Reviews (page 9 of 15)
The lyrics are much better than the singing and the music. I can see why this album would speak to some people, but I don't think I'll feel the urge to listen to it again.
1 extra star for dancing in the dark
Springsteen at his most commercial and accessible. The singles on this record stand the test of time, though a few of the remaining songs are quite forgettable. Best Tracks: - Born In The USA - Glory Days - Dancing In The Dark Worst Tracks: - Working On The Highway Rating: 7/10
A blockbuster album. Rightfully so, in my opinion. The band sounds great, and the pop-minded approach works wonders for Springsteen's songwriting. The affection for the early days of rock and roll is obvious across the album. The title track is a full-throated protest anthem that's both bold and despairing. "Dancing in the Dark" is a long-time favorite of mine; he was asked to write a single and struggled, then ended up with a towering banger about writer's block and imposter syndrome. It's great. I'm glad I have the gene that allows me to enjoy Springsteen's music.
i will never understand the springsteen hype
I reluctantly have to give this 3-star. There are a few great tunes and there’s no doubt he can write tunes but I just don’t enjoy listening to this kind of rock.
I'm On Fire is a genuinely brilliant song, and there are a couple other highlights on this album, but a lot of it feels really dated and cheesey. There are some good Springsteen albums, but this isn't one of them.
There's sooo many iconic tracks on here. He's fallen off a little bit with his later work, but this was a blast.
As a little kid, I really only heard Born in the USA and thought it was so cheesy. I really didn't get the hype, and thought all Bruce was cheesy music. Upon rediscovering this album later in life, it is clear that this album is solid from beginning to end and is one of his strongest and most consistent albums. Long live the Boss.
why does every one of theese songs sound the same born in the usa ok glory days ok but meh -------- Edit: ok rated a bit too soon. forgot about glory days.have to +1 on my rating for that song
I’m on fire. Dancing in the dark.
Hits hard right now. Right album right time.
Many hits and the rest are pretty cool too.
Great album, very nostalgic. Just goes to show how personal music is. Reminds me of being a kid in our van. Our parents liked this. And, of course, there's always the Courtney Cox dance. Bruce Springsteen is a national treasure.
Listened Before? N Another classic from The Boss! Much like Born To Run, this one is classic rockers and atmosphere from beginning to end. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Downbound Train
if i was a white male born in the 60s or 70s i would think this album was good to great. i was born in the 90s as a black man. this album was as mid as potato salad from a local american diner. white people can have him at the cookout.
Not bad
The American bard. Every three minutes I fall in love again.
Born in the U.S.A. is peak Springsteen — stadium rock anthems, working-class grit, and more synthesizers than you'd expect from the Boss. A lot of his biggest songs are packed into this one album, and even if you're only casually familiar with his music, you'll probably recognize half the tracklist. "Born in the U.S.A." stands out as a favorite — a protest song that somehow still gets played at cookouts like it's pure patriotism. Either way, it's a classic. This album may not be flawless, but it's iconic for a reason.
not for me
Back to Springsteen again. I had high expectations going into this one, since I've been warming to Springsteen through this list and Born in the U.S.A. seemed like it might be "the big one." I wasn't totally blown away but overall I did enjoy it. I decided I'm not a fan of the title track "Born in the U.S.A." While the themes - like disillusionment at a crumbling America - are really well-executed, I find the song itself a bit repetitive, flat, and kind of musically uninteresting. "Darlington County" feels like I'm stuck in the car with Bruce while he rolls up on women to catcall them. I'll pass. "Downbound Train" is really good; definitely the standout from the album. Took me a minute to figure out why "I'm on Fire" sounded familiar - there's a Soccer Mommy cover of that one. Second time that's been the answer to a "where do I know this?" headscratcher (first time was "Here" from Pavement's Slanted and Enchanted). I might've overlooked this track if the cover hadn't already softened me up, but it's a good song. (She picks good covers.) "Dancing in the Dark" is pretty solid too. Then there are plenty of alright tracks to round the album out - "Working on the Highway" with its manic goofy chorus, "No Surrender," "I'm Goin' Down," "Glory Days," and "My Hometown." Giving this one a 4 overall. I think there's some kind of pro-Springsteen conspiracy in the algorithm; in 129 albums we've already managed to hit 4 of the 5 Springsteen albums on the list. (David Bowie has 9 in the list and we've yet to hit even 1 of them.)
THE SOUNDS OF FREEDOM RAAAGH 🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅 This is the most American shit I’ve ever heard. Nonetheless pretty good. Favourite tracks: I’m On Fire, Bobby Jean, Dancing In the Dark
Great album
An all-timer.
not my style of music
wonderful album, iconic album cover
Not a very tuneful Bruce album but I forgot how many hits were on here
Not in my top 5 Springsteen records but still a great record. Saw him on this tour best concert I've ever seen
Pretty good Americana inspired album from the dregs of a working man. Over compressed, reverbed, and the gated snare destroys my ears. But in its soul and its essence its Bruce, great songs. I'm more partial to The River and Born to Run which were 1970's icons.
This is another phenomenon I have never been able to understand. How he continues to pull off the ‘working class hero’ image following decades of fame and wealth is beyond me. Don’t mind his greatest hits but his voice always sounds strained rather than powerful and his lyrics a bit over sentimental.
Not only is this not my jam in term of style, I couldn't feel LESS like hearing Americana patriotism bullshit given the last 2 weeks of utter political shitshow from the USA. From what I read The Boss himself is anti Trump, so no shade on him there.
5.
I feel completely transported into the world Bruce created in this album. Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
Too bad it's recorded with the E Street Band. I love my Bruce Springsteen in its "Nebraska" incarnation - just dead good songs, executed minimalistic and powerful. Born in the USA (which I loved when it came out) has plenty of good songs but to me it is spoilt by that E Street sound, don't like the organ, don't like the sax, don't like the boring rhythm section (luckily there aren't too many tingaling bells on this album). Songs like Glory Days I really want to switch off. And be a bit less shouty in the vocals (as in Downbound Train) please Bruce, your softer voice is great. I love Bruce Springsteen, great songwriter, seems a really nice person with a very functional moral compass. I just like his intimate songs so much more than this. A harsh 3 for me, and I feel a little bit bad about it, it could have been an easy 4 if I liked the sound more. I find it a bit boring.
Again, a album I didn't love. It was boring overall but had a few hits.
Proud to be an American
I honestly listened to 2 songs and it just wasn’t my vibe so I wasn’t a huge fan.
A classic album where I tend to like the deep cuts more than the hits. Usually that's a recipe for a 5-star, but in this case I don't really like the hits on this all that much (and actively dislike the title track). I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. I'm holding to my round-down policy, even if this feels pretty low for this album.
First time listening through from top to bottom and really enjoyed it. So many great songs on this album.
Man, I'm just bored and tired of this album. I swear I've heard it a hundred times, at parties, in bars, on the radio. It was EVERYWHERE in 1984-85. Yes, there are some catchy tunes, but my god, the more enthusiastic the song, the louder the yelling. I get sympathetic vocal cord shredding from the screaming on Born In The U.S.A. And hearing him yell "woo" all the time is just annoying. I get Arthur Fonzarelli "ayyyy" vibes from it....but it's way less cool.
