The Rising

I'm big on Bruce Springsteen up through "Tunnel of Love" but after that there really isn't much that I've been able to get into, including this album. To me this is a good example of where this list of 1001 albums starts to show some cracks: why put the 12th album by a well established artist on the list rather than make way for a younger artist who was truly in their prime during this time period? Don't like many of the production choices. And to top it off, it's too long.

“The Rising” by Bruce Springsteen (2002) Nothing subtle about the marketing eroticism of the album title and cover. At the age of 53, he might have more truthfully pitched “The Falling”, or “The Unending Search for Relevance”. This album is almost entirely a collection of songs of love’s longing, with plenty of images of bells, blood, empty spaces, and anticipated journeys. A quintessentially American album. Released six months after 9/11, there are several references to what was on every American’s mind. In the aftermath of catastrophe, Springsteen endeavors to focus our passions on edifying affections, and he’s mostly successful. Musically, the album is well composed, arranged, and produced, even if the vocal and instrumental performances are less than stellar. I think I’ll always be put off by New Jersey native Springsteen’s poorly affected Southern accent and weak, overused falsetto. Melodies are all very typically Springsteen. On “Lonesome Day”, the post-9/11 sentiment of “A little revenge and this too will pass” was ok for the moment, but then the sad history of war in Afghanistan, the Iraq War, and the excesses of the USA Patriot Act emerged, and, well, we all needed some loving. Still do. Also, “Into the Fire” is inspiring, even if it borders on exploitation. Meaningful, nevertheless. So this album has some enduring satisfaction. Overall, a good album from an America worth loving, then and now. 3/5

The Bruce Springsteen 9/11 album. Goes pretty much how you’d expect. It was a commercial revitalization for The Boss, but to me it sounds pompous, a checklist of every bad 00s (rock) production technique, and without a hook in sight.

I got 3.5 songs in. I just couldn’t. I like his earlier stuff, but this didn’t do anything for me

9/11 had a profound effect on the music industry, and I don't think any of it was good. This is a prime example. Its awash with patriotism and self-pride. The music is simple and uninspired while being littered with a bunch of over complicated melismatic strings. It feels lazy overall. It's the shadow of albums like Born to Run and Wild, Innocent, E-Street band. I love Bruce, but this is not the version of him I love. If anything I feel like this still belongs on the list to show the significance of 9/11 in music

Springsteen has some good albums. This is not one of them.

Long, boring, and corny. America did not need this album post-9/11, I don't care what anyone says.

This is the Springsteen version of the shitty country that came out after 9/11. Obvious hard rhymes, predictable tropes in lyrics and instrumentation, corny turns of phrase. Further On even has him faking a country twang. _(´ཀ`」 ∠)_. A name for this genre could be "Boomer Chants" or "Boomer Feel Good".

definitely not my thing

First couple of tracks I was into. Then it became massively middle of the road dad rock.

My favorite album so far. The fact that this was in response to 9/11 is impressive. The songs were honest in dealing with the complicated emotions from that event. Not like some other music, say from Toby Keith which was just "America F' YA!"

Wonderful. This was Bruce's album after a long hiatus from music and even longer one from the E Street Band. It appears quite light hearted but there are some quite meaningful and clever songs in there such as the Rising, You're Missing and Mary's Place. I feel that these great songs are lost a bit in the more 'party songs' such as Waiting on a Sunny Day, especially for first time listeners. Nevertheless, I love this album but I did hope that the first Bruce album on this list would have been one of the earlier more accessible ones.

This album could have easily been an angry attack, but instead Springsteen sings about complex, nuanced emotions. I also love how a couple of songs have are inspired by Middle Eastern Music. Springsteens singing is also a lot clearer and less mumbled on this album. Great variety, mature lyrics, and powerful music. Overall, my favorite Springsteen album so far.

