Born in the USA, Born to Run, Greetings..., god, so many, Nebraska, I can listen to Bruce all day long...
― ty, Wednesday, 30 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Tom, Wednesday, 30 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
The rest of the album isn't quite as eventful to me as many of Springsteen's other records are - "Tougher Than The Rest" (which I recommend to guys putting together a mix tape for their sweeties), "Brilliant Disguise" and "One Step Up" are all top-notch, and touching, but some of the more low-key songs are just sort of there, pleasant and honest, but that's it.
BTW, I'm a bit baffled by the assertion that Tunnel Of Love is a better album because it's more pop. To me, Born In The USA has always felt more like the every-song-a-radio-smash album, and most of Tunnel Of Love is more in the introspective-singer-songwriter ballpark compared to his previous records.
― Patrick, Wednesday, 30 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Sean Carruthers, Wednesday, 30 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― tarden, Thursday, 31 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
In fact that's true of the LP as a whole. It always amazes me how good it is. Come to think of it, it probably has to be my favourite Boss LP of all, Nebraska or no Nebraska. On ToL the Boss manages to be so utterly Boss-like, so much himself, and so darned endlessly entertaining with it.
― the pinefox, Thursday, 31 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
still somehow, he makes me feel like he really is working class fellow.
I really love that album.
― ty@hotmail.com, Thursday, 31 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Sunday, 9 March 2003 18:14 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 9 March 2003 18:45 (twenty-one years ago) link
From "Tunnel Of Love" onwards, he has sounded a bit old and tired, seemingly not any more willing to rock like he did on "Born In The USA".
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 9 March 2003 19:07 (twenty-one years ago) link
― amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 23:54 (twenty years ago) link
― man, Wednesday, 3 December 2003 00:21 (twenty years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 22 August 2005 15:50 (eighteen years ago) link
roffles
It's hard for me to imagine a best Bruce album that doesn't include the line "well they blew up the chicken man in philly last night, and they blew up his house too," but this is the one I return to most consistently.
Ty is correct - one side is definitely better than the other, and it ain't Side One, though "Tougher Than The Rest" is all-time.
― rogermexico (rogermexico), Monday, 22 August 2005 16:24 (eighteen years ago) link
But my favorite is still Born In The USA. The songs on that album have spent way too many hours lodged in my head to pick anything else.
― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Monday, 22 August 2005 17:39 (eighteen years ago) link
Bruce Springsteen, "One Step Up," C or D
― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Monday, 22 August 2005 17:47 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 22 August 2005 18:39 (eighteen years ago) link
― rogermexico (rogermexico), Tuesday, 23 August 2005 02:06 (eighteen years ago) link
Let us discuss the greatness of "Two Faces."
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 21 September 2007 01:40 (sixteen years ago) link
Whoa, I pulled this thread up to write about how the guitar solo on "Two Faces" sounds like it was lifted from a Ween song, and here I am, commanded to discuss that very song. So anyway, the solo sounds like it was lifted from a Ween song.
― Davey D, Friday, 28 March 2008 02:23 (sixteen years ago) link
Side two of this record, wow.
― Mark Rich@rdson, Friday, 28 March 2008 04:46 (sixteen years ago) link
I know people talk about the musical influence of Lou Christie on Bruce, just occured to me that Two Faces and Brilliant Disguise both feature lyrical nods to Lou.
― dan selzer, Wednesday, 11 February 2009 06:12 (fifteen years ago) link
I have actually changed my mind somewhat about this album. I still prefer Bruce Springsteen when he rocks, but at least some of the songs on this album are quite good. There are 2-3 exaggaratedly bluesy ones that I don't like at all, but tracks like "One Step Up" and "Where You're Alone" are really beautiful.
― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 11 February 2009 22:36 (fifteen years ago) link
My favorite Springsteen album.
― The Screaming Lobster of Challops (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 February 2009 22:37 (fifteen years ago) link
I played this album on the night before my wedding, much to the consternation of my groomsmen.
― Euler, Wednesday, 11 February 2009 22:44 (fifteen years ago) link
i'm with alfred.
'brilliant disguise': the best song elvis never recorded. if only.
― whatever, Wednesday, 11 February 2009 22:47 (fifteen years ago) link
The second side = oof.
― The Screaming Lobster of Challops (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 February 2009 22:51 (fifteen years ago) link
The second side is devastatingly good, I assume you (correctly) mean. "Tougher Than The Rest" and "All That Heaven Will Allow" are incredible too (though it took me years of listening to the Mavericks' cover of the latter to come to love Bruce's version).
― Euler, Wednesday, 11 February 2009 22:53 (fifteen years ago) link
oof?
― whatever, Wednesday, 11 February 2009 23:02 (fifteen years ago) link
jesus do I really have to agree with Alfred on everything? really?
― butt-rock miyagi (rogermexico.), Wednesday, 11 February 2009 23:29 (fifteen years ago) link
Probably my favourite Boss LP, which is saying something.
