Darkness on the Edge of Town

Just can't with the boss

Really enjoyed. Excellent. New favourite.

the instrumental is nice, but nothing transcendent, i'm a little bit bored. not my style, everything sounded the same to me and no lyrics really resonated with me

Had never listened to Springsteen, nor did I know who he was, so it was nice to have the chance to listen to someone/thing I truly didn't know anything about. The vocals aren't to my tastes though, and the album, as a whole, is a bit boring. I liked the slower songs best: Something in the Night, Racing in the Street, Streets of Fire. 2/5

This album is very good, for some reason it doesn’t hit me as much as some of his others. It does have some absolute bangers, but none of them stand out as much as some of the songs on other albums

i'm a sucker for springsteen but this isn't one of his top-tier for me

Am I done with him yet? Am I done? What is this now, like 5 albums...? They're all shit. All of them. I do understand why people like him. I'm sure they can tune into his dad-rock, gentle fist-pump slice of Americana. For me, it makes my whole body slump in boredom. I seriously don't like his voice. It sounds like he's smoked way, waaaay too much weed and he's trying to drag himself off the floor and sing at the same time. The music, everything, it's just mediocre across the board. The most consistently 2/5 artist of all time.

I mean it is good, but I am not a fan of Badlands and a few of the other songs. Still I would say a 3.5, not a 4 star album although could be close.

Gets better with age

Необычный для меня рок. Смесь рок-музыки и блюза, но блюз где-то фоном играет, а вокал придаёт большой бодрости композициям.

Must be pre-the boss. Miserable.

I don’t get why Bruce is so celebrated. Mostly sounds like mush mouth drunk karaoke.

Bruce Springsteen’s voice -1, “Badlands” +1, most overrated artist

His voice does nothing for me, just don’t enjoy his works. They feel like a slog to get through.

Not a Springsteen album I’d listened to before but some great tunes on this one

He was building the boss

Not the biggest Bruce fan but I do think this is the best of his early stuff.

Fav: Racing In The Street Least Fav: Candy’s Room I’m surprised at all the reviews here saying or implying he can’t sing, Springsteen’s voice is great!

★★★½

This felt like one long song

Sounds like Ben Folds.

Badlands

Meh. Not sure I get it

I used to not care for Bruce much. All I’d heard were the big hits and it always felt like it was too repetitive and droning, but two things changed my mind. First, I saw his Western Skies documentary and realized he was a thoughtful dude with a lot of soul and not the mindless patriotic wanker I thought he was. Second, I heard the song Racing in the Street from this album, which might be one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. From then on, I’ve been appreciating Bruce more and more. And I’m loving everything about this album. The guitar solos, the keys, the harmonica, the saxophone, and especially the lyrics. These are lyrics I don’t think I would’ve appreciated much when I was younger, but as life goes on, those themes of love, loss, redemption, and regret start to hit a little differently. Like on Something in the Night - there’s just something about the idea of getting in a car and running the road out, chasing something in the night, that has a little more depth the older you get. I think this is the kind of album you need to listen to twice. Once on some big speakers so you can just rock out and enjoy what’s going at the musical level. Then again on a good pair of headphones so you can really catch the lyrics and appreciate the intimacy of some of the quieter and more poignant moments. Not a perfect album (there are some misses), but definitely 5 stars. 5/5 Highlights: Adam Raised a Cain Something in the Night Racing in the Street The Promised Land Darkness on the Edge of Town

not really my thing i can see the appeal though

Not for me

He’s certainly got a lot to say here. Unfortunately, I can only understand about 40% of it. The passion is there though and the band is rockin. I especially enjoyed “The promised land” and “streets of fire”.

I have been getting banger after banger my goodness! My favorite Bruce record and it has been a while since I’ve given it a proper listen so I ran through the whole thing. It’s melancholic, and an authentic commiseration on the personal effects on the slow de-industrialization of the 1970. It staring down a bullet that you know is coming but it’s all you’ve know so you take it with as much hope as you can muster! Now Bruce is in top songwriting form and it holds some of his most wrenchingly unhinged vocal performances (though sometimes his vocals can be grating). Adam Raised a Cain is one of his heaviest most ferocious tunes ever and Promiseland is beautifully written and composed! Not huge fan of the Springsteen power ballads so there are a few low moments on the record, but the high points outweigh them by a mile. The death of heartland documented by one of its most potent bards.

I find this beloved, working-class hero so overrated. His lyrics are barely understandable. He sounds like he is heavily constipated and trying his hardest to 'knock one out'. The Boss, no thanks.

Not my thing - pretty boring. I accidentally left my phone connected to the car bluetooth in the bottom of my bag, and nearly had to listen to this album again - I chose silence and being with my own thoughts over listening to another round with Bruce.

A lot of mumbling periodically broken up by unimpressive guitar solos and unnecessary saxophone solos apparently makes up Heartland Rock.

Bruce is an icon and obviously a class guy. He captured the zeitgeist in the way only a very few people ever do. He is his own genre and I've loved reading other people's reviews talking about what Bruce means to them and New Jersey. His classic songs are American standards and familiar across the world. But I listened to the album and it didn't really grab me. The storytelling is fine, but I'm not in the American rust belt and it doesn't resonate. The voice isn't really very good and the music is pretty average with chugging guitars and a lack of hooks. I'm sure other people think I'm mad and wrong but it's not really great.

Exactly what I expected

i enjoyed this, had some bangers overall, most tracks have replay value, would listen again

An easy listen

The boss’ voice started to annoy me a fair amount after a whole album.

Not very convinced. The album mostly goes by. Not bad, but not exciting.

Perfect record

It never gets better. :|

Nunca vou entender o apelo desse cara

I had Bruce all kinds of F’d up. My bad Mr. Boss, I wasn’t familiar with your game.

very good

Good stuff—I’ve only ever really listened to hit singles and the brilliant Seeger Sessions, so was glad to explore earlier Springsteen.