Not his best work

L'album débute à ma grande surprise par une confession de Bruce: il deteste la parodie de lui même qu'il est devenue, et c'est la la principale information à retenir de cet album. En effet, depuis maintenant des années, Bruce nous explique être enfermé dans une spirale infernale, le forçant par exemple à déblaterer des atrocités mysogines et à diffuser des pets de façon importune. C'est sur une note d'espoir que cet album débute, puisque Bruce explique vouloir changer, pas seulement mentalement mais également physiquement, puisqu'il a pris la décision de raser sa coupe mullet depuis l'épisode de la guitare (voir review sur Nebraska). Malheureusement, le côté obscur de bruce va rapidement reprendre le dessus. Tout d'abord par le biais de courtes interjections au milieu de ses textes: "La bite !", "grognasse !", "pastis !". Ces cris parasites vont venir destabiliser l'auditeur. Puis plus on approche de la fin de l'album, plus le Dark Bruce devient dominant, jusqu'au climax, l'outro de l'album. Ici, Bruce, arborrant un marcel laissant apercevoir une touffe de poil sur son torse, va tout simplement lacher une enorme caisse dans son micro, avant de partir dans un fou rire gras. Bruce est malheureusement malgré toute sa bonne volonté probablement irrecuperable.

Brucey usually goes down like plain oatmeal. This, however, went down like plain, dry, oatmeal.

Seriously dull

Springsteen's success is based on schlocking his ass off and miraculously not failing--half the time. This is not the good half. The music is so excessively bombastic it's bland and the lyrics so general they mean nothing. The man has four or five albums that should be on this list. Picking a bad one deserves extra punishment.

In my opinion his best album of the 21st Century. I acknowledge that not every single song is great but there are some classics starting with The Rising. Should have won the Grammy for Album of the Year but Norah Jones robbed him!

I've never really heard anything aside from Springsteen's hits, so this is my first full album of his. And honestly... I enjoyed a lot of it! In full honesty, I am grading this album on a bit of a curve, because it's a "9/11 album", and unlike all of the other jingoistic, bloodthirsty, and sometimes flat-out racist art that came out after 9/11, this album takes a wholly different approach. There's not a hint of revenge or anger on this album - its key themes are loss, grief, resilience, and strength through community. The title track and closer are flat-out gorgeous, especially when taken in that context. There are some very weak tracks in the middle section of the album, but I think as a whole work... this album needed to be made, and it does what it was made to do. 4 stars.

Powerful album; especially the context of 9/11. The length of the album/songs keeps it from being 5 stars, but it's a great album.

This was after The Boss lost me. It's almost like he was profiting off of 9/11. He got something of a pass because he's the Jersey Golden Boy who was painted as the poet laureate of the working class folk. He has three timeless 5 star albums on this list, and another one that's close. The world over praised this one as something of a return to form because it was released (and for the most part, written) in the aftermath of 9/11. Don't get me wrong. I ride hard for Springsteen, even to the point of defending some of his work released AFTER this album. And this one is just nowhere near the upper echelon of his catalog.

Listens: 4 Enjoyed: Meh It just feels disgustingly American, from the hope to the mourning. It feel like Springsteen just did a massive line of eagle blood. The fact it's inspired by 9/11 just makes it even worse, sorta just inappropriate. There are a few decent standalone songs that may be added to my playlist but the project as a whole gives a very weird vibe Would be a very low 3

Quelle magnifique ode à l'optimisme que cet album... Bruce Springsteen se présente sous un jour nouveau et nous dit vouloir changer. C'est sa résolution pour le troisième millénaire. Et en effet, quel bonheur d'assister à cette métamorphose pleine d'espoir et de bonne volonté. Finis les coupes mulet, les ailerons à l'arrière des voitures, les blagues misogynes ou encore les comparaisons douteuses entre ses selles et des taupes : Bruce est déterminé à faire table rase du passé et veut que la terre entière soit mise au courant. C'est du moins sur cette note positive que s'achève la face A du CD. La face B, quant à elle, nous fait rapidement craindre une rechute. On entend d'abord un "vroum vroum" discret en arrière-plan qu'on soupçonne provenir d'un de ces fameux "concours d'accélération" auxquels Springsteen s'adonnait autrefois. On distingue ensuite un "clap clap" que l'on rapproche immédiatement d'un mariage indésirable entre claquettes et chaussettes. On est enfin stupéfait de tomber sur un morceau caché en toute fin d'album, soixante-neuf secondes de silence après la fin de la dernière chanson. "Vous y avez cru mes couillasses ?" s'écrie le chanteur dans un français parfait avant d'embrayer sur un condensé de flatulences et de propos inappropriés. Retour à la case départ pour Bruce.