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 11 February 2009 23:32 (fifteen years ago) link
could listen to last minute of "tunnel of love" on loop forever
― double dutch bus schedule (donna rouge), Monday, 16 March 2009 04:45 (fifteen years ago) link
na na na na na na na na o-oh
― butt-rock miyagi (rogermexico.), Monday, 16 March 2009 05:11 (fifteen years ago) link
"walk like a man" is so pretty
this is the best album ever to be marred by two sucky songs. i just skip those. you know which ones they are.
― by another name (amateurist), Saturday, 16 October 2010 08:11 (thirteen years ago) link
One's the first track, correct? At least I always start on "tougher than the rest" when I play this album. iirc, i love the other tracks, though.
― musicfanatic, Saturday, 16 October 2010 13:06 (thirteen years ago) link
― raging hetero lifechill (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 16 October 2010 13:08 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah I only count one sucky song and I don't really mind that one even.
― Mark, Saturday, 16 October 2010 16:02 (thirteen years ago) link
not sure what're the sucky two: "Ain't Got You" and "Spare Parts"? The latter's awesome for the "pulled out" line, cos Bruce is rarely so frank.
― Euler, Saturday, 16 October 2010 16:32 (thirteen years ago) link
In sequence "Spare Parts" is loud and squally. I would have loved hearing it on Tracks though.
― raging hetero lifechill (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 16 October 2010 16:41 (thirteen years ago) link
It certainly doesn't "fit in".
― Euler, Saturday, 16 October 2010 16:42 (thirteen years ago) link
spare parts and cautious man duh
― by another name (amateurist), Saturday, 16 October 2010 18:46 (thirteen years ago) link
GAH SIDE TWO
― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Friday, 7 October 2011 10:50 (twelve years ago) link
Side Two indeed.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 7 October 2011 10:57 (twelve years ago) link
Still his most successful (that is, not boring) "mature" work. A stark line of catalog demarcation, at the least.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 7 October 2011 13:00 (twelve years ago) link
This has slowly turned into my favorite of his. It's either ToL or BitUSA.
― musicfanatic, Friday, 7 October 2011 13:02 (twelve years ago) link
Even "Shoot Out the Lights" is subtle compared to this album's heavy themes.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 7 October 2011 13:05 (twelve years ago) link
I don't follow you...?
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 7 October 2011 13:09 (twelve years ago) link
When I saw Springsteen do a solo concert in October 2005, he redeemed "When You're Alone" (def the low point of Tunnel of Love).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0Ta56aW8zI
― per metal injection (Eazy), Friday, 7 October 2011 13:15 (twelve years ago) link
The only song I skip are "Cautious Man" and "Spare Parts."
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 7 October 2011 13:20 (twelve years ago) link
*songs
(Just realized I told that same story in the other ToL thread. Felt deja vu while typing it.)
― per metal injection (Eazy), Friday, 7 October 2011 14:21 (twelve years ago) link
xpost What I meant to say (before I was dragged away from the computer) is that "Shoot Out the Lights," despite being one of the most famous marriage-in-crisis albums, is very much of a piece of just about any other Richard Thompson album, and had he and Linda not imploded right after its making I don't think anyone would have interpreted the album as unique in Thompson's catalog. Whereas "Tunnel of Love" is rife with an emotional fear and distress unlike anything else in Springsteen's catalog. It's no shock that his marriage fell apart soon after, and also no shock that he rarely plays these songs live, despite the fact that it sold millions, had several hits, etc. It's an intensely clear, lonely snapshot of a marriage - not just a relationship, but a marriage - falling apart that was also a massive hit. Kind of ironic.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 7 October 2011 14:52 (twelve years ago) link
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, October 7, 2011 8:20 AM (10 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, October 7, 2011 8:20 AM (10 hours ago) Bookmark
me too.
― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Saturday, 8 October 2011 00:11 (twelve years ago) link
I always like when an artist or band follows up a blockbuster album with one that's entirely different, yet still great. This is one of those albums...
― Lee626, Saturday, 8 October 2011 00:45 (twelve years ago) link
i like spare parts a lot; how good an opening line is BOBBY SAID HE'D PULL OUT / BOBBY STAYED IN
― the-dream in the witch house (difficult listening hour), Saturday, 8 October 2011 00:57 (twelve years ago) link
favorites here are "brilliant disguise" and "tougher than the rest" though.
― the-dream in the witch house (difficult listening hour), Saturday, 8 October 2011 00:58 (twelve years ago) link
The title track, after all these years, still kills me.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 8 October 2011 01:15 (twelve years ago) link
and "two faces" and "one step up" and
― the-dream in the witch house (difficult listening hour), Saturday, 8 October 2011 01:16 (twelve years ago) link
This album has some of my favorite synth parts ever.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 8 October 2011 01:33 (twelve years ago) link
And, on "Two Faces," a good example of a guitar that sounds like a synth. Or maybe it's a guitar and a synth doing the solo together?