I like this one better than the previous album 'The Rising' that I got. Fave song 'The Promised Land'. 3/5

this was...y'know, fine. i mean, i feel like it was supposed to be something special, but to my ear, it was kinda just another rock album. i wish i had something more to say about it, because i genuinely respect the bruce as an artist, but...i mean, meh, know what i mean?

Badlands and The Promised Land are decent, catchy songs. I don’t really care about the rest. Kind of boring

Filled with doubt, Bruce heads to the interior, both of himself and of America, and finds that no matter how far you drive, desperation is creeping up behind you.

In "Racing in the Street", who do you think Bruce wants to fuck more: the guy who built his car or the car itself?

I’ve never really loved Bruce

Some great underated songs on this album. Promised Land is one of my favorite Bruce songs. Non-skipper front to back good stuff.

The older I get the better bruce gets.

Good oldies, this is what people mean when they say america had culture. Will listen to this when I'm 70 and on a porch.

It’s the boss learning how to sound like The Boss What’s not to love

I don't think I've ever properly looked at a picture of Bruce Springsteen before I saw this album cover. Badlands - nice but feels a bit flat Adam raised a Cain - this goes hard Something in the night - whiny Candy's room - hmmm Racing in the street - ... boring? The promised land - not feeling this Factory - not much to say about this Streets of fire - liking this one Prove it all night - I was kind of ready for this song to be over two minutes in. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood Darkness on the edge of town - not my fave I'm sure this was cathartic to write and perform but it wasn't for me. That's okay though! 2.5/5, rounded up to 3/5

Rather generic 70s American popish rockish album? Some variation in song feeling with a couple interesting moments. I like Candy's Room for the guitar riff, and Darkness on the Edge of Town has interesting ideas in the story. Not particularly suited to my tastes.

Rockin' like a clenched fist, mumbling like a wino.

before final boss

Bruce has never really been my guy. I saw him live in 2011 or so, and the show blew me away, but that never translated to being a listener. In that vein, this didn't move me. I like Adam Raised a Cain quite a bit, but the rest was very 3 stars for me. He also does some bellowing/caterwalling throughout this album where he feels like he's losing control of his voice. I enjoy it cause it sounds goofy, but it makes it harder to take this really pretty serious album seriously. Album cover: A-. Bonus points for Bruce being really hot here. Also I read its wikipedia, and he wanted this one to be a return to the grunge after Born to Run being such a shiny album. Comparing this cover versus the Born to Run cover, he nailed that aesthetic goal.

Enjoyable album but doesn't reach the threshold for greatness that is a 5. Now it did immediately make me listen to Born in the USA. Now that's a 5.

ADAM RAISED A CANE! This album rocks, classic Bruce. It start's so hot with Badlands, one of my favorite Bruce songs. The Promised Land is another favorite, I listened to it a few times. I hadn't heard "Darkness on the Edge of Town" before, I liked it a lot. It was a cool ending to the album. It isn't bangers the whole way through, but it has a whole lot of them. A few songs were a little boring compared to their peers, but I didn't have a bad time for one second. 42 minutes is a great run-time. 8/10

Ugh. This guy again.

We all work in a factory

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooof

Today I’m celebrating Yorkshire Day and hoped for something I could find a tenuous link with God’s own County. Difficult but I know for a fact that he once appeared at Roundhay Park, Leeds because I know someone who went and they were thrilled. I also think I’ve seen a picture of him in a flat cap but no sign of any Ferret. Sadly though I don’t think Bruce will find any of the things he’s looking for in the darkness at the edge of many Yorkshire towns. Quite the opposite but that’s another story. Anyway this is my third Springsteen album and looking back at what I wrote for the first two my relationship with BS has not changed substantially. Although distinctive and identifiable within 2 bars of music I will never like his voice. Relaying on my previous notes because I don’t really want to listen again, I think I like this album a lot more than the first two served up. There are more likeable tracks on this album. Highlight for me is the slower Racing in the Street and The Promised Land has a really cool Sax solo. Quite an enjoyable listen and probably an album I would buy if the price was right (For those who don’t know Yorkshire men are notoriously tight with their money and their favourite saying is “How Much??!!”) Happy Yorkshire Day Bruce your rating today exceeds my average so far! 3/5 1/8/24

Good album not hos best

It's old Bruce, which is more authentic and believable than newer Bruce. I like the more stripped down sound vs. his previous album.

classic. good. not earth shattering

not my style

Noteworthy songs - 808080808 Magical Dream - Kinda catchy synth, but the rest is bland. Ancodia - Good background noise. Cobra Bora - Actually kind of cool, reminds me of Bomberman Hero. Pacific 202 - N64 vibes, but melody isn't great. Donkey Doctor - Nothing too special, weird ending. 808080808 - Really cool beginning. A little slow in the middle but stays interesting enough. Sunrise - Nothing remarkable. The Fat Shadow - Eerie. Very short.

borrrrriiiiiinnnnnggggg

Instantly recognizable as William Orbit. Great listen!

Another good album, from the Boss' classic period.

Sometimes I just wish that Bruce would not try to sing, and what's with the crappy guitar solo on "Prove It All Night"? Though the album isn't bad, it isn't something I find sufficiently pleasing to my tender ears for repeat consumption... 2 1/2 stars ***

not my fave springsteen, but it IS all hits

Najs album Bästa låtar: Badlands, The promised land

5/5

My favorite Springsteen album. This is when I really got into Bruce. Freshman in college and this came out. From the opening notes all the way to the end, just perfection

Absolute classic from the Boss Every song hits hard and manages to convey emotions which almost anyone can relate to in some way

3.5 i like it but lots of nothing songs

What a change of pace from the not-so-successfully somber (i.e. lugubrious) Nebraska. Sometimes the blue-collarism (Factory) and wild-life masculinity (Racing in the Street) can feel like phony affectations, but for the most part this is full of wall-to-wall bangers, with the exception of maybe Candy's Room.

I feel like when you see a Bruce Springsteen album pop up, you assume it's going to be a 5 due to the legacy and lore of his music. Maybe I put too many expectations on this album but it was mediocre at best. The singles are great but everything else is hardly memorable.