Meh.

Vi Springsteen... Se me hizo raro por qué un disco del 2002... Lo escuche de fondo... Rock totalmente indistinto, tipo estadio como lo que ha hecho toda su vida... Esto no suena absolutamente a nada interesante... ¿Qué hace esto en la lista? Lo escuche de nuevo poniendo atención. Todo hizo clic. El disco está en la lista solo por que es en memoria del 11 de septiembre y, al parecer, se ha vuelto hasta emblemático en EE.UU. en eventos y cosas relacionadas. En mi opinión, ni como disco de Springsteen ni como memorial funciona. Las letras más clichés y melodramáticas, con la sutileza de un marro se sienten prefabricadas para cantarse en un estadio y sacar una lagrimita mientras todos sacan su encendedor (Woke up this morning to an empty sky... empty sky... (◔_◔) ). Hacer un album de canciones tipo himno estadio sobre temas así son ejercicios vacíos. Una situación así nos recuerda el miedo , el entumecimiento, la confusión, corazones rotos. Ese es el territorio que The Rising, o cualquier álbum que busque hacer justicia a ese día tal como se vivió, en contraposición a cómo fue televisado, debería aspirar. En su lugar esto se siente impersonal y vacío.

Es un álbum disfrutable. Lento y plano para mi gusto. Los cambios entre canción y canción son muy similares, volviéndolo repetitivo. Pude llegar a la última canción, pero rogaba porque terminara.

Not one of his best, but it’s Bruce!

I have a report to make. I woke up a little sick this morning, but I still decided to play today's album. The album finished a few seconds ago and now I feel much better. I don't know if this has anything to do with the songs, but one thing is a fact: Bruce Springsteen's songs have a very special way of touching the heart. I had little contact with Bruce's work (everything I heard from him was thanks to this site) and even then they were albums from the 70s. Listening now to an album from 2002, I can see that his voice and melodies have aged like wine. My type of music: 5 stars (out of curiosity, today I discovered the term Heartland Rock. Apparently the type of music I like most, it had that name all the time hahaha)

il voto meno imparziale di sempre, ma Bruce per me è tra i mostri sacri più inarrivabili, e sentire the rising live è stata un'esperienza che non mi dimenticherò mai. fantastico.

I really like this one more than I expected it to. The songs are perhaps a bit poppy but really seem to capture the post 9/11 American zeitgeist. Much better than I expected from an artist over 3 decades into his career, Bruce's voice still sounds amazing too. There are some beautiful songs in there like Paradise and Into the fire, mixed with a bunch of more upbeat songs.

This album captures the full range of experiences for Americans post-9/11. It's not the Toby Keith stong-man trope, nor a sad sack collection of grief songs. The album follows real emotions of real people grappling with an event that would shape life going forward. A man form New Jersey called survivors and those who lost family members, made connections, and got his iconic band back together to work through it. As someone who remembers that time and place, this was an interesting reflective experience. Bruce did it right. Saved Songs: - lonesome day - nothing man - empty sky - worlds apart - Mary's place - you're missing

Discazo de punta a punta. Me encanta como canta cada una de las canciones, rock, cambios de ritmo, baladas, de todo. Redondito

Ist halt ein Klassiker.

Wo Springsteen draufsteht ist Springsteen drin. Klasse Album wie so viele davor und danach. Volle Punktzahl!

Great

Awesome collection of easy to listen to songs

Surprisingly enjoyed

Vinilo del jefe.

