Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Everybody’s out here talking about how uninspired this album is and that is probably true but he’s also not doing that horrible yelling so it’s fine in my books
Trite, boring, reasonably well produced, but totally uninteresting. I'm from Jersey, but maybe I'm just too young to understand The Boss's deep and meaningful reflections on 9/11. 2000s Country rock slop. Nonsensical to me to place this on a pedestal with his actual classics. He looooves to repeat corny inspirational sounding lyrics like a million times for a chorus. Worth listening to only for context on how stupid culture got at that time; guess you just had to be there. And its too long.
Not bad but kinda long and samey.
Consistent
For this list, it's a good inclusion if you were already aware and enjoy Bruce Springsteen. I don't know how essential The Rising is to make it to this list vs a top 5 or 6 Bruce albums you need to hear list. It squeezes room out of other artists known for a pretty big album that deserves a chance. None of this is to say The Rising is some sort of subpar afterthought inclusion. 9/11 was still the biggest cataclysmic event to happen this century (sadly), and the emotional space and void it created in the world would not have the same reactions in the 2020s. The Rising feels more like a product of that time period more than 20 years later, writer's conclusions saying that the albums other themes of hope and sense of resurgence from tragedy be damned. But it is also not a mood I really want to hear in my music time. I'd prefer melancholic sounds in something like shoegaze or ambient electronic music. I think the middle part of The Rising is the best parts, Empty Sky, Worlds Apart, Further On (Up The Road) and The Fuse are pretty good. Enough to elevate a little above the average score but nothing more than that. Obligatory shout out to Clarence Clemons, the greatest rock Saxophone player.
This was meh. Not a favorite. Has some decent songs, but very forgettable. Sorry, Bruce. I still love you. 2.75 Top tracks: Waitin’ On a Sunny Day, My City of Ruins
I don't have an interesting "where were you when it happened" story: Thanks to timezones, I was asleep. I only found out hours later, when there had been a little time for the world to process some of what had happened. But even if the immediate panic, confusion and fear were absent, the feeling of a colossal loss, and seismic change to the global order were plainly apparent, even to 11 year old me, on the other side of the world. Our friend was wounded, hurting. This album captures the processing of grief, anger, confusion, loss, and a plethora of other emotions. It certainly is a rollercoaster. One for which my words could never do justice. Would I listen again? Outside of Waiting on a Sunny Day and Worlds Apart, not at all. I'm too fragile emotionally to want to go through that again. That's not knocking the songs by any means, it's more a commendation about how well they convey their emotion. Rating. I really don't know. I'll say 4. It for the most part does what it sets out to do. But some parts are a bit confusing.
This was incredibly mid but not bad enough for a 1 star.
This was pretty good, but a little long. I like Bruce Springsteen in small doses. His voice gets kind of annoying after a while, though it is a good match for the kind of music he makes
Not his best work but some great tracks on here. I have to imagine this went really hard in the post 9/11 era it was released in.
For Bruce , it was an ok album. I did feel like it could have been shorter. I appreciated the sentiments around 9/11.
He was pretty good
Imo this is his best work. His voice mellowed with age which I think helps but the lyrical storytelling on this is a masterpiece. The Boss has always been superb at that but I felt like this album the combo of the music and his voice really helped the lyrics shine. Normally I get grumpy when an album goes over 45 minutes but I never once wished this was shorter which just shows how incredible this album is.
Meh. Still not a fan of the Boss. He’s an ok songwriter, but this album drags. A lot
Love the Boss but this is not his finest work.
I remember being underwhelmed by this when it first came out, so I was sceptical when this popped up on my list. I think time has been kind to the album. I like the nuance and melancholy in his lyrics. Musically I reckon it's pretty good as well.
First time I’ve listened to a Bruce Springsteen album. I get why he is so beloved. A little too dad energy for me, but it was so lovely! I wouldn’t mind if was playing wherever I was and would really enjoy it. I’m looking forward to getting some of his earlier stuff, which could potentially be a 5 star pick for me!
Very good album.
Bru e is the boss.
Beautiful anthemic songs. Best songs: Lonesome Day and My City of Ruins. Worst song: Let’s Be Friends.
trash
As someone who is very much not american, never quite got the hype of big bad bruce, and this doesn't do much to change my opinion but I can see *where* i might like him. Will give him another chance when he inevitably appears in this queue.
Не чув цей альбом раніше. Життєствердний настрій у музиці, текстах та виконаннях. Є дуже хороші пісні. Можливо, трохи задовгий.
Люблю Босса і колись повністю уважно послухав всю його дискографію. The Rising ще з тих пір лишається для мене десь мінімум топ-5 альбомом Спрінгстіна. Написаний після 9-11, він втім передає якесь відчуття єднання після трагедії, надію на краще та віру в людство. Те, чого нам всім так сильно бракує. Найбільше ж звісно тут розвалює My City Of Ruins і я неодноразово думав про цю пісню після обстрілів Харкова. 4.5
Someone heard Into The Fire and decided that's what every Christian song should sound like for the next 20+ years. Everything about this album feels early 2000s safe. Which I kind of understand as a reaction to 9/11.
Maybe I wasn't in the right mood, but I got bored of this and stopped listening about halfway through. The usual late Bruce output, love, loss and long desert roads. So-so.
Oh God.... Remember your mantra... "Give every album on this list a chance" Oh this sucks so hard, why am I doing this to myself... And now my kid is listening to it, too. I hope she hates it. .. Seriously, who listens to this shit on the regular? His voice is so annoying and every song feels like the same formula with even crappier lyrics than the song before it. It so corny and fake. I'm done wasting mental energy on Bruce.
Nice
Bloated and boring.
There's really nothing about this album that is remarkable or notable. Even Springsteen's voice is average. The whole thing just sort of plods along for double its deserving runtime, until it eventually runs out of steam.
Sounds pretty good but not essential.
Is this a mediocre Bruce Springsteen album, or is that just Bruce Springsteen? This is the type of album AI pays close attention to to generate slop, it just feels like a direct influence. Who produced this? Why does this O'Brien character have such an interesting array of records produced under his name? Maybe it really DOES have to do with the artificial slop influence. I figure the historical context helped this album chart. Maybe the Springsteen fans were happy to have something new. I couldn't imagine any of these tracks becoming stand out crowd favorites, but maybe I'm just a big Bruce Springsteen hater. Not impressed. 0.9/5
pretty good
Good, but he certainly has better
Review - better than I expected for a naughties Springsteen album. His post 9/11 album. Lots of sentimentality (even by Springsteen standards) not to mention a lot of sincere patriotism. A lot of songs weren't particularly good and then would suddenly have a banging sax line, or some cool organ playing, or in one case all the instruments dropped out except a cello and Springsteen's voice. And it sort of redeemed the song. But didn't make the album interesting enough to listen to again. Score - 5/10 Need to listen? YES
This album is so frustrating. It IS good, but so boring. The River, Born in the USA ... those deserve on this list more than this one. I like this, but there just isn't anything exciting on it.