I enjoyed this one. A very nostalgic feel to it Love the fact you can hear different instruments throughout. The piano and the sax parts especially 4 ⭐️

The album that cemented my Bruce fanhood.

I expected more from you Bruce.

Geez this one was all over the place. A few phenomenal cuts, paired with a few god awful ones and some fill in-between. Album immensely improves when the guitar riffs get heavier, the piano acts as more of an accent than a lead, and Bruce starts belting it. I really do not enjoy early career BS’s voice as a whole though, and the mediocre vocal mix muddles the lyrics far too often. Still, this started off terribly and really brought it back from the brink later on. Listened to: walking to Palms. Favorite tracks: Adam Raised a Cain, Streets of Fire

He’s good at what he does, and he’s a great storyteller, but for me a little Bruce goes a long way. Badlands, Prove It All Night, and Adam Raised a Cain are great…but the working class ballads gets old after a while.

Considering this is my inaugural review for newfilewav, I will treat it with the care and consideration that testifies to my worth as a member of this group. What a joy to begin with this album. The resonant bass takes you straight to the dive bars of Bruce Springsteen’s native New Jersey. The gritty vocals ring home the themes of working class struggle and triumph over adversity. The melancholy organ which crops up now and again testifies to the fact that there is beauty in the struggle. Very enjoyable listen. Personal favourite: Streets of Fire.

I really enjoyed "Badlands". Nice album.

Badlands Adam Raised a Cain Candy's Room Racing in the Street The Promised Land Prove It All Night Darkness on the Edge of Town

Why does this album sound like Springsteen doing an impression of himself? The songwriting is strong, if you like this style, but it’s a bit much for me (it does come close to selling me, though). The vocals just take it over the edge here and turn me off. One day I’ll grow up and enjoy Springsteen. Not today.

This wasn't as awesome as I'd hoped, I expected a lot more energy but found myself pretty bored.

I really enjoyed that. My girlfriend will particularly enjoy it the next time we're at the cottage

He really wants to come off epic but I'm sorry he just comes off as bland and lacking an edge

Not the Boss's best album, nor most popular, but a solid record all the same. Opening track, "Badlands", comes right out the gate and hits you in the face with a classic Springsteen sound you'd hear cranked in a packed dive bar. He doesn't give you a chance to settle in as "Adam Raised a Cain" wastes no time with a dirty rock groove that hooked me right away. "Something in the Night" is a great piano ballad of sorts but I don't care much for Bruce's nasally vocals in the opening. "Candy's Room" has good energy but is just ok and then it's another piano ballad with "Racing in the Street". Then it's more signature Springsteen with "The Promised Land" and "Factory". "Streets of Fire" is a lumbering track that throws a little Gilmour-esc solo at you with a good "soft/loud" dynamic between verse and chorus. The album closes with "Prove It All Night" and the title track, the former of which is one of my favorites from the album with a great hook and the latter sounding much like the rest of the album. Suggested tracks: Adam Raised a Cain, Streets of Fire & Prove It All Night 3/5

Good album.

Probably carries the most “authority” of the blue collar millionaire troubadour. Channelling just enough working class factory weariness before he became the mass produced multimillionaire charactuer of Bruce Springsteen.

Not quite Born to Run but the title track is up there.

Each artist has their formula for success, but Bruce’s is so depressing. Hometown, work, car, girl, repeat. And on this album has to be the worlds slowest song about a car race.

this is probably blasphemous and un-American to say but I think Bruce is mediocre. some good songs but most of them are meh.

Good in places. But he's a "greatest hits" artist for me, not someone who I want to listen to whole albums.

Can't get that excited by this

Its Bruce being Bruce

4/5

My last album for review was "Nebraska" and I complained about having to listen to 10 depressing Bruce Springsteen songs in a row. I think the 1001 album generator god must have heard me because it decided to give me this album right after. Well joke's on you generator god, because I actually liked this one. Seemed like a little more variety and little more anger than depression. Whatever it was, it spoke to me a little more even if every song still had that "working class guy down on his luck is overwhelmed by the damn system, but maybe love will save him" motif that Nebraska also had.

Took almost 200 days but I finally got a Bruce album! Sorry everyone, Bruce is one of my guys and I’ll probably rate every album of his on this list 5 stars. But ya know what? He deserves it! This stretch of albums is legendary for a reason! They’re all spectacular!

I think the description of why this album was made helps to bring you to this place. The movie about the middle eastern kid that moves or is born in England only adds to this album. Much love

I can’t do Bruce. Bruce. Stop.

Absolutely perfect, 10 songs, under 45 minutes, ranges from moody personal stories to sweeping epics, and contains an amazing amount of Bruce live show staples like "Badlands", "Racing in the Street", "The Promised Land" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town". The Boss at his best, and, by this point, the classic E Street Band line up were just clicking

Kicks off with a bang and Carrie’s it through to the end. Lots of classic rock drum, guitar and piano riffs with Bruce’s signature touch of drama on the vocals.

Great follow-up to born to run and it’s full of songs that I still love today.

Really good album

Creo que va dsps de born to run? De todas formas esta entre mis favoritos de Springsteen, me gusta mucho el rock q propone y la temática de underdog que le gusta hacer

4.5/10

Energizing, fun, and sometimes somber album. Don’t think I’ve heard many songs from Bruce Springsteen, so it was cool to hear some. Standouts: Something in the Night, Racing in the Street, Factory, Streets of Fire, Prove It All Night, and Darkness On the Edge of Town.

This older Bruce is a bit more moody than I’m used to. But not bad.

3+

I thought this was middle of the road music. Nothing offensive, but nothing too great. I could go without listening to a Springsteen record for the rest of my life.

It’s pretty good, but didn’t love

Didn't want to rush getting past this album. Gave it a few listens while I'm here. Brilliant stuff.

Hello old friend

Nicht meine Musik, aber top produziert, tolle Texte, und die Persönlichkeit von Springsteen machen alles wett.

Classic from the boss

Good album.