There is no need for an excuse to listen to this album. Such a good album. The first Bruce album after a long break and first back on E street I believe. You can really tell how important the E street band is to Bruce on this record. Its a fun album with some really good songs. I rediscovered Paradise, what a lovely song that is. Favourite song: Waiting on a sunny day, Marys place and The Rising. Least favourite: The fuse Album artwork: Not as good as born to run and born in the USA, but its allright

An absolutely perfect album. Every single song made me feel something

This will be my first encounter with the Boss during this project. I love his classic albums but haven’t ever really listened to anything beyond Born in the USA, along with one or two songs he released after. Curious if this will be the understated Boss on Nebraska and Streets of Philadelphia, feels like that should be appropriate for an aging rocker. I think my experience of this album can best be summed up by my experience with the song World’s Apart. It starts with an electronic drum and an Indian/Middle Eastern vibe that had me thinking oh God is Bruce about to do some trance music is he trend chasing is this going to have a weird message that’s aged poorly. And then the song kicks off and it’s incredible, I loved it, the production is excellent, the instrumentation is great, and the whole time I’m mad because of how much I like this album. So unbelievably I’m giving this 5/5. Do I think it deserves to be on this list? Maybe not, but I do really like this.

The Boss

Forget how good

Mega

Great album. Particularly like Mary’s Place.

Phenomenal album.

This was a great album at an important time in this world

I listened to about 30 seconds. Not sure if that’s long enough to qualify for a vote but I’m submitting it anyways

Wow, Bruce gets another album listed, pretty impressive.

far more range than i anticipated. And totally bad ass.

This album captures perfect the themes and feelings we all had post the events of 9/11 - the tracks that mean most to me are Mary's Place and My City In Ruins and of course the title track The Rising

I am not really a huge Springsteen fan after the Tunnel of Love albums since it got into stuff that I don't really listen to as much. Nonetheless, I love this album and listening to it realised how many of the songs I remember. A fantastic return to form for the Boss and two decades later, still sounds good.

10/10 Bruce Springsteen, whatever that means

This is one that I have a favorable impression of due to the time it came out. It was 2002 and it was Bruce's response to the September 11th, terrorist attacks. It was also the first Bruce Springsteen album I ever really got into. Moving to NYC in 2002, the album felt poignant to the angst and uncertainty that people felt during that first year after the attacks. I remember visiting NYC for the first time in May 2002 staying in a hotel downtown on Wall Street and waking up with a bloody nose because of the grit and pollution still in the air. Then I remember moving there in November 2002 and it wasn't that people had moved on, but it had become a joyous time in NYC because people seemed to just embrace that it could all go away. So when I listen to this album, I think of all of this. On a scale of 0-100. This is around an 89 for me. But do to everything I reviewed, I'll probably give it 5 stars for the combo music and emotional context.

solid, melancholy and driven.

Vinilo del jefe.

great album, just great songs

Not an album I was familiar with. So Boss!

One of my favourite Springsteen records

This is an album Bruce Springsteen had to make. It's probably one of the first albums made in the wake of 9-11 that grappled with the events of that day. It's also Bruce's first real full-length album of new material since 1995's The Ghost of Tom Joad. As Jersey's favorite son and an artist whose collective work is bound inextricably to New York, there was a weight on him to put his thoughts on record, a feat he accomplishes admirably. He could be talking about any tragedy, which is probably what makes this album work. 9-11 was brutal, and something I certainly don’t like to think about at all. But The Rising takes all the confusion and grief of living through a traumatic event and allows us to process and work through it with these songs. It's not linear either as you can see. There are bright moments and grim moments and moments of questioning and anger, and they all live together in you at the same time. That's a very real way of thinking about loss. I still have a bit of a fraught relationship with The Rising. I listen to Springsteen a lot, every day in fact. Several of the songs on this album are among my favorites and there are other songs I actively avoid. This isn't an album I listen to straight through often at all. So I was struck today what a good album this is as a whole. Bruce's more recent works sometimes can be a little hit and miss, but this one is really tight musically. The band is in top form and each song flows beautifully into the next. The themes of love and faith weave elegantly through the songs and he lands in a place of hope. We really needed this in 2002, but the songs still resonate deeply, 20 years on. I wasn't initially inclined to give this a 5, but this is really a testament of what you do with music, and it's one of Springsteen’s finest. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): The Rising, Further On (Up the Road), Into the Fire, Nothing Man, Waitin' on a Sunny Day, My City of Ruins, You're Missing, Countin' on a Miracle, Mary's Place, Lonesome Day, The Fuse, Empty Sky, Worlds Apart, Paradise, Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin)

