Darkness on the Edge of Town

Fantasy album. Never been a fan of any Springsteen’s big hits. However this album has made me realise I’ve been missing out. Amazing voice and great guitars. Looking forward to more of Bruce

Adam raised a cain banger Candy's room got crazy guitar

I think this was the first Bruce Springsteen album I really got into.

Geinig

Never really got Bruce Springsteen, but this album clarified it to me. Great rock sound Favorite Song: Darkness on the Edge of Town, Adam Raised a Cain

Is Racing in the Street one of Springsteen's best songs? Really good album though I think the hard rock sound for Adam Raised a Cain was the wrong way to go.

Probably the closest the Boss got to a hard rock album, it's so good

Album #26, Bruce Springsteen, Darkness on the Edge of Town ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’m not a Bruce disciple. I bow to the altar of Bob Dylan and Neil Young most days of the week. I do like Bruce and his music, but I’m not a fanatic. I have a soft spot for this album, though. About 15 years ago, when I first moved away to college, I was obsessed with it. I’ve no idea why it was this one in particular, and I hadn’t really listened to it since, so it was fun to go back to it. I’m not really a stadium rock kind of guy, and Bruce often strikes me as stadium rock. My favourite album of his, by a wide margin, is Nebraska, so that’s usually more my thing. You’d think this wouldn’t work for me, but it really does. Funnily enough, it’s the more bombastic songs I enjoy most. “Something in the Night”, “Streets of Fire” and the title track are my favourites. There are a few I don’t care for. “Prove It All Night” feels a bit disposable to me, like that traditionally weaker second-last track on an album. His lyrics are strong. It’s working man blues and romance all over the record. Great singer, great band, and powerful in places. Looking forward to more Bruce as this goes on.

This has some great depth and it feels genuine. I love how upbeat a song called Badlands is. That cover shot even just paints a picture of what the album is. Great album. On the list.

On first listen there were a few bits that seemed kind of cringey. Then I listened again while walking around wearing coveralls, holding a 2-1/2 Inch combination wrench in my right hand and wiping the sweat from my brow with the left. It all sounded much better.

21# Prelistening: ig bruce is going to be bangin his way in a lot more times, cause this ain't his most recognized album by a big margin. I really don't have much of love nor hate for him, for me he has a good voice and yeah that's nice, good for him. listenin: generic rock. nah its not, this bangs, my expectations were low and we're met on Adam Raised a Cain. The theme of that song hits home, about (if we believe in christian teachings) living and suffering just because of a man that chose to betray God when manipulated. I had this realisation when they were teaching that story and I wept. well, the rest is between generic rock and entertaining rock. Im in, its a really good record. Not on my bingo card to start liking and listening to Bruce Springsteen on 2026

De nuevo regresé a mi época punk/new wave gracias a la obra maestra de Springsteen. No hay engaño, solo rock con uñas y dientes, aunque con algo del romanticismo cliché de "coches y chicas". En resumen, este es Springsteen en su apogeo, con un corazón genuinamente hambriento. Nunca pensé que Bruce tuviera esa fuerza lírica para hacer que sus letras lleguen al lugar exacto donde tienen que llegar, eso es lo que hace de Bruce un compositor de rock increíble porque su música te evoca. Hay excepciones como “streets on fire” pero también hay muchas buenas canciones, "Candy's Room" es quizás la que más me gusta (me recuerda muchísimo a Alex Cameron) y "Racing In The Streets"

Primavera vez que medio alcanzo a disfrutar un álbum del famoso Bruce Springsteen , aunque no es mi tipo de artista. Me gusta más "badlands".

"Badlands", muy clásica, esas segundas voces son lo que hace que esta canción destaque. O si no, siento que sonaría muy trillado 80s, solo que no se bien como explicar ese tipo de sonido, tal vez es un sonido muy Springsteen que se ha hecho y deshecho cien mil veces. Pregunta muy seria, ¿Silvio de Sopranos toca la guitarra en estos álbumes? ¿O eso es algo más nuevo? ADAM RAISED A CAIN ES UN SEÑOR TEMÓN. Entiendo como este album fue bastante famoso, apela mucho a ese post-sueño americano, un poco desilusionado en la clase media pero con esperanza, todo lo contrario a Doomer Rock JAJAJJA, pero pues es un contraste igualmente, su voz adolorida, carrasposa, para nada perfecta, pero muy muy real con mensajes muuuy relatable para gran parte de la población clase media de USA. También me gustaron "The Promised Land", "Candy" y "Factory". Es un buen final, bastante emoción en la voz de Bruce, muuuuy buena su performance, se siente muy real, muy genuina, algo que definitivamente necesito implementar más en mis propias grabaciones. 7/10

7.5/10

It took me a short moment to start truly appreciating his voice and tone, but overall, this album is 100% worth a listen. It's raw and emotional, and I thoroughly enjoyed many of the songs.

This is an album that you listen to at night or something, badlands in very good but so is promised land

Way better than expected. Bruce still got it

It’s ok.

Bruce goes hard. I’ve been learning to appreciate the Boss more and more, especially the early run he went on. This was the album where he really became undeniable. A few duds here stop me from getting it to 5 stars but the peaks here are way high.

one of the few hard rock album that isnt ear rape, few enjoyable songs

I’m a sucker for some good keys but doesn’t have quite as much appeal as Born to Run has. Likes: badlands, something in the night, racing in the street, promised land

Not as good as Born to Run, but still has that classic Springsteen power and depth behind it.

My fourth Springsteen album on this list (of 5). This sits between Born To Run and Nebraska, in regard to the time it was released and how I rate it. Good storytelling and songwriting, you can feel the hope and despair, the love and the hate, the desire and the frustration in the music, his words, and his voice.

I'm on the fence with this one. On the one hand, I totally appreciate Springsteen's urge to not follow 'Born To Run' with more of the same. This is less cinematic in scope, it feels more like an indie flick with darkness crawling out of the corners of the screen. I also think the E-Street Band had found their sound, with Roy Bittan, Danny Federici (the keys players) and drummer Max Weinberg especially shining bright here. They manage to ground the music in heavy emotions, yet they infuse it with an uplifting quality. On the other hand, there's Bruce's voice, which I'm not that fond of in certain songs. If by the title track (amazing!) he had grown up, 'Streets Of Fire' and 'Adam Raised A Cain' is the puberty, with lots of yelling and screaming -- and I'm not fond of it. It reminded me of Van Morrison with a wasting disease ... I don't think every song is as strong as it could be, but it's very hard to argue with a track as intimate and heartfelt as 'Racing In The Street', or as stomping and pounding as 'Badlands', a track that makes you both question and embrace your home town. I prefer Springsteen's 80s work by far -- and with this, I also choose to go with the stunning 'The Promise', a collection of outtakes and unreleased songs from that period, where he was mainly trying to find the right sound for 'Darkness ...'. Also, do yourself a favor and watch the documentary on the making of the album, which is one of the best music flicks I've ever seen. So, yeah, this is a record about growing up, the capturing of adolescence. Too bad I didn't listen to this during my teenage years and only discovered it much later. That way, it feels emotionally a little distant. But it made me feel something really powerful, something I had long forgotten about.