I am going to say something potentially Un-American: I’ve never really been a Boss fan! I have the deepest respect for him but never listened to an album until now. I have always heard he was a great story teller and this album was an example of that. Badlands and Factory are perfect evidence of why he is considered “Working Class” Bruce. His vocals present like he took over Elvis boweled out. This band is tight and legendary. I could definitely see him live. This was a good album! I might be a Boss fan yet…😀

I want to pray at the altar of Bruce. I've seen the followers and man it looks fun. I'm hoping one day I see the light. I did listen to this and it was an enjoyable listen. "Streets of Fire" came the closer to making me a believer. Until then, I'll keep trying and see if I am ever overcome with the spirit one of these times.

-Idk his voice annoys me in some of these songs -It definitely felt easy for me to separate the good songs from the bad ones but overall not really my thing -Favorites are Badlands and The Promised Land

Road rock from the 70s. Songs to drive at night. Guitar solos and lyrics about life. About being alive. That's definitely my kind of music. Springsteen is one of the artists living on my waiting list. But with the discovery of this album, from now on I'm going to rush to get to know the others in depth.

One of the great storytellers of Rock & Roll, and this album was his story. Still terrific.

Never been a Springsteen fan, but I thought maybe an older album could convert me. But as soon as I heard “ I got a 69 Chevy…” I was out.

The band behind this album is just amazing. In every song the instruments are played expertly. The issue for me is Springsteen's voice. Although I got used to it, his voice can be really hard to understand. Pretty good album though and makes sense as part of this list.

Decent. Interesting vibe and sound. Instrumentals quite good. Good to listen to something new. Highlights: Adam Raised a Cain The Promised Land Factory

how dare you. is this a joke?

This is the album from Springsteen that I know the least so it was nice to rediscover it.

Couple solid winners in Badlands and Prove It All Night, with a lot of solid 3 star energy in between.

Likely the best album of the 1001 and one of my favourite 5 albums of all time. Stark and stripped back compared to Born To Run. Vocals magnificent, musically beautiful. Fluid and cohesive to listen to as an album. All downhill from here

I’ve never understood the attraction to Springsteen, and if this is any indication, I never will. Seems the majority of his formula is semi-incoherent mumbling then yelling the song title several times. This sounds like a bar band, but one that would make me finish my beer, settle my tab, and take off by the time they were on their third song. Based on my previous experience with “The Boss,” I figure I’d end up giving 2 stars, but tried my best to be open minded and hoped to be surprised. Turns out, nope. I couldn’t even finish most of the songs. I mean, I couldn’t even make it halfway through Factory, and that thing is only two minutes and eighteen seconds long.

Bruce Springsteen rock. Not his most well known, but acceptable filler of his portfolio.

Badlands 2.8 Adam Raised a Cain 2.9 Something in the Night 2.6 Candy's Room 2.7 Racing in the Street 2.2 The Promised Land 2.3 Factory 2.4 Streets of Fire 2.4 Prove It All Night 2.5 Darkness on the Edge of Town 2.6 Score: 2.54

I have to admit I am not a fan of the Boss but I wanted to give this a fair shot. I know he’s a legend and yadda yadda yadda but whatever. Is it a bad record? Not at all. The songwriting is definitely good and the vocal harmonies are great. This one doesn’t have a ton of songs I’d heard before so I was pleasantly surprised at the upbeat tracks like the intro Badlands, but he lost me a few tracks in. Lyrically there is some beautiful stuff here. Adam Raised a Cain is a great example. I really, really tried to get into this record but it just didn’t hit. I think it’s better than the 80’s crud he pumped out later on, though. Fans of the guy would probably slap me but I wasn’t particularly impressed.

Not my favorite Bruce album, but that's like saying Rocky Road isn't my favorite ice cream. There's still all the elements that make it great, plenty to appreciate on its own, and it hits me good enough on such a certain day.

Tough to get through this. I know this is not a popular opinion, but I can’t stand Bruce. Americana as a genre just don’t do it for me. Specifically, I find his vocal delivery to be unlistenable. The bigger sounding tracks are ok (until he sings) but the acoustic guitar/piano tracks that focus on his voice is like having a hot knitting needle jammed directly into my eye. NJ can keep this guy (and Bon Jovi), I got no use for him.

6/21/24. First time giving Bruce Springsteen a legitimate chance, and glad I did! I understand the appeal on one album sample, songs are well written, fun, and diverse for the genre. Also very sing-along which is never a bad thing. Will definitely revisit!

Springsteen was prevented from recording due to a lawsuit, so this album is a result of him writing hundreds of songs and then deciding on a theme. The theme he chose out of the songs he had written is the desperation he felt coming into maturity, so this is an album full of songs about the people with dreams from "Born to Run" seeing those dreams fall apart. Racing in the Street is a perfect example of this, as is Something in the Night. I bought this album as the second Springsteen album I would own after his greatest hits. I was going away to college soon after I bought it and I didn't receive a very good picture of life after chasing your dreams based on these lyrics. Regardless, not everyone likes Springsteen and I understand that because his voice is not for everyone. For me, his voice combined well with the desperation and sense of looming failures the characters in these songs felt. This is my favorite era of Springsteen from 1978-1982. I don't know if I would recommend this album to someone who hasn't heard other Springsteen albums and enjoyed them. He goes Full Springsteen here and if you haven't already enjoyed his other work then you may not enjoy this. I do though.

Not my thing

Not one of his better albums

Liked it even more than I thought I would

Very nice to sit at home

Rach says I listen to Bruce Springsteen wrong. She says that the beauty is in the lyrics rather than the composition, but I’ve generally always had a hard time honing in on the words rather than the music itself. I say that to explain why I felt this album was quite dull, whereas if you’re a lyric lover then you might feel quite different about this. For me, I just didn’t find anything particularly interesting.