I stopped listening. It’s too long and just not very good.
It's good, but slightly overrated from being the first E-Street Band album in a decade and a 9/11 album. 3.5 stars
This was kind of billed as a return to form for Bruce. He reunited with the E-Street Band after a very uneven decade in the 90s. There are some good songs here and nothing is truly awful, but it feels kind of bland overall. I don't think the rockers really have the same energy of his 70s and 80s stuff and it seems like a competent dad rock album most of the time. I think there's some cool stuff here -- "Countin' on a Miracle" and "You're Missing" are probably the highlights for me, but I'm not sure I'd call it an essential Bruce album. 3.5 stars.
I already got The Rising yesterday with Goldfrapp and Seventh Tree (cover anyway). This however did nothing for me. Very stodgy, average, past prime Brucie non-bonus with the most tiresome choggy production.
There’s better Bruce.
This album is clearly Bruce Springsteen nowhere near his prime. The opening track is pretty good but the rest of the record feels drawn out, bland and lacking creative edge. It starts to sound boring, almost a chore to listen to. There's nothing specifically terrible about any of the tracks, they are all just missing that charm, charisma and energy that made earlier Springsteen so special. The best I can give this is a 5/10.
The album is definitely Bruce Springsteen. Good vocals, soulful and the music is amazing. Bruce delivers every time. That being said, the song, Worlds Apart is kind of out of the blue and different. Good but it differs in style.
A bunch of typically Bruce Springsteen songs on a Bruce Springsteen album by Bruce Springsteen. A couple of the tracks were a bit different and surprised me but the rest were standard Bruce Springsteen fayre which Bruce Springsteen fans will love. I thought it was ok but nothing epiphanic. It does make me laugh though when he counts the band in on a studio track.
I listened while eating little cubes of cheddar, and the album was the cheesiest part of the whole experience.
Didn't really stand out to me that much. I'm surprised the album did as well as it did. Yeah there's some parts where I'm like yeah ok a little catchy ish. But generally... meh
You can definitely tell that this is the post 9/11 album from The Boss. It's a touch too establishment I think, and doesn't have the right level of either down-at-homeness of Darkness On The Edge of Town, or bombastic sticking it to the man of Born in the USA. But obviously it's Bruce, and he doesn't know how to write bad songs, so every track on here is at the very least enjoyable. Also, the title track - not quite at its best on here - was one of the truly great live tracks I think I've heard.
good album
Lonesome Day Worlds Apart
Worlds Apart - bitchin guitar solo
Som om banaliteten selv oppnådde bevissthet og lagde et album i CD-eraen. Resultatet er langt & intetsigende.
Selv om Springsteen ga ut The Ghost of Tom Joad på midten av 90-tallet, så er vel The Rising regnet som et slags comebackalbum. Det er fordi det er det første albumet med The E Street Band siden Born in the USA, og det er vel eneste grunn til at plata er med i boka. Dessverre låter det ekstremt datert og ekstremt høyt. Åpningssporet, tittelsporet og "Mary's Place" er umiskjennelig Springsteen, men låter som "The Fuse" er krampaktig forsøk på å få Springsteen aktuell i det nye årtusenet. Dessuten er det altfor langt.
I'm not a fan of The Boss, but I admit that this album meant something more for those of us who lived through that horrible day. 24 years later it is just another bland mid-tempo rock album, but I remember how it hit differently in 2002.
you get what you expect for listening to a Springsteen Album i guess
I can kind of vibe with Bruce's early albums but this was not it.
This held up really well. It’s too long by maybe 3-4 songs but the sequencing really hides the weaker points and keeps it from being too bleak.
Blend of rock and country, I guess Americana would describe it best. Gets better on multiple listens.
I'm not the audience for Springsteen at the best of times, and this album isn't nearly his best of times.
He's become very meh in his old age
It's a decent album, even though much of it sounds the same. Very much in the Dad/Arena rock genre. 3/5 Probably won't listen again
It's okay Spruce Bringsteen, I forgive you
Didn't do much for me. A bit too slow all around
7/10 - Sometimes too many religious overtones but Bruce Springsteen really nails his music
This is the first Springsteen album that came out while I was a fan and helped transition me from fan to zealot. I remember learning to play several songs (The Rising and Lonesome Day in particular) on guitar very quickly when it came out. So many of my impressions of this album come from the following tour where I saw 5 shows over the following year (and countless more since as several songs have become concert staples) so it was fun to revisit the tighter studio versions. The more modern sound is very solid for a Springsteen studio album compared to the flatness of some older recordings, but they still don't compare to what many of the songs evolved into live to me. Not on par with Born to Run or Darkness on the Edge of Town in terms of overall quality, but even the weaker songs hold a special place for me - Let's Be Friends is light fun, Further on Up the Road is a favorite (wish he played it live more often), and I remember Counting on a Miracle being one of the first songs on the album to grab me (I think now due to the similarities to Prove it All Night). Most notable memories: Bruce's first concert in NYC after 9/11, where half of the set (11/22 songs) came from this album, including the opening 1-2 of The Rising and Lonesome Day. Another back to back (to back) from the album of Empty Sky (with just solo guitar and backing vocals) into a devastating You're Missing followed by the light relief of Waiting on a Sunny Day. World's Apart and The Fuse working far better than they should live - feeling the drums and guitars through the room. A summer 2003 concert at Giants Stadium where the sky erupted with rain as Bruce sang "let it rain" in Mary's Place, turning the entire stadium into a mass of wet dancing joy.
Liked the start much more than I would have expected. What fine work this is, I thought. But then the second half of the album has several songs that are just fillers, and not particularly interesting. Difficult to understand what they do in the album. In the end a few nice songs, but generally it feels like an album that collected a few old songs.
An album made to heal & inspire middle-age americans in an immediately post-9/11 world. Plenty of cheese and not much that I would consider interesting to re-visit. A real middle of the ground album, and far from The Boss' best work.
meio trilha de 'carros'
Although I really love Bruce Springsteen, in my opinion this is just an average album of his. It’s not as significant as *Nebraska*, *Born to Run*, *Tunnel of Love*, etc, IMHO So, for an average album, I’ll give it a 3 out of 5.
I think there are several good songs here, but a lot of it seems like church-choir music to me, with nothing that rises to the level of Thunder Road or Badlands or any of the best Springsteen songs of the late 70's. 3 stars or C+.
Not a bad listen.