wow he is mogging in this album cover highlights: Adam Raised a Cain

The first song alphabetically in my friend's iTunes was Adam Raised a Cain and every time he started his car, his phone would autosync to the stereo and Adam Raised a Cain would start blasting. Haven't been able to listen to the song without laughing since. Still rocks. Lots of great dreary Bruce tracks on here and Clemons absolutely shreds up that saxophone on The Promised Land. I always like the Bruce albums that are almost exclusively about being stuck at home & Darkness is the most *that* of them all outside of maybe Born to Run. Prove it All Night is a crazy toe tapper, I don't really get how someone can dislike Springsteen's warble after you listen to that song. The way his voice bounces the chorus around, it's so cool. Maybe it's the Jersey-adjacent in me, Pennsylvania is still Boss country. Favorite Tracks: Badlands, Candy's Room, The Promised Land, Prove it All Night, Darkness on the Edge of Town

It’s a great album. Love the diversity in it, Adam Raised a Cane is one of my favorite Springsteen tracks.

solid classic rock album

It’s like 4.5 really

When I first started listening to this I thought it was just okay. Around halfway through it, I started to enjoy it more and by the end of it I was really starting to like it. I think that if I'd listen to it again, I'd probably enjoy it more right from the get go.

This was my second Bruce Springsteen album. It was a solid album. No songs really stood out and I don’t know if I will need to listen again, but nevertheless I enjoyed listening to it. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

4.3

Joojoo kylhän tää repiminen ja karjuminen on iha jees.

Those harmonies. That energy. Pure boss

love bruce

very complete album, enjoyed the middle parts more than badlands for sure. bruce is growing on me i can’t lie.

Album #55 Bruce Springsteen: Darkness on the Edge of Town My first album from the boss on this list, but I doubt it will be the last. I think that every white kid who grew up poor will relate to Bruce’s music in some sort of way. He doesn’t write as traditionally eloquent as someone like Dylan, but he certainly has a way of converting the grime and minutiae of working-class life into words. Every Springsteen song feels as though it is its own coming-of-age movie, specifically on his earlier albums, just pure slice of life growing pains made to sound as dramatic and glamorous as they feel. I know that Bruce’s voice can be controversial, but to me, there is absolutely no better vessel for his lyrics, as he truthfully sounds authentic in what he is preaching. The issue with Heartland Rock sometimes can be that the singer almost sounds like a poser, someone who, for whatever reason, likes the aesthetic of the salt of the earth working class greaser, but never actually lived it, and in the words of Jarvis Cocker, “Nobody likes a tourist”. But Bruce never had that issue; it is painfully aware from the way he writes and the passion with which he sings that he lived that life, and he knows all the people who come from that life. Born to Run ranks very highly amongst my favourite albums of all time, as it is the perfect blend of Bruce’s lyrics and the E-Street Band at their best musically. After that, I am quite partial to Nebraska and his debut as they both have such unique and cinematic sounds that set them apart from the rest of his discography. But after that, in my ranking would be Darkness on the Edge of Town, an album which very successfully attempts to follow up Born to Run. Though it doesn’t have the most unique sound, it is probably the quintessential example of Bruce’s sound. Working class ballads backed by extravagant guitars, keys, and sax solos. Badlands is one of the boss's finest, starting the album on such a raucous note, but that proves to be deceptive as the rest of the album is more delicate and thoughtful. I do hope I can see Springsteen live one day, as there is truly no one like him. As Canadians, we have been blessed as a nation with our singer-songwriters: Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Leonard Cohen, to name a few, but I have always said if I could change any American into a Canadian, it would be the Boss. Though I suppose Greetings From Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, doesn’t quite have the same ring as Asbury Park, New Jersey. Best Songs: Badlands, The Promised Land, Prove It All Night Worst Song: Factory Score out of 10: 9

8.5/10 Immediately clicked for me, Badlands is a very strong opener and Adam Raised a Cain keeps up the pace so well. Most of the songs including a guitar solo was an unexpected but great decision.

I'm a sucker for a good saxophone and harmonic solo

You can immediately hear why this is considered a masterpiece of American rock. The production is tight, the 'Esquire' guitar tone is legendary, and the energy is relentless. However, it is not an easy, casual listen. It’s dense and emotionally heavy, lacking the immediate 'sugar rush' of his later pop hits. There are moments of brilliance—the harmonica work is raw and the driving rhythms are infectious—but it feels like an album that reveals its true colours only after multiple spins. I’m marking this as a solid 4 for the craftsmanship alone, but I need to sit with it again to see if it truly connects on a personal level.

This is a weird one but in a really good way. I think that this album manages the absurd nature of the music and lyrics with the ability to put together an amazing medley of music that truly works.

Few artists have been able to relate to their core audience like Springsteen. Born to Run tapped into listeners’ dreams of living lives full of whirlwind experiences. But on Darkness, Springsteen leans into a songwriting style that speaks more to the experiences of the working class than nearly anything else in his body of work. It’s a rewarding listen. The opener, Badlands is especially strong in setting the album’s tone. The slower moments shine just as much though. Racing in the Street is just such a sad song. As he often does in his writing, Springsteen’s music doesn’t just centre on the experiences of his main subject, but the effects on the people in the subject’s world. The failings and desperation of his main characters are repeatedly underscored by the faded dreams and ambitions of those around them. It’s an effective form of storytelling that I find easy to listen to. Though, there hits aren’t quite here, everything else is Springsteen and the E-Street Band working on all cylinders. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Listen, I didn’t love love every track on here but I’m always just rating off vibes, and I love the vibe here. It’s so Americana: his voice, the stories he’s telling, the music. Hell yeah brother, but in a cool way? I’ll be giving this a few more listens, I was pretty unfamiliar with album before this.

Springsteens songwriting and vocals are truly some of the best ever recorded and on full display in this record

The tunes feel a bit more indulgent than some of his best tracks (although not as affected as Meatloaf), and yet they have that undeniable pull of the authenticity; of meaning what your saying and understanding your subject matter. 'The Promised Land' cuts straight to the chase opening with uptempo guitar, harmonica and vocals, no messing about. It feels like classic Bruce with some great lyrics - "on a rattlesnake speedway in the Utah desert" - a tale of escape from the slog of life, epic chorus, big sax solo; all of Bruce's anthemic elements are there. The album is driven by a blueprint with but minor variations, but Bruce is one of the most sincere singers of the era, carrying this along with typical reverence of the working man (and lady). Add to that some genuinely affecting tracks and you've got yourself an excellent album. In addition to that, as he embarks in his US tour, he's seemingly one of the lone voices in rock today that has any balls. Bravo!

3,9 - Ich könnte kein Lied erkennen, wenn ich es hören würde. Aber in seiner Gesamtheit ein cooles, unterhaltsames Album Highlights: Badlands, Prove It All Night

Eine solide 4 von 5; guter Rock

Ну, не лучший альбом

Liked this a lot, really cohesive album, enjoyed racing in the street a lot, would listen again

Great album. Loved ‘Factory’ the most.