Америка. Но не вот эта вот глянцевая, сверкающая панорамами небоскрёбов в закатном солнце, а настоящая. Та, которая пахнет горячим асфальтом и дизельным выхлопом. Где-то в прериях Канзаса или Техасских полупустынях, где небо режут линии электропередач, уходящие за горизонт, а дальнобойщики глушат кофе литрами из огромных кружек. Спрингстин поёт здесь именно об этой Америке, скорее даже воспевает её. Оттого и сам альбом получился таким — весёлым, слегка грубоватым, пропитанным потом и пивом. Тут тебе и блюзовые интонации, как эхо старых баров в дельте Миссисипи; и кантри-мотивы, пахнущие потёртым кожаным седлом из ранчо в Монтане; и рокабилли, скачущее, как старый "Мустанг" по пыльной дороге. Возможно, кто-то скажет, что это простовато — да, наверное. Но в этом и был феномен Спрингстина — простой парень делает простую музыку для простых людей и рассказывает в своих песнях о простых и понятных ценностях.
Listenable, plus a couple of obvious classics, but quite samey.
Soo viele Hits.
The more I listen to this the better it gets
Perhaps the most glaring example of the Springsteen Problem - great songs undone by terrible arrangements
Love it!
Loved listening to this album. Reminisced about seeing him at Glastonbury and continued to enjoy hearing his huge playlist all day!!
Very good, unexpectedly.
Beautiful
Grande
"What the F**k is a kilometer!!??🦅🦅🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸" aah album😭🙏
Only Dance In The Dark and My Hometown resonated a bit with me. The music is kind of ok, the lyrics are hard to relate to.
Love this one, reminds me of summer time grillin' on the farm
I've really only listened to his earlier albums and, frankly, I enjoyed them more. Every song on this album kinda sounds like "Walk of Life" by Dire Straits.
Side B hits hard. This is a great album and has instigated many living room dance parties (mainly with my mom haha)
Like a lot of good music of the time (Talking Heads, anyone?), I ignored The Boss in his ‘80s heyday because his music was everywhere on the radio and MTV, and my interests were elsewhere. So this is the first time I’ve listened to Born in the U.S.A. in full, and it’s quite good. His songs are soulful, with interesting lyrics that focus on the struggles of everyday people and a cracking backing band — though the keyboards sound a little dated. Highlights include “I’m Goin’ Down,” “Bobby Jean,” “I’m on Fire” and “Downbound Train.”
Reverb good. Lyrics good. Aura good. Repetetive not so good. Non expereimental
2/5
Let’s just say that if I had this on vinyl, I bet Side B would be played a LOT more than Side A.
Could be a solid road trip album and Born in the USA is a solid banger. Probably won’t listen again
Bland songwriting, derivative and dated production
No bad songs, but I only really liked 3 of them. Compared to the first album by Bruce where I liked most of them, I think this album is quite a bit worse. Born in the USA is pretty good, Cover Me is amazing, and Downbound Train is pretty good (better than Born). No bad songs, but these were the ones I like. lmk if there's any I should consider relistening to, ben.
Yeehaw 🤠🇺🇸🦅🫡 I enjoyed this one! I knew quite a lot of the songs already, they were soundtracks to our roadtrips growing up This is my favourite album of Bruce's - but not quite full marks 4 ⭐️
I don't know that I ever listened to this album, but I'm surprised how many songs I know by heart.
Estaba preparado pal hateo mientras escuchaba los 4 minutos y medio de la primera canción, que ya está trilladisina por la radio, por ser una sola melodia repitiendose todo el tiempo. Me da bastante rabia todo el rollito malote pero al mismo tiempo supercontenido. El icono perfecto para aplatanar la clase obrera. Me he reconciliado un poco en algunas baladillas que me han sorprendido, luego otra vez abajo con los rockanroles revenidos. En fin, sin mas. Dancing in the dark está bien, jarto plagiadic por parte de war on drugs laerda. Ah y que la mitad de las canciones la batería entre solo con los golpes de caja esos? es su trademark?
Wasn't expecting an old country banger to have this generous a helping of man ass on the cover. I thought the hat in his back pocket was either a hot water bottle or whoopee cushion until I put it under closer inspection (not because I was scrutinising his ass I am straight I am not a homosexual) It's pretty good, even if it's appeal is a little fleeting. I used to think the mixture of singer-songwriter with pop songwriting was a more contemporary thing, but I guess there's always been music like this. Cool to know that there's meat on the bones of these lyrics, though I was never compelled to give em a close listen.
I liked this, more heartfelt than I was expecting. It’s interesting how he weaves in the politics of the time like racial integration, the Vietnam war, and blue collar job collapse throughout the album. Somehow boomers will listen to this and still claim they don’t like politics in their art lol. My hometown was a standout.
Lot of bangers
A timeless classic.
We didn't listen then, are we listening now? Happy MLK Day
This is a very good album with so many tuuuuuunes! 1. Dancing in the dark 2. I'm going down 3. I'm on fire
Love it! Super gute Laune Musik zum Aufsteheb/ Roadtrip
Born in the U.S.A. is undoubtedly iconic, but it didn’t resonate with me as deeply as it has with others. The lyrics are brilliant—Springsteen paints a raw, unflinching picture of a fractured, working-class America, full of broken dreams and quiet despair. But musically, it doesn’t quite hit the same emotional depths. Compared to Born to Run, this feels more polished, more designed for radio, and a bit less cohesive as an album. There are standouts, though. I’m on Fire is hauntingly beautiful in its simplicity, while Dancing in the Dark is irresistibly catchy, synth-heavy in the best way. The title track is thunderous, packed with righteous anger, but its relentless repetition can wear thin—by the end, I’m ready to move on. The production, full of 80s synths and drum machines, feels dated now, and it sands down some of the grit that makes Springsteen’s storytelling so powerful. Tracks like Downbound Train and Working on the Highway suffer the most from this. That said, Springsteen’s ability to write songs that dig into real, often ugly truths about life is undeniable. Even if the album feels more like a collection of singles than a cohesive journey, the intelligence and passion behind it still shine through. It’s a good record, but for me, Born to Run will always be the one that truly captures Springsteen’s magic.
Lot of people criticising Bruce's singing, but I quite like how raw it is. Lot of passion behind them There is a bit of a cheesiness to this but I think that's just to be expected with 80s rock. Although it can sound quite dated at points (the synths on Working On The Highway, for example) Pretty good, 3.5 Highlights: Born In The USA, Dancing In The Dark
I'm not really into Bruce but this has all the hallmarks of an iconic classic. Wrote all his songs and although nowadays some people think him a bit cheesy there are a lot of big songs on this album. Sort of a poor man's Dylan?