The master of making a simple song so good. Teeters on the edge of cheese a few times, but forgivable knowing the time frame. I wouldn’t say powerful, or cathartic, but maybe soothing. Or empathetic, speaking for a nation in pain.

+ into the fire +empty sky

Quan feia més falta. El disc post 11S definitiu. Diria que no només a USA, sinó a tot el món occidental. Cal haver viscut aquell temps per valorar-ho de forma completa. Ho fa amb l'E Street Band, per primer cop plegats des del 1984 a 'Born in the USA', un altre disc que va marcar la seva década. I ho fa amb un to conciliador, d'esperança i solidaritat, tan allunyat dels crits clamant revenja de l'época. I ho fa amb un grapat de cançons de primer nivell, que plegades formen un dels discos essencials dels 00's

One of my favorite Bruce albums. Powerful without feeling too on the nose.

Just jovial

Discazo

Even though not every song here was written in the aftermath of 9/11, this is Springsteen's 9/11 album. It was also his first great album in about 15 years (since 1987's "Tunnel of Love") and as of now his last truly great album of original material. I've liked his stuff since then (and I liked the a lot of the stuff between "Tunnel" and this album) but "The Rising" is a whole other level.

Predivno, ovaj album + šetnja na suncu liječi sve!!

I can excuse a little of Springsteen's cheese because of this one's timing and sentiment.

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Lonesome day, Into the fire, Worlds apart, Mary’s place, The rising, Paradise

Great album

Good listen

One of my all time fave albums ❤️

Gotta say, there's not a great excuse for have a 72 minute Springsteen Album. But this album is an okay one, though there are several songs that are longer than they need to be, and have a bit of a dull premise that gets drawn out. Also not a huge fan of the use of backup singers, and I feel like his earlier albums have more emotion in the singing. Worlds Apart was interesting, but didn't quite work, which was disappointing. All that said, I listened to a lot of these songs growing up which has made me rather fond of them, and Mary's Place and The Rising were great, I especially liked how the latter tied back in with Empty Sky a bit. Overall scrapes a five, from me, though I doubt I'll give it another close listen.

Liked it

This may be heretical, but I think this may be Bruce’s best album.

I can sing along almost every song. Some strong numbers like the titletrack or "Waiting On A Sunny Day". A few weaker numbers cost him the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars for me🤷‍♂️.

King

I'm not a regular listener to the Boss, but i do really enjoy his stuff.

8/10. Great album. Not as good as the first two I heard by him: Born in the USA and Nebraska. But still consistently good throughout.

One remembers this sounding a suspiciously upbeat on first hearing (considering the circumstances) and it still feels that way to some degree. (“Can’t We Be Friends” and “Mary’s Place” sound like they belong on another record.) And the return of the ESB seems also sort of obvious – big, solid and damn near perfect sounding; their return was perhaps necessary to produce this much quantity at such a high degree of quality, and to take on such rich but difficult subject matter at such a sensitive time. It's probably safe to say that this is what the country needed at the time (and Bruce doing what he could do), but only limited bonus points for that now. Musically, it’s solid all the way around and the band sounds fine and big. Still, I prefer lighter-weight and more minimalist Bruce. There’s a too-muchness on several cuts that are sad at the core and would be better stripped down – on “Nothing Man,” there are synths and strings and horns and repetitive backing vocals (“duh-duh-duh-da-doo” nine times in a row). Repetition is a problem throughout (“let it rain” x 4 and “strength/faith/hope/love” again and again on “Into the Fire”). Some cuts feel more forced (“Counting on a Miracle”, “Further On”) than felt (“My City of Ruins,” “The Rising”). Still, as ever with Bruce, there’s a great deal to like – opener and closer are both great – and even the few misfits are enjoyable. Still, enjoyability may be the wrong metric. As with all late Bruce, the actual music making and production are first-rate, unimpeachable really, with its heart in the right place and a high degree of thoughtfulness, even if it's a little broad and so damn near to sentimental (though the good kind, mostly).