Not the hugest Springsteen fan, as when it comes to bands dubbed "heartland rock" I'd much rather rock out to someone like Tom Petty who pursued a much harder/louder sound with his Heartbreakers. Regardless, I can't deny The Boss has got some great pipes and catchy lyrics, and there's always some tasty guitar, piano or organ riffs and licks to go along with those lyrics. 8/10.

I enjoyed this

There is nobody that can tell a blue-collared story like Bruce Springsteen, and this album is full of them. Opening with a barnstormer like “Badlands”, then moving into “Adam Raised a Cain” is an absolutely brilliant way to start an album. As the album progresses, the brashness of the music quietens, allowing the lyrics to shine through but not quite hitting in the same way for me. The album’s title track will always be a favourite, however. And despite all that brilliance, my favourite thing on all Springsteen albums is Clarence and his trusty saxophone. One of the best to ever do it.

Solid

Bruce’s strengths as a songwriter and performer really show here

This album has to be Springsteen's best. "DotEoT" is where Bruce's style began. I usually find his albums to be average. I'm glad I listened to "DotEoT". Let's see what album I get next. 4 stars for "Darkness on the Edge of Town".

It's so weird hearing the difference between this album and Nebraska. Nebraska was a cloudy gray sad blob while this album was almost happy go lucky in comparison. The instrumentation on this one seems hopeful and endearing, he sounds a lot younger, its pretty good. 7/10

Badlands Adam Raised a Cain The Promised Land Prove It All Night Darkness on the Edge of Town

This is our fourth album so far from The Boss, and unfortunately I don't think this one quite hits the highs of the previous three we've gotten (Nebraska, Born in the USA, and Born to Run). I'd have to spend some more time with it to really sink my teeth into these songs, but they are still delights throughout.

Springsteen isn’t my favourite musician, but I have to admit that this album was good. Bleak, but good. 7/10

Good

Liked something in the night and badlands

After getting Nebraska the other day and not caring for it, this was a great surprise. The songwriting was tight and I wasn’t bothered by his voice like a lot of people. Nothing too special but just enjoyable.

Excelente disco! A energia e beleza dos vocais são complementados por instrumentais ótimos. QoA Adonis New.

it doesn’t hit with me the same way Born to Run and Nebraska both do, but it’s still full of bangers. this man can make me mourn lifetimes i’ve never lived

Not one of his best, but still enjoyable.

140723 13:03 4

Sophomore year Victoria actually listened to this album from beginning to end and I found my notes from back then and my favorites then were —Something in the night, candy’s room, racing in the street, darkness on the edge of town. And those obviously still held up but I kinda messed with Adam Raised a Cain more than I remember. But Bruce is Bruce so not suprised

I mean who doesn’t like the Boss. Not his best, which is saying a lot because this shit is fire. I loved the band, lyrics, and passion. Always feels like you can relate to Bruce. One of the best storytellers.

I'd never really listened to Springsteen before but I enjoyed it, I like his guitar playing, piano in the back, his voice, plus the power ballads. Something about it also gave christmasy vibes. Idk what the lyrical content is but it could be sad and not matter so much because it feels more energizing than Coldplay (last album)

It's a generally well-done record, though I think the first side is done better. Badlands is anthemic, Adam Raised A Cain has some bite, Something In The Night is awash with inspiration, Candy's Room, Racing, all that. That first side is very impressive. I think the effect sort of wears off on Side B but Promised Land, Streets Of Fire and Prove It All Night are good. It's a slow moving wail more than a shout of a Springsteen record. My opinion is more subdued with this one compared to Nebraska and Born In The USA (8/10, 4/5 on this scale)

Solid album. Should be more highly regarded than it is. Fairly somber, thoughtful. Better than anything that came after. A rare decent album by a highly over-rated artist.

Really consistent, no songs worth skipping, personal favourite is Adam raised a Cain

Never thought I liked Springsteen at all but this is a joy

for the first review of 2026, we have bruce springsteen. compared to his previous albums, this one is said to be a bit more grounded instead of overtly whimsical or uplifting. lyrics that a lot of average-folk can relate to. i mean i guess it's alright. i feel like this type of music was starting to die out once the 70s ended, and to me a lot of the songs while nice, it's almost typical pop rock stuff to me. something about his voice is lost on me listening to it for the first time. it's rock i think my grandpa would like, maybe?

Enjoyable but man do his songs all have the same rhythm/vibe to them. 7/10

Had never heard any of these songs. Like a few by Bruce Springsteen. Honestly wasn’t expecting too much but was impressed! I’m not rushing to download but enjoyed the listen.

My favourite on the album so far is racing on the street. I like the album! I probably wouldn’t listen to the whole thing a lot but I did really like it. Lots of good songs

8.5

Springsteen swaps the widescreen drama of Born to Run for something grittier—songs about hard graft, dashed hopes, and clinging on by your fingernails. The E Street Band sounds like they’ve been living on black coffee and broken promises, and it suits the mood perfectly. The lyrics? Brilliant. The voice? Well… let’s just say if gravel could shout, this would be it. Still, there’s a raw honesty that makes you forgive him—at least on a good day.

my sister-in-law's mother calls me brucey cause she thinks i look like springsteen on this album cover. does wonders to my self esteem everytime.

I think this is a good album but I don’t generally get the fuzzy feels about Springsteen that I know some others do. Badlands is a legit hit and worth anyone’s time. The rest of it didn’t grab me during a once-through, though I’m sure there is some gold in there if you stick with it and let it really sink in.

I own most Bruce albums so nothing new here & Darkness is one of his best collections of songs with a gritty, leaner & stark production style. The songs can be hardhitting as well (Adam Raised a Cain) and stretched his emotive storytelling of the everyman and often criminal types. Not my favourite Bruce, but still one of his best and I particularly like "Something in the Night" (that classic Roy Bittan tearjerking piano chiming progression), "Racing in the Street", "Badlands" and the title song.

One of the more enjoyable Springsteen albums I've listened to.

Have never considered myself a fan of the Boss but this record is a very worthwhile pop/singer-songwriter crossover with equally catchy hooks and stellar songwriting alike. Second side is loaded with hit songs. Could easily see myself re-listening and liking just as much.

Darkness On The Edge Of Town delivers what it promises. This is an album that's very much about a quiet kind of small town, working class despair. But it also feels like it refuses to give up; there is *something* triumphant that occasionally shines through. A pained, broken sounding Springsteen guides us through factory towns, loves lost, and rural decay. And before this I didn't know much Springsteen: even if I had been told about Nebraska, part of me still wasn't sure that he had this sort of thing in him. But there really is a lot of depth, and a lot of truth here. He's a master of working class poetry, equally relatable and verbose. And I was also very much surprised at how well this album's heartland rock soundtracks it all. From the muscular rock of Adam Raised A Cain to the utterly gorgeous Something In The Night, the music is very effective. The level of quality here is incredibly high, there isn't really a bad song. If I had to complain, I guess a couple of songs here haven't clicked with me as much: and I *do* prefer the ultra stripped down arrangements on Nebraska to the full band sound here in general. This album is generally a little more susceptible to mild cheese than Nebraska, and I think the arrangements are most of it. But this album is really a triumph, even if it isn't perfect. Acquiring a taste for Springsteen wasn't exactly on the schedule today, but this is just too good. I'm dishing out a very strong 4.