Muito brabo
This album has many references to 9/11/01. So the lyrics are often affecting. But in the long run it just sounds like a long typical Springsteen album. The man doesn’t have a ton of musical range. And it really didn’t work well when he tried to expand into a middle-eastern sound on one track. If you are a Bruce fan you’ll probably love it. I thought a few tracks were better than others, but overall? Eh.
Don’t love Bruce. Hate his politics nowadays. Tired of rockstars doing that. Either side. This was fine nothing worth remembering
I'm not a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, but I've grown to like him over recent years.
Impressively cringe. What better way to feel better about a terrorist attack than to sing banal dad-rock about holding hands with each other. This was a miserable listening experience. "Waitin' On A Sunny Day" has made its way into my Top 3 worst songs ever. This album was the fourth plane.
27 minutes in and the first interesting bit happened. Maybe cut in half it could have been a good album
Really don't fuck with this, it's got nothing going for it Will I listen to again: 0%
4 stars
This album has a few songs that I love. The title track really gives me the feelz. I really wanna do 3.75 stars.
Meh.. Worlds apart was cool, futher on too. But I didn't enjoy most of the album. 2/5
Somebody dampened my expectations on this one but I really enjoyed it. I like Bruce Springsteen and, though it is nothing groundbreaking, it is very solid. I added “Lonesome Day” to my playlist.
I'm not a huge fan of the Boss. That being said, though I thought the start and, to a lesser extent, the end of the album was a bit weak, the tracks in the middle were pretty good. He's a fine songwriter, just not my cup of tea.
Another 2000s soft rock 60+ minute offering. We are so spoilt! So interesting! Lonesome Day immediately starting things off with a country vibe (I do not like country music). Into The Fire - I see we're continuing with ya'll Alabama, God's Countree. I can't be fucking arsed with an hour and 12 minutes of this. 0/5 if it was possible. Skipped the rest. Shite.
Outstanding. One of Springsteen’s best.
This album can be divided into a few categories. First is the “classic E Street Band” stuff, as heard on the title track, “Lonesome Day,” “Mary’s Place,” “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day,” and “Countin’ on a Miracle.” I do like “Lonesome Day,” but overall this is the weakest group. Then there are what I would call the “90s Rock Eclecticism” set, where they play around with different styles the way U2 and Beck and so on were through the previous decade. You can hear this mostly in the middle stretch of the album: “Worlds Apart,” “Let’s Be Friends,” “Further On up the Road,” and “The Fuse.” These are fine, but a little better just because they’re more interesting. Then there are the quieter, sadder songs: “Nothing Man,” “You’re Missing,” “Paradise,” and “My City of Ruins.” These are the best songs on the album, with genuine emotion coming through, lovely production and instrumentation and really affecting songwriting. Overall this album is good, not great. It’s definitely worth listening to, but I don’t think I’d call it a “must.”
I was five years old when 9/11 happened. All I can remember from that day was taking shelter with the other kids in kindergarten when it happened. I wasn't even in the same state where it all went down, so little me had no idea what was going on and didn't think much about it at the time. But as I grew up in this new version of America, I learned and researched the ramifications of that day through various history projects I did for school and college. In particular, for a paper I did in my American music college course, I compared different artists' responses to what happened that day. In particular, one of the songs I analyzed for this paper was Bruce Springsteen's "Worlds Apart" off of this record. So yeah, through researching post-9/11 America, I checked out The Rising. But here's the thing - this album is more than just Bruce's response to that event. In fact, let's take a step back, because the closest that Bruce ever references the events of 9/11 are lines on the second track "Into the Fire", with the narrator's opening remarks on how "the sky was falling and streaked with blood", followed by the second verse detailing the passengers of Flight 93 taking control of the plane and crashing it into the fields of Pennsylvania, and then later with the title track in dedication to the New York Fire Department firefighters who risked their lives to climb the Twin Towers and rescue whoever they could. Sure, some other lines throughout the record could be interpreted as some other perspective from the attack or from post-9/11 reactions in the world. But Bruce was smart to not completely time-lock this record to the immediate aftermath of 9/11, instead exploring a wider range of emotions and introspection in the wake of any tragedy, while offering the means to unite in peace. The strife to overcome the loss of a loved one amidst a turbulent time on the opening track "Lonesome Day", the search for an optimistic outlook on "Waitin' on a Sunny Day", the rescue workers' humility as they became celebrated figures for their herosim during a tragic event on "Nothing Man", the desperation for a loved one to be rescued on "Countin' on a Miracle", the desire for retribution in the aftermath on "Empty Sky", the hardened soldier's views on war in "Further On (Up the Road)", the narrator's turning to various religions to process their grief on "Mary's Place", the tender melancholy as one's absence is dearly felt in "You're Missing", culminating in the call for resilience on "My City of Ruins". It is amazing how multi-faceted this record can be, and how universal the language in Bruce's lyrics can be. There are a few particular songs I wanted to really highlight from this album. I mentioned earlier about analyzing "Worlds Apart" for my research paper, because I found the messaging on that song especially potent in a post-9/11 world. The story of two star-crossed lovers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds sends a powerful message, as their romance prevailed against the fervent jingoist sentiments that some hold. That desire for unity continues further into "Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin)", with calls to put aside past grudges and misjudgements to come together as one. Finally, I also wanted to talk about "Paradise", the penultimate track that saw Bruce pull from a few particular perspectives - a female suicide bomber, a widower, and a person distraught from losing their dearest friend. All of these people looked forward to reaching "paradise", their idealized version of the afterlife, until towards the end when the last person realizes that even the afterlife has an emptiness to it, instead choosing to carry on with their life. It is a deeply harrowing track that comes out wonderfully defiant on the final verse. It's moments like these that make me realize how wonderfully handled the messaging was on this record, to the point where it's held up decades later. Alongside the lyrics, Bruce also brought the E Street Band for the kind of striking heartland rock that made them famous in the first place, with tracks like "Lonesome Day", "Waitin' on a Sunny Day", "Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin)", "Mary's Place", and the title track being some of the best examples of this throwback sound. Though even then, this album is also equally tempered by much softer acoustic-driven tunes like "Into the Fire", "Nothing Man", "You're Missing", and "Paradise" for when the atmosphere is needed. Plus, there are a few well-executed stylistic swerves, such as the prominent hip-hop-inspired beat on "The Fuse", and especially the Middle Eastern influence with the Qawwali guest vocalists on "Worlds Apart". Not a moment felt wasted across the tracklist. All in all, The Rising wound up as a powerful release for Bruce Springsteen, both sonically and lyrically offering a chance for people to unite and find peace amidst desperate times. I know I checked it out originally out of its connections to 9/11, but its words and music have stayed relevant well past the immediate aftermath of that day.
