Darkness on the Edge of Town

Usual dull drivel from the "Boss". The River Detectives version of Factory is much better as well.

Wow. Blew me away

I just find it difficult to get into mostly because of the singing

Love me some Bruce!

It was okay, not to the same level as Born to Run.

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.

Gotta say, not in to Bruce.

Hard to understand him

Hmm. It’s alright

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

Excellent album! It’s the Boss!

WHAAAATTT??!! when i listened to springsteen a couple weeks ago and said id listen to it again i WAS NOT LYING! is one hell of a good album what the heck. seriously, id never thought id enjoy bruce springsteen before i started with this web but now ive found that i love it. all the songs were my favorite, istg, though maybe i would highlight Streets of Fire because OMG, i had goosebumps; the guitar solo??? nah, perfect. definitely would listen again. ily bruce springsteen!!!

J - 2/5 Best Track - "Badlands" F - 1/5

One of the best…..especially the title track

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.”

Is it possible for a Springsteen album to be underrated? Especially an early one? This album doesn't have any of his biggest early hits (e.g. Born to Run, Thunder Road, etc.) but is a masterful example of storytelling, catchy songs and great production. I'll admit I haven't given this album a lot of listens, but that may have to change.

How disappointing. Is this here solely as a comparison? Letting people know how dog shit a Springsteen album can sound so we appreciate the really good ones?

Bedre enn jeg trodde. Likte den.

The best ever, even moreso than I thought

Classic

I like his music and this is a good album. I saw him in concert a few years ago. He puts on a great show and his band can't be beat. That being said, this particular album did not rock my world.

You can’t do this to me. Oh wait, that’s literally the whole idea of this. I am sitting in an airport, trying to reach the promised land of the maritimes, and my accompanying soundtrack? Bruce fucking Springsteen. The worst “artist” to ever hire somebody to put pen to paper. Let’s see what tripe that the cosplay prophet of the working man has cooked up this week. I’m sure it’ll be a nonstop thrill ride. Badlands - If I wasn’t on the verge of tears, I’d be crying laughing. I can’t even figure out how to make fun of him. This singing is horrible. When I say horrible, I mean truly atrocious. Imagine the worst singer you’ve ever heard, and imagine that everybody else says they’re really good. You get gaslit into the loony bin. This song needs to be institutionalized and kept away from polite society. From the awful vocals, to the disgustingly bad horns, to the 4 minute song length that seemed like 10; this is yet another Springsteen disasterclass. Adam Raised a Cain - Whoa. A decent opening? That can’t be right. Just wait until the vocals come in. There we go. Back down to earth in a pile of smouldering rubble. The guitar tone on the solo is good here. Would be excellent behind anybody else. The riff itself is bad. Shocking. Something in the Night - He got you. He got all of you. You think a competent, serious singer leaves these first notes in the final mix? It’s not bad in a charming way. It literally couldn’t be worse. I am in hell. Candy’s Room - Oh good. This shouldn’t be creepy. UHHH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH. This is like if Butthead (of Beavis & Butthead fame) wasn’t funny and was also a pedophile. Racing in the Street - BOOOOOOOO. WEEEEEELLLL I’ve got an 08 civic without power locks and I’m sitting in front of Irving. I’ve got a 79 cent polar pop and I’m headed to Pleasant Street. Hey Bruce, if giving up living would’ve prevented you from releasing this song, I’d fund a mission to go back in time and save us all from this. This song is the perfect sound track to listen to while you fill a burlap sack with rotting fruit. Start pelting the Sopranos guy, and Bruce shall fall. My mouth is agape. I can’t believe how bad this song is. Has anybody else heard this? Who is this for? Harley Davidson guys? That earth shattering metronome breakdown at about 5:30 (!!) is really skyrocketing this song to the moon. The Promised Land - More dumbass car lyrics. “Well my car’s got an engine and I think about the exhaust pipe in a sexual fashion.” That rhymes right? “I took my daddy’s car and I pretend to be a rebel, but I’ll have it back by 9, I’m really on the level.” Man. The poet of the streets. Imagine the lyrics I wrote followed by a harmonica riff (emphasis on harm) and a honky took saxophone solo. If that’s what you like, firstly, get a CAT scan, and secondly, this may really be your “promised land.” Factory - Cut right to the point. Oooohhhh I’m pretending to be blue collar so I can sell records to you braindead hicks oooohhhh. I’ve definitely heard of a factory ohohohoho. If he really is blue collar, there is no hint of emotion to tell me that this comes from a real place. This is textbook pandering to the people who defend billionaires online in 2025. Streets of Fire - Purify my ear canals in fire. JESUS CHRIST. What the hell is this caterwauling? Over what? Where was this passion in the “oh my daddy walks to work in the rain… just like you! And you can be a working class hero too if you buy my LP, in stores this June!” Prove It All Night - Two songs to go. I can do this. We’re working hard with dirty hands and driving dusty roads. Driving Dusty Rhodes would be cooler. It’s the American dream baby talking to ya from the backseat of my limo. You wanna talk about hard times, daddy, hard times is when you listen to U2 and Bruce Springsteen in the same week. Hard times, is when you’re sitting in an airport terminal and the desk agent says “sorry you missed your flight” because you couldn’t hear last call over the strains of the worst singer to ever exist. THAT’S hard times. Now take me to the super dome baby. I’ve got a show to main event. Darkness On the Edge of Town - Man. Between the streets of fire and the darkness on the edge of town, where will Bruce drive his Dad’s ‘74 Pinto or whatever? This is an album that perfectly encapsulates failure. Every attempt to be relatable was dead on arrival. Every car reference was as see through and dimwitted as the next. Every desperate grasp to paint himself as a cool, adult high schooler, failed. The only thing this album does successfully in my eyes, is capture what “cool” is to the most average, nothing happening people on planet earth and distill it into a nauseating slab of garbage that is for sale to every car company and convenience store in the world’s worst country. I hate this. I hate Bruce Springsteen. Music for people with sub 90 IQs who smell like gasoline. 0 HIGHLIGHTS: Hatred