Surprisingly good! I thought Bruce Springsteen was a bit lame (biassed), but it's actually really nice and wholesome music

my springsteen bias shining through 4/5

I am a little surprised this album is on the list. It's probably not Springsteen's best late-era record and putting this in over The River is certainly a choice. I really enjoyed this album when it came out and I still do enjoy it. Not sure it needs to be heard before I die, though I have heard this one a lot. Having not put an album out for 7 years I can see why Springsteen wanted to put 15 tracks on, but there is an 11-12 track album that is much stronger. The Fuse, Paradise, Let's Be Friends and Mary's Place could probably have been left off. Since Springsteen likes his albums to have themes, all of the songs except for Paradise, wouldn't be missed. They aren't really about 9/11 nor could they be tangentially related to 9/11. Many of the songs on here are very emotional, such as "You're Missing," "Into the Fire," "The Rising" and "Empty Sky" are directly tied to 9/11 and are brilliant depictions of the devastation (emotional and physical). To put this album in over The River, Tunnel of Love or even Magic isn't something I would necessarily do.

Lonesome Day - 4/10 Into the Fire - 3/10 Waitin' on a Sunny Day - 4.5/10 Nothing Man - 5/10 Cigarettes after Sex if they were country and lost their dreamy sound Countin' on a Miracle - 4.5/10 Empty Sky - 4/10 Worlds Apart - 2/10 the intro was giving at the barbershop in Bollywood. Interesting but it sounds kinda messy. the rhythm did not match the instrumental at all. was not expecting it to go this route Let's be Friends (Skin to Skin) - 5/10 was giving like early 2000's teenage movie Further on (up the Road) - 3.5/10 The Fuse - 4/10 Mary's Place - 2/10 not a big fan of country/folk You're Missing - 3/10 The Rising - 3.5/10 Paradise - 2/10 My City of Ruins - 3/10 overall: 3.5/10

Pretty solid album. Was my first Bruce album I bought in real time. Probably swayed by glowing Rolling Stone reviews. 3.5/5

Great

Enjoyed more than I thought I would.

Bruce at his most political written in the wake of 9/11 this proved to be Springsteen's comeback album after a slightly lacklustre 90's (save for a few excellent singles). I've always loved Bruce Springsteen since I was a kid my dad was a fan and had everything from Greetings through to Human Touch. This is a really good album with the title track as the highlight but Waitin' on a Sunny Day, My City of Ruins & Lonesome Day are great as well.