First full Springsteen album I've ever listened to and I had no idea his music was so mellow. It was also surprising just how much faith was referenced in his songs. I enjoyed the album, and if I am ever in the mood for mellow music, I just might add it to my streaming collection.
3.5
Notes zijn helaas niet opgeslagen.. Maar volgens mij kwam ik uit op een 4. Bruce is altijd goed.
2/5. Bit of a funny coincidence. My 100th album on the generator was my first Springsteen album, and now my 200th album here is my second Springsteen. When doing a large project like this one of going through the 1001 albums, you’re bound to learn something about yourself, and what I’ve learned so far is that I really don’t care for the music of Bruce Springsteen that much. His style of heartland rock just doesn’t do much for me. This album was very listenable, I never actively wanted to turn it off, but there was also not really a single song that I see myself coming back to or that I particularly loved. And at nearly an hour and fifteen minutes it overstays its welcome.
Springsteen does early 2000’s folk rock! Cool to see an artist change with time, but i didn’t love this.
This is the best Springsteen I’ve heard. The writing is so real some really good production as well. Some songs are incredibly emotional and the writing really nails it.
Surprisingly, this is where Springsteen finally clicked for me. He has an impressive ability to capture experiences of everyday people through heartfelt writing in a way that isn't too kitchy, but still a little kitchy. His instrumentals are often forgettable and dated (sometimes not!), but they are simply a vehicle for the emotionally charged and poetic lyrics. This album is about perseverance despite immense grief. Sure, there's poorly aged patriotic and vengeful sentiments, but I think it's easy to judge in hindsight. It was a sensitive time and I think those same sentiments serve to effectively illustrate and sympathize with the feelings of Americans at the time, justified or not. With that said, there's definitely a couple stinkers in there, and the lyrical repetition is sometimes exhausting. But overall, I really appreciate this album and it evoked feelings that none of the hundreds of britpop albums on here could.
3 out of 5. Definitely an album parents listened to back in the day. Not the worst though.
Of all the Springsteen records—and there are some truly incredible selections—“The Rising” crops up on this list? Really? This record isn’t bad or anything, but it’s just not his best work. I love Springsteen, but this record’s inclusion here is a head scratcher. There’s like 6 records of his that could legitimately be featured here, and this isn’t one of them. Again, it’s not bad. I don’t think Bruce puts out truly bad work. But it doesn’t excite in the same ways that Born to Run, Born in the USA, The River, or Nebraska does. 7/10
Great comeback album
Very american country style with coeny lyrics and too many mentions of faith, god , miracles, not for me
Not my jam. Music sounded very American. Pretty ignorant I know but yeah.
later bruce effort , found too melancholy that day
2002 Bruce Springsteen album, sure, add it to the other 10 on the list. FFS, Bob.
This is my first introduction to Springsteen. These are rock tunes with country influences (gospel on the closing track, choir vocals on many others).The songs come across as very passionate and spirited. I mostly thought it was okay, it could get repetitive at times. The songs I enjoyed the most were ""Further On (Up The Road)" and "The Fuse".
Ne lâche pas ton combat Bruce contre le diable en personne.
Le début de l'album m'a fait penser à un Bono fatigué. Into the fire et The Rising ressortent fortes j'imagine vu le contexte dans lequel s'est sorti. C'est des beaux odes d'espoir assez entraînants. J'ai trouvé le reste plutôt meh. Maintenant qu'on en est à 4 albums de Springsteen, je maintiens que Born to Run est le meilleur (à date, mais un certain M. Pitre m'a beaucoup vendu Nebraska).
Bruce en dehors de sa période mythique! Excellent album mais peut-être pas aussi top que les autres. Points bonus car je semble comprendre que ce fut un des albums majeurs post-9/11 par un artiste du greater New York
I just don't like Bruce Springsteen. I'll give it a 3 because it's not objectively bad. I simply don't like it that much.
I adore the Boss but I don’t get why this is on the list. Maybe his later work is just not for me.
I was tempted to give it 4 stars because it was a surprisingly solid album an great to listen all through, but in comparison to the Boss's earlier albums, it is just lacking the hits.
Bruce Springsteen, 4eme album => 1/5 Rock mou et peu inspirant, dans un album beaucoup trop long. Je ne suis pas allé au bout.
Impossibly long.
Hard for me to get into. I can see the value in some places.
Nao deu pra mim. Tem sua qualidade, inegavelmente, mas sinto que é algo meio fora de seu tempo. Acho que se o algoritmo tivesse me sugestionado um álbum mais “clássico” do Bruce, eu poderia ter embarcado melhor, mas esse aqui especificamente tem uma sonoridade meio repetitiva, emocionalmente modorrenta. Um dia desses eu pego outros álbuns do Bruce e escuto com mais calma, porque creio que seja um baita artista, mas esse aqui eu não aguentei não.
Vanilla.
01) Lonesome Day - 8,0 02) Into the Fire - 7,5 03) Waitin' on a Sunny Day - 9,0 04) Nothing Man - 7,5 05) Countin' on a Miracle - 7,5 06) Empty Sky - 7,0 07) Worlds Apart - 8,0 08) Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin) - 8,0 09) Further On (Up the Road) - 7,5 10) The Fuse - 7,5 11) Mary's Place - 7,0 12) You're Missing - 7,5 13) The Rising - 8,0 14) Paradise - 7,5 15) My City of Ruins - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,67 (77/100) Current ranking: 353/976
There’s nothing bad, but nothing great either. Plenty of good enough, and I enjoyed it, but it’s nowhere near the best Springsteen album in my opinion. It’s a very high 3, but still a 3.
Great album
Bruce Springsteen is one of those artists that I am aware of and know some of his work, but never took a deeper dive into his music. First listen through was kind of ho hum. But upon a second listening and thinking about the album's post 9/11 context I definitely appreciated it more. I'm rating it 3, but could see that moving up as I listen more.
Recently listed to my first Springsteen album, Born In The U.S.A. on vinyl on a Fourth of July trip and certainly enjoyed what I heard, including some classic tracks I already knew. With The Rising we find him much further along in his career but still employing strong American themes with the post-9/11 focus here. The quality of instrumentation and performances are still there and overall I like most of what I’m hearing, just good stuff. The songwriting is mature and pretty impressive. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Lonesome Day, Worlds Apart, Title Track
An album I know well. Knew this was a 4 before re-listening. Big fan of The Boss. Saw him in concert 2008, six years after this was released and he played a few of these that night. After my re-listen, this is bordering on a 5 star rating.