Man, I've been waiting to review Born In The U.S.A. for what feels like an eternity. I'd hoped that this would pop up for me on July 4, but getting to review it the Friday before TFG gets inaugurated again on Monday feels sadly appropriate too. On my drive home yesterday, I was thinking about how many of my favorite albums I haven't gotten to review yet, and this one definitely crossed my mind, so maybe I willed it to happen. Regardless, I'm excited to jump into this today, and hopefully this isn't indicative of American democracy's last hurrah! Ugh, I love this album so much. This is my fourth album of The Boss’s to review (I only have Nebraska left now), and it’s easily my favorite. I went into Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town, thinking I’d love them, and while I did like them, they just don’t pack the same punch as Born In The U.S.A. for me. I love that this album has so much raw emotion packed into its politically conscious lyrics, but its pop sensibilities really make it land in a broadly appealing way. This album’s arrangements draw on some European influences, giving it a really midwestern feel. The heartland sound of Born In The U.S.A. always makes me forget that Bruce Springsteen is from New Jersey, because this album sounds so much like it could have been recorded in Iowa or Nebraska. I really enjoyed how some of the songs intertwined love song lyrics with lamenting about the death of the American Dream. Those two themes combined in a way that I wouldn’t have thought would work, but Springsteen’s brilliant songwriting pulled it off. One of my favorite things about this album is how every song is brilliant, and could easily stand on its own. It blows my mind that there were seven singles released from this album, but any of these songs would have made a great single. When it comes to the songs on this album, “Glory Days” is my favorite, but by a very slim margin. I love the opening guitar riff that starts the song, but the keyboard and organ playing really steal the show for me here. The booming drums are fantastic too, and give the perfect rock and roll punch to this song with excellent pop sensibilities. The lyrics are fantastic too, and I love their theme about not getting lost in the good feelings of nostalgia so that you don’t miss the present. The title track is my second favorite on the album, and easily one of the best rock songs of all time. I love that Bruce’s voice is all over the place on his singing on this song, and I think it’s because he’s singing with a raw anger, that his voice can’t help but break several times. The keyboards are great here too, and just like on “Glory Days,” Max Weinberg’s drums add enough of a boom to give this song a great rock and roll sound. “Dancing in the Dark” is another favorite of mine off of this album. I love the singing, and the keyboards and saxophone give it a really great eighties feel. “No Surrender” is my favorite non-single off of this album. I love the guitars, and the singing is some of my favorite on the whole album. “No Surrender” has such an anthemic feeling to it that makes it swell with a contagious energy. Despite the criticism it gets, I think “I’m On Fire” is fantastic as well. I love its slower pace and darker tone, and it really stands out from the other songs. One last thing before I close, I thought the Hammond organ playing on “Darlington County” was fantastic. I really love Born In The U.S.A. From the opening keyboards of its title track, to the closing somber notes of “My Hometown,” this album is absolutely perfect. I loved listening to this today, and I was reminded of why this is one of my favorite albums of the eighties, and one of my favorite albums of all time.
I have never liked Bruce I mean he is Ok but cant figure the fascination with him. As a kid hear this album and the hits on radio more than enough. Today I listened to this masterpiece with fresh ears and wiser years. Wow what an album. Storytelling with order from start to finish with ups and downs to emphasize in the ups and downs of regular working class joes lives. Id never thought Id say this but this album is one of the best of the 80s conceptually
So many emotions and images right now. Felling easy, fearless, dreamy, eager for life, full of joy, free, overwhelmed with the feeling of freedom even. Listening to Bruce and this album specifically just took me to my happy carefree teenage years that I never had.
Great songs, but a bit too 80s sleek.
Ain't no boss
Just the singel alone is decade defining in so many ways, from the snare drum to the anthemic delivery of really serious lyrics — something that was surprisingly common in the 80s. And then the rest of the album is just onw great song after another, with great performances, songwriting and production all over.
First time listening and I wasn’t as impressed as I thought I would be from all the talk about it
There are a a few on here that feel brilliant. Mostly though I can’t get into the writing or singing and the simple percussion parts are grating. I love the sax
#87 - Good album. Bad memories.
Heat. My hometown brought it down a star though sorry about that Fav Songs: I'm on Fire, Working on the Highway
Favorite track: cover me other picks: born in the usa, glory days
Of Springsteen’s albums this one is my favorite. I think part of it was because this album was so prevalent in our 1980s upbringing. The other thing that I’ve always appreciated about this album is it’s got great storytelling and engaging music that you don’t need to interpret. This is a straightforward Bruce Springsteen rock as you can get. I always found it ironic that politicians used Born In The USA as their theme songs, knowing what this song is actually talking about. And I personally dare anyone to sing along with Dancing in the Dark and not do the Courtney Cox dance. These were truly his Glory Days and this is truly an American classic.
This is Bruce at his pop peak but also staying true to his Americana roots. Some of his biggest hits are here (Born in the USA, I'm on Fire, Dancing in the Dark, Glory Days) but I was surprised how well this whole album felt as one common theme. All the songs really painted a picture of America and the rust belt with all of its past glory and changes that were happening in the 80s. It still feels as relevant today as I'm sure it did in the 1980s.
Born in the USA was Bruce Springsteen's seventh studio album, and is the album that made Springsteen into a superstar. The album followed Springsteen's solo, introspective album Nebraska, and continued that work's focus on working-class perspective and concerns. This focus, and the album's extraordinary success, helped inspire a trend of "heartland rock" that flourished in the 80s and the 90s. The album includes several of Springsteen's biggest hits, including "Dancing in the Dark," "Cover Me," and the title track. These singles were supported by music videos, and the album's success was driven, in part, by the video-focused music industry of the decade.
The BOSS! It’s so good that Born In The U.S.A. is the weakest track on the album. Killer.
It was okay. I mean I know it’s good for its time but not something I’ll go out of my way for.
não é necessariamente horrível, mas nas palavras de um grande amigo, é "dad rock" até o cu fazer bico e rodar fora o patriotismo evocado, vai tomar no cu estados unidos
dad rock AO EXTREMO. besta demais esse aqui. tipo, num eh ruim, mas é o SUCO do pop rock estadunidense dos anos 80. é meio bobão, mas as baladinha são dançante demais. queria muito odiar esse aqui, porém é mó divertidinho. tem umas que, se forçar, desce, vai.
Great album. Timeless. Almost hear an eagle on the beggining of every song
Feels like an important 80s rock album that leans toward pop. Lowkey giving patriarchy. Cohesive sound, fairly easygoing, nice to have on the background. I can see how Dancing In the Dark, I'm On Fire, and the title track are his most popular songs. 3/5
God-tier pop-rock, for one thing, every song a blinder. But shot through with intelligence, sadness and longing, and genuine depth and richness in its narratives. Immaculate, and still not my favourite Springsteen album.
opening track is a banger (… except Christina says it’s the same six note over and over the entire song)
I've heard of so many people that really like Bruce Springsteen, but I've never actually sat down and listened to him. Its definitely not my style, but I can see the charm for sure, it was definitely worth listening to.
En klassiker
a bruce springsteen dive has been on my to-do list for forever and ever, his melodic voice is not the widestest but its something that just instantly makes me feel at home, and ive enjoyed this record (and all the others ive heard) ever since first listen. ill reflect on it more when i hear it in the proper context of his discography but more than anything i think this just makes me think ab The Imperial Period Pop Magnum Opus as a format and how effortlessly this wraps his sweet and earthy into it, with near flawless results. i think the two main things that kind of record needs to nail are (1) establishing the coherency and vividness of the artist and (2) showing off their range Particularly in the big singles...every song here is v good but its esp impressive that the hits cover such a wide variety of ground and usually with some amount of emotional complication. u dont need me to tell u, but man the title track hits every time. every lyrical couplet is its own knife twist, and the tone of the song is Somehow not trampled on at all by the surface-level shininess, its a passionate bellow either way
done
I remember my mom being a big fan of this album, but don't remember much outside of Born in the USA. My mom is a good example of not understanding the true meaning behind these songs. I enjoy the political messages behind these, even if I'm not a huge Springsteen fan.
This is one of Springsteen's weaker albums. Dated 80s sound, pretty pedestrian lyrics (where are the gritty character sketches?). Even the vaunted title track has some parts where he's just searching for something meaningful to say. And No Surrender? Come on... hackneyed crap. And you know what I think he (Springsteen) knows it. Pretty sad when Dancing in the Dark is the best song. Check that, I think it's Glory Days and Going Down and Hometown that ALMOST save this turd of an album. OK Hometown is a good song. 3 stars, reluctantly! Fuck it....2 stars! Tell me what you really think
I love I’m on Fire. Other than that it was alright. I probably wouldn’t listen to it again. Better than I expected, and the last two songs were good. Feels a little pandering at times. He's a hardworking man, got laid off, etc etc
Great album, not a bad song on it Favorite song: no surrender
There are a lot of massive hits on this album, but to me the music feels very average. I like Glory Days and I'm on Fire, and while it might be fun to watch these songs played live, they don't move the needle for me on record
New Year's Eve, a time for nostalgia and regrets and reflection. Tomorrow I'll start fresh, braced to face the future. But for now this album is just about right.