Good tunes. Put his heart into in.

Bruce Springsteen should be an easy, patriotic 5, even though I've been to US only once in my life. Great music, great personality, superb voice.

This album exemplifies what I consider to be Springsteen’s sound. He has two types of songs, rockers and ballads and this album definitely has both. I’d probably reserve this one for a long road trip across nondescript middle America. Favorite tracks: Something in the Night, Racing in the Streets, Darkness On the Edge of Town

The boss

I'm not a huge Brucey fan. Some good songs on here.

Never was a big fan of Bruce Springsteen’s (voice)… but I like the production of the songs here

Perfection.

Last year on my birthday I unwrapped Killing Joke by Killing Joke, which was not exactly the most uplifting soundtrack for the day. This year I struck gold with one of my all time favourite albums, Darkness on the Edge of Town by my hero Bruce Springsteen. Before even getting into it, this is an easy five out of five. It is a towering follow up to Born to Run, and you can hear the weight of those three years in every note. The sound is leaner, tougher and more focused. The romance is still there, but now it is hardened by reality. There is not a single weak moment. From the opening punch of Badlands to the stark emotion of the title track, every song feels essential. Prove It All Night and The Promised Land have always meant so much to me. They are two of his greatest songs and they never lose their power. This album is incredibly important to me. It feels honest, resilient and defiant. It is the sound of someone refusing to back down. Favourite song: Badlands. Not just because it is brilliant on the record, but because of what it represents live. When it kicks in during the final stretch of a show, you know you are in for something special. Least favourite: None. Every song belongs. Album artwork: Classic. The cover perfectly captures the gritty, introspective tone of the music within

It's dark but brilliantly crafted. Promised Land universally brilliant and Badlands a brilliant start to any album.

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

Eh

I feel like I'd enjoy this more if I'd got the hang of all the lyrics. Maybe I'll have another listen sometimes. It was ok. Felt like a bunch of Springsteen songs. Adam made a Cain though. Ooof. Great track. Reminded me more of nick cave. I'd love to hear Bruce doing an album of that style of stuff. It sounded like the saxophone had smoked 20 packs a day. I feel like all the favour the Cain song gained was lost again with a gristly sax solo. Like I said, I'll try again one day.

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

Bruce is for the working man. It's sweaty, trying, and tired, but still feels like a beer at the end of the day.

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

Honestly, this is a very boring album. Like i get the appeal but it's just not my thing.

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.

Who likes this trash? Every song tries so hard to be a ballad and they all fall flat.

I very much liked this album, A few good boppers

I liked it but wasn’t my favorite

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.

Bruce being Bruce. Lot of underplayed bangers on here. Racing in the street my personal fav. *edit* had to edit and upgrade to 5 stars. Been listening non stop for 3 days.

On the cover I first thought it was Bob Dylan, but the voice obviously wasn't his. This is nice to listen to, but doesn't do more for me than that.

Very good

Confession time: I think Bruce Springsteen's voice is terrible. There, I said it publicly. He can write some great songs, but listening to him sing them is painful to me. I couldn't make my way through the album. Great song writer, terrible singer. I know that's an unpopular opinion, and he's an American icon...but man I just can't get behind it. Will not give this one another go.

I've never been a fan, and while this album has a few songs I recognize, I still wouldn't give it another listen.

Classic Boss.

Imagine my surprise when I found there actually were lyrics for each track.

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

Cool as hell

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

The Boss is good.

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.

This was alright, but nothing especially memorable to me.

Songs for the working class..... joy, desperation.... trapped but with some glitter of magic

It seems a lot of people love Bruce Springsteen, and I can see why. I will admit, musically, it's good. It's actually very good. It's just such a shame that Springsteen's vocals are so grating. Like, they really got on my nerves. He sounds as if he's drunk or really tired, like managing to get the words out is almost a chore or painful to him, so he moves his mouth as little as possible and what comes out is just mumbly warbles. His diction is terrible. Some tracks sound better than others but overall it's not enjoyable. I had to go back to his most popular tracks to see if he was this bad all the time. 'Dancing In The Dark'? Fine. 'Born In The U.S.A.'? Very shouty but pretty okay. 'Streets Of Philadelphia'? Lovely song. To be fair 'Born To Run' is much like this album's opener 'Badlands'. Very over the top, like when a cartoon character is about to fall and let's out an exaggerated 'woooooahhhhhh'. Anyway, back to this album. The only track where I think Bruce sounds good is 'Adam Raised A Cain'. It's a proper dirty hard rock track and his raspy blown out vocals really suit it, especially when shouting out the chorus. I actually like it a lot! 'Streets Of Fire' is also a good track. If the music was accompanied by someone who can sing, the album would be really good.