Bruce just isn't for me. A couple decent songs but I will likely not listen to this again
Not his best album but the consistency and musicians are sooo good that even when its not great its still good american pop rock
typical man music. meh
Some bangers here but it's a true 3 star
I actually enjoyed this album, not as much as Darkness on The Edge of Town, but it was the first so I might have overrated a bit , and also this is a different era, much closer to me, that’s why I say I only discovered these albums. Also it doesn’t do him much service when I got 4/5 of his album in the span of 2 months, in my first 100 albums🫠 Yeah well, it’s a good one this one, I saved several songs so
This album represent a moment in time. It’s a poet who caught the feeling - the fear and sadness and tragedy. So well in fact that I don’t care to listen and experience this thoughts again.
Decent rock album, some ok songs, but overall I’m not super impressed.
I'll placeholder this as a 3, but c'mon. Is this truly essential listening?
Sounds perfectly fine but just found it largely uninteresting. Don't have much else to say. Empty Sky and The Fuse the standout tracks for me.
I know this was a bit of a return to form album for Bruce and also apparently very relevant to 9/11 and the vibe of the country and what we needed at the time. In isolation though while this album doesn't have like major flaws it just sounds a little corny and idk why I'd reach for this over a more classic album if I'm craving the straight ahead dad rock that the Boss has to offer
BRUCE SPRINGTEEN! Not bad, feels like good American music. Now I want to go to Mary's place
Generic 2000s country adjacent rock. Sorry boss this ain't it.
Bruce what happened? Where's the cunty Americana? Why does this sound like Christian rock (derogatory)?
Triumphant “comeback” for Bruce as he gets the band back together after 9/11. I forgot how great this album is, and I bought it when it came out! I won’t let it get dusty again…
this album is kind of massive. lots going on here and not a ton of it is great. a great snapshot of early 00’s music in general tho
All the 9/11 jokes I've made across a few of my reviews feel like low-hanging fruit now that I know Springsteen made a double album about the damn thing. Take a shot every time he says "blood" in this album by the way. Anyways, right after 9/11 is the time where you'd think he would've made something similar to Born in the USA instead of this weird empowerment stuff. I guess nobody wanted to rock the boat after the Patriot Act passed out of fear of getting unpersoned. All the weird shit that Trump's been doing over the past year really desensitised me to this kind of stuff, so really the best I can say is that I think more and more every day that 9/11 was an inside job to take away our rights, but that doesn't get rid of my right to say things like that publicly, nor does it get rid of my right to joke about it, and that's exactly why I love the first amendment, along with all of my rights that I still have and know by heart, much like everyone in the US should.
Sorry Bruce, but compared to the grittiness and the grounded, "real" feeling that makes the rest of his music so compelling, "The Rising" feels weak and manufactured in comparison.
Christian rock for atheists
unfortunately, i don't think i'm a big fan of "heartland rock." highlights were Further on (Up the Road) and The Rising.
Not big on Bruce. I find him a little samey, especially on this album. It's not particularly bad, but it's not great. He's done better I'm sure.
Good but not great. Post 9/11 album about the United States and world affairs. Bland.
Pleasent but not essential. 3.5
Another victim of the CD length - just because you can have up to 100 minutes of music doesn’t mean you should. Cut 20 minutes from this
La verdad que me gusto, pero no me genero nada la verdad
Don't hate it but it feels pretty far from being worthwhile on this list. RYM: N Saved a song: N
It sounded like God Complex would sound to me. 3.8
Late Bruce is not great Bruce. Bombastic and unappealing
Some great tunes. Probably a 3 and a half
Come on up for a listen to a great album
Still Bruce but not my favourite
I'm reserving my 1-star ratings for things that are so awful I refuse to listen to them. I did listen to this and found this album corny but not an assault on my sensibilities, so 2 stars it is. Sorry to my Springsteen-loving best friend.
It does get a little repetitive by the end, but it still slaps
I'm genuinely not listening to all this. ANOTHER Springsteen album and this ones 1 hour 13mins. Fucking really? It's not even that bad just all the same.
Bruce is... fine, I guess? Never been a huge fan, but it's not bad either. It just is.
I'm amazed I got 4 Springsteen albums and no Beatles albums.
Eh, not my favorite Bruce, but not awful.
I don't like this srry
I love Springsteen as much as the next person, but this was a tough listen. This was written and recorded in response to 9/11, and while I don't doubt his sincere horror to the events of that day, this album falls too quickly into the same corny sentimentality that a lot of post-9/11 music did. Springsteen is no stranger to sentimentality, of course, but it's typically paired with better songwriting. The stories he writes here are a lot lighter on the specifics compared to his best work, making the emotional aspect feel much cheaper and unearned. There are exceptions, like the hauntingly dark Nothing Man and the vivid imagery on My City of Ruins, but these are few and far between. The E-Street Band is doing their best music-wise, but they're kneecapped by overly slick production and generic arrangements. The worst part is that this album is over an hour long, making this a complete slog to sit through. I didn't have high expectations for post-80s Bruce, but this failed to live up to even those lowered standards.
dont like this guy
Not very intetesting. Not awful.
Entry #3 for the Boss. This one was made after 9/11/2001 to help with morale. There are a few good tracks on the album, plus a bunch of others that are forgettable. Overall a quality record but still a rating of 3.
Hm. Country!Bruce. It's no 'Thunder Road', I must say. I do have vague memories of the singles, but again I find myself surprised at how many 9/11-themed albums there were.
It's weird to see 2002 and think "oh, a *new* Springsteen album" and then realize it came out 24 years ago. Time is weird. Also, this won the Grammy for rock album of the year and I didn't know it existed until today. It was fine. I guess. Not as good as his earlier work and not really deserving of the runtime, but it wasn't bad. 2.9
It's very meh. For someone with albums like Born to Run and Born in the USA, this feels too placid and smooth. The production is very of its time for old legends.
Springsteen at his best, which is to say extremely average. This guy sells out stadiums to only 55 year old white guys named Jeff
I don't think it would be easy to make an "enjoyable" album about 9/11 but The Boss managed to pull it off. The album focuses much more on hope than it does on anger and maybe that's why it still resonates today. 3.75* rounded up to 4*
I'll be honest I came in with not the highest of expectations. While he does have some hits, I wouldn't say I'm the biggest Bruce fan and this is by far the lowest rated of his albums on here. But I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would! Something about the more mellow 2000's production really fit here. You could tell he was experimenting here. 7/10
#170/1001 🇺🇸 Patti Smith yesterday and her old partner in crime Bruce today. First time listen other than the title track and I've played it twice through today, sounding great in the sunshine. Best tracks: Into the Fire, Nothing Man, Worlds Apart, The Rising.
Not just Bruce’s best album since the mid 80s but one of his very best. Moving and joyous.