So good. Almost every track is fantastic and brings me right back. My Hometown = a lost gem.
So, Springsteen first wrote Born in the USA for his Nebraska album, and when he played it for the E Street Band the keyboard player Roy Bittan immediately caught a new riff and changed that song forever. Check out the demo ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Gh1wQEe1I ), it's worlds different, sent chills down my spine the first time I heard it.
I'm operating on the assumption that it's ok to lean heavily on my own idiosyncratic tastes for ratings, because otherwise I'd have to give five stars to all kinds of "objectively great" music that I hardly listen to. This is a five star album, for sure. But it happens to be the best version of a kind of rock that isn't my fave.
I avoided this LP at the time because I didn't love the singles, which were played all the time on the radio. listening to it all the way through, I sorta get it, but its not for me.
I haven't listened to this full album in probably 40 years. I wore it out as a kid, though. I don't think it holds up for me. But that could just be due to it being so very very 80s and that was a period as a kid where my music world was rather narrow and what was in it got played to death. But 'I'm On Fire' and 'Dancing In The Dark' are still great.
I'll continue to think Bruce Springsteen is overrated until I hear music from him that doesn't sound like a backyard garage band full of teenagers. At least the album provides a relevant message. Favorite Song: "Born In The U.S.A."
I found it a bit repetitive at times, but overall a decent album.
this one proves why he's called the boss
Not as good as Born To Run
I love this album. Bruce Springsteen one of my favorite musicians
3.5★. Not quite DotEoT but really good. Against my better judgment I find myself helplessly enjoying Springsteen's catchy, commercial Americana. Love love I'm on Fire.
Yes, the Boss, lots of well-known songs. But then after a few songs it just gets nostalgic and it's enough with US country again.
Certified 5 star classic record
Definitively Bruce.
I'm trying not to knock this album too badly just because MTV and radio overplayed so much of it that I grew really sick of hearing it. I consider this to be pop-bandwagon Bruce, a turning point that made me want to listen to his older stuff instead. This album isn't necessarily bad but in my opinion, there's a LOT better Springsteen out there. 2.5/5 with a grudging round up to 3 stars.
Favs: Cover me, Downbound train, Glory days Can live without: Darling county, no surrender, working on the highway Great album, would be a 5 star if half the songs weren't just "ok"
Raw and pure, somehow full sounding without being overproduced
A few songs on the first half are not so strong ornl would have been 5⭐
Excellent! Of course
Not a huge Springsteen fan, so I didn't know that most of his bangers were on this album! Very catchy songs, but a lot of them sounded the same (which is pretty typical for most artists). Liked the piano and sax riffs. All in all a solid album.
Nothing like a Bruce scream-singing Born in the USA to start off an album
Not a massive fan of the Boss but some decent tunes on here to be fair.
A few classics but kinda weak overall.
All what I dislike in rock on one album
The title track is dreadful content, vocal, and repetition-wise. Cover Me wasn't awful. Darlington County is. Working on the Highway was a pretty good song, reminding me of Lord Huron. I'm On Fire is good. I walked in expecting to hate this and was only half correct. 2 stars for the few decent songs.
none of these are my favorite bruce songs per se, but this is certainly the bruce album with the most undeniable earworms
Good album
No comment needed. It's Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA. Either you get it or you dont.
Apart from the three singles I already knew, the rest of this album was a mystery. It’s very clangy, grating and Bruce is pretty much screaming his way through the songs. I preferred the slower ballads but even those were fairly boring.
It blows my mind the amount of people that write reviews without understanding the lyrics and meaning of this album. Particularly those that think Born In The U.S.A. is somehow a rah-rah USA song. There is nothing wrong with being proud to be from America and Bruce Springsteen is, but he sees the flaws in America and that is the theme of the album. It is okay to not like story tellers if mindless music is all you are looking for. But if you are going to actually take time to review the theme of a story tellers album, at least listen to the lyrics and get the theme correct.
Classic Bruce Springsteen.
Never liked him
What a fantastic album.
The Boss. Great album to bring me back to 1001 albums. Some great songs on this one.
I do appreciate the sentimental themes he writes about, and some of the lyrics can make me a bit emotional. But a lot of the songwriting itself wasn't very interesting to me.
A defining album in rock history
I was kind of disappointed, after the title track it didn't really grab me at all. It was fine, just not as good as I guess I was expecting.
Нормально. Как будто окунулся в атмосферу фильмов 80-х годов
3.5
Born in the USA and I'm On Fire both standouts here. A very strong and enjoyable album. Anyone who thinks this is a pro-USA album needs to listen more closely.
Not the strongest Springsteen album by any stretch, but the one with his most misunderstood song that we're all sick of hearing (Born in the USA), his most commercial song (Dancing in the Dark) and arguably his best song (I'm on Fire). Oh and Glory Days. Worth a listen for these and the deeper cuts.
A classic 5/5. The boss. So danceable, great music. Vocal focus. Every one a banger. Well ok don’t love Downbound Train. But all the remainder is memorable. And that cover!
Favourite tracks: born in the USA; cover me; Darlington county; working on the highway; down bound train; I'm on fire; no surrender; bobby jean; I'm going down; glory days; dancing in the dark; my hometown
Nothing really wrong with the album. Great lyrics just not my cup of tea
An easy 5. One of the few Bruce Springsteen albums I actually enjoy. Filled to the brim with the favorites "Born in the U.S.A.", " Cover Me", "Downbound Train", "I'm On Fire", "I'm Goin' Down", "Glory Days", "Dancing in the Dark", and "My Hometown". There are no weak songs on this album. It does a fine job of walking the line between loving the U.S.A. and recognizing where improvements could be had. Where NEBRASKA was a drag and sounded like it was poorly recorded, BORN IN THE USA was an album that was filled with characters who lived a vibrant life, while still exploring working people's thoughts and issues, the characters do so with dignity and grit. The album's recording felt more technically skilled and rewarding. By including synths and electronic explorations on some of the album's biggest hits it kept the album relevant for all audiences and not just the core rock and folk audience of Springsteen's earlier years. The 80s had become a great time for sonic exploration as the audiences were increasingly accepting of artists exploring sounds in all kinds of instrumentation and genre. Additionally, the 80s would be the peak of recording budgets by major record labels, which allowed from more interesting ideas to be developed fully. Much, more so, than in previous decades. In my opinion the 80s is probably the best decade of English language music recording and performance. Ignore the naysayers. This is THE Bruce Springsteen album to hear before you die.
Probably one of the best albums I’ve listened to on this journey. All great songs, fun and uplifting
im on fire🙏🙏🙏 elska líka dancing in the dark
This dude really doesn’t sing does he? It all just sounds like he’s either talking or yelling. Some of these songs just have such a boring beat. I kind of remember always being bored when his stuff came on back in the day when I wanted to be dancing. Clarence on the sax helps. This album is a 2.5, will decide tomorrow which way to round it.
I’m just not a Bruce kinda girl, im sorry :(
not my favorite springsteen but has a few highlights
Favorite Track: Glory Days
Nej tak
Guttural, dance-y and fun. Makes me want a cold beer and a summer day.
Great Bruce
Not my thing but deserves to be on the list.
Phenomenal album! Great songs, huge arrangements, insanely catchy, enough variation in between tracks. There's also the political commentary aspect, which doesn't really help or detract from my enjoyment of the album. I don't what else to say, it's just great! Key tracks: Born in the U.S.A. Cover Me I'm On Fire No Surrender Bobby Jean Dancing in the Dark
Just good stuff...
