Songs/Albums Rated: Bruce Springsteen

Submitted by Wezzo on Tue, 01/16/2007 - 04:50
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  • completely revised June 20th 2008

  • STUDIO ALBUMS

  • Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. (1973)

  • Blinded By The Light: 92
  • Growin' Up: 97
  • Mary Queen Of Arkansas: 58
  • Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?: 86
  • Lost In The Flood: 90
  • The Angel: 75
  • For You: 96
  • Spirit In The Night: 90
  • It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City: 95
  • Song Average: 87
  • Coherency/conviction: 85
  • Album rating 86%
  • Beyond the inconsistency lurk genius melodies and lyrics to rival Dylan - the poor "Mary" and "Angel" are countered by the marvellously observed "Growin' Up" and "Saint" and the catchy "For You", but overall the album is among Springsteen's weakest.

  • The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle (1973)

  • The E Street Shuffle: 85
  • 4th Of July, Asbury Park: 88
  • Kitty's Back: 65
  • Wild Billy's Circus Story: 80
  • Incident On 57th Street: 97
  • Rosalita (Come Out Tonight): 100
  • New York City Serenade: 92
  • Song Average: 87
  • Coherency/conviction: 96
  • Album rating 91%
  • "Kitty" drags, but the remainder work extremely well together. Only "Rosalita" and "Incident" are genuine standouts but this is a case of an album being greater than the sum of its parts, as the combined impact of the album is impressive.

  • Born To Run (1975)

  • Thunder Road: 100
  • Tenth Avenue Freeze Out: 97
  • Night: 100
  • Backstreets: 100
  • Born To Run: 100
  • She's the One: 92
  • Meeting Across the River: 97
  • Jungleland: 100
  • Song Average: 98
  • Coherency/conviction: 100
  • Album rating 99%
  • Perfection - my all-time favourite album. There are no weak links here - "She's the One" may be less impressive than the other tracks, but it's still marvellous. Bruce sings and the E Street Band play like there's no tomorrow. This is Springsteen as his most powerful, most genuine, most sincere.

  • Darkness On The Edge Of Town (1978)

  • Badlands: 100
  • Adam Raised A Cain: 94
  • Something In The Night: 95
  • Candy's Room: 97
  • Racing In The Streets: 97
  • The Promised Land: 100
  • Factory: 97
  • Streets Of Fire: 95
  • Prove It All Night: 98
  • Darkness On The Edge Of Town: 92
  • Song Average: 96
  • Coherency/conviction: 96
  • Album rating 96%
  • Considerably darker than Born to Run, naive optimism having been replaced by reluctant acceptance. Once again every song is a winner, the heartland anthems "Badlands" and "Promised" sitting alongside the more eerie, wary title track and "Racing", and the tense "Candy's Room".

  • The River (1980)

  • The Ties That Bind: 97
  • Sherry Darling: 98
  • Jackson Cage: 98
  • Two Hearts: 98
  • Independence Day: 97
  • Hungry Heart: 98
  • Out In The Street: 99
  • Crush On You: 88
  • You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch): 89
  • I Wanna Marry You: 87
  • The River: 100
  • Point Blank: 94
  • Cadillac Ranch: 90
  • I'm A Rocker: 86
  • Fade Away: 92
  • Stolen Car: 92
  • Ramrod: 90
  • The Price You Pay: 95
  • Drive All Night: 94
  • Wreck On The Highway: 95
  • Song Average: 94
  • Coherency/conviction: 98
  • Album rating 96%
  • It's all here: pop ("Hungry Heart"), party ("Sherry Darling"), ballad ("Price You Pay"), epic ("Drive All Night"), heartland rock ("Out in the Street") and arena anthems ("The Ties That Bind"). He delivers all in style. It's no surprise that Piero Scaruffi rates this as Springsteen's best - the combination of variety (within the pop-rock format, naturally) and the emotion and passion that each and every song exudes is a real winner.

  • Nebraska (1982)

  • Nebraska: 93
  • Atlantic City: 98
  • Mansion On The Hill: 95
  • Johnny 99: 95
  • Highway Patrolman: 95
  • State Trooper: 94
  • Used Cars: 97
  • Open All Night: 96
  • My Father's House: 96
  • Reason To Believe: 94
  • Song Average: 95
  • Coherency/conviction: 91
  • Album rating 93%
  • The album no-one expected, Springsteen paints a bleak, Orwellian, almost Gothic landscape with Nebraska, the acoustic album that trades in catchy pop tunes and heavy rock riffs for nostalgic, broken and downright depressing narratives that do a better a job of reflecting the plight of the working man than any other musician has every managed.