When to listen: ehhh perhaps don't because Bruce Springsteen has so many good, better albums. Agree with most of the sentiment here -- it's a fine album but compared to what Springsteen is capable of? It's watered down, it's boring, it's meh.
I respect Bruce, but have never been a huge fan. That theme continues with this album. I respect and appreciate what this album is trying to do, but I never attached to it the way I'd like to. Having said that, the title track is one of my favorite songs from this era. Perhaps this record just went on a bit too long. Dropping three or four of the weaker songs would have helped it a lot.
Ok. I went into this expecting to hate it. I find Springsteen insufferably dull. And over an hour of him sounded like torture. But this had some good tracks. Some incredibly dull ones too but I'll grudgingly admit to tapping my toes to a few too. Highlight was Mary's Place.
Started feeling really long. 3.
I spent about 25 years avoiding this album. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
I like Bruce, but his raw younger talent had so much more energy and power. I recognise that a lot of this was a contemplation on some difficult times for the USA and New York, but it still didn't quite hit the spot. Glimpses of greatness in there, but mostly flat.
I appreciate this album for what it is, as one American musician's emotional response to the events of 9/11. However, it's definitely not my favorite of Bruce's work. Some of the songs get a little stagnant and rather blend together over its long runtime. I'm not sure how many Bruce albums are left on the list - this is my 3rd and only non-5-star. Looking forward to Nebraska, hopefully next.
Gross. Boring
Solid, timely and a comeback for its time.
Could see this being a heavy listen in 02 for a tri-state Springsteen diehard. And it’s good. But not too much stuck with me. Last 4 tracks are the standouts
I liked this. It added some more weight to the album learning that it was his post 9/11 reflections. Sounds like typical Bruce rock but I also hear whispers of the tail end of grunge in some songs. I’d give it a 3.5, I’m just not confident that I’d go back to this too often.
Wasn’t expecting to enjoy this but dang it’s actually pretty good. If this was a killers album it’d be one of their best
Didn’t realize this was about 9/11. Bruce Springsteen is definitely one of THE American artists that can make a great record about an American tragedy. However, this album doesn’t do much for me. It’s kind of bland and dated.
bruce really just didn’t have to make this.. he said everything interesting between 1982-1984. but kudos to him for trying!
This album sucks! It fucking sucks!! Every track makes me madder and it's A DOUBLE ALBUM.
Not classic Springsteen by any means, but some decent songs - The Rising, Lonesone Day. Drags a little by the end.
Good rousing music, very American mainstream, but best of brand. Actually enjoyed the upbeat.
Past his prime here Fave track: Countin' On a Miracle
A solid album but I don’t know if this one really deserves a spot – plenty of other better Springsteen albums to include. When is an edition of this list going to be published that limits it to one entry per artist. 3/5
Utterly forgettable. Thanks 'boss'.
A réécouter
Max Weinberg and the horns: 5 Everyone else: 3 Average using all the people and weighted for the % of the album the horns appear on: 3.1
This is so bad. This album sounds like I do when I'm trying to imitate what white people music sounds like. The chords are so basic. The elements he uses to sound edgy are so corny. It's just a weird swirl of cringy patriotic one liners and divorced dadisms. How long did it take him to write this? This does sound 9/11 inspired bc it is as terrible as 9/11. This is so bad.
Very high highs and a couple generic rock songs. Really good album.
The first 6 tracks are very mid and diluted country/rock, and then things take a strange turn with the track "Worlds Apart" which is a weird blend of rock and Middle Eastern music. The track itself is not very good, but it leads to the good part of the album where we get a a mix of catchy pop rock and folk-y singer-songwriter tracks. This kind of music doesn't really feel like Springsteen, and on some of the pop tracks (e.g. "Let's Be Friends") I wondered why not just have a more pop oriented singer sing this instead. But ultimately I'm not much of Springsteen fan in the first place, so I don't really care if this doesn't sound like him, and I actually think this is his strongest album so far. My favorite tracks were "Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin)" and "My City of Ruins". "My City of Ruins" reaffirms my belief that Springsteen's best songs are the ones where he says the same line over and over again. 2.5 stars.
Springsteen has one of the worst voices ever.
This has a place on the list to show the impact of 9/11 music, but, it's not Bruce at his best.
Darkness on the edge of town is great.
Swaths of intensity with shadows and highlights that give the album vastness and depth. We have lust, love, pain, doubt: but it's the humanist in Springsteen that frames this and completes it, runs through it. Intensely sincere, very "American" sounding (whatever that means to you, that's what this sounds like) with some surprising moments ("World's Apart") alongside perfectly rendered classic Springsteen ("Mary's Place").
Decent enough record, with some decent tracks. It's too long and many songs are just a bit too generic.
Not a Springsteen fan per se, so maybe that’s my problem. The music isn’t bad, but you know for a later career release I wound have expected mor e if it’s on this list, more like Bowie’s.
This is a massively important record in the Bruce Cannon. Sure, it’s overproduced, there are 2-3 songs that could be cut, and it’s a little too reliant on the string section. But who really cares? Bruce basically sat out the 1990s and was heading towards the state fair circuit playing greatest hits for the rest of his life. But the Rising gave him and his career an incredible third act; a wave of adoration that he still rides to this day. The last 25 years of Bruce as a beloved mentor and icon of don’t happen without the Rising. It wasn’t luck, the album had to be fantastic to bring The Boss back. Most of the songs are cool. He handles 9/11 with tact and it never feels forced or cheesy. Sometimes the hero you need is the one that’s been there all along.
I’m sorry but what the actual hell is this
Album très long mais super bien j'ai trouvé
Meh
J'ai beaucoup apprécié même si je comprends pas trop l'intérêt de mettre son 1000ème album dans la liste
thanks for the mumbles
2.5
Me gustó mucho más Darkness in the edge of town
Buen disco, pero tiene de mejores para poner en una lista nombrada “1001 discos a escuchar antes de morir” 🫣
good but not my jam
Into the Fire might be the worst Springsteen song I've heard. This album is on this list because of the artist, not because of the art. There are some good songs as the album went on now. I liked the second half of the album a lot more. Mary's Place, Paradise, and The Rising stood out. 2/5
Okay, this is the second album of Springsteen on this list for me, and I’d say that in the 27 years between them, my opinion of Bruce hasn’t changed. The same boring songs, a strained and unremarkable voice. I still haven’t figured out this phenomenon.
One if the things about doing these reviews the way that I am (cold, no pre-review of the list, no reading the itunes blurb about the album or the band, etc) is that you come across an album by an artist you know well and think, is this the only one on the list and if sowhy did they choose that one over Nebraska. It starts just like any Bruce album. Solid, as expected. Them suddenly i thought my phone had switched to another artist. It gets dancey. Weird beat for Bruce. Songs are OK, band great as isual, but weaird sound for him i feel. Then comes a grunge sound song. I need more time with this album to really understand it. I wasnt paying close attention to the lyrics which is a disservice to a Bruce album as there is always a story or overarching theme to hos songs/albums. As i cant go back and re-rate i am giving this 4 stars up from 3 as i suspect that is where i will settle in future listenings.