This is a pretty solid album by The Boss. Born in the USA and Glory Days are overplayed. They are fine but my favorites are Cover Me, No Surrender, Downbound Train, I'm Going Down. And Dancing in the Dark is one of my favorites of all time.
So many classics on this, plus Springsteen's butt! What's not to love? I’m a sucker for his Americana rock ‘n roll.
Bruce's most commercial album? Plenty of his biggest hits here, particularly title track, Cover Me and Dancin in the Dark. Very good, but maybe not my favourite Springsteen album
Full of anthems. Honestly really enjoyed this album, great way to start a Monday. Stand out songs for me were the titular song, no surrender and glory days. Having said that, there was a song I didn’t enjoy. I guess that’s why they call him the boss
Bruce almighty, coming in hot, bandana and tight denim crotch first, with an ode to the working American man. This is pinnacle Springsteen making albums great again. Cool heartland rock, when Bruce used his voice to make music, and not act as mouthpiece for Obama's ring piece. Putting Bruce's apparent wokeism and present day political retardation to one side I thought the album was great. Enjoyed it from end to end. "The boss" went to work on this one, and just as well.. because in today's world I'd imagine he'd step down and hand his leadership role over to some useless DEI pudding and absolute 'Girl Boss', with no talent.. but to be fair, an excellent subscriber base on only fans. 5/5.
Mightily enjoyable. We're all familiar with the bangers on this album. Of which I count four. He comes out of the blocks with the first banger 'Born in the USA' and it reignites my American patriotism that I found 18 months ago, maybe even makes me abit anti toward the yellow man. 'Cover Me' I had never heard but really got on board with, straight into the rotation, but not quite a banger. The next three songs just sort of blended together, not to say they were bad but they didn't have that same feel. Didn't grip me, although I enjoyed 'Downbound Train', it's also a fun title to say out loud. 'I'm on Fire', second banger. Nuff said. Again, more blending and not much standing out for the next two, not to say they weren't good but I sort of felt like I was waiting for another big moment. Then we get 'Glory Days'. Third banger. Loved it. Also into the rotation. 'Dancing in the Dark' reminds me of Clent. So I creamed myself twice. Last Banger. I had never heard 'My Hometown' and I think it's my favourite single song I've discovered from this 1001 Albums thus far. Again, not a banger, but I just really really liked it. I'm hesitant to give 5 stars just because of the bits of time I felt like I zoned out. 4.5 stars, harshly rounding down as I believe that 5 star rating is exclusively for something that either moves me entirely, or stays brilliant from front to back. Cover art is iconic too. I'm proud of you Bruce.
As a working class Englishman, working in a low impact profession, it’s very unrelatable. I imagine it’s an album that resonates with throngs of working class Americans, in typical blue collar jobs. All tracks fade out apart from Working on the Highway, why is this? Did Bruce think the fade outs were a good metaphor for the fading in and out of geopolitical relationships during the cold war? Did the turning down of the music intend to draw a parallel with the dimming of family values as gen x'ers became the generation of latchkey kids, who witnessed rapidly increasing divorce rates? Or are we simply witnessing a songwriter all out of ideas? Some of the lyrics are Key Stage 2 rhyming couplets. ‘Tougher’ and ‘Rougher’, ‘Joe’ and ‘no place to go’. I don’t like being able to guess the next line unless there’s enough nuance or charm surrounding the song to justify such basic tropes. Musically, there was a lot to like. I didn’t expect to hear so much synth/keyboard for some reason. This intertwined with passionate vocals and slick guitar work (thankfully not in abundance), made it a somewhat enjoyable listen. While it’s not really my cup of tea, I do appreciate good pop songs. I’m On Fire was a highlight for me, but again, I’m not convinced the fade out was the way to go (making it the fifth fade out by this point). Dancing in the Dark is obviously one of The Boss's most recognisable tunes, and it's alright by me, especially Courtney Cox being in the video. Although in this, she does look like a prepubescent Ellen DeGenderless, rather than the height of her hotty-ness; your friend and mine, Monica Geller circa Season 1-3. The album is incredibly well mixed too. When you add this to the Americana, and the rousing pop belters, it does make for a pretty good album. Reminds me of things like Huey Lewis, and The Cars, decent pop efforts of that time. It’s getting the 3 treatment from me. If this guy broadens his rhyming horizons, and figures out a few more ways to end a song, who knows, we could be looking at the next Sam Fender.
USA
There really isn’t anything special about Bruce other than longevity. This album made its name off of a misinterpreted USA song and ran with it. It sits right in the middle of a soft rock and rock album. If you’ve heard any of his music, whatever song that is, this album hovers around that sound. Choice cut: Dancing in the Dark
Very good but not my favourite Spring
So many hits on this one. The songs in between didnt really stick, tho.
It has a few absolute bangers. The rest is decent. High 3s.
Pop bangers front to back, hard to argue with Bruce's output for that first batch of albums, he was unstoppable.
I already own this album. It's great. The title track and Dancing in the Dark are truly great songs, Glory Days, Cover Me, and I'm on Fire are also very good. The album is also well made, and the deep cuts are better than most album's signature songs.
El mejor maldito álbum. Te amo Bruce Springsteen
Today's album is one where the biggest hits are the weakest tracks. "I'm on Fire" holds up, but the title track, "Dancing in the Dark," and "Glory Days" are pretty lame to be frank. Add in Darlington County to the above as well. However I do like Downbound Train, No Surrender, Bobby Jean and I'm Going Down.
Springsteen has always been an incredibly talented songwriter and this album continued to put that on display. The music suffers a bit and lacks the unique sound from his earlier and other better records. Highlights: Downbound Train I’m on Fire
I knew a lot of these songs. I guess this is the 'pop' Springsteen album. Plus one star for 'I'm on Fire' which is great.
This is the Bruce I usually think of when I say I'm not really a fan. Sure there are huge hits on here, but nothing really makes me feel anything. Give me Nebraska anytime.
I just can’t take much Springsteen. And this is not the one for me. I respect him, rather than enjoy him.
Not a massive fan of his sorry. Some decent songs but a bit country 5/10
Das Album Born in the U.S.A. ist ein Meilenstein der Rockgeschichte und zeigt Bruce Springsteen in Höchstform. Mit seiner Mischung aus kraftvollen Rockhymnen und nachdenklichen Texten trifft es sowohl musikalisch als auch thematisch ins Schwarze. Songs wie „Dancing in the Dark“ und der Titeltrack sind energiegeladen und mitreißend, während Stücke wie „My Hometown“ eine melancholische Tiefe besitzen. Besonders beeindruckend ist Springsteens Fähigkeit, große Themen wie den amerikanischen Traum, Arbeiterklasse-Probleme und persönliche Identität in greifbaren Geschichten zu verpacken. Trotz seiner Veröffentlichung in den 1980er Jahren bleibt das Album zeitlos und hat mir durchgehend gefallen – ein Muss für Rockfans!
Sooo good. Loved every song.
Još jedan u nizu nostalgičnih albuma. Tiho će biti oduševljen 😂😂😂 Šta reći, da, slušala sam to kao klinka, da, sad kužim da glazbeno nije kvalitetno kao druge stvari koje slušam. Ja bih to rekla ovako: 1. Zaslužuje li biti album na listi? Da 2. Je li on glazbena veličina? Realno da. 3. Bi li mi ikad palo na pamet e bas mi se sad sluša Bruce Springsteen, idem si ga pustiti? Ne. 4. Bih li dok upadam pijana u nekoj birtiješini pjevala i plesala na ovo? Apsolutno. 5. Hoću li baš svaki put u Sibinju pijana s Helenom vrištati na Dancing in the Dark? Dokle god me jetra drži. Cover me mi je i dalje ful dobra pjesma. Pošto i nostalgične albume nekako rangiram međusobno, bit će ovo 3/5 ili 5/10.