One of the most underappreciated Springsteen albums - maybe of any artist - of all time. Darkness on the Edge of Town is the middle act in a triptych of Springsteen albums that represent his best and most classic work. Whereas Born to Run is full of youthful enthusiasm as our working-class heroes try to find a way out of their gritty lives, Darkness on the Edge of Town shows them giving up hope. The world is crashing down on these characters, and they know there is no way out. Finally, we end the story with The River, whereby the world is crashing down and yet, some glimmer of light is showing through. Born in the USA is the epilogue, where our now aging characters are learning to live within the constraints of lesser life. Outside of the overall arc, the music - the SONGS - are Springsteen at his finest. Badlands, Candy's Room, The Promised Land, Prove It All Night, and the title track were all major hits in their day and have endured as staples of the rock lexicon. It is full of stories that you become engrossed in and characters you care about. It's over 45 years later and I still wonder what the hell the guy in Candy's Room is doing. Is she a prostitute? Probably but why does he think of Candy as his girl? What's wrong with this guy? I still think about it every time I hear the song. This is the power of this album. Do not overlook it unless you want to miss something extraordinary.

Zadziwiająco spoko

This suffers from the fact that I’ve heard his material from his peak. This takes a backseat to his later material.

I like Bruce. I don’t love Bruce, but I like Bruce.

When it drags it draaaaaaaaaags

Always enjoyable and brought back memories but I think I have moved on in terms of music I love.

Bruce just doesn't do it for me.

I've never listened to a Bruce Springsteen album before, so I was excited to finally give him a real chance. I can see why people love him, but I don't find anything in this album very memorable.

easy listening corporate rock

Hard to argue with the boss! Not super familiar with this album, and it was pretty solid. Glad this was on the list on a Friday. Very listenable.

The Boss!

The king has arrived! Gotta love Bruce.. and if you don’t, you’re not American!!

Highlight: Adam Raised A Cain In a nutshell: Bruce mellows out a bit. The book described this follow up to Born To Run as “subdued”. Checks out. Bruce's lyrics are heartfelt and mumbles in most tracks. The E Street Band are as you'd expect - precise and passionate. Overall: 6/10

top level bruce is unsurpassed but let’s be honest, sometimes he just kind of warbles along

I’m a fan of Bruce Springsteen but I’ve never been a fan of his music. That said, I did enjoy listening to this album. 3

This is a weird record. My first time listening to a Springsteen record in its entirety and I don’t like it. The drums and guitars are unimaginative and bland. The singing is a precursor to mumble rap. I bought tickets to see this guy live at my baseball stadium later this year, thinking it’d be cool to see a music icon at one of his [likely] last shows, and I think I’m going to try and sell them now.

It is unbelievably hard to not day drink when this album is on. I want to buy a house in the suburbs just to blast this on cassette in my garage while I work my way through a 12 pack of Modelos

Sam: 6.1 Alex: 5.3 Total: 5.7/10

Not worth the hype - 3 stars Favorite track: Badlands, prove it all night

Long, meandering songs. So much Hammond organ, Wawa pedal, etc. Interesting format and many great moments, especially the vocals. But as a whole, not my thing.

Very American dad rock Last song was cool

Didn’t mind this but the Boss is not really my jam. Badlands is a great song though

Old school Boss where he tells the struggles of the everyday man while providing good guitar rhythms and retro sax interludes is hard to not enjoy. This album is good but clearly not his best work. This is probably my 4th favorite of his yet it’s still really good. Some songs on this are like a precursor to the 90s grunge where you sing along by mumbling. Is that good for an artist probably not but it’s fun. This album hits that blend of born to run while also trying to be a bit cooler than it is like 80s Boss. Overall still very good but not the best Boss. 7.7/10

pretty good showing by Bruce, he's a really great storyteller in his music, even though some of his other albums are better than this, its still well worth the time to listen to.

Contains some of my favorite Bruce songs like “Badlands” “Promised Land” “Prove it all night” and some of my least favorite “Adam Raised a Cain”. All in all it’s a solid album that’s sandwiched between two amazing albums in his discography

I am obviously biased here…

Bruuuuce

I really loved this! Springsteen was a bit of a joke when I was growing up but this was a real revelation. I especially loved 'Promised Land', 'Candy's Room' and 'Badlands'.

I am not the target audience for this album. The style actually reminded me of a grittier Meatloaf, which I didn’t expect! Rating: 2

During the "Promise?", Bruce Springsteen explains, among other things ("stick"!) that this album was made in the context of Punk and Rock N Roll type management issues during an enforced hiatus. Jon Landau later interjects some bullshit that is NOT an apology for what he did the MC5 Back in the USA. It is a thing, the pressure to follow up Born to Run, and the management thing is definitely a thing in the music biz-ask the Stones and everybody else - but in this apparent Insta Pot pressure, back to the wall, death or glory scenario, is born his finest back to front album. Maybe it's Iovine's uncluttered, panavision mix, maybe Landau shut the fuck up (seriously, how did this hack ass talk his way into the job? Maybe civilization is a series of blowjobs?) or maybe, like all great rock n roll, the desperate circumstances really made them go for it. I dunno. The shit is powerful, providing a gut bucket theatricality to the Boss's grandly dramatic lyrics. Each is complete, sympathetic pathos; each is well wrought to resonate maximum human vibrations. I feel this is the simpatico of Little Steven's love of the ramalama garage band arrangements and production assists. And the thing to be understood about the E Street Band is that it needs to be pushed: thus, the live legends. And studios, if one is not careful, it will absolutely sterilize everything to the point where it can hardly be said to rock at all (see Bon Jovi), and certainly, when left to his own devices, Springsteen has been Bon Jovi. When Springsteen is fully in band mode, he becomes the legend. Legends that they are, this album contains the best Springsteen song ever: "Racing in the Streets". Despite Springsteen's assertion that the song is about keeping one's purpose against the banality of life, the song is hard times "Glory Days", people stuck with their young choices, finding the old youthful care-free turned to bitter resignation to the consequences of such hubris. The joke about "peaking in High School" ain't funny, turns out. The other stand-outs front this front to back classic "Prove it All Night" and "Streets of Fire" and the title track are anchors to other tracks integral to filling out this image that is joyous, triumphant, somber, bitter, grainy polaroid accounting of young americans in the mid to late 70s, radiating an existential truth that is technicolor and gray in finding honest ways to be. This is one way to be that I understand in my core. Just fabulous, really.

