Bruce Springsteen Band • Page 15

One song on USA I always stick up for is Dancing in the Dark. That song is a jam. I think Patterson sort of quibbled with the arrangement of it and the production, but I wouldn't change a thing about it. I love how 80s it is, and it doesn't try to hide the fact that it's a great pop song, just totally embraces it.

 

Glad Patterson defended the river, but also mad at him for shrugging off Bobby jean and no surrender.

 

I couldn't believe anyone would prefer the first half of born in the usa to the second.

 

Yeah, that was pretty nuts. I like the first half just fine, but side two is what makes that record great.

 

I listen on CD usually and once Downbound Train starts the record is almost flawless(shouts to I'm Going Down, which is not great).

 

Tracks 2-4 are definitely the low point of the record. I like those songs, but they have always struck me as being a bit lightweight compared to the rest. You're right about "Downbound Train" being the start of the great stretch. I actually really like "I'm Goin' Down." I think it might have worked better somewhere else on the record, but I've always been a fan.

USA in general has grown on me a lot over the years. It used to be toward the bottom of my top 10 Bruce albums. These days, it's probably my number 3.

 

^^I said the same thing on AP once and got a lot of shit for it haha

 

SEVERELY underrated

 

People who don’t like Tunnel of Love are bad people.

 

Backed

 

When i wasn’t as well versed in his discography, maybe like 6 years ago or something, I first heard “Brilliant Disguise” in Urban Outfitters and was like “wtf is this era of bruce because it sounds amazing.” Then I went home and fell in love with the album.

 

So many interesting Bruce opinions. Stuff I’ve never heard before.

Praising Tunnel of Love and downplaying the brilliance of Tom Joad.

Bruce is my favorite human, I have an entire shrine to the dude, but TOL isn’t HALF the record Tom Joad is.

 

I really need to give some attention to Tom Joan. Haven’t gotten into it.

 

Tom Joad is an extraordinarily dull record, musically. I never make it all the way through.

 

Pitchfork's got this eight best Bruce books list, but the actual best Bruce book is It Ain't No Sin To Be Glad You're Alive by Eric Alterman.

 

Same -- my top four is set. Born to Run, Darkness, Born in the USA, Nebraska.
My fav songs are completely generic too. Born to Run, Atlantic City, Thunder Road. Some days my number four might even be Dancing in the Dark. Or Backstreets. Or Racing in the Street. Or Darkness on the Edge of Town. Or I'm on Fire. I like the heavy hitters.

 

Balboa Park and the title track are the only songs I even think about coming back to on that one.

 

I love that but this site is a little stronghold of Tunnel of Love love.

Also lay off "Workin' on the Higway". That song is stupid fun

 

I'm just going to leave this here.

 

My five would probably be Born to Run, Darkness, USA, The River, and Tunnel. I also might be the only person who wouldn't put Nebraska in their top 10 Bruce records.

My top songs are a mix of the predictable ("Thunder Road," "Jungleland," "Born to Run") and maybe not as predictable ("Stolen Car," "No Surrender," "Drive All Night")

I like the title track and "Youngstown" a lot, but I tend to prefer the full-band versions. The songs aren't "bad," but they're samey and make for a tough album-length listen when played one after the other. The storytelling is really great, but I wish there was more to it musically.

 

I needed to grow into Tunnel of Love. I used to think it was a little bit schmaltzy, but it resonates more and more with me as I get older. It's my Dad's favorite Bruce album, so obviously track 6 makes me think of him.

 

I thought everyone loved Tom Joad tbh

 

The last four tracks on Tunnel of Love makes for one of the best stretches in Bruce's catalog. "One Step Up" is probably a top 10 Springsteen song for me.

 

Valentines Day is one of Bruce's greatest songs. I love how he reprises a lot of his old motifs used on previous albums/songs and twists them into this full on introspection about himself.

 

Love all those songs although my favourite deep cut might be Bobby Jean. Such a gut punch of a track. You mention not liking Nebraska as much as the others, although I'm sure you still like it okay. That one has a lot of other deep cuts I really dig, especially Highway Patrolman.