generic stuff to appeal to a large swath of people?
I have never been a Springsteen fan, I respect his work, but it has never connected with me. This is probably my favorite album I've heard from him so far, I liked the first couple of tracks and the last couple of tracks. But the middle of this album is a real slog. High 3.
Lo sentí como una mezcla de pop-country y de soft-rock / rock. Este álbum fue bastante bueno. Bien escuchable.
by no means a Bruce hater but this one just doesn't do it for me. what was once such a fluid, agile band feels flat and staid, and many of the lyrics here don't land. have also always thought the Boss sounds just awful on the title track, such a strained and ugly vocal from a beautiful voice. do love Dancing In The Dark - that "my clothes, my hair, my face" lyric has more feeling than much of the record - and I'm On Fire, which is a genuinely perfect song, so good that i'm bringing the record's rating a whole star up from what i planned on giving it
not bad
didin't blow my mind but ok for the deade
Springsteen goes near-full pop in this upbeat trucker album, but the lyrics blast a nostalgic disapproval of the US' negligence towards its people, a still-relevant commentary on the patriotic American denial of its reality – cheerfully in decline.
An album I find easier to respect than to really like. I don’t like the musical mix all that much…too much saxophone for example. Bit there are some strong songs on here.
Obviously some well known tracks, but having listened to the full album the tracks all feel a little to 'samey'.
3 a great album but it’s not his best