Not a fan of the vocals

I’m not sure if Bruce Springsteen is for me. This is my second Bruce album and I just wasn’t feeling it but I can see why people dig him and his music. I didn’t finish this album because there is something about his vocal quality and pitch that really bothers me. But I would give this album another chance and recommend it to others!

Not the best but okey to listen to. Easy listened rock.

Just as wonderful as I remembered. An American anthology of love, life, loss …. Still resonates almost 50 years later.

Look, Springsteen has a vibe and his lyrics are dope, but I truly just never feel like I have the vibe he has. At some point in my life I'm sure I'll get that vibe, and all these albums will be fives, but they're not right now? Still, eminently listenable, can always throw on.

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.

ITS FACTORY FOR MEEEEEE. TOOK A MIN TO LISTEN TO. NGL EVEN THOUGH IT WASNT ALL FOR ME I ENJOYED DRAWING TO IT

hoje eu to meio azedo e escutei muito álbum ruim esse não facilitou. VEREDITO: É RUIM, ASSIM COMO TODA A DISCOGRAFIA DO SPRINGSTEEN

acho que to ficando mais suscetível ao dad rock eu achei esse melhor que o born in the u.s.a. mais dançável e bobim!!! mas ainda meia boca ao extremo

Good album, very Springsteen all about the working class, lots of sax. Not a personal taste, but he seems to be telling a story that is important.

It’s really not difficult: clearly Springsteen’s best album from the early canon. It doesn’t have the great single numbers that Born to Run has, but as a piece of work it holds together perfectly. One of my favourite albums. Just about perfect.

Good

I liked this album a little more than Born in the USA. Great songwriting

„Streets of fire“ will always be my favourite Springsteen song. But this record offers much more. Absolute classic!

I think this is one of those “you just had to be there” albums. I don’t recognize this country as a place with stable factory jobs and where hard honest work is rewarded with a living wage and a pension. Idk why he’s so angry that sounds pretty nice to me

not beating the best artist ever allegations....the way bruce writes and arranges songs is one of the most comforting things ever to me, it makes me feel the new jersey blood SOmewhere in my veins from my dad's side. of bruce's classic albums this is the hardest, most focused, sharpest, and hit-between-the-eyes ..the ornate and lavish quality of his earlier records is scaled down in width but not height, its all transferred to just going hard. even the big ballady tracks have this tighter sharper edge to them. just wonderful, pure melty comfort for me, i gotta do a full bruce dive. clarence clemons manages more in a four bar solo than almost anyone else in any other measure of time

I tried I’m just not a fan

Raw Boss. Great song writing and music.

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

The generator knows I've never fully opened my heart to Bruce Springsteen. As beautiful as his lyrics are I still really struggle with his long ballads. The faster stuff on this album is really really good though.

Classic Bruce. Smooth rock

Bruce is a brilliant songwriter but that's where it ends. His voice is annoying. I wish he would just write for others and keep it at that. I am sure he is a great human being but like Neil Young, I would rather hear a cow caught in a hail storm.

BRUUUUUUUUUUUCE doin his Bruce thing. Doesn't get me fist-pumping. But I dig it well enough.

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

Favorite: Racing in the Street Least Favorite: Adam Raised a Cain

Dad- 9 Mom- 8 Mike- NA Lori- 4 Michael- 8,5 Miles- 5 Cole- 5 Avg- 6.58

just fantastic

Take all the lovely romanticism, hope and freedom of Born to Run, punch it in the gut with a fist of sad reality, then slather it in some of the most anthemic choruses ever recorded, as well as some of the most searing guitar solos shredded, and you end up with this album. This is my favourite album of his, and Badlands is my personal favourite Bruce song so it was never going to get anything less than the full 5 stars, but there's truly not a bad song here in my opinion.

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

Mmmm it's ok but not my tempo

Not feeling it, really. Feels weak compared to basically everything else he has composed.

- Every song on this record (and like 90% of all Springsteen): I am a sad dude stuck in my underappreciated blue-collar job. I have a girl who is as depressed as me. We talk about leaving town. We don't. I spend all my free time driving my car. - He does one thing...but he does it well. - "Something in the Night" is legitimately great. Boy, can Bruce wail.

5/5 Calloused-Hand Ballads This isn’t the Born to Run romantic. This is Bruce after the dream cracked a little. After courtroom battles, isolation, and real life creeping in. And somehow— it’s more powerful.