Like most of his stuff, it's really, really good, love the instrumentation, the lyrics, the stories. However, his voice does kinda hold it back. There is a lot of energy on this album which is always a plus.

A slower than usual offering from Springsteen. The piano is thrown into the limelight as the key driver and harmonic backbone of the tracks. The Boss' vocals seem more wistful and hopeful. Best Tracks: - Badlands - Something In The Night - Streets Of Fire Worst Tracks: - Factory Rating: 8/10

I haven't heard much of Bruce Springsteen before and I really enjoyed the album. It has some very memorable and catchy moments and I kept dancing to the music. It was a great listen and have added to my library.

Several good tracks with nice, simple grooves and rich instrumentals.

Frågan är om nån vit man nånsin varit snyggare än vad Springsteen är på omslaget på "Darkness..."? Det skulle vara han själv då på inner sleeven på "The River", men nä inte lika up in your face som här. Lite hårdare, lite mörkare, lite kantigare än Born to run skivan och för mig blir det lite bättre så. "Racing in the streets" gör mig alltid fuktig i ögonvrån och “Something in the night" brottar ner mig i brygga. Det är två av mina topp fem Springsteenlåtar. Om låtar kan vara underskattade i Bruces katalog så är titelspåret, "Factory" och "Candi's room" det. Dom är alla alldeles utmärkta albumspår som bidrar stort till helheten. Jag har möjligen lite svårare för muskelkraften i "Adam raised a Cain" och den inte lika engagerande "Streets of fire". Det finns förstås många artister som kommer mer till sin rätt live. Bruce intar ändå nån slags särställning här. Kanske för att jag sett honom live så många gånger och att det finns så många liveinspelningar upptagna, både officiella och bootlegs. Den laddning som det finns i livemonster som "Badlands", "Prove it all night" och "Promised land" går inte att skapa i en studio och få ner på ett regelrätt album. Det är klart att det är jättebra låtar alla tre, men dom når inte den potential man vet att dom har inne i sig. Det finns säkert femtio versioner av var och en av dem som är bättre än dom versioner som är på albumet. När Bruce 2002 midssommardagen, andra kvällen av två på Ullevi, är det med öppningen "Promised land" han visar att det här inte kommer bli en vanlig kväll, han laddar den till tänderna. Har du hört "Prove it all night" från No nukes-konserten 1979 känns det som nån drar undan mattan under dina fötter. Och attacken live i "Badlands" som sitter som en knytknäve rakt i bröstet VARJE kväll. Hur ska albumversionerna kunna matcha det? Det är naturligtvis inte möjligt. Särskilt inte när "Darkness..." också lider av 70talsrockens produktion. Det är ju inte på långa vägar lika illa som hos t.ex. Zeppelin eller Queen, men även här har jag invändningar. Det är som en filt ligger över alltihop, murrigt, grötigt och samtidigt för stort och uppsvält på samma gång. Det är så mycket känsla som går förlorad, blås in lite luft, separera ljudet. Det går ju! Jag är störande som sjutton. Chics skivor lät utmärkt vid samma tid, Bowies Berlinskivor också. Det är några konservativa rockgubbar som har fått för sig nåt (Landau, skivbolaget?), att så här ska rock låta. Två år senare på "The River" har dom fattat, den låter milsvid bättre produktionsmässigt, men då är 70talet slut också. Den kunde varit så mycket bättre men det är ändå en svag svag fyra

Vad finns det att säga om Springsteen som inte redan är sagt. Ett väldigt bra album.

EXCELLENCE 4.4/5

I hope Bruce sees this and he comes and gunvites me to a concert

Definitely a top 3 Springsteen album, has been for a while. Always love getting a chance to dive into his music!

Veldig Springsteen, veldig fan.

My fave Springsteen album so far

Did not affect my unshakable notion that part of The Boss' thing is just groaning into the mic. Witness the opening moan-crooning on Something in the Night. Eventually he starts singing words, but he seems uncommitted. Sexy? Sloshed? We may never know. Nonetheless, it's pretty cool to consider his unwavering arc from poet of the American everyman to labour-songwriter-laureate. Someday I will dress as well as Bruce does in his 70s.

This feels like Springsteen at his Springsteeniest, which is a good thing. I don't know this album particularly well, but it's great. That's it. That's the review.

I didn’t pay much attention to the Boss in my youth. Just wasn’t my scene and I sneered at anyone who was a fan. I missed out, some greet song craft here. He’s dark and cynical and if I’d bothered to listen I would have realized.

Bon album de Springsteen! Une belle découverte.

Solid throughout. Nothing that necessarily WOWED me but definitely is a good album to get someone who has never listened to Springsteen to start with in my opinion.

good i think

Rather than feeling like a document of the time, this album still feels alive. Great storytelling and the sound of a band that all lift each other up to be better.

Great album. This is what I was expecting the first time Bruce appeared on the list. Nice rock songs, emotive ballads, piano, trumpets.. the whole deal. 4/5.

Second favorite Springsteen album. An outstanding collection of melodies. Favorite track: Badlands

A great Bruce album!

The big Bruce, when he was young. Badlands is fine!

Something different for me which I enjoyed. Tracks had variety and painted a great story of working class Americana

I didn’t expect to like any of this, but this was pretty good. Not too much of anything. Really balanced and authentic. Definitive Bruce.

This has been my favorite Springsteen album for a long time. They first side is ok. Starts with Badlands, which is good, and is pretty mid otherwise. Side 2 is 5 stars on its own. The Promised Land, Factory, and Prove It All Night are all really great songs. Not a big Springsteen fan, but this album was really good.

'Baby, I got my facts learned real good right now.' Bruce's heaviest record, not lyrically - that'd be Nebraska - but musically, that is, in terms of what it means for the heartland hero to rock out. 'Adam Raised a Cain' features his most impressively hard-hitting guitar playing, while a track like 'Something in the Night' boasts that distant wail we know from 'Jungleland' tho w/ even more desperation. I know it's in the title, but the truth is that this where the Boss doesn't just learn how to be darker - he let's that darkness speak for itself: 'Now some guys, they give up living / And start dying little by little, piece by piece'; 'End of the day, factory whistle cries / Men walk thru these gates w/ death in their eyes.' No writer of America can ignore that for long.

Standouts Badlands Adam Raised a Cain Racing in the Street Prove it All Night

Fun album, great melodies, solid compositions, think the man might be tone deaf. At least in Streets of Fire he's trying to sing Favorite tracks: Something in the Night, Candy's Room, The Promise Land

Pomo on pomo. Pitäisi kuunnella enemmänkin. Helppo 4/5.