Not bad, but I don’t think it’s very memorable

One of Springsteen’s most concise and well-rounded albums. Kinda the perfect package for him, other than Born To Run

Great album. Classic Springsteen.

While I am a fan, there are at least two albums in his catalog that I would put ahead of this one. One of which came out before Darkness on the Edge of Town.

This is not one of my favorites by the Boss but its still a classic with the classic E St Band sound he solidified in his previous album masterpiece, Born to Run. It seems a bit darker than that album but has his great lyrics which not only paint a picture but return you to a time we can all relate to.

It's Bruce. What do you expect?

Whole lotta mid

Não consigo gostar desse tipo de rock americanão. Ainda mais quando as guitarras não são muito marcantes. Entendo a importância mas não ouviria nunca.

The album starts out incredibly strong with Badlands and I was excited to hear more of this ode to the American blue collar working man. Springsteen looms so large in US culture and I know so many of his later albums. But ultimately I was disappointed. I understand why this gets so many accolades but I just don’t connect with it.

I just feel like I’m being yelled at the whole time.

Good

never thought i was a bruce springsteen girl but.... wow.

pish

Sounds like the workingclass

A stunning classic from a power house in the industry.

Darkness was the best track, the rest were ok.

4*

Day143 - this is so good and it’s not even in my top five favorite springsteen albums

Decent and ok

Favourite songs: Badlands, Adam Raised a Cain, The Promised Land, Factory, Prove It All Night Least favourite songs: Streets of Fire 4/5

An ok album

Sounds like a Bruce Springsteen album.

Die Musik war gut! Aber mit den Texten konnte ich echt nichts anfangen...

Darkness on the Edge of Town is the fourth studio album by Bruce Springsteen, originally released in 1978. I've lived in Philly my whole life, which means the Jersey Shore is basically my second home. That also means that I've been subjected to Bruce's music everywhere I go. Seriously, walk into any Jersey bar and his music is guaranteed to be playing. There are probably hundreds of Springsteen cover bands in that small state. Never been a fan unfortunately. This is probably only the second time I've given his music a fair shot. One thing I appreciated right off the bat about this album is the production. Clean, but not slick. Guys, this came out in 1978, pretty much the height of the disco era. Gotta respect that he stuck to that roots-but-somehow-also-arena-rock sound. Another thing that stood out to me were his vocals. I'm not really vibing with the slurred word style a-la Van Morrison. Sounds like someone doing drunken karaoke. Sometimes it kinda works though. And the songwriting isn't too bad either. I assume seeing his live performances might change my mind. Although I've never been a fan of "The Boss", I'm glad I listened to this. He's obviously a very important part of music history.

A masterpiece. Watching him break the mold of the rockstar he created and strip it down to the core is brilliant. The characters, the sonic dimension this created in, the angst, the love its all within this album. The band is playing its fiercest, while saxophone solos are scarce here they drive the point home when they come in. This album is almost like a movie in my opinion and plays out with all the intensity of a man running from himself into god knows where. The turmoil is reflected in the music, the longing in the lyrics, its perfect album.

Bruce Springsteen is generally OK and so is this. Will definitely be listen to this again in the future.

Pretty good, worth a listen.

Solid rock and roll

Quite effective

I've never been a big Bruce Springsteen fan. I take nothing away from him as an artist, but few things he ever did connected with me. I pushed my record money in other directions. That said, this is a Bruce Springsteen album...and it sounds just like him...and most of his other stuff.

Incredibly boring

Wanted to give it higher, but didn't quite earn a 4. Adam raised a cane goes pretty hard

This was just okay

Every time they blast into a song with a rippin harmonica, I recoil, but Bruce wins me back every time. Go, Bruce, go. You’ll bust outta that dusty old town one of these nights.

Rating: 7/10 Very good album overall. There are great moments in almost every song and one fantastic song. Instrumentally this album is either fantastic or very underwhelming; most songs have elements of both and a few are just underwhelming. The slower songs are not interesting to me, Springsteen's voice is not good enough to carry a song with sparse instrumentation. Favorite songs: Adam Raised a Cain, Candy's Room, the end of Racing in the Street, The Promised Land, Streets of Fire, Prove It All Night. Worst song: Darkness On the Edge of Town.

Listened to this at least 3 times over the course of the day, which is probably the most of any album so far. Had no idea what Springsteen sounded like previously. Enjoyed it a lot, and never felt like skipping a song. Made me want to wear a jeans jacket while driving a Chevy through American countryside and the sun sets. idk why but the promised land reminds me of arcade fire. Favourite songs: Candy's Room, Badlands

The only boss i really listen to. What a record. Still have no idea what he's singing about. But maybe that's the point?

A bruce Springsteen album that really makes you think 'gee whizz, this sure is a bruce Springsteen album.'

Meh

First thoughts, do I have to. But then he, like u2, is one of the most overrated acts there is. A good songwriter but a shite performer. Oh well here goes. ¾ of the way through and I've had to stop listening and write this, partially to give my ears some relief. This album is incredibly annoying. Musically it's very good and the songs appear to be well written, I'd love to here Gene Simmons perform 'Adam raised a Caine'. But somebody please do the world a favour and remove his vocal chords. Oh! That's a thought perhaps they already have!

I really like this version of Bruce. Interesting backstory I just discovered about his management issues causing a delay in releasing this, and the anger that comes through in places. I like the story-telling (although tainted for me by how the American politicians seem to hijack his songs for their cheesy ads - does this annoy Bruce?) His vocals in places are just spot on, I prefer the less angry Bruce vocal like on Racing in the Street - the outro to this song is beautiful - the keyboards and the bass 👌 I also love the guitar solo on Adam Raised A Cain, and the quiet drum/vocal ‘duet’ on Something In the Night. There’s plenty of the trademark harmonica / saxophone/ keys / bridges on the album, but there’s so much more to it than that almost cliched Springsteen Americana. A 4 or a 5 star? Got all weekend to think about that one!