Dit is echt geweldig. Ik kende al een paar nummers, maar eigenlijk is het hele album gewoon geweldig

After being told about how great Springsteen is my whole life my expectations were high this missed the mark pretty forgettable album nothing particularly special about this

Typischer Springsteen-Rock. Gut zu hören, aber nicht mein Lieblings-Sänger. 3/5

Promised land the stand out track overall very enjoyable listen

Bruce, Bruce, Bruce... Beste man kan een telefoonboek voorlezen en ik zou het nog steeds luisteren. Heerlijke stem heeft ie. Maar toch he, wil ik het even hebben over dit album. Het raakt me gewoon niet zo? Ik heb het idee dat zn stem op andere albums een stuk sterker is en meer centraal staat? Hier valt het toch een beetje weg op de, niet al te spannende, productie. Ja er staat mondharmonica op, en die gaat lekker hard, maar toch... Het voelt voor mij een beetje alsof dit album een tussenalbum is. Het album tussen Born to run en Born in the U.S.A. Vooral die laatste klinkt zoveel verfijnder en beter dat ik me niet helemaal er aan kan ontrekken dat dit album niet zo nodig was. FAVO: Promised Land, Prove it all night,

2/5

Isn't much better than a little Brucey bonus to start your week off. Consistency like few others.

not really my thing

4,6/5

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 genius never misses. So incredible he’s almost infuriating!

Springsteen sounds like he wants to be hard rock and jangly piano tune Bob Dylan at the same time. I personally don’t really think it works.

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

Not a Springsteen guy

Meh

Didn’t hate it as much as I thought I would!

I didn’t love this

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

Forgettable, nothing notable or stand-out.

This was just ok for me. Not very memorable. I might give it another try down the road. 2.5/5

Gotta admit I actually like some Springsteen now. This album was good, not great. I suspect I won't like the stuff after Born in the USA (really don't like that one), but everything before is pretty good, actually, this one included. 3.49/5

c: the promised land

Typical Bruce album. Epic tune and a bunch of stuff that is kinda similar. All good, just relentlessly Bruce.

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

Didn't like this album. The only song I enjoyed was Badlands. 1 Star

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.

liked adam raised a cain, something in the night, darkness on the edge of town, the promised land, and my favorite was streets of fire, very polished album, not my favorite, wont listen to the full album again, great lyrics, but not really that relateable to me.

The boss, great album!

8/10.

Bruce never disappoints

While I can see that The Boss is maturing as a songwriter on this album, I found his vocals (which were often mumbled) to be a distraction on an otherwise good album. The best three songs on the album were the three released as singles: "Prove It All Night", "Badlands", and "The Promised Land". I know this will be a blasphemy to some, but I feel like Bruce Springsteen is overrated.

5 Stars (14/15)

Blind album, know the artist. Holy crap some songs blew my absolute freaking mind on this album, especially the Promised Land. This album, had so many hits that had so much emotion behind it. I love the instrumentals, I love the harmonies, the chord progressions, the lead ins. It's rudimentary and standard but it hits so hard and packs a punch I never hear anymore.

Right off the bat, I can say this project is way better than the last Bruce Springsteen album that this list gave me (The Rising). Plus, musically I enjoyed it but once again I come to the same problem with Bruce. This is an entirely personal and subjective opinion, but I don’t care for his voice at all and I find the man to be incredibly preachy. The good news for this album is that it’s not quite as preachy as his other work. And as always I appreciate that his point of view on a lot of these songs are not what they appear to be. Much like how dumb republicans think “Born in the USA” glorifies America, I could easily see those same people listening to “Factory” and thinking to themselves “yah factory jobs! That’s what we need, bring those back!” So I can appreciate the album for that, but honestly it’s just not for me. Politically, Bruce seems like an intelligent and compassionate person, but I just don’t really like his music. To be fair I tried.

Springsteen is probably my least favorite artist on this list, maybe second to JAY-Z. There's something sickening about it music, I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the sentimentality or the pandering to American values. I find it offensive.

Never really felt Springsteen. IDK something about him has never really connected with me. Maybe I live too far away from New Jersey or something. 4/10

Good

I did not use a private session for Spotify. I was trying to view the album from a guy who grew up in an industrial town, looking forward to get out, though I still couldn't relate that well.

I fixed a blown head gasket to this album. Seems appropriate. An absolute classic.

I really just don't get Bruce. This album was an order of magnitude better than Born in the USA as the music had some more dynamics to it this time. Largely, however, the slow rock ballads are all pretty boring to me. I was clicking through the album a second time to pick a song for my list and each time one started, I was intrigued, just to want to move on by the end of the first chorus. Something in the night comes to mind, such a beautiful opening that fades away to me. It's a shame because this is probably the first mainstream artist on this list I just can't really appreciate. If I'm picking a favorite, it's probably Factory because thematically it's very strong as a blue collar anthem.

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

Bruce doing as Bruce does.

Solid

This was exactly what I expected it to be, but very solid at that. Rating: 3.5

Very, very American. Not the very interesting... but did not actively dislike either.

Solid 3, probably wouldn't listen again

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.

Cool old bloke. Saw him live and hes still got it. Essentially 1 song tho

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

5/10…heartland rock / singer-songwriter

Interesting story behind this one

Some decent tunes but a little rambling and intensely USA for my taste

I just kind of don't love The Boss. I really don't like his singing voice. Like at all. The music is good but not mind blowing. The lyrics are okay. Just solidly mid for me.