Jao jebeni sner idi u kurac odmah na prvu. Stalno serem po tome, ali jače je od mene. Ovaj zvuk snera u meni izaziva isti onaj osjećaj koji kod nekih ljudi dođe nakon što vide ili čuju kako netko grebe noktima po ploči. Život bi mi bio ljepši da to ne čujem i da tako ne reagiram, ali neke stvari u životu ne možeš birati Jedna od stvari koje mogu izabrati je da u potpunosti preskočim ovaj album, ali neću bit toliki lakse i natjerat ću se doći makar do pola albuma Evo me na četvrtoj pjesmi bez ičega lijepog za napisati osim da mi je nejasno kako je on ikad postao tako velik. Zbog pjesme I'm on fire ga treba zapalit, prljava pedofilčina bez glazbenog ukusa. Mogu ga zamisliti kako pjeva hrabrim američkim marincima prije nego ih pošalju u svijet da šire demokraciju i slobodu. #MAGA Mislim da sam dosta komentirao, čista jedinica bez imalo oklijevanja
6/10 Inace mi je Springsteen dosta okej, ali s ovim albumom mi je malo dosadan s tom freedom americkom spikom. Ocekivano jer nisam ponosni amerikanac koji je zivio osamdesetih tokom hladnog rata u Americi. Inace je ovo prvi album ikad koji se tiskao na CD, sto mi je skroz zanimljivo da su se vec '84. mogli kupiti. Isto tako, ovaj album ima puno hitova ali izdvojio bi Downbound Train i I'm On Fire kao ugodna iznenadjenja. Ne mogu reci da mi je ovo los album, po zvuku mi dosta odgovara samo se nisam pronasao u tematici i duhu vremena i postora s njim. Zainteresiran sam cuti jos neki njegov album, a siguran sam da ce se naci na popisu.
Many classics. The boss was on fire for this one.
Favorite song was the energetic “Darlington County” which (upon investigation) was written six years earlier for “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” It stands out because it has a different feel. Otherwise… many familiar songs that aren’t bad and are occasionally good, but don’t really take me anywhere.
Not my favorite Bruce!
Enjoyable but too 80's for my taste
Initial reaction: FUCK. I’d say that this album is approximating good. I don’t know if it’s quite 3 stars because I don’t really ever want to listen to it again, but it was miles better than the first Springsteen album I listened to, which I gave 2.5 stars. I’m going to give it 3 stars if only to not be a contrarian prick. I’m not sure how much I agree with that as a rating, but I’m also not sure it doesn’t deserve it.
Some brilliant songs on here and some average. It seems to jump all over the place in genre and pace and the direction of the album as a whole just feels off. It's ok/good.
4.5
I don't wannnaaaaaaaaa listen to thissssss.... I'm only 4 songs in and it's so weird and creepy. Dancing in the Dark is the only good song. Thank god im done tho
I'm sorry, I just don't like this. 2/5
People have said they find this album dated, and it's true that the world it depicts has slowly been disappearing. To me, living in the Midwest, a lot of this still feels powerful and relevant. The most dated parts are silly but charming, like looking at a picture of your parents with their 1980s haircuts. This is the Album With All The Hits, and the spaces in between the hits don’t hold back either. It’s a good pop album, good rock album, good saxophone solo album. As a political piece it doesn't feel too heavy or didactic, nor does it feel fluffy and jingoistic. Favorites were Downbound Train, No Surrender, I'm Goin' Down, and the title track.
Favorite tracks: Cover Me, I'm On Fire, I'm Goin' Down, Glory Days. I haven't listened to Bruce, aside from the hits. I liked this wayyy more than I expected to, and I liked it even more on repeat listens. The only song I didn't like was Darlington County. This sound is really making a comeback (like, idk, Nathaniel Rateliff or Bleachers), so this album felt surprisingly modern for '84. Dare I say timeless? Ultimately, I think he's an icon for a reason. There's a nuance and complexity to his music that's hard to appreciate when he's, y'know, a superstar with massive hits. (See also: every right-winger misinterpreting Born in the USA.) Originally thought 4 stars, but bumping up to 5. Happy to have enjoyed it as much as I did. (Also, I'm sorry to bring my review down to this level, but this era of Springsteen is just... phewww. The rolled sleeves? The unbuttoned shirt? The fluffy hair??? Come ON.)
One of my favorite albums of all time. Absolutely love this. Lots of big hits/we’ll know songs.
Me gusta mas Born To Run. Sería un 3.5
Himno absoluto Dancing in the Dark
Combine this album with Born to Run and it's basically Springsteen's greatest hits. Born in The USA might have the most misunderstood message of any song in history, great song though. Cover Me is another good song. This album is Springsteen's most overrated, but that doesn't mean it's bad. I'm On Fire is the best song off an album full of great ones. The album tracks are definitely second rate compared to the singles. But those are some pretty amazing singles. I'm Goin' Down is an underrated song. Glory Days, Dancing In the Dark and My Hometown is a Murderers' Row of songs to close an album.
3/5
Fairly classic yet commercial success
Incredible album
Hadn’t listened to this in years. Born to Run is a bit better but I can see why this was such a hit in 1984.
if he’s the boss i quit
This is a good album, I just never got into Bruce. Maybe because it was overplayed so much when I was a kid, or it felt so much like music for another generation (even though I listen to a ton of stuff from the same era) I don't know how much I would go back to this album. Can't deny the songwriting and the great band though.
Sparing a thought this week for those unlucky enough to be born in the USA, or to have made a home there. It must be fucking horrific. Anyway. This record. I've dismissed it before. Even when I was listening through his back catalogue I dismissed it somewhat. Coming back to it today I am beginning to appreciate it. Obviously there are always standouts even when I'm not convinced by the whole album. The title track clearly rewards closer listening unlike Reagan, I'm on Fire is delicious, and Glory Days is nostalgia wrapped up in a slice of 80s pop rock brilliance. I'm enjoying other tracks today though, too. Downbound Train makes me think of REM. Working on the Highway is great. Bobby Jean touched my heart in a way it hadn't previously. Still didn't particularly dig No Surrender. There are better Springsteen albums but this is really good.
Classic. Easy. Almost a solid listen from front to back.
One of my favourite albums by one of my favourite artists ever. Seen him a few times and would see him again and again. What else can you say about this album that hasnt already been said. Its an easy 5 stars.
I love that Bruce was just like, “I’m super sad all the time about everything. Guess I’ll make some garage rock pop songs that everybody can dance to.” The 80’s production is a bit much at times, but overall this album is pretty amazing. Not my favorite Bruce album, but undeniable in terms of quality and cultural impact.
Absolute classic
Listening to this the week Trump was re-elected and god I want to live in a world where it’s Bruce’s America not Donald’s. This album is full of ambition and anger and yearning and regret and love and nostalgia and lust. It’s also a rare album where every song not only sounds like a hit but like a number 1 A classic of the American Dream before that phrase was so toxic
Slickly produced pop rock. Highlights: "Cover Me" (some nice guitar work), "Downbound Train" (typical Springsteen story-song with strong musical accompaniment), "I'm on Fire", "Dancing in the Dark"
Not for me
Yeah, it's heartland rock which is fine but not something I gravitate towards. A few good tracks throughout but the sound just gets tiring. Being a fan of The Killers, it's funny realizing now how much of a direct influence this sound shows through on many tracks of theirs that I don't care for much (see Imploding the Mirage).