Not new to me but classic all the same

This is not my favorite Springsteen album. Badlands is the hit and I don't love it. Racing in the Street is the best song on the album so far. The back half of the album is much better than the first half. Ends up being a decent, if uneven, album.

Badlands // Adam Raised a Cain // Something in the Night // Racing in the Street // The Promised Land //

Best Springsteen album, maybe. This does work better for me that many of his other albums and give a glimpse of his enduring appeal which is baffling to many. Definitely a must listen.

If you think the saxophone solos are unnecessary you need to seek professional help

4 - Not a BS fan. Recognize this for what it is.

would probably have rewired my brain if i had heard it after a shift at long john silvers. Racing in the Street is an all timer deserves to be one of the 1001? 5 Springsteen albums is a bit much, but this is a pretty good one nonetheless. sure

Not the best of the best but some real bangers on this one!

I’m not usually one for Springsteen, but this album is great.

Look, I love the Boss. Do I want to give this a 5? Yeah. But there's a few songs that I don't really care for and some of my favorite songs of all time.

I have a lot of personal admiration for Springsteen. As someone who loves punk music and ethics, I've always appreciated Springsteen's focus on working class life. His heartland aesthetic is something I really have wanted to enjoy, but he's also someone who has never featured in my musical listening. The anthemic rock that he puts out has never really been my cup of tea. Still, this is the second Springsteen album I've gotten on this project. Both of them within the first two weeks of listening. I've really tried to go in open-minded with him, and its starting to click. I've given Born to Run a few play-throughs since I got it last week. What started with an "eh not for me" is becoming more compelling on further listens. With Darkness on the Edge of Town it's clicked into place more easily. I think this album feels a little more stripped down. It's got a darkness to it that Born to Run didn't quite have. Heaps of religious imagery, some slower ballads as well. Springsteen is also harnessing his vocals a little more here. Less belting out the chorus full-tilt. As a result he's more dynamic. The soulfulness is on full display. I still don't think it's quite a five for me, but hats of to The Boss, and to this project. This was the whole point, exploring artists you've missed out on and never quite given their time. The guy is great and I'm going to keep listening to this one as well.

Bruce is a great songwriter, and this is a very solid collection of songs.

If you know Ligabue, this album will show you his origin story. By the way, Racing in the street is a masterpiece. Enjoyable album overall, I'm just not a die hard Springsteen fan

Grave sympa, je savais pas que le policier de taxi faisait du chant

3-4

Decent album with some great songs. Badlands in my top 5 springsteen songs. Cannot fault any of the songs. It was a great listen. 4 stars Listened to it a second time and add a lot more notable songs. This listen i was a lot more focused and it really is a well structured and produced album. It is very close to a 5. 4.5 stars

Purdy good

The boss is king 4.5/5

En arbetare har matlåda och går till sin fabrik.

Bruuuuuce love this man. I remember my friend Barbara Okeefe's big sister had the record, we were in 5th grade : ) His music has always been part of the cultural fabric of our upbringing, our Dad loved him - saw him 4 times in a row once while he was doing 10nights at the Brendan Byrne arena. His sound is authentic, real, such a good storyteller. Heartfelt beautiful album

Love the intensity and grit. Badlands is just badass. Love the harmony that Little Stevie adds. That quintessential E street Jersey sound.

Classic Bruce Springsteen style, I loved listening to it twice in a row, easier to listen to than Nebraska. It just falls short of five stars by lack of enough hits. 4.3 stars

Had never really listened to this beyond Badlands. Glad I finally did.

My favorite from the boss

Good music but I can really only handle Bruce's voice in small doses. I guess that makes me not a Springsteen fan. I like this era more than the radio-popular 1980s Springsteen. 4⭐️

Very brucie

Dark-ish, but the fun kind of dark.

This album was pretty good, I enjoyed listening to some of the songs, the instrumentation was very nice, at some points have more complexity than other songs of its time, not much else to say, a decent 8/10.

wait so i literally didn’t know he had good songs all i knew was born in the usa LOL. oh and also dancing in the dark. loved adam raised a cain and wanna listen again and tbh to more of his discography but was p distracted today but this te changed my opinion on his music

The Boss ain't all that, but not a bad album.

Nice

I love the raw production. The guitar tone is sensational. Adam Raised A Cain might be my favourite Springsteen song. Some of it is a little too passionate, though that seems harsh. This is a very, very good album.

Rating just the album, not the jerk he has become. That would lower it to a zero.

Good badlands was the best on the album, Not a daily listen, better than the first however

Bon vibe

8.2/10

Yeah, his voice isn’t great, and I could live forever without another sax solo, but I do love the songwriting.

Vem trodde att jag skulle vara här? Men asså han har nåt den här killen ändå.

Låter riktigt bra musikaliskt, 4/5. Lyfter de hyllade texterna det ytterligare? Inte för mig, lyssnade ej så noga.

I remember seeing this in Jameswsy when I was a kid. Due to my proximity to Philly, I guess I know most of these songs from the radio. A classic, but not my thing.

Guitar driven American dystopia nostalgia anthems.

Springsteen's songwriting is sharper than ever, although the music here lacked the "Boss energy" that elevated some of his other albums.

Much better vibes than Born in the USA; it seems the introduction to a vast swathes of America (well, New Jersey) and novel experience. Surely something to return to again and again. A very strong four, escaping five because I'm me - there's only so much you can do without some truly exciting sonic titillation (saxophones don't count) and just some great songwriting.

Rock dynamique, j'aime beaucoup les instrus, y'a de la variété dans les rythmes, autant j'aime pas tout de Bruce mais cet album était vraiment top et entraînant. Chansons préférées : Badlands, Candy's room

Je ne connaissais pas bien, je pense que j’avais une idée préconçue : Je suis agréablement surprise. J’ai eu peur que ça me gonfle vite mais finalement l’instru est vraiment chouette, et sa voix se marie bien avec le reste ! J’aime beaucoup les inspirations irlandaises (qui sont intimement liées à ses origines j’imagine) J’en connaissais une de cet album (« adam raised a can ») Ça fait très album qu’on écoute sur la route des vacances Conclusion : Top, j’écouterai davantage à l’avenir

Lots of Billy Joel vibes

Never been a huge Boss fan, but I had never heard this album! I was pleasantly surprised.

Live off the floor -- there's no ProTools bullshit in this. This is just a band playing some songs (often a lot of damn times; The Boss is a perfectionist). Springsteen has a particular sound. It's straightforward and it's unapologetic, so I expect this is a take-it-or-leave-it album for a lot of folks. The risk of live-off-the-floor recording is bleed between instruments (and inconsistent meter, but who the fuck cares about that?) but it doesn't seem onerous on this one. The drums are punchy, the guitars sound distinct, the organ hums along, the bass is round and sweet and driving, the horns cut and then recede to a supporting role. Vocals are just the right amount of raw for Bruce. Anyway, good album. If you're here, you'll probably like at least some of it.

Great album!