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 8 October 2011 01:43 (twelve years ago) link
"Brilliant Disguise" video is classic:
http://www.vevo.com/watch/bruce-springsteen/brilliant-disguise/USSM20100485
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 8 October 2011 01:46 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, it's great and so is the song. Love it so much.
― Juggy Brottleteen (ENBB), Saturday, 8 October 2011 01:49 (twelve years ago) link
I want him to come play in my kitchen. He's been busking in weird places lately so I figure I could probably make this happen.
― Juggy Brottleteen (ENBB), Saturday, 8 October 2011 01:50 (twelve years ago) link
His best album for guitar solos, if that says anything
― Master of Treacle, Saturday, 8 October 2011 02:01 (twelve years ago) link
underrated and great song on springsteen's best album.
― Daniel, Esq., Saturday, 8 October 2011 02:03 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3x5GPUTm48&feature=related
― per metal injection (Eazy), Saturday, 8 October 2011 02:55 (twelve years ago) link
this album is great. tougher than the rest 4 all time.
― horseshoe, Saturday, 8 October 2011 03:30 (twelve years ago) link
It really is. Great, I mean.
― Juggy Brottleteen (ENBB), Saturday, 8 October 2011 03:32 (twelve years ago) link
some girls they want a handsome Dan or some good-lookin’ Joe, on their arm some girls like a sweet-talkin’ Romeo
― horseshoe, Saturday, 8 October 2011 10:56 (twelve years ago) link
tougher than the rest is my favorite springsteen song of all time rn
― max, Saturday, 8 October 2011 12:08 (twelve years ago) link
I'm such a fan of Lou Christie, I'll have to give "Tunnel of Love" another go!!
― โตเกียวเหมียวเหมียว aka Don Nots (Mount Cleaners), Saturday, 8 October 2011 12:22 (twelve years ago) link
some girls they want a handsome Dan or some good-lookin’ Joe, on their arm some girls like a sweet-talkin’ Romeo― horseshoe, Saturday, October 8, 2011 3:56 AM (3 hours ago) Bookmark
― horseshoe, Saturday, October 8, 2011 3:56 AM (3 hours ago) Bookmark
WELL ROUND HERE BABYI'VE LEARNED YOU GET WHAT YOU CAN GET
― the-dream in the witch house (difficult listening hour), Saturday, 8 October 2011 14:41 (twelve years ago) link
i like that "round here" is a state of mind/stage of life rather than, like, a blue-collar town
or at least can be
― the-dream in the witch house (difficult listening hour), Saturday, 8 October 2011 14:46 (twelve years ago) link
so is "good-looking joe"
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 8 October 2011 14:49 (twelve years ago) link
Would've been great if that was the lip-synced song in The Crying Game.
― per metal injection (Eazy), Saturday, 8 October 2011 14:55 (twelve years ago) link
I've listened the hell outta that remix of "Tougher Than The Rest" that got posted here a few months ago.
― Euler, Saturday, 8 October 2011 15:47 (twelve years ago) link
once again, SIDE TWO
― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Sunday, 22 September 2013 05:22 (ten years ago) link
Then Play Long on Tunnel of Love, Tom Waits, Blackpool and much else: http://nobilliards.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/bruce-springsteen-tunnel-of-love.html
― agincourtgirl, Sunday, 23 November 2014 17:23 (nine years ago) link
Very intriguing parallels to Joy Division I'd never considered.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 23 November 2014 17:51 (nine years ago) link
Probably because they're way off beam.
― rising tones cross (anagram), Sunday, 23 November 2014 18:22 (nine years ago) link
I heard Bruce was listening to nothing but Joy Division and New Order when he recorded this. I know he covered "BLT" pretty much every night of the tour in the middle of the Roy Orbison medley.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 23 November 2014 19:45 (nine years ago) link
there are at least five reasons why Brilliant Disguise is a fun karaoke selection, ranging from musical reasons at the beginning to jokey-but-still-real reasons at the end of the list:
1) narrative, vocals and lyrics driven song, few instrumental breaks2) it's got all the classic springsteen stuff you've come to expect from the boss - it's got the edge of town, it's got a cold night, it's got betrayal, and it's got 7 different mentions of "baby"3) the musical accompaniment, even on the Tunnel of Love recording, sounds like karaoke, so no matter what kind of machine/youtube you're using, it sounds authentically thin4) opportunity to explore some of the turmoil of your relationships in a safe setting with supportive friends5) you can draw something awful on your sweaty palm using a sharpie beforehand, and then reveal it during "But just don't look too close / Into the palm of my hand"
6) check out this acoustic version from 1990. i love this version, especially the different spin he puts on the melody in various parts. also love how he politely asks people in the audience to NOT clap along, hahahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdiVSrcjm1M
― Karl Malone, Monday, 4 April 2022 16:06 (two years ago) link
also some of the best closing lines in the history of music
Tonight our bed is coldLost in the darkness of our loveGod have mercy on the manWho doubts what he's sure of
― Karl Malone, Monday, 4 April 2022 16:10 (two years ago) link