I feel like Springsteen has everything I should like but it never quite comes together for me. It’ll probably grow on me in the future and it has the disadvantage that the huge songs on this have lost their impact since I’ve heard them so many times. Rating: 3.3
It was cool
Quite possibly the worst album ever.
Such a distinctive sound, classic American rock from the Boss.
Meh
boss never disappoint
I understand the appeal. 4/5
There's definitely some great hits on this album. Born in the USA is an all-timer for sure. However, the rest of the blue collar, union working songs kind of blend together. Also wayyyyy too many references to young girls. What's the deal with that Bruce? 6/10 (3/5)
The thing about Bruce Springsteen to me is that his music just isn't what I want to listen to. I get the appeal it has for a lot of people but there's just something about the sound of all his records I don't like. Maybe there's too much in there with horns and keys and backup vocals. And on this album in particular there is so much reverb that much of it sounds cave-like. Springsteen seems like he would be a super awesome dude to hang out with and I appreciate his politics and the good that he does in the world. His music is just not for me. I mean there are some songs that I like on this album but if I never heard them again I don't feel like I would be any worse off. 3/5
I never really got the appeal. The songs aren't very special. Some are boring even. I do like Dancing In The Dark though. Inoffensive though.
The songs sound really interesting but the music is way too loud, that you can barely hear the lyrics.
This feels like the soundtrack of the 80’s. Man i miss those days.
Well.. it's a classic isn't it ?
This album is so intertwined with my childhood I needed a lot of space to really appreciate it. But it is really a solid one.
perfect example of misunderstood medium vs. message. i don't especially like the musical style but i appreciate his overall work. many iconic songs!
I like the hits and the typical 80s sound but not something I would listen to again
4- Stars (10/15)
I liked this more than I wanted to. It has the early/ mid 80's filler in the middle of the album, but when these songs hit, they hit hard. It's a nostalgia of a place that the right seems to idolize, but tells a truer story of hardship and struggle. Even includes a fuck you to them in the form of "Glory Days." Can't believe I'm giving a 5 star to an album my mom likes.
Yeah, this is pretty excellent. I like this. I liked it then and do now. It feels like it's going to stay a classic album. Beautiful vocals and strong lyrics. Evocative. It's the story of an America that I wish was still present.
4.25
Americana
The Good: The Boss The Bad: Having to look at his ass on the cover… The Ugly: The tucked red baseball cap in the right pocket, which we all know is code for… To think that I never listened to the album when it came out… at least, I can’t recall sitting down and listening to it. I did have a friend in high school who was totally into the Boss and tried to get me to start listening to him, instead, I spend my hard saved cents on Van Halen’s ¨1984¨as well as the glorious ¨Purple Rain¨… Thus, decades later, I sit here and wonder why my supposed intelligence did not tell me ¨go ahead, take a listen to the Boss, as there has to be a reason they call him such…¨ In the best of faith I am not allowed to give this album 5*, though it sure gets close to that ranking. Instead, I will give this a more than solid 4 1/2* as hours later I am still whistling ¨my home town¨ and analyzing the piano portion of ¨born in the USA¨ Awesome album, and greatful to have finally ¨forced myself¨ to listen to it!!! 4 8/10*
America in an album... great vocals and message. Classic.
An iconic album. That being said, not a huge Bruce fan.
It always frustrated me that folks lumped the title track in the same category as "God Bless The USA" and such, when it's actually an indictment. I grew up with this album, and even listening with older, wiser ears...I still find it great. The melodies and the songcraft still solid. I get that his voice and his style may not be for everyone, and the sound of it all is full-on 80s stadium rock This album gave voice to a certain disillusioned, working class, segment of the population. Unfortunately,I suspect it will be looked upon today as a segment that is not as important as others, and just needs to shut up. And that's misguided.
bored of the USA too bored to run etc.
Boy I just don’t know about Bruce Springsteen. Just don’t see it. The “if you listen to the lyrics, he’s actually CRITICAL Americana!” trick works once, the first time, and it IS cool. But the music is pretty not cool, to me.
I like the Boss, and although this probably isn't his best album it is still really enjoyable.
Has some great songs like Johnny Cage, not a fan of the ending.
I am not a big fan of that album, never have been. It is too mainstream Rock for me, I am not into his singing either. So...
The first suggested album in my list. Not interested really.
It's the fuckin' Boss, what else needs to be said?
An indication of things to come when the Boomer generation took these songs at face value and ignored the actual messages. Not really my favorite style, but good music.
Pretty great honestly. Always enjoyed the hits from this album. And there are a lot of hits. And the rest of the tracks were enjoyable as well.
Not my favourite Springsteen album
This one had me reliving the Glory Days, when I was Dancing In the Dark.
Dancing in the dark was a surprise highlight, pretty good album, overall I think a low 3.
Ja prima
If you take away all the cheesy arena rock singles, you're left with some pretty good songs songs in classic Springsteen fashion. Unfortunately, it also means you're left with just five songs. I'd say Dancing In The Dark is the only song which really properly bridges Bruce's old and new sound.
Title track still slaps. The rest of the album just felt like butt rock style vocals over 80s electronic keyboard.
Wikipedia says “Springsteen is a pioneer of heartland rock… reflecting the issues of working class American life.” So I’m sure this album has a broad appeal to a wide demographic which probably stretches across both sides of the Atlantic but this album didn’t do anything for me. Wikipedia also says that Springsteen’s energetic concerts last four hours or do they maybe just feel like it because this album certainly felt longer than its runtime. The music is quite repetitive so I started looking at the lyrics on Spotify thinking that there might be some interesting, socially conscious lyrics hidden behind the macho drum sounds but alas. In one song he travels from New York and tries to impress a ‘little girl’ by telling her $200 is a lot of money. I could be really harsh and say this album is pure boomer fantasy fiction but I can see/hear why this would appeal to some. Perhaps the older and more conservative I get the more I will like this album.
It was 7am on 8th November 2016 and I was sitting contemplating breakfast at a small table in the corner of a vast deserted restaurant at a hotel in county Meath, Ireland when I heard Born In The U.S.A blaring from a tiny phone speaker. Across the way, the only other guest, a mountain of a man with slicked back hair who was too large for the furniture, was celebrating the announcement of Donald Trump's election victory and boasting to the bewildered waitress about the large bet he'd placed on the result. This album takes me right back to that misty morning and watery porridge.
I like rock, but not this kind of rock. It is interesting that the album/title track have been unfairly labelled as unashamed patriotism, but that's about it for me.
Mention a rubbish job, lust for a "little girl", a train/bus (each an American synonym for poverty) and jail and you've got yourself a Springsteen track. He often sounds like Vic Reeves singing in the style of a club singer, however he did exceeded my expectations. The album is listenable. I could listen again. I just won't.
Meh.
I liked it. I love Springsteen's sad lyrics about everyday people, and the singles are very cool. It's wild how the '80s pop feel contrasts with the lyrics. I did not know how much of the production of this album was happening concurrently with Nebraska, which I love, and they were almost a double album. I'm glad each happened on its own. Once I get in the Springsteen mood this hits for real, but I don't live in the Springsteen mood always. Jersey Strong!
The Killers owe a lot to Bruce and this album in particular. As a kid my only reference to Springsteen was the song “Born In The U.S.A.” The repetitive nature of it didn’t appeal to me so I didn’t give Bruce much of a chance for most of my youth. During that time I did like “Dancing In The Dark” more but it still wasn’t enough to engage my young A.D.D. mind. A few years later I got turned on to the previous album Nebraska. It was at that point that I understood the reason why so many adored him. As time has gone on I’ve listened to more of his work and really I’ve enjoyed most of what I’ve listened to. The times I’ve come back to this album I still gotta say the repetition in the title track still wears on me but the rest of the album is brilliant. “Downbound Train,” “I’m On Fire” and “Dancing In The Dark” are standouts for me but really it’s a solid album the whole way through.