Brilliant exact opposite of "The Rising"

not to be anymore of a cringe ass nerd, but Hideo Kojima laid out the themes for the first three Metal Gear Solid games as "gene", "meme", and "scene" respectively. Bruce Springsteen loves one of those themes, and it's scene, scene, scene. he survives off of imagery, a painting shot straight at your head like a bullet spiraling from a rifle. it's direct, romantic, and colorful. fire roads, badlands, Cain and Abel. it's not Dylan, but it IS Shakespeare, if you get me. of course, since it is Shakespeare, the person performing it needs to respect the material. you can't just be some yahoo covering "The Promised Land" with your terrible jam band Sunday night at the Drunken Monkey. even then, you've gotta deal with the fact that nobody's gonna be as good at performing it as Bruce is. there's a reason he's such a successful performer - he's 75 and still performing like a madman for thousands a day. he's earnest, he's powerful, and he makes a scene. it's all about scene.

Huh, Bruce Springsteen used to be young?

2/5

It’s good and is exactly what you think about when you hear Bruce Springsteen. I wouldn’t say it’s exceptional, but I liked it.

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.

Landmark record, great songs and lyrics. Memorable to the point of a few listens and makes its point across with lyrics and good music all throughout.

330/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

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!

I don't think we talk about how hard Adam Raised A Cain goes. Goddamn.

Painfully average. This was going to be a 2, but I do appreciate the extensive rock sax, so it gets bumped up a notch.

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

Great bass lines, good sound, good songs, just not entirely my thing.

really great album, 3.5 stars. Despite not knowing many of these songs, it felt like a really consistent album

I preferred this Springsteen album to Both to Run but I am still very much not a fan, so giving it a 2. Adam Raised A Cain was the best track of the lot

It was alright, I think it was about the same as Born To Run but I don't think I'll rush to listen to it again

Best Bruce I've heard

Darkness on the Edge of Town is the album where everything Springsteen is about comes together for me. The grandiose instrumentation, the quieter moments and the uniquely commercialized social realism. 'Racing in the Street' is a deserving centerpiece on the record, and might just be one of the greatest American songs ever.

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.

It's Bruce. Bruce isn't good.

sounds like the soundtrack to "MAGA - the movie"

Brilliant album. I had always dismissed Springsteen but after two albums of his I am changing my mind.

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.

Great production value. Not my favorite voice on an artist, but I can see where he became an American sensation. "Heartland Rock" as a genre makes sense. Really not for me, but not a bad artist. I can respect the quality, and the appeal, but this is a personal 2.

Respect the man, don't like his music.

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

Good. Surprisingly bland.

8/10

I didn’t like a single song on this album

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

I would definitely like his music more if his voice was different. He definitely has an overall Americana feel to his music’s instrumentals.

5/1001 I never understood the appeal of “The Boss.” Nothing about any of his music is special to me. His voice is remarkably awkward. The band is solid but nothing stands out as great. The lyrics are simple and basic. 45 minute album seemed like one long draw out song - each song sounds borderline indistinguishable from the last. There’s nothing terrible about this album, but there’s also nothing good.

75-84 is IMO Springsteen's best vintage. I know this omits Tunnel of Love, but........get rekt. I said what I said. Five solid albums in nine years is incredible. The records from this era come across as truly authentic to his time and place and that resonates with me. This one in particular also has a bit of "rawness" to it that I dig. A product of a troubled production perhaps. Regardless, the vibe is solid.

Cliche americana, corny piano rock, cheesy sax solos, a big anthemic sound rises and falls over mid-tempo beats - not a promising recipe, but it works. Despite his limited range and wierd stuffy-nose timbre, the raw energy in his voice cuts through and gives this a compelling charisma that draws you in to the stories and mood of the album. Opens strong but drags in the middle.

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.

Aaaaand back to Boring Bruce. Remember what I said earlier? The interesting thing with 1001albums is that there are artists that are way too represented in the selection, so you can stop bothering about reviews and just copy/paste what you wrote previously. I still don't like this kind of generic, very American pop-rock.

God pop rock, karakteristisk stemme, storytelling

A hear a little bit. It Was ok.

Pretty good overall

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.

B-puoli kuulostaa samalta biisiltä yhä uudestaan ja uudestaan. A-puoli alkaa meiningillä, josta pidän. Kiva Jess-viba kannessa.

Tällä levyllä hän antaa mahtipontisuutensa virrata valtoimenaan, mikä ei estä hyvien kappaleiden syntyä, paitsi joskus ehkä estää - eivätkä kaikki näistä ole huippukappaleita. Badlands on silti guilty pleasure -hyppely, ja muutama muukin on keskivertoa parempaa rokkia. Mahdollinen yllätyssuosikki Factory on kaikessa simplistisyydessään, naiiviudessaankin maaliin osunut variaatio.

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

frank sobotka core

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.

Not for me

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.

This album kicks ass. I love his voice - even though it's rough around the edges. One thing about Springsteen is that his lyrics are so honest and illustrative of the working class experience. There are some really hard-hitting tracks, and powerful moments in his vocal delivery and the instrumental/production. I especially love the softer moments on this album, particularly on "Racing In The Street". I am also just a sucker for a good piano-rock ballad. Genuinely, I think this would be one of my favorite albums if I had been born in this era. It's just so iconic-sounding. 5/5

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

Very Bruce. Less mumbly than Born To Run.