In-Depth Review of "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen's album The Rising, released in 2002, is a profound exploration of grief, hope, and the search for redemption in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. As a return to form for "The Boss" after a lengthy hiatus from his E Street Band collaborators, the album stands as a compelling artistic statement. This review will delve into the lyrical themes, musical composition, production quality, and the album's broader influence, highlighting its strengths and potential weaknesses. Lyrics Themes of Loss, Resilience, and Renewal: The lyrics of The Rising are deeply rooted in the emotional landscape following 9/11, navigating themes of loss, resilience, and renewal. Springsteen takes on the role of a storyteller, providing intimate portraits of people affected by the tragedy. In the title track, "The Rising," Springsteen embodies a firefighter ascending the stairs of a burning building, using vivid imagery like "left the house this morning, bells were ringing, filled the air" to capture the urgency and heroism of the moment. The refrain "Come on up for the rising" serves as both a call to spiritual ascension and a plea for communal healing. Other tracks like "You're Missing" delve into the personal impact of loss. With lines such as "pictures on the nightstand, TV's on in the den," Springsteen uses simple yet evocative language to paint a picture of the void left in the wake of a loved one's absence. The use of ordinary objects and settings amplifies the stark reality of sudden grief. "Mary's Place," meanwhile, is a song of reconciliation, combining themes of mourning with a yearning for celebration. The lyric "Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain" hints at a cathartic release, and its gospel-like structure suggests a move toward communal joy even amid sorrow. Personal Reflections and Universal Appeals: Springsteen's lyrics also explore broader themes of faith, uncertainty, and the human condition. In "My City of Ruins," originally written for Asbury Park, New Jersey, and later repurposed for New York City post-9/11, the line "Come on, rise up!" becomes a spiritual rallying cry. Springsteen weaves a narrative that simultaneously grieves the losses and calls for unity and renewal. However, the album's lyrics sometimes lean toward sentimentality. Tracks like "Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin)" are lyrically weaker, with overly simplistic phrases that don't match the emotional weight of the other songs. The track feels out of place and disrupts the album's flow with its overly saccharine tone. Music and Composition Diverse Musical Styles: Musically, The Rising is an eclectic mix of styles, demonstrating Springsteen's versatility and willingness to experiment. The album incorporates rock, folk, gospel, blues, and even hints of Middle Eastern music. This diversity enhances the emotional range of the songs, making the album feel dynamic and varied. Songs like "Lonesome Day" and "Further On (Up the Road)" feature driving rock rhythms with anthemic choruses that evoke Springsteen's earlier work with the E Street Band. The use of fiddle and pedal steel guitar on "Nothing Man" and "Paradise" introduces a folk flavor, while "Worlds Apart" stands out with its unique incorporation of Qawwali music, a form of Sufi devotional music, complete with tablas and an Eastern-inspired vocal chorus. This blending of genres speaks to the global impact of the 9/11 tragedy and adds a layer of complexity to the album's sound. Melodic Strengths and Weaknesses: The album shines in its melodic construction, particularly on tracks like "The Rising" and "My City of Ruins." Both songs build gradually, layering instruments and voices to create a rich, textured sound that mirrors the emotional escalation of the lyrics. The use of organ, piano, and choral backing vocals in "My City of Ruins" creates a soulful, almost hymn-like atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive. However, not all tracks are equally compelling. "Waitin' on a Sunny Day," while catchy, borders on being overly repetitive and lacks the depth of the other compositions. Its light, almost pop-rock style feels incongruent with the heavier themes that dominate the album, creating a jarring shift in tone. Production Return to Classic E Street Sound with Modern Touches: Produced by Brendan O'Brien, The Rising combines the classic E Street Band sound with contemporary production techniques. O'Brien's approach is clean and polished, with a focus on clarity and balance. He allows each instrument to breathe, ensuring that the dense arrangements never feel cluttered. This is particularly evident on tracks like "Into the Fire" and "The Rising," where the interplay between guitars, keyboards, and saxophones is meticulously balanced, providing a full, rich sound without overwhelming the listener. O'Brien also uses layering to great effect. The use of strings, choral backing vocals, and diverse instruments like the Indian harmonium on "Worlds Apart" adds depth and texture, creating a multi-layered soundscape that enhances the emotional gravity of the songs. Critique of Production Choices: However, some critics argue that the production is overly polished, lacking the raw, unfiltered edge of Springsteen's earlier work. While the crisp production quality makes the album accessible and radio-friendly, it also removes some of the grit and spontaneity that characterized Springsteen's best records from the 1970s and 1980s. This slickness can sometimes make the music feel too controlled, potentially diminishing the emotional impact for some listeners. Influence and Reception Critical and Commercial Success: Upon its release, The Rising was both a critical and commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and earning Springsteen his first Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2003. The album's timing and thematic focus resonated strongly with listeners, capturing the national mood in a way few other records did at the time. It became a cultural touchstone for its exploration of the human spirit in the face of tragedy. The album's influence extended beyond its immediate impact. It reaffirmed Springsteen's role as a voice of the American experience, and its success paved the way for other artists to tackle complex, emotionally charged themes in their music. The blending of various musical styles and the use of non-Western sounds in "Worlds Apart" marked a significant step in the cross-pollination of global music genres in mainstream rock. Pros: Lyrical Depth and Resonance: The Rising is filled with poignant, introspective lyrics that explore themes of loss, hope, and resilience, capturing the collective grief of post-9/11 America. Musical Diversity: The album showcases a wide range of musical styles, from rock and folk to gospel and world music, providing a rich and varied listening experience. Strong Production Quality: Brendan O'Brien's production work is meticulous, ensuring a polished sound that highlights the strengths of each track. Cultural Relevance: The album's themes and timing made it a significant cultural artifact, reflecting the national mood and serving as a form of healing for many. Cons: Overproduction: The slick production, while clear and polished, lacks the raw, organic feel of Springsteen's earlier work, potentially diminishing the emotional impact for some listeners. Inconsistent Tone: Tracks like "Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin)" and "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" feel out of place due to their lighter, more playful tone, disrupting the album's overall cohesiveness. Lyrical Weak Spots: While most of the album's lyrics are strong, there are moments of sentimentality and simplicity that don't match the emotional depth of the rest of the album. Repetitive Elements: Some songs, such as "Waitin' on a Sunny Day," suffer from repetitive structures and choruses, which can feel redundant over the course of the album. Conclusion The Rising stands as one of Bruce Springsteen's most important albums, a testament to his ability to articulate the complexities of the human experience in times of crisis. While it is not without its flaws—occasional overproduction, uneven tone, and a few weaker lyrical moments—it remains a powerful statement of resilience and hope. Its diverse musical palette and thoughtful lyrics offer a rich, rewarding listening experience that continues to resonate more than two decades after its release. Ultimately, The Rising reaffirms Springsteen's place as one of America's great musical storytellers, capable of turning collective pain into shared hope. It may not be a perfect album, but its imperfections are part of what makes it compelling, capturing a moment in time with an honesty and clarity that few others could achieve.