The cover photo with that thousand yard stare always reminded me of the Boss bossing it with too much coke. When I listen to some of his vocals on this he sounds stoned out of his face too. Is it just me? My dad loved this, I can see why, well played blues/ folky rock music, crystal clear production - I mean those drums! The drummer must have had mics placed everywhere, it's amazing you don't hear the sound of one accidentally being mistaken for a random percussion thing. That would never have been allowed past the quality control (I bet his coke was uncut too). The Boss would have pierced the scared drummer with those cold dead eyes, pulled the tape out of the recorder and had that take burned in front of him I'd like to imagine. However, this is a pretty solid album from BS, but I just don't like the style of music. It gets a high 2 for its merits.

Not a bad album on the whole, I just find Bruce's voice grating very quickly

3.8

I am not what you might call a Bruce Springsteen fan, but everytime I listen to a record I am always bopping my head and singing along.

Badlands is such a great song - shame that the other songs do not match up to this.

Great

He might be legendary story teller, but the music itself just nothing for me. 🤷

Love it.

We've had two all-timers from Springsteen so Darkness On The Edge Of Town feels a slight climbdown from SUCH a high bar, but it's still quality. There is some obvious maturity in themes and styling from Born To Run prior to this but it works, and like I said, he's music's greatest ever storyteller. There's nothing that lifts it into the upper echelons of the most legendary tracks but every song is quality, Racing In The Street is the best of those, it's outstanding in every way, while Adam Raised A Cain, The Promised Land and the title track are all very good as well. It's a high 4 on the basis that Born To Run is the highest of 5s and Born In The USA is a lower 5.

This is really good. I I have it behind Born In The USA, but ahead of Born To Run. It's definitely a bit more reflective and less bombastic than Born To Run, and is probably better for it - doesn't have the obvious hits like Born To Run (Badlands aside), but it's wonderful storytelling, nicely put together, and a great ebb and flow. The title track to close it off is my favourite, Racing In The Street just behind. A high 4/5.

Was never a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, though I try to keep that to myself being that I'm from NJ, but the album had its classics that everyone knows and some other songs that were cool to hear for the first time as well.

Solid Album, but Badlands is great! The Boss’s 70s music is his best stuff, but does have some great songs in the 80s when he was more popular.

An all time classic. A lot of great songs in this album

Jersey Legend!!! Classic to start off the album with "Badlands". I had really high hopes for this album coming into it but didnt reach the top. Not saying it was bad but it didn't reach my 5-star status.

Ashamed to be an NJ native that doesn't like Bruce

Fine. Wouldn’t be offended listening to this casually, but nothing spoke to me.

I'm really not a Bruce fan. I tried twice on this one to see if it resonated. Her just doesn't do it for me. Not bad. Just not good enough to get me to focus.

A touch too bland, otherwise solid

I don't think it's bad. I just didn't like it. I think I understand why people like Bruce Springsteen, but he's not for me. This music feels like how country music would feel years later. It's a collection of anthems for the working class. Very direct, no metaphor. I didn't hate it, but I listened only once and didn't feel like giving it a second go. Not interested. Three stars.

I completely understand why this is usually peoples’ #1 or #2 Springsteen record. Totally stacked track list, almost every song here is out of this world good. I’ve never been a massive fan of “Something in the Night” or “Candy’s Room”, but everything else is top-notch. Bruce’s songwriting shifts on this record; he writes in a very particular way on his first two albums, tweaks it slightly on Born to Run, and then sort of settles into I guess what you’d call the modern Springsteen mold on this record. His storytelling isn’t any less complex, but his actual language is. He gets a bit more direct, but still very poetic and fantastic at painting a picture with his words. He’s also a total badass guitar player on this record, you hear it right off the bat in “Badlands”, an awesome upbeat pop-rocker that he adds some really gnarly guitar work on. And he kicks it up several notches in track two, “Adam Raised a Cain”, easily the most blistering, incendiary guitar playing in his catalog, and a killer song to boot. I could go on all day about some of these songs, “The Promised Land”, the title track, “Prove It All Night”...it’s a wonderful collection of songs. It’s only my #3 because I have that much love for Born to Run and The Wild, The Innocent…, but still an easy 4.5 stars and an easy 1,001 5 star bump. 4.5/5

I’m sorry it’s just really not my vibe lol

7/10

It's a classic for a reason. It's probably not my favorite Bruce record though. It is a bit back loaded. But the great songs are true all timers, especially the title track. Could see getting to a 5, but I think a 4 feels right for me.

Not my favorite

Rubbish

I'm docking a point for limiting Clarence Clemons to three tracks.

Hated

Not even kidding, the average commenter for this album on youtube is ~60 years old. I guess there are some benefits in having a bad hearing, you could listen to Bruce Springsteen and pretend it's something good

Really good. But thunder road was better

Nice. Not my favorite but I think I’d like to return

I don't get Springsteen as a fan - I think he's made a lot of four star albums but none I'd give five stars to. I find him strangely emotionless, despite all the snarling and balls-to-the-wall stuff. However this is a little bit of an exception, and definitely my favourite of his alongside Nebraska.

Didn’t like as much as born to run but points for cool album cover. Rating: 3.2

Just fine

dosadno, sry

BORING

7/10

Great songwriting skills and a great hangover helper this morning! Such depth to these lyrics, easy to connect to like the Boss is directly talking to you. 3.8

Doesn’t sound like 1978, it’s very fresh. I’m not a big fan of Springsteens vocals but really enjoyed this album. The solo in Prove it All Night has a tone of frantic desperation and I love it.

Racing in the Street is a killer

Really showcased the vocals

Springsteen has a unique spin on rock and roll. It feels like it comes from a similar vein as some of the other rock classics from that time like David Bowie. But it's got a particular American aesthetic. Almost like if rock and roll were to cosplay as country, this is what you'd get. It's alright for me. There's some nice guitar riffs and some catchy hooks. I don't particularly love it either.