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

Leuk album! Veel afwisseling.

Saai

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

Fucking class

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.

This has been a classic since I was 16 and it's part of my Top100 list. Bursting with energy. Not a single weak track. More structured and focused than it's predecessor „Born to Run“. Love it.

The Boss!

Bruce Springsteen is such a classic artist, though not as good as born to run. Solid but not the bessttt of his

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.

Bleak but compelling. Makes me question whether I should have given five stars to some other albums, which aren't as good as this one.

Ethel Cain outdid. There's not really any relation between her and this guy, I just wanted to mention.

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

Favourite Tracks: Badlands, Prove It All Night, Racing in the Street Honourable Mentions: Adam Raised a Cain, Streets of Fire A KISS TO PROVE IT ALLLLL NIGHT, PROVE IT ALLLLL NIGHT This album is so good. Its the perfect blend of classic rock anthems and moving ballads, a go-to album to put on for any road trip. It’s a coming of age album about ambition, disillusionment, anger, desperation, with a few glimmers of hope; released 3 years after legal proceedings that prevented him from putting out music. Every song on this album is somebody's favourite song. Will absolutely be buying this on vinyl. Badlands is such a classic, what a banger opening. Addicted to the riff in Adam Raised a Cain. Love how dynamic Candy's Room is, the drums provide such great energy. Racing in the Street brings me to tears with the slow build-up and themes of broken dreams. Prove It All Night makes me want to rip it down the highway with all my windows down, singing at the top of my lungs. Fun Fact: Every song on Side A has a counterpart on Side B either in sound or theme!

[4]

Can't stand his music

really struggled to get through. I tried, honestly, but after numerous corny ballads I just couldn't do it anymore

First album I listened to twice the way through. Bruce is like country music for liberals. Fuck, I want to drag race my hotrod so I can support my baby.

4 stars

Me ganhou

yeah no doubt that this is the boss' best work. Darkness on the edge of town is the moon to what is the born to run sun. Darkness just captures the raw and the emotional that Bruce Springsteen excells at, the lyrics are top notch, the music is perfectly complementary and the intro's and outro's are just breathtaking. This is peak performance and it is there for everyone to pick up. Favorite song: racing in the street. Overall score: 9.6/10

The album is fine. I don't pay much attention to the lyrics and the music is just OK. The bookend tracks are a bit better ("Badlands" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town") but not close to a 4.

I just have a Springsteen-sized soul hole. His music just fails to move me 95% of the time. Not bad, just nothing that sticks with me. Maybe he does that moaning bellow thing. Maybe a sax or harmonica plays. I promptly forget either way.

Some of these are great (Badlands, Adam Raised a Cain) and some really show off the limitations of Bruce's singing (Something in the Night.) The storytelling of his lyrics is, as always, really great - but ultimately repeated listens didn't make much of this stick.

Right up there with his very best.

Ga meg ingenting

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.

This is the worst Bruce Springsteen album I've heard. There are redeeming qualities, but it lacks the charm of his other work. How does he sound 70 years old in his 20s? Best Songs: Racing in the Street Worst Songs: Badlands, Something in the Night, Prove It All Night

Wonderful Springsteen. Darker, broody, powerful.

Banat’s a dick

my favorite album from all of his discography.

My favorite Boss album

3 stars

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

This motherfucker is slurring worse than late-era Elvis. No thanks.

Boss

4.5 - This is a great album and some parts you get such a raw emotion. I think having the e street band really amplifies bruce but not sure if it's always good. Small criticism but still a fantastic album

Bruce doesn't do much for me. I just struggled to engage with this. 3/5

This marks #4 from Springsteen on this list for me. Surely Born to Run and Born in the USA would have been enough? Maybe I'm just grumpy. Springsteen seems like a super cool dude in general, I just don't really like his music. It's not that I don't like it, I guess it's more just indifference. I do really like his voice, I just would never choose to listen to an album of his. This one, same as the rest. 2.5/5, and I guess I'll round up?

First? 3/5 Again? 4/5

I didn't like it

I didn't think i was going to like springsteen, but a few of these are great songs

Zelfs z'n betere albums (zo classificeer ik 'Darkness on the Edge of Town') zijn voor mij een constant geworstel tussen aan de ene kant zijn charismatische persona en pakkende 'small-town USA' vertelwijze, en de andere kant dat dit allemaal net iets over de top is. Het is eigenlijk hetgeen waar ik altijd over heen val bij zijn muziek: de grandioze doch overbodige (tenminste, als je thuis aan het luisteren bent en niet in een overvolle arena in New Jersey) explosies van instrumenten vallen niet altijd heel lekker bij mij. Het klinkt voor mij soms wel echt te veel als de feestband van Guus Meeuwis, hoe raar die vergelijking ook lijkt. Echter is de stem van Bruce - die vaak een struikelblokje is bij andere platen van hem - wel on point bij sommige songs op dit album, zoals de titelsong. De 'Tom Waits growl' lijkt soms niet heel ver weg, en brengt wat 'pure' energie te midden van de weinig originele crescendos. Een album van Bruce Springsteen is altijd net iets te veel Bruce Springsteen om echt helemaal overtuigd te zijn, maar deze doet het op die schaal wel aardig. En 'Racing in the Street' is hands down z'n mooiste compositie. 7/10 Highlights: Racing in the Street Streets of Fire Darkness On the Edge of Town