  • Born In The USA (1984)

  • Born In The USA: 90
  • Cover Me: 90
  • Darlington County: 89
  • Working On The Highway: 90
  • Downbound Train: 100
  • I'm On Fire: 94
  • No Surrender: 100
  • Bobby Jean: 100
  • I'm Goin' Down: 95
  • Glory Days: 90
  • Dancing In The Dark: 90
  • My Hometown: 98
  • Song Average: 95
  • Coherency/conviction: 92
  • Album rating 94%
  • (In)famous for the title song that Reagan couldn't see through (how, God only knows), the real treats here are the wistful "Downbound Train" and the powerful one-two punch of "No Surrender" and "Bobby Jean". Another excellent set.

  • Tunnel Of Love (1987)

  • Ain't Got You: 75
  • Tougher Than The Rest: 98
  • All That Heaven Will Allow: 92
  • Spare Parts: 85
  • Cautious Man: 83
  • Walk Like A Man: 95
  • Tunnel Of Love: 91
  • Two Faces: 80
  • Brilliant Disguise: 98
  • One Step Up: 96
  • When You're Alone: 96
  • Valentine's Day: 73
  • Song Average: 89
  • Coherency/conviction: 94
  • Album rating 91%
  • Springsteen's most personal album yet, "Ain't Got You" is mediocre by the Boss' standards but the rest of the subdued album is pretty moving - the powerful "Tougher Than The Rest", the moving "One Step Up" and the catchy "Brilliant Disguise" are the highlights, but there's plenty to love here. It's good to see Bruce on a more introspective note.

  • Human Touch (1992)

  • Human Touch: 80
  • Soul Driver: 87
  • 57 Channels (And Nothin' On): 69
  • Cross My Heart: 73
  • Gloria's Eyes: 71
  • With Every Wish: 68
  • Roll Of The Dice: 86
  • Real World: 86
  • All Or Nothin' At All: 81
  • Man's Job: 86
  • I Wish I Were Blind: 82
  • The Long Goodbye: 81
  • Real Man: 82
  • Pony Boy: 63
  • Song Average: 79
  • Coherency/conviction: 65
  • Album rating 72%
  • By far Springsteen's weakest album, only "Soul Driver" steps into the "great" category and the "good" section is distressingly sparse too. Repeat listens have improved my impressions of the album but it's still generally disappointing, if still listenable.

  • Lucky Town (1992)

  • Better Days: 98
  • Lucky Town: 100
  • Local Hero: 93
  • If I Should Fall Behind: 80
  • Leap Of Faith: 93
  • The Big Muddy: 73
  • Living Proof: 88
  • Book Of Dreams: 65
  • Souls Of The Departed: 73
  • My Beautiful Reward: 74
  • Song Average: 84
  • Coherency/conviction: 86
  • Album rating 85%
  • Far better than Human Touch, Lucky Town sometimes lacks the oomph of the E Street Band, but the two opening tracks are among Bruce's all-time best rockers, and that certainly counts for something. Things go downhill somewhat in the second half, but it certainly remains a more consistent set than HT.

  • The Ghost Of Tom Joad (1994)

  • The Ghost of Tom Joad: 84
  • Straight Time: 86
  • Highway 29: 93
  • Youngstown: 95
  • Sinaloa Cowboys: 95
  • The Line: 88
  • Balboa Park: 83
  • Dry Lightning: 88
  • The New Timer: 82
  • Across The Border: 85
  • Galveston Bay: 78
  • My Best Was Never Good Enough: 86
  • Song Average: 80
  • Coherency/conviction: 86
  • Album rating 83%
  • The weaker sidekick to Nebraska, Ghost is lyrically astute but lacks melody for the most part. "Highway", "Sinaloa" and "Youngstown" are memorable but the remainder tend to blend into one - they're a fine listen, and the stories Bruce tells are powerful, but musically there's little of note for too much of the album.

  • The Rising (2002)

  • Lonesome Day: 98
  • Into The Fire: 97
  • Waitin' On A Sunny Day: 99
  • Nothing Man: 97
  • Countin' On A Miracle: 97
  • Empty Sky: 95
  • Worlds Apart: 97
  • Let's Be Friends (Skin To Skin): 80
  • Further On (Up The Road): 90
  • The Fuse: 76
  • Mary's Place: 95
  • You're Missing: 94
  • The Rising: 95
  • Paradise: 84
  • My City Of Ruins: 95
  • Song Average: 93
  • Coherency/conviction: 99
  • Album rating 96%
  • Talk about being back on form. Seems 9/11 was just the catalyst Bruce needed to engage with the American public once again; to empathise with them, to deliver the message of confusion, loss,grief and cautious optimism they were all feeling in the aftermath of the tragedy. This album harkens back to The River with its mixture of song styles - the breezy R'n'B optimism of "Sunny", the modest balladry of "Nothing Man" and gospel prayer "Into the Fire" are among the highlights - while the unifying, recurring theme that pervades the album recalls Darkness and Born to Run.