Klart en Bruce album, men jeg startede det faktisk også op en ekstra gang, så det kan noget fint ind imellem det Brucede.
The Boss havde ikke fået mange nye idéer på det her album
bit of a slow burn, but I was really enjoying it a lot by the end. 4/5
A bit too long
There is a 4 (or even 5) star album in here. Is it Bruce's best, no, but its still enjoyable. Just shorten it to 10 songs and you've got a winner
slop
Overall, not a bad album. I didn't expect it to be that recent, but it was pretty chill leaving it in the background while I was doing other things. Nothing too exciting, but those first couple of songs have that specific vibe from around that time.
With 4 albums already on the list, did they really need to add "the boss" at his most middle-aged dad self?
When Bruce overspringsteens himself he produces this specific type of meh music.
A really enjoyable listen. This album goes beyond the associations of Springsteen as the all American rocker. It's blues, soul, rock, traditional, with hints of diasporic African sounds and rhythms.
Not the best Springsteen album I’ve listened too (Nebraska/Born in the USA) but not the worst either. The music is uplifting and there’s a a couple of really nice tunes on there, but sadly it’s all a bit forgettable. Favourite track: waiting on a sunny day *(Gets minimum 3 stars because he’s the boss)
I understand that this album is about those post 9/11 feelings but I really found this music more boring than moving. I guess I have plenty of my own post 9/11 feelings so I don’t really need many more even though mine are more of the “child watching it on the news in a different country” variety
This is country music. I told the project I didn't want country.
Pomo ei tunnetusti huonoja levyjä tee. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mieluisa kuuntelu!
Very good- great production and nostalgic and variety
Paras Springsteen levy tähän mennessä. Ei erikoisempaa, kappaleet vaan parempia. Vähän ehkä rokimpaa ja menevämpää. Parhaat: Lonesome Day, Mary's Place, Countin' on a Miracle
Couple of decent tunes but it's monotonous and way too long
Songwriting is good still but the album is too long, the production feels off and the theming of the record just doesn't do much for me in the big 2026
Bruce fucks!!
Bloated and boring. This album just drags one, over an hour of songs that all sound relatively similar and lack any punch. This just has nothing that I can hold onto. Lyrics are so predictable and corny at times to the point of annoyance. I just get no joy from Bruce here, and from my limited knowledge of him, it Judy doesn't seem like him. I struggle to understand this albums relevance on this list, in terms of tone it lacks much direction and it suffers immensely because of this. Fav Track: Lets be Friends (Skin to Skin)
There was nothing compelling about this album. Just an average boring Bruce Springsteen album. Must have needed some cash and pulled together everything that hadn’t made his prior records.
some of the songs are pretty good but it sounds like bruce mightve experimented it bit too much at some points 6/10 Favourite: Lonesome Day Least Favourite: Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin)
I had heard Waitin' On a Sunny Day and The Rising before. I think this album is just fine. A little long, maybe.
Spends all of its time wallowing in post-September 11 national self-pity. Springsteen seems like a decent enough guy, but bullshit rhetoric like this only served to abet the United States’s slide into christian nationalist fascism.
not a great album in my mind. A couple of good songs here but overall not really interested in listening to it again
muy bueno
Did not think I would like a Springsteen album from 2002 but I actually enjoyed it
Not bad, but Indonhave a bit of Boss fatigue as this is 4th entry in a month
Ugh, literally pandering patriotic post 9/11 Americana rock, couldn’t even get through 2 songs. Sorry Bruce.
Ugh... hard to admit this, being from NJ where Bruce is canonized, but this was not exciting at all. Expected more.
I understand why he’s here. But nah
I can't listen to this gut whine right now
p885. 2002. 3.5 stars. After a decade of half baked solo efforts, The Boss returns to form with the E-Street Band. Great songs and sharp lyrics full of melancholy and despair post 9/11. Too long for sure, and let down by filler, but otherwise this is fine.
I'm not a massive fan but this is excellent stuff
2.0 - Weak
The Boss might be the daddest of Dad Rock, but that doesn't make him bad. I've never listened to a Springsteen album all the way through before, but I've always enjoyed his songs whenever I've heard them. This, his twelfth album, doesn't have anything nearly as anthemic as his singles from his peak 1975-1985 era. It's also his post 9/11 album, and though it wasn't written with that in mind "My City of Ruins" kind of became emblematic of that event. Of the album's major singles I definitely prefer "The Rising" to the slightly cheesy "Waitin' On A Sunny Day." That said, I think my favorite track on here is "Empty Sky," which expresses yearning incredibly well.
Ni slabo actually
Why does this list need so many Bruce Springsteen albums?
Does Bruce Springsteen want to shag the Twin Towers?
Beautiful album. comforting like only Bruce knows how
Solid rock album after a lull. Probably the best in the latter half of his career but doesn’t hold a candle to his 70’s and 80’s peak.
He’s giving his sermon on how to be.
Just get out of the way and let the man cook. After a decade of wandering the man's got something to say. With a clear of the throat we are off. If the goal is to find some sense in the senseless. To feel a little more connected, let a little light in and start the healing process - Bruce is the man for the job. Far from perfect - we have some CD era bloat here - but there's a lot more great than filler. Hooks abound. Emotions run high but there are enough rockers it never feels maudlin. More hymns than songs. And the moments of catharsis make what could have been a slog feel like maybe just maybe we're gonna make it.
Great voice, mediocre album that kinda blends into the background.
Fucking unbearable the album cover made me think I was gonna listen to god bless my ears but NO I need to hear if some random grandma’s music when she says she likes heavy music
Nice album by Bruce.
Hadn't listened to this in a long time and I forgot how good it is. It's Bruce's 9/11 album and his first back with the E Street Band in almost 20 years. The themes of duty, sacrifice, and, yes, rising from the ashes are resonant and powerful. It starts off great with "Lonesome Day" but then begins to show its diversity with "Into the Fire," a countryish ode to a fire fighter running up the stairs of the burning World Trade Center. There's world music ("Worlds Apart" and "Paradise") that shows his empathy with people who were considered "the enemy" after 9/11. And there's the gospel feel of "The Rising" and, especially, "My City of Ruins," One of his best album closers ever. We even get a throwback to the early days of the band with "Mary's Place." It does get a little ling but it's a very solid effort all around if not quite up to the standards of his 70's and 80's releases.