Met Eliminator van ZZ Top in het vooruitzicht ben ik blij dat ik wat albums in te halen heb. Plaatje van Bruce erop dan maar. Als er zoiets bestaat als Amerikaanse volksmuziek, dan is (misschien buiten de country gerekend) Bruce misschien wel de belichaming daarvan. Daarom gaat de vergelijking met Meeuwis ook wel op denk ik. Met Bruce is het altijd een thin line, soms raak in de roos, soms in de irritatie. Die sax solo's kunnen ook helemaal verkeerd schieten. Op deze plaat doet Bruce vooral veel moois, maar voelt het ook wat ingehouden. Misschien zelfs voorzichtig, dat komt tegen goede aan de composities, maar maakt niet alles even spetterend. Ik knijp dan ook in mijn handjes dat de 80's nog niet waren aangebroken, dan was dit cringe geworden (bijv Factory, nu ook al dieptepuntje). Het rockt en swingt niet (misschien alleen Badlands maar is ook wel weer sterk. Dan kom je op een ... 7/10 Highlights Badlands Racing in the Street Darkness on the Edge of Town.

not my kind of music but i did really like some tracks. candy’s room was 🔥. so was streets of fire!

Definitely a top 3 Bruce album.

Really good so far. Badlands started off a little cheesy but the album picked up really quickly. The piano and the soulful riffs on Something in the Night slap hard. It just keeps hitting this is a really good album.

Ah ouais mais Springsteen c'est nul en fait.

Terrible vocals

Unremarkable

My third Springsteen album on the list, and it probably lies somewhere between the other two (Born To Run and Born In The USA) in terms of how much I enjoyed it. Although the tracks weren't as well known, to me at least, they were really well-crafted.

I like a handful of Bruce songs. None on this album though, no thank you.

Music isn't bad, but that's because it can't afford to be. Bruce Springsteen's vocals over trash instrumentals is a one-way ticket to being trash.

Weird melodramatic singing. Pretty generic rock generally. Not Bruce's best.

4 - didn’t realize who it was till a little bit in, this album has some good tracks with the beat and energy but lacks consistency and the lyrics to take it all the way

Bruce springsteen the best thing to come out of the us

You can always count on The Boss to give us some well-written, well-played tunes. Can't go wrong with some Springsteen in your ears!

Solid

Nice album with Bruce's classic sonority, tons of piano and strings arrangements.

It’s an alright album. Very much a classic Springsteen, some fun upbeat tunes and some slow down ones as well. Doesn’t quite have the hits that some of his other albums have. 3/5 Might listen again

Pretty good.

who gives a shit

My fourth Springsteen album on this list. How many do you need? As the last 2 that I received were decidedly sub par I wasn't looking forward to this one. I had never heard any of the songs on this album before, yet they're the type of songs that sound like you already know them. He sings with passion but without enunciation. Nothing truly exciting here.

I still don't dig on Bruce. It's not as bad as his later hits where he's straining to get the music out. It's just him talking about how hard life is in Jersey, but it's hard everywhere, man.

Fantastic album. I always struggled to get into Springsteen but this album did it for me. I'll definitely be relistening to this

Good

Sleepytime 70's rock being sung by your drunk uncle at karaoke. He'll drive home later in his and Rob Collins himself and your last memory will be how his voice was completely identical as the drunken rambling of Springsteen on Badlands or Something in the Night. This cunt cannot sing for his fucking life. Is English Bruce Springsteen's second language or does he have a cleft palate or something? I genuinely couldn't understand a fucking word this rat looking motherfucker had to say. The only songs on this record I could make out what he was singing (which was far and few) were okay, but they felt so meticulously generic of 70's radio rock that I wouldn't even know it was Springsteen, let along come back for a second listen. The only song where he was coherent was Streets of Fire (which I will touch on in a moment) - the only solidly good song on this album. Leaving aside Springsteen's tenuous grasp on communicating in English, the musicianship isn't half bad. The pianos play well, there's some mean guitar solos, and the drums have a nice reverb to them. Genuinely, the guitar solos on this go so hard it probably saves my review from a 1. Somehow the best guitar solo on the album, Streets of Fire, has the lowest stream ratings on Spotify - also despite being probably the best song on the album. Still better than his 9/11 album, whatever the fuck that was called, (it's somewhere in my Lowest Rated Albums list) but that's like saying stepping in dogshit is better than stepping in horseshit. At least the dogshit (Darkness OTET in this case) is dry & stinky versus wet, offensively bad, and day ruining.

If the energy of albums like Born to Run or Born in the USA (or god forbid the weirdness of The Rising) hook you on the idea of an absurd sense of patriotism, Darkness on the Edge of town feels more like a gritty reminder of what that ‘dream’ really entails. In a way an album feels more comforting, I feel as though instead of opting towards the ‘eat your vitamins and say your prayers like a good hulkamaniac’ this comes from a much more understanding mindset of knowing that the road ahead in life will be tough but worthwhile in the end. While I can agree Springsteens most enjoyable songs come from his more poppier albums, I wouldn’t have minded if he had a few more albums that were congruent with this one.