I, too, was born in the USA, so I can relate. Man, so many hits on this album. My mother loved this album, but I never really got into it. It just isn't the type of music that moves me. I get the appeal, but it ain't me, babe. Good storytelling, though. Dancing in the Dark is probably my favorite hit on here. I dig the keys and the sax. Overall, the album is a great representation of the idea of America.
This is my first time listening through this whole album, but I'm familiar with a handful of songs here. If you looked up "Dad Rock" in the dictionary, there'd be a picture of this album, provided the dad in question was an American Boomer. I always thought it was funny that the title track is held up as a song of unwavering patriotism when the lyrics are actually kind of cynical, talking about getting in trouble in his hometown, so having to get shipped to Vietnam to shoot Asians, and not being able to find work when he returned. It's in a category of misunderstood songs, with "Little Pink Houses" and "In the Air Tonight" where people didn't make it past the title. Some of these songs sounded like they were sung through a megaphone--some vocal dynamics might have improved them. Several of the songs I like, and I was already familiar with all of those: Cover Me, which sounds somehow vaguely ska/reggae, Glory Days, a megaphone song, but saved by familiarity, Dancing in the Dark (Courtney Cox!). There's a song I truly love, I'm On Fire, perfectly capturing that moody Roy Orbison plaintive longing. My only quibble is the oxymoronic lyric about the knife that was "edgy and dull." Anyway, most of these songs I could take or leave, but 4 good and 1 great is not too shabby.
I remember watching someone sing Born In the USA at a karaoke night and I remember thinking that the opening of the song was almost iconic and a real crowd pleaser, (the crowd cheered really loudly to the opening).... but then as the song went on and the singer struggled with what seemed to be all but the chorus, it struck me that there was really not much to the song at all. Everything built around that opening riff and not much variation or movement note and chord wise throughout the song, so music wise it kind of, (apart from the patriotic type message and ideas of it), a bit underwhelming musically, so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect from listening to this album. This was my first listen through the whole thing. I am familiar though with the other big songs on this one. I think Dancing In the Dark is one of the stronger songs on it, even stronger than the title track. Glory Days is also a powerhouse of a song. The entire album is an Americana working class, blue collar album. Something I would expect from someone out of the American 'heartland' rather than a jersey boy. I dug it.
- Ich hab schon immer große Sympathie für den Boss - Persönlich gefallen mir seine weniger poppigen Sachen noch besser - Trotzdem insgesamt ein krasses Album - Mehrere Welthits drauf, und auch wenn so ein Song wie „Born in tve USA“ natürlich absolut überhört ist, muss man sich schon manchmal nochmal darauf zurück besinnen, was das im kern für eine großartige (anti-)hymne das eigentlich ist - Kann man absolut gut weghören, manches ist aber auch ein bisschen langweilig Rating: 3,5-3,75/5
- gefiel mir besser, als vorher erwartet - insgesamt stimmig, die Hits kennt man, waren aber teilweise schwächer, als andere Lieder auf der Platte - macht mich jetzt nicht zum Springsteen Fan, aber hat auf jeden Fall die eher negative Haltung (kp woher die kommt, habe nie bewusst was von ihm gehört, eben nur die Hits, wenn sie mal irgendwo liefen) zu seiner Musik verbessert
There were a few good songs but overall I didn't care for the album.
Back to back bangers. Some of my favourite songs of all time in here. Can't believe I never listened to this in full before. Brilliant
A ‘hidden’ gem! I was fully expecting to find an album full of uninteresting fillers alongside the big hits but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the whole album. A few really good album tracks as well that I’d never heard before which I really liked. So much better than a lot of that other 80’s generic rock. Will be listening to this one again before long.
i remember listening to dancing in the dark shortly after getting a job as a dishwasher. I was a teenager, working for the first time in my life more days then not. long shifts that stretched into the night. several summer nights I'd stumble out of the kitchen at 1 or 2 am, alone in the streets stinking of rich people's leftovers. all the bites they didn't want splashed into my shirt. I remember while adjusting to the daily grind feeling hopeless, depressed, and exhausted. Waiting around all day just to go to work at 5 and stay until whenever. one of those smokey summer afternoons before work, feeling the dread of an oncoming shift looming, I listened to dancing in the dark. Hearing Springsteen describe the mundanity and routine of work life struck me. it may seem silly as others had worse jobs and in hindsight, I didn't work very much, but teenage hormones distort everything to life or death, best or worst. it was the worst, and hearing a man sing a song decades ago about the shitty grind resonated in my fresh entry into the work force. sometimes you spend all day scrubbing dishes for the wealthy, strain your body and inhale cleaning chemicals you should never get close to, and at the end of it feel numb with nothing to say.
Un son beaucoup plus 80s venant de The Boss que je m'attendais, mais ça reste l'album que j'ai le plus aimé de lui à date. Super bon flux, compositions solides, beau mix de rock traditionnel et d'influence plus contemporaine. Un classique pour une raison. 8/10
Never a big Springsteen fan but recently have been enjoying his music. This album has some classics. Dancing in the dark, Glory Days, I’m on fire and loved the final song My Hometown.
Ehhhh Springsteen isn't really my thing. I gave it a listen to see if that has changed but I'm still not really into it.
Just heard it too many times, always preferred Billy Joel if I’m honest :) controversial
Never been a fan of The Boss. Individually these songs are ok, but as an album I just find it boring.
I’ve never been a fan of Springsteen but I absolutely get why he is huge. The album is mostly end to end hit after hit. Maybe you need to be from the states to connect with it.
Bruce is so good. This isn’t my favourite but even his mid ranking albums slap.
Awww hell yeah, the boss himself. Once dressed up as the album cover for Halloween. Born in the USA is awfully misunderstood, Springsteen is a patriot but not in the blind nationalism way.
Ok
Filled with iconic songs, he is a great storyteller. Instrumentally, not a lot stands out to me. 3.5.
Bit too classic dad rock-y for me, prefer something with more edge
People tend to get almost religious about this album. I think it’s fine, but doesn’t get me too excited.
songwriting is great. would've been a lot better if it was made it another decade
I don't really like this album so I'm going to be petty and subtract 1/2 a point for each song with either "little girl" or "in the wink of a young girl's eye" in the lyrics. Which leaves 3 points for Dancing in the Dark. Perfect math.
This is in the running for biggest delta between its reputation and how much it sucked
This was very Bruce Springsteen. I'm not the biggest fan of his, but this album was enjoyable enough to listen to! Definitely much better than "Nebraska".
i can never decide if albums deserve more or less stars because of the amount i have been made to listen to them as a filthy american.
THIS SLAPS and I won't be hearing anything else, thank you. I understand and agree that in any other situation "hey little girl is your daddy home" is deRANGED and CREEPY but it works here and I don't intend to entertain any opposing viewpoints. You can have them it's a free country or whatever but I'll be here with Dancing in the Dark, a song my wife Lucy Dacus and I both enjoy.
Está muy bien, pero me gusta más born to run y the river.
Not for me but with a couple of classic hits
No thanks.
Didn’t listen to the whole thing.
This is a classic in all the right ways. Now if only the majority of the listening public could realize the song "born in the USA" is a protest song and not a patriotic anthem, it'd be perfect.
I'm sure this is beloved by a large swath of Americans, but...eh. Doesn't do much for me. The title track is soooo boring and monotonous, as are most of the non-single tracks. His voice is pretty grating. I guess I'm just not the target demographic. Some sweet saxophone soloes though.