It sometimes suffers a bit from overproduction and it's a little bloated at 72 minutes. Those are my only real critiques for this very very good late career Springsteen album. There are vintage Bruce songs here, like Mary's Place, but hes not afraid to experiment, like on Worlds Apart - thought I'd switched to a Paul Simon record for a second. Crazy to me the same guy who made State Trooper made Skin to Skin (which is corny and kind of a banger.) The title track is the perfect stadium rocker that's great live, and I love the gospelly City of Ruins to wrap it up, organ solo and all.
Sorry Bruce, I just really don't like your music. 2.5
This was interesting from an emotional sound perspective but not anything super remarkable to me
Consistent but maybe a little rushed
Rv
Same old, same old.
This is an album of its time and I can't imagine how I'd review it if I didn't know that. As a 9/11 response album it has the same element of patriotism that a lot of US work at the time did, but there's something of substance here. A big part of me listens to something like this and wonders if it's genuine or jumping on a bandwagon. To my ear, he felt this and meant it. Not a masterpiece and I don't know how well it fits on the list but there's something relevant in hearing this album in the history of music. It is too long and needs some edits.
Okay, right off the bat, this sonically sounds alright for an album from 2002. There is just a warmth missing for me on the first couple tracks. Nothing Man gets there tho. Worlds Apart was an interesting swing. A couple seemingly out of character moments. Oh okay, I know this one. The Rising is a solid track. Paradise reminds me a lot of The Sound of Silence. Is this on purpose? A few similar phrasing moments vocally and from the instrumentation. I always appreciate his energy and style as a performer. I have to assume it is really something to see Bruce Springsteen live.
5/10 - Amphitheric but ultimately felt very... hollow. Didn't dislike much of it, but didn't engage with much of it also Fav Tracks: Countin' On a Miracle, Mary's Place Heard before? ---–- ❌ Saved a Song? ----- ✅ Saved Album? --–-- ❌ Will Listen Again? -- ❌
There were actually songs I liked in this one. Not a Springteen guy but this was good.
I have an odd relationship with Bruce Springsteen. I respect his music yet I’m always disappointed by it too. Is it me? I just generally can’t get traction. Well, until now. “The Rising” succeeded for me where other Springsteen albums have not. I enjoyed the sound and the heart of this album, pretty much all the way through. One caveat: I don’t prefer the faux country accent that slips in here and there. A little bit of old time patriotism run amok or something? Maybe one day I’ll be able to move from respecting his classic albums to actually enjoying them. But at least I’ve got this one, and I see myself returning to it.
The problem with being the Boss is that after 9/11, you expected to get something stronger. This is more soft rock/adult rock safe Springsteen. However, as I listened, I kept noticing the good quality or the music, lyrics, storytelling, etc. to the point where it seemed that all of it was likely intentionally more subdued. And I liked it all the more for it.
Do not like
4 de 5 Un álbum creado bajo el contexto del 09/11, en el cual, busca equilibrar el dolor de la pérdida con esperanza y redención. Regresa la E Street Band, dando un sonido de rock maduro y optimista que aborda la tragedia, la fe, la esperanza y la necesidad de seguir adelante, convirtiéndose en un himno de sanación nacional y personal. A destacar: Track 1 - Lonesome Day Track 4 - Nothing Man Track 8 - Let’s Be Friends (Skin to Skin) Track 11 - Mary’s Place Track 12 - You’re Missing
Decent
The Boss has still got it. Some great tracks, some okay tracks, but it makes for a decent album.
Kind of yankeeslop
Love the Boss. Not this.
Bruce found God, or revisited. Where is the Boss?
I love how it's become almost ironic how American Bruce Springsteen's music is. Like if the USA were a sound, it would be this man's music. And not that I'm hugely familiar with all that much of his music, but it's not really my thing. Which interestingly I think is a contributing factor in why I liked this more than expected. It still sounds super American (well duh, it's Bruce Springsteen), but not in a way that feels so over the top like much of his other work. I would still say that this album is much more on the generic side, but other than that there really is nothing else that bad about it, just a straightforward rock album that sounds American enough to be undeniably Bruce Springsteen, but not so much so that I can feel myself contracting diabetes and the urge to shoot up a school just from listening to it.
Kinda middling for Springsteen. A bit disappointing. Not nearly as intresting as some of his other records.
There's a lot here. Lots of very solid songwriting and heart. That counts for a lot. This is not Springsteen's best but it is still a good album. No more, no less.
Unless you grew up listening to Bruce, or his lyrics connected with you 40 years ago, this just sounds like a derivative cookie cutter borefest. The single-mindedness that Bruce fans have just doesn’t make sense to me because his songs are so cliché and mediocre. The same fans will say that Taylor Swift isn’t music, when they’re two sides of the same coin.
Probs higher than a 2, but I got sick of listening to him part way through
I often don't enjoy Bruce Springsteen albums, but this was one of the more tolerable ones. His delicate handling of 9/11 is done well. The songwriting is there and I am glad for the accessibility with the production decisions, plus they make sense, because it is an album about healing and unification, and not an album about provocation and division. I appreciate the creative risks he took by stepping outside of his normal oeuvre. And it was fun hearing the E Street band again. My complaints are that is bit too long and would have benefited from about 20 minutes of the weakest tracks being cut. His vocal performance sucks, as it usually does, but as I have learned with Dylan, Cave, and Waits, vocal quality is not what Springsteen's fans are there for. Probably his best since BORN IN THE USA. Do I think it is an essential album that belongs on the list? Not really, but it is certainly better than a ton of the 2000s albums that are already on list, so it can't actually hurt, I guess. Favorites: "Lonesome Day", "Empty Sky", "Worlds Apart", "Paradise"
Good stuff, boss.
Not my style
Wunderbarer Song mit guten Lieder
live laugh love springsteen. me gustaron varias canciones, pero por momentos lo sentí monótono.
This whole album just feels unauthentic, super performative and fake deep. Brian Griffin probably has this album saved and on vinyl. Yeah it sucks. Two stars for the occasional sax.
It was music. it was alright, Springsteen is not my thing normally but this was ok.
"You're Missing" was the sole highlight on this album for me. Beyond that, there wasn't really anything here that kept me engaged. 2 stars
Rate: 9/10.
I like Bruce but this didn’t do it for me. It felt overly safe and generic. I bet Rolling stone loved this but it felt empty to me.
It is fine. One of the top albums of all time? No, probably not even one of the top 1,000 albums of all time. Maybe the 1001st? 5/10 Top song (they all sound similar) further on
Sheer cack
Some songs were ok, most were boring.
Such a solid album, now one song really stands out but it is excellent as a whole
U2 does 9/11
This record got me killed by putting my driver to sleep.
This is the best Springsteen album I have heard yet.