At first I was annoyed that it was Springsteen again - but this one was a whole load more fun than the last.

A strong album, but could have profited from a bit of a shorter run time. I enjoyed the quiet songs way more than the power pop tracks.

I’ve heard many songs by the Boss but have never known most of his stuff or how long he has been putting out new music. 2002 new album and he has many more since then! This one makes me want to listen to a few others

Pretty surprised to see this on the list, but very happy it is included! A late-career peak from (maybe) the best to do it.

I’m normally pretty ambivalent about Bruce Springsteen stuff but this combined the best aspects of all of his past work into something I actively enjoyed. Well written with great vocals plus the production is pretty bombastic which is more in my wheelhouse than anything from Nebraska or stuff like that. Waiting on a sunny day and counting on a miracle were my favs plus a couple others I don’t remember which ones cuz I was high (sounds great that way too)

I’m 37, white, a dad; in other words I’m in my Springsteen prime and have concluded he’s one of the top 3 or so songwriters ever. His run of albums from Greetings From Asbury Park to Tunnel of Love may only be matched by the Beatles in quality and consistent excellence. The second half of his career is more spotty, but he’s had several great records and The Rising is certainly one of them. Bruce sounds great throughout the record and it has the sound of classic Boss. I’d argue it’s best songs (The Rising, Lonesome Day, Worlds Apart, Mary’s Place) are some of the best in his career. While I’d also argue there’s not a bad song on the album, to me it’s a mid-tier Bruce record. There’s something that keeps me from calling it a masterpiece, perhaps it’s 2 or 3 songs too long, and it lacks the extended instrumental sections of songs like Jungleland or Thunder Road that made those so special. Mid-tier Bruce is still excellent, and it’s basically 4.5 stars for me.

Impressive album for being so late in his career. Not the best in the discography and I like Bruce Springsteen's 70 - 80s work more.

Never got into The Boss. This was a nice surprise.

I didn't like this as much as I remember liking it when it first came out. Still a few greats, like the title track, "My City of Ruins", and "Worlds Apart". "Paradise" would fit well on his earlier album "The Ghost of Tom Joad" Solid album but hasn't held up quite as well as I thought it would.