I have never cared for Bruce Springsteen. At a surface level he is turboburger tribute to da troops patriot slop music, and you would be forgiven for thinking that if your only knowledge of his music came from his lead paint eating geriatric fan base and the three or so hits that still get a run on the radio, or if the only full album of his you had listened to was his absolute shithouse 9/11 tribute album. The deeper cuts from this are quite enjoyable, and though I can’t say I’m a big fan of the boss’ vocal stylings, his band is stellar. An incredibly easy listen from an artist I dreaded being assigned.

Damn, lowest common denominator Tom Waits goes crazy 8/10

Getting The Rising as my first and only Springsteen album before this is proof that whoever runs this website has a great sense of humour. Whereas The Rising was a concept album about how 9/11 happened and the CIA Culture Club division instructed Springsteen to go the way of Country and Western Jingoism, Darkness on the Edge of Town is an album where the concept is being poor and desperate, summarised best by a line in the first song on the album: 'You spend your life waiting for a moment that just don't come'. Despite the overt tones of how grim life can be, the album has a strong message of perseverance. The Boss has a way with words and the E Street Band are top class outfit. Not a whole lot to say about this album that he doesn't say himself in the lyrics. Side A is a little better than Side B but this is peak Springsteen. Very much looking forward to getting more. Highlight: The whole thing

Count them. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Five Stars of Course.

Оригинал песни Livin' On A Prayer, вайб Dire Straits и остальные 8 треков Альбом Darkness on the Edge of Town можно описать примерно так: смесь крутости главных хитов Dire Straits, интересный интсрументал в духе Стинга (но в менее джазовом исполнении) и невероятная яркость и громкость музыки, приправленная сеттингом похожих рок песен рубежа десятилетий. Для меня весь сок альбома хранится в первых двух треках, которые делят 10 треков на совсем не равные части: в первом треке показана яркость и громкость, во втором - крутость и пафос, а последующие показались мне однотипно спокойными относительно первых двух жемчужин, поэтому из хорошего могу сказать только про первые треки. К слову, заглавный трек Badlands уж очень сильно мне напоминает песню Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer, которая вышла через 8(!!!) лет после выпуска альбома Брюса Спрингстина и стала более известным хитом (в интернете о плагиате никакой информации я не нашел, что весьма удивляет). Вторая композиция с альбома мой любимчик, так как своим основным гитарным рифом заставляет испытать настоящий кайф от прослушивания. Отдельно хочу отметить, что у данного исполнителя есть отличные лайв версии данных треков, настоящих рокеров эта черта и отличает от других. Но большим меня этот альбом не зацепил, поэтому выше тройки поставить не могу. За классный EP в начале 3/5.

Badlands, Racing in the Street, and Candy's Room make this a five star classic.

Boring

CLASSIC

I like Bruce Springsteen but I was previously only familiar with Badlands from this album. This is a good album but I prefer others of his more. I would listen to it again, but it would not be the first Springsteen album I would choose.

A pleasant surprise - is The Boss kind of… emo? Reminded me of the gaslight anthem a bit, and the whole ‘gotta get out of this town’ mentality is familiar and enjoyable. Not bad.

Quintessential Springsteen. Workingman blues with steady beats (thx Max), blaring sax solos, and lovely piano ballads.

Meh, dosadno, ali nije mi najgore što sam čula tu. Imam malo nostalgični vajb uvijek od njega, ali ovaj album mi je stvarno dosadnjikav. 2/5, 3/10.

I think I prefer the Bruce songs that have a bit more life. Apart from the first track here a lot of it is a bit of a snoozefest. Some nice tracks mixed in but overall not one to get too enthusiastic about.

I think I was expecting more from the boss. His vocals on this are awful, so I assume we will get better albums later on.

Dull. Next…

Great classic album from the boss. Lotsa epic songs on this one

Jeg har alltid hatet "Dancing In the Dark" og "Born In the USA" når de har spilt på radioen. Samtidig kjedelig og travle, med så streite rytmer som overhodet mulig. Ingenting på denne platen er i nærheten av like pinende. Det er ikke nødvendigvis noe galt med denne musikken. Men en smørsanger som synger at Chevyen hans venter på han utenfor seven-eleven treffer meg ikke, for å være helt ærlig. Springsteens musikk blir så komisk amerikansk som det går an. Jeg ser appellen, det blir bare helt midt på treet for min del.

i said it before and I'll say it again- get your fucking asses up and YEARN no one wants to yearn like this anymore!! this was another great album from Bruce, though a much darker tone than Born to Run (as the title would suggest lol). i did think some of the songs dragged a bit on the second half of the album but overall the songwriting, lyrics, production, and emotion was all top notch. this is another album that will be going into the rotation for sure.

Bruce Springsteen is very overhyped by Americans 3/5

81% Best: Adam Raised a Cain; The Promised Land; Prove It All Night; Darkness On the Edge of Town Must-Hear? Sure