It's a good one. I preferred the first couple of Springsteen albums, before he got all racing themed, and quit him after The River, when he decided he needed everyone to know and adopt his politics. Still, this is a good album to show someone that needs an introduction to Springsteen.

I liked it, such a great live performer and he’s able to translate that to the recording.

Great album, not the best Springsteen ever produced but still powerful.

I've passively listened to a lot of Bruce Springsteen. It all kind of blends together for me. This album was all good and does all the stuff I've heard. I think the strongest track is upfront.

Overall I wasn't as impressed with this compared to Born in the USA. Some solid melodies and instrumental work but I didn't enjoy the harsher vocal style, felt more forced and unnatural. Top tracks: Racing in thr Street, Prove It All Night

Best Bruce album so far. Much more ‘real’ than the rest. Really proving why the boss is the boss. 4.5

На самом деле, поставила повыше оценку за вторую песню альбома - кажется, первая песня Спрингстина, которая мне по-настоящему понравилась

I like Bruce. I do. But it all sorta sounds the same, musically, to me. So I get bored.

Obviously five stars, I don’t have anything else to say about it.

Non mi fa impazzire 3

Just like the Beatles, I had to grade on a curve against his other albums. A five compared with the other albums in the world, but this isn't a five the way Born to Run is a five. Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce!

Some of Springsteen's great songs here.Not his best, but still iconic.

Poetry + Passion = Perfection

I like Bruce Springsteen, but not his music.

Horrible. Well recorded, but horrible.

My favorite Springsteen album. Moody and dark, you can almost feel the dirt under your fingernails and the sweat dripping. Pretty good imagery from a guy that self-admittedly never had a "real job". The E Street Band sounds great, as always. This band is way underrated.

He is dark. Probably my favorite album from him so far. Still probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it normally though.

Some albums are clsssics for a reason. I should’ve been up on this decades ago, but was a close-minded teenager when it came to music genres at the time, focused more on Pop and R&B and assumed Rock wasn’t my cup of tea despite recommendations to not sleep on Bruce from a good friend. Should’ve listened to him; would’ve had decades of joy from appreciating this one.

This is my second Springsteen album and I think I have to admit now that I don't hate him after all.

I really try every time to like his music, and every time after two songs my concentration fades and suddenly the album is over. Only album the River I once maneges to really listen to. So not 1 or 2 starts as I am not annoyed, and not 4 or 5 because it is not interesting to me. 3 stars will do for the Boss.

6/10 Highlights: The Factory

Going to be wrting this a few more times, Bruce Springsteen - some people like, me not so much.

Fun, but nothing to revisit.

I think the randomizer might have come into play on this eclipse day. "Darkness on the Edge of Town" is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. The album was recorded after a lengthy legal dispute between Bruce and former manager Mike Appel. This allowed for the band to write about 70 songs. It is a more raw, harder rock sound than the "wall of sound" "Born to Run." The music and lyrics were inspired by John Steinback novels, John Ford novels, punk rock and country music. The album hit #5 in the US and #14 in the UK. The album initially had decent critical reviews upon its review but now it is considered one of his best works. An anthemic start opens the album and "Badlands." Muddled but hopeful vocals by persevering to succeed against oppression. It slows down and speeds up as Bruce wants to spit in the face of these badlands. A long piano intro begins the melancholic "Something in the Night." Great and emotional yearning and howling by Sprinsteen. Piano, drums and Springsteen whispering begins "Candy's Room." The drums explodes and pretty much carry the song the rest of the way. A fantasy song and, actually, one of my favorite of Springsteen. The harmonica takes the place of the piano as the first instrument heard in "The Promised Land." Another hopeful song running parallel to the opening song. A nice sax solo. The first single was "Prove It All Night." A pretty standard rock song but sounds good. The album closes with the self-titled "Darkness on the Edge of Town." Piano driven and emotionally sung, it wraps things up by the narrator losing everything but refusing to give up...the overarching album theme. This album has some of Springsteen's best and more emotional vocals. It does have a harder edge than "Born to Run." This isca good album to look at with regards to his timeline; with the abundance of songs written, some of these end up on his next album "The River." The somber and more melancholic songs also point to where he would go on "Nebraska." Overall, this album ranks pretty high on my Springsteen album list.

Good music but I can really only handle Bruce's voice in small doses.

This is such a great album. Far from the muscle arena rock on Born in the USA and more serious than The river. This is dark and haunting at times. Love to drive at night and listen to this album.

I suppose I just don't like Springsteen. Had to turn it off.

Not a fan personally

It's Bruce - it's the voice, the band, the writing, the whole extraoirdinary package. Not the best of his albums, but, that too would be hard to choose. There's a unity in this work that makes it outstanding - moods, themes, consistent and well executed as a whole.

It's fine. Favorite tracks: - Badlands - Adam Raised a Cain - Racing in the Street

Easy five stars. Great from open to close.

Solid record.

Wel boring eigenlijk

plain. nothing inoffensive. 3/5

I tend to hear his songs playing everywhere and don’t listen to albums. But this one was good.

Not a Bruce fan didn’t listen

Low key Springsteen

This album sounded like Something in the Night on the way home from the Factory.

Brilliant

I only know Bruce Springsteen by name, at least with other artists that I didn't know about their music I had an idea of their genre or sound, but with him I don't have a clue, so this will be interesting. Holy shit, this sounds too well produced to be from 1978, yet it sounds like what you'd expect from that time period (In a good way). It's a chill record and I really dig its sound and catchy songwriting. The guitars are great and in the right quantity. I really liked it and if it wasn't for a few songs (Candy's Room and Racing in The Street), which I didn't enjoy that much this would've easily been a 5 stars record, but I was between a 4 and a 5. In the end I decided that this was a 4.5 and since I had a good day I chose to round it up to 5 stars. I'm definitely listening to this again some time in the future. I got quite a good impression of Mr. Springsteen and I hope to come across him soon in this challenge. Best Song was Adam Raised a Cain Worst song was Candy's Room