The Boss! His music is really good, but then he sings and it can bring it down sometimes, and that happens here. He is the Boss though, so it’s pretty damn good.

Dit klinkt een stuk meer als wat ik verwacht bij De Baas, in vergelijking met dat Nebraska album. Het staccato aangeslagen pianootje, de porno saxofoon die af en toe even fanatiek snerpend de aandacht op mag eisen, ome Broes zelf die gutsend van het zweet in de studio staat te stuiptrekken terwijl 'ie de boel inzingt in z'n lederen jekker, de iets te perfect afgemeten gitaarsolo's. Ik vind dit wel echt een beetje prototype dikke oude witte mannenmuziek en ik kan hier persoonlijk niet zo van genieten als van het debuut album van Rage Against The Machine of Californication, om maar even wat 5 sterrenratings van me te noemen, maar dat is denk ik ook een beetje m'n leeftijd. Ik ben hier niet mee opgegroeid. Een wat eerlijkere vergelijking is denk ik Brothers in Arms van Dire Straights. Die vind ik nog wel een tandje gaver dan dit en ook daar ben ik niet mee opgegroeid. Ik neig er daarom naar om dit 4 sterren te geven. Ik slaap er even een nachtje over.

Bomb.com minus one song… Lots a bangers on here

All pretty enjoyable to listen to, but "Prove It Through the Night" and the title track kick ass. Wonderful ending. 3.75

Bruce Springsteen is someone I’ve known about my whole life, but I never really paid much attention to him. This was the first album of his I’ve listened to from start to finish, and it was pretty solid heartland rock focused on the struggles of the working class. The piano stood out the most to me. It’s definitely one of the driving instruments. The album has a good mix of heavier tracks and solid ballads.

Listened Before? N A really good album. I preferred "Born to Run" but I dug this one too. Some of the songs drag a bit, and there's not as much radio friendly stuff. Great title, too. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Racing in the Street

Only Bruce can do Bruce. One of those albums that the story behind it makes it all that much more full. Bruce can write like few others about a very specific time, place, and feel. He’s a songwriter that puts you there no matter where “there” is or if you have any connection to it. Some massive highlights that got me deep in the headphones here.

Nawet spoko, 4/5! Grało pół dnia

Great album!

This is one of the best bruce albums. Not a ton of hits but lots of good songs.

Man, there’s no song in Bruce Springsteen’s catalogue quite like “Adam Raised a Cain”! What a performance! It’s a blistering blues rock song about a father and son, and how anger only breeds more anger. It’s really powerful and absolutely rocks. Lots of great tracks here with some particularly pained vocals from Bruce. He sounds hurt, but there’s some real catharsis in these songs. Listening to this album today, I appreciated the influence that soul and doo-wop have on Bruce’s music. A lot of songs here have that soul style in their DNA. Excellent album overall. 4.5

Bruce! Great record by a great songwriter. This one starts with a bang, with "Badlands". It's got the energy you love to hear at the start of a rock record, and it gets your feet moving and your ears primed for some typically solid Bruce storytelling. I go back and forth a lot with which Bruce song is my favorite, and for a long time it was "Racing in the Street". It might still be, I'm not really sure. It's so powerful and intimate. I love the story. Makes me nostalgic. If It's not my favorite Bruce song at any one specific time then it's my second favorite. I like this record overall as it feels a bit raw and has a rough edge to it, which is the quality of Bruce that i like the most. I believe this was written after some contract disputes and various management issues that he had with the production people around him, and I think some of that anger and angst comes through in the sound. I do think it's in his "A" tier and not "S" tier- as I don't find it as good as "Nebraska", "Born In The U.S.A.", and "Born To Run". It's still a classic, and an amazing record that belongs on this list; it's just not as good as those. High 4/5, like a 4.7.

Bruce aime beaucoup le glockenspiel. J'aime la persona du badboy prolétaire qu'il incarne, ça fait un peu Streetcar named Desire. Ou Rebel without a cause. J'ai beaucoup aimé ce couplet là d'ailleurs : End of the day, factory whistle cries Men walk through these gates with death in their eyes And you just better believe, boy, somebody's gonna get hurt tonight It's the working, the working, just the working life Et Racing in the streets est bonne aussi.

p408. 1978. 4 stars. The soundtrack of late 70's, post Vietnam America in economic decline. The second half flags a bit, but this still great work. And it has the quintessential Springsteen song in "Racing In The Streets".

7/10 BBBRRRRUUUUUCCCCEEEEEE 8-15-2025

My favorite one from this website so far. I absolutely LOVED this album. The Springsteen stuff I've listened to in the past never really spoke to me, so I generally avoided his material. But I really enjoyed the sound here and will be revisiting some of his other projects as well. Very impressive guitar work all throughout. Vocally, it's to an extent reminiscent of some of Bob Dylan's work. Racing in the Street is gorgeous. The least enjoyable track for me was Factory as I found it uninteresting and repetitive, but that may have been intentional considering the theme of the track lol.

Sounds more like classic Springsteen than Born In The USA. Top tracks; Badlands / Promised Land

4.5

I actually raised this up by a good half star from my traditional ratings. My usual problem with Bruce Springsteen's normally high ranked albums tend to be his ode to Spector production. Quite frankly there's really only two songs that really lean heavily into that sound on this album and they happen to be the opening tracks on each side. I do find this one a lot more engaging and grittier than its immediate predecessor and subsequent album. In fact "Adam raised A Cane" sounds almost down right mean . "Streets of Fire" another one that really caught my ear this time. Though *Born in the USA* landed about where my traditional rating for that album, I'll be interested to see where *Born to Run* lands this time around. *Nebraska* has been my traditional favorite album of his, and *The Rising* being my #2. Though I don't see this rising above *Nebraska* in my ears, it might rival *The Rising* which I also have at a mid four and a half 9.6 ★★★★½

"Adam Raised a Cain" is my favourite Springsteen song. Great album! 4.5 stars

Very nice Brucie Bonus of an album for 1001. One of his best alongside Born To Run and Born To U.S.A. Badlands is great bunch of lads and Prove It All Night is Prove It Just Right. Darkness On The Edge Of 4.5.

Beautiful powerful cohesive album. Incredible riffs and triumphant lyrics.

Almost pushes into a parody of last call at the bar blue collar Bruce, but that's still a good place to be

A grower

Punchy bass. Addictive percussion. What more could you want.

C'est terriblement gossant, mais c'est quand même très cool. C'est ce que j'ai entendu de mieux de Bruce. J'ai fumé du pot hier et j'ai regardé les étoiles filantes, I guess que je suis dans un bon mood.

Just the legend of the legends of rock music! Pure rock and melody!

Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted

Very good album by The Boss. At times it sounds like Born to Run 2, other times it sounds more intimate. I do love the huge sounding guitar/keys combinations, and no other Hearland Rock act does it like Springsteen. Key tracks: Badlands Prove It All Night Darkness on the Edge of Town

This album started out each side with a great song and then kind of petered out a little, there was also some random saxophone which was actually kind of funny to me cause it appeared out of nowhere for like 2 songs as a solo and never used again. A pretty good album though, a lot if it was kind of the same thing though with piano led songs bursting out into the classic 4/4 time signature drums, I wasn’t a fan of the long ballad ones (something in the night and racing in the street), they were kind of boring and bloated. There was also surprisingly a lack of guitar on this album but i guess this was more piano focussed with the random saxophone which and the harmonica at some points, the guitar solos that were here though were decent. Favourites: Badlands, Candy’s room, the promised land and factory. Overall, 7/10.

Loved it. Something in the night is a top 5 bruce song for me.

I know almost every song on here. It’s a classic.

Growing up in New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen was completely inescapable. Even if it's not your kind of music, you can't help but know it and love it. If for no other reason than his "plight of the working man" lyrics. "Darkness on the Edge of Town" saw Springsteen expanding his reach and influence far beyond the weird curvy borders of his home state, to address the entire country and beyond. In doing so, he bring in the small influence of punk rock, slightly more country, and a huge helping of Woodie Gutherie and John Steinbeck. While this album didn't have the same commercial appeal as his previous work, it's been held up in retrospect as an important part of his discography, and a huge part of establishing himself as an enduring presence in music. These recording sessions included the incredible song "Because the Night", not included here but gifted to Patti Smith. To this day, Springsteen's message resonates to all different corners of the world. But he'll always embody the spirit of the voices of the New Jersey seaside citizens, struggling and occasionally celebrating through life.

Enjoyable listen.

As a born and raised Jersey boy, it's hard not to know about the Boss and his catalog in some form or another. It's ingrained in New Jersey culture like pork roll and summers down the shore on the boardwalk. I've known Springsteen's major hits for most of my life, but I never sat down and listened to an album from him before. This was some great blue collar Americana rock. Springsteen's singing style can definitely be divisive, but I feel like it adds to the everyman feel of the message and storytelling he puts into his lyrics.

Rock, 1978 -> 4

Another one I weirdly have never listened to before. What a great rock album.

I always tell people I am not a big fan of the Boss, but then I hear Prove It All Night and Promised Land and forget that I ever said that. This album is some good Bruce, none of that Born in the USA crap.

Good album. Bruce Springsteen, great American with songs that I can relate to. Easy listen.

Springsteen's vocals aren't at their peak here, but the E Street Band certainly is. There's a certain muscularity to the sound on this album.

Better than Born in the USA, not as good as Born to Run. Pretty damn good.

Really enjoyed that thx!

Never heard this. Good stuff.

Büro, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Ganz gut, kann kaum Meckern.

Some of the Boss best songs on it!

Classic Bruce. This is not an album I listened to in my youth. Unfortunately, I can't wax poetic about it. But, listening to it now, I can imagine being blown away. Full of longing, regret and aspiration, this is something else. This is pure Bruce.

I don't listen to a lot of Springsteen and this was a new album for me, but was a good listen. I didn't give it a ton of attention, but it was enjoyable. Good songwriting, unique voice, classic rock sound.

Decent

not the biggest on Springsteen but this is one of his best

Best Song: Prove it All Night Is Bruce Springsteen blue collar? I wish he would write more songs about it. Not bad, not as good as Nebraska.

I haven't listened to much Bruce Springsteen despite liking many of his successors (The War on Drugs, Sam Fender, ...). This was a great album and I need to listen to more.

A dull enough start to this album is massively mitigated by the very beautiful Racing in the Street. It's not until that point that the album really comes to life. The following two tracks are also great, but the vocal on Streets of Fire is dreadful. They're back on form for Prove it All Night, but it dips slightly again in the title track with the vocals I didn't like in Streets of Fire. Four star because Racing... lifts the average so high.

It's all good, there aren't really any bangers for me after one listen through though

+1 or Oli will shout at me

I actually just recently got into Bruce Springsteen, so I listened to this a while ago.

Not my favourite Bruce record, but still really good.

Pretty much no skips, Factory is worst song and that's still like 3/5

Thought I would come into this album feeling like I’ve heard it all and it just feels like old news. But it didn’t. Yes everyone is pulling inspiration from Bruce but he’s got so much passion it just holds a place.

I will admit this is the first time I've listened to a Springsteen album in full. I get it.

Not Bruce’s best, but still solid. Transitional in a lot of ways. I like when it gets hard in “Adam Raised a Cain” and “Prove It All Night.”

Bedre enn jeg trodde. Likte den.

The best ever, even moreso than I thought

Good tunes. Put his heart into in.

I'm a fan of the boss, what can I say

I'm not a huge fan of Springsteen's music, but I am a big fan of the man himself. So I'm giving The Boss an adjusted score of 4. 3/5 for the album. 5/5 for The BOSS! #80

surprised that this was from 1978. It has a very 80s sound. His voice was so full and raspy at such a young age. No wonder he was able to "make it" back then. Reminiscent of young Tom Waits and Billy Joel. Has that classic Americana sound that he most likely propelled. notable songs: Something in the Night Racing in the Street Darkness On the Edge of Town

My only real note is that the beginning piano portion in “Something in the Night” is EXTREMELY similar to “Don’t Tell Me It’s Over” by Gym Class Heroes, and I spent almost 45 minutes trying to figure out which GCH song it was because it’s not listed as a sample anywhere I could find online. Solid album, I never mind some dad rock.

Not my favourite Boss album but a good one nonetheless.

Excellent, dare i say underrated album. Vintage Bruce. Not as iconic as some others but definitely in the running for my favourite album of his.

Very good

The power ballads … he truly is the Beyoncé for middle america white men.

Great album, really nice lyrics and tunes

Inte ett av hans bästa. Men ett ok knippe Americana. Fyra

Gonna go ahead and call this one The Great Depression. It's great, but hella depressing. 4

Memorable voice and lyrics. Raw

I really enjoyed this album. I only knew a few songs but you can hear the Springsteen that went on to all the hits.

great album tbh grandmas favorite 4/5

Springsteen throws everything at the wall—burnt-out motels, punch-clocks, engines that won’t start, dads who communicate exclusively through silence. His voice sounds like it’s been marinating in bad coffee and fried potato grease. Some songs blur, but the atmosphere holds. The drum sound is killer—tight, dry, nothing fancy. Perfect sunday morning record.

Good

Raw Boss. Great song writing and music.

They don’t call him The Boss for nothing. Love this album.

Darkness on the Edge of Town is Springsteen stripped down and sharpened up—less wild-eyed dreamer, more weary fighter. There’s no big sax solos or cinematic escapes here; instead, it’s blue-collar grit, frustration, and resilience wrapped in tight, no-frills rock songs. Tracks like Badlands, The Promised Land, and Racing in the Street burn slow but hit hard, driven by conviction rather than glory. The sound is leaner than Born to Run, but there’s power in the restraint. The album trades grandeur for honesty, and while it might not be as instantly iconic, it carries a depth that sinks in over time. It’s the sound of someone choosing to stand their ground instead of run—and making that feel heroic in its own right

just fantastic

One of his best, says this man in his 50s.

Promised land the stand out track overall very enjoyable listen

Usually see Springsteen as a Playlist artist. Make your own setlist and pretend you're at a 3 hour show. Not enjoyed listening to Springsteen album in it's entirety as much as this one.

This has always been the critics favorite album so I'm not surprised to see it on here. I am a Springsteen fan and think he's put out more great music than not across his entire career. He's got his own SiriusXM channel! "Badlands" is a classic rock staple and crowd pleaser live. It's still on the radio all the time. "Adam Raised A Cain" is an underappreciated rock groove. "Something In The Night" feels forced, trying too hard. "Candy's Room" is also underappreciated. "Racing In The Streets" is a good track too. "Promised Land" is a hit and still on the radio regularly. "Factory" is short and sweet. "Streets Of Fire" is another radio friendly track you hear often. "Prove It All Night" is another classic rock staple. Wrapping with teh title track, which . Not a bad track is what I'm saying. Catchy, classic, longevity, hits, deep bench of glue track, influencing songwriters everywhere, this is deserving of T1001 but I admit I was skeptical at first. I didn't realize how many songs I knew were on here. 4 solid stars

Bruce is good. Didn't recognize much of it but it was good.

A fun rock album that highlights some poppy-er sides of the boss, or at least that’s how I feel - there is still depth in the lyricism and biblical symbolism but this feels more pop sensible

Really great time revisiting this - one of Springsteen's best and most enduring records.

I'm not a massive Springsteen fan, but I really preferred this to Born to Run. I think I'll play it a few more times to get a real handle on it, but for now, quite a favourable review.

8/10.

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Favourite track - Racing in the Street

Springsteen does Springsteen - feels like the voice gets a little bit like an impression. Don't rate it highly as others do in the Springsteen catalog but it's still good. Promised land is a classic sing-along.

I actually like this even more than Nebraska. And Nebraska is pretty great. This though? Banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger. After banger.

Great album all around with amazing vocals, acoustics and theming. Adam raised a Cain caught me by surprise and is an amazing song. The album touches some sadness of life and growing older but offers a light "you can do it" to the whole album. Great work and road trip album for sure. Best Song: Racing in the Streets/ Something in the Night Worst Song: Factory

Interesting story behind this one

Fine album, only a few standouts and 1-2 songs I didn’t really like. Overall, I liked the big sound. Springsteen’s vocals sometimes really works for me and sometimes it doesn’t. Still enjoyed listening all the way through.

I thought I hated Bruce - his two most famous songs can absolutely flip off. But I actually like this one, consistently good overall.

Really good!

im liking it candys room was a banger i love bruce most of his stuff is brilliant

Colocado entre sus doslps más famosos es un buen disco, pero un poco inferior a ambos.

Excellent! It’s different from born to run, less instant but many of the tracks do give you the feels after a couple of listens. I really enjoyed it!

This album is solid, though not my favorite Bruce Springsteen work. It captures the classic Springsteen nostalgic Americana feel. Standout tracks include "Badlands" and "The Promised Land," which showcase his storytelling and musical depth.

1st springsteen album i listened too not to shabby

Dad rock

I am partial to Born to Run, but this is probably his second best album. It seems to me that these early albums of Springsteens with the E Street band are so much better than the big stadium anthems he wrote later

Best Bruce I've heard

Darkness On the Edge Of Town has got a little bit of everything Springsteen has to offer. There’s the American storytelling, the piano driven tracks and the grander epics - it’s hard to truly go wrong with this record, if you’re into the mood for the Boss.

Another album I've never listened to, from an artist I only vaguely know. This should be interesting! I was listening in the background, but Adam Raised a Cain caught my attention. Absolutely love that one. Also really like The Promised Land. ...Do I really like Bruce Springsteen? Listening to this album was a wild ride.

Springsteen, what can you say. One of the best rockers ever. Great voice, great voice. Music will live on for years.

8/10

Smooth easy listening, first half more energetic which led into a slower calming sound.

It’s interesting to go back to this album after listening to Born in the USA, to hear the difference in the sound. Where the later album was bombastic, this album is quieter and more reflective with more piano and less sax, although there are some excellent hard rock tracks on here too. There’s a slightly odd obsession with cars though - driving around aimlessly, tinkering in oily garages and racing late at night on empty strips at the edge of town. Perhaps it’s the car as a symbol of freedom for a working class kid, although maybe that’s more of an American thing? There are also songs playing with Old Testament themes of vengeful Gods and other familiar themes of urban decay and poverty. The highlight for me was the song Factory, an utterly devastating indictment of working class drudgery and poverty that chews people up and spits them out at the end of a working day. This easily stands alongside songs on similar themes from Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie.

A hear a little bit. It Was ok.

Existential angst from a working class perspective. I like the more rockin tunes and could take a pass at the ballads. The Promises Land is a great anthem except that there is no such thing for the American worker or the troubled soul.

I like this album. I like Springsteen more when he's not doing his trademark mumble, and several of these songs were enjoyable.

My first experience with Springsteen ever (aside from listening to Born in the USA-- the song-- and not really caring for it), and it was a great one! I loved his storytelling, he's able to give his characters a lot of color with just a few well-chosen lyrics. The lyrical imagery is very consistent; if you're feeling unkind, you might call it repetitive, but I for one enjoy all these references to cars and small towns and the lives of people whose existence centers the factory, and the bar, and racing in the street. It's an instant 4/5 for me, and repeated listens in the future will probably raise this one to a full 5/5. And it's the first album so far (granted, I've only listened to 3 beforehand) that made me want to dive deeper into the artist's discography.

Solid Bruce album

Springsteen is at his best with the E Street Band. Some solid tracks here, specifically Racing In The Street and Promised Land.

Classic american blue collar rock music, with Bruce's signature storytelling and bravado. No complaints

One of the better Springsteen albums I've heard.

Excellent. blue-collar themes in the lyrics, raw emotion, awesome melodies to back it up. -Badlands -Candy's Room -The Promised Land -Prove It All Night

it’s bruce springsteen. it’s pretty good. woohoo

I prefer the more abstract stuff on his debut, but this is peak boss bruce. No Maria, but plenty of putting hair up, state/county lines and car shit I don't understand, and am not convinced is real. Still his cliches are tight. Whooaaaaahhooooaahooo. If you don't get het up on the bit of prove it all night where it goes to just voice and drums and builds back up, that's on you.

It is not his best, but it is a mellow Springsteen album that does bits and shows greatness. A super American album and tides well.

HL: title track, “Badlands”, “Racing in the Street”, “The Promised Land” Bruce Springsteen no. 5!

[4]

4 stars

The classic earnest rock and roll sound of Bruce Springsteen during this golden 70s period. I am more familiar with Born to Run so it’s nice to explore his other songs.

Wonderful Springsteen. Darker, broody, powerful.

my favorite album from all of his discography.

Badlands Adam Raised a Cain Candy's Room Racing In The Street (quiet piano piece) The Promised Land Darkness on.the Edge of Town

First? 3/5 Again? 4/5

Definitely a top 3 Bruce album.