  • Devils & Dust (2005)

  • Devils & Dust: 96
  • All The Way Home: 95
  • Reno: 87
  • Long Time Comin': 99
  • Black Cowboys: 90
  • Maria's Bed: 91
  • Silver Palomino: 94
  • Jesus Was An Only Son: 97
  • Leah: 90
  • The Hitter: 81
  • All I'm Thinkin' About: 90
  • Matamoros Banks: 83
  • Song Average: 91
  • Coherency/conviction: 90
  • Album rating 91%
  • Positioned somewhere between Bruce's acoustic and bombastic sides, Devils is a generally subdued collection of those working-class narratives that the Boss does best. The rousing "Long Time Comin'" is the highlight, but the country-tinged "Jesus.." and "All The Way Home" run it close, and only "Hitter" begins to drag. An engaging collection.

  • We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions - American Land Edition (2006)

  • Old Dan Tucker: 97
  • Jesse James: 96
  • Mrs McGrath: 88
  • O Mary Don't You Weep: 94
  • John Henry: 95
  • Erie Canal: 95
  • Jacob's Ladder: 92
  • My Oklahoma Home: 89
  • Eyes On The Prize: 90
  • Shenandoah: 86
  • Pay Me My Money Down: 96
  • We Shall Overcome: 90
  • Froggie Went A-Courtin': 86
  • Buffalo Gals: 90
  • How Can I Keep From Singing: 88
  • How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live: 98
  • Bring 'Em Home: 92
  • American Land: 96
  • Song Average: 92
  • Coherency/conviction: 94
  • Album rating 93%
  • Wonderful concept - old folk standards, Negro spirituals and traditional ballads given the Springsteen treatment - executed meticulously. "How Can A Poor Man", "Old Dan Tucker" and "Pay Me My Money Down" are the rocking, rolling highlights, but there's no denying the impact of the more subdued "Eyes on the Prize" and "Oklahoma Home".

  • Magic (2007)

  • Radio Nowhere: 90
  • You'll Be Comin' Down: 100
  • Livin' in the Future: 99
  • Your Own Worst Enemy: 98
  • Gypsy Biker: 97
  • Girls in Their Summer Clothes: 99
  • I'll Work for Your Love: 97
  • Magic: 95
  • Last to Die: 92
  • Long Walk Home: 98
  • Devil's Arcade: 97
  • Terry's Song: 96
  • Song Average: 96
  • Coherency/conviction: 96
  • Album rating 96%
  • As fine a form as the Boss has ever been on, Magic proves Bruce has still got it. "You'll Be Comin' Down" is a career highlight; "Girls" and "Future" are also nothing short of masterpieces. Not a single track disappoints. It may lack a cohesive narrative, but Bruce's lyrics remain on fine form too, "Enemy" and "Last to Die" proving he's as politically astute as ever. "Terry's Song", meanwhile, sees the Boss at his most vulnerable. Marvellous.

  • Working On A Dream (2009)

  • Outlaw Pete: 94
  • My Lucky Day: 96
  • Working On A Dream: 96
  • Queen of the Supermarket: 96
  • What Love Can Do: 90
  • This Life: 97
  • Good Eye: 85
  • Tomorrow Never Knows: 95
  • Life Itself: 92
  • Kingdom of Days: 98
  • Surprise, Surprise: 95
  • The Last Carnival: 92
  • The Wrestler: 95
  • Song Average: 94
  • Coherency/conviction: 90
  • Album rating 92%
  • Lyrics sometimes simpler usual, but the music more than makes up for it: from the electronic rockabilly of "Good Eye" to the all-out rock and roll of "My Good Day", via Orbison, Spector and Beach Boys-influenced pop: this album is an immensely enjoyable listen from start to finish. The title track and "Surprise, Surprise" are most immediately appealing; but every song grabs you after a few listens. Closer "The Last Carnival" is a worthy tribute to Danny Federici.

  • COMPILATIONS, LIVE AND MISCELLANY

  • Live 1975-1985 (1985)

  • Paradise By The 'C': 84
  • Raise Your Hand: 89
  • Because the Night: 95
  • This Land Is Your Land: 81
  • Seeds: 77
  • War: 82
  • Jersey Girl: 84
  • Generally quality stuff. "Because the Night" is a stone-cold classic; the others are no slouches, either..

  • Greatest Hits (1995)

  • Streets of Philadelphia: 93
  • Secret Garden: 92
  • Murder Incorporated: 95
  • Blood Brothers: 94
  • All impressive.

  • Tracks (1998)

  • Mary Queen of Arkansas [Alternate Version]: 53
  • It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City [Alternate Version]: 58
  • Growin' Up [Alternate Version]: 77
  • Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street? [Alternate Version]: 75
  • Bishop Danced: 80
  • Santa Ana: 86
  • Seaside Bar Song: 95
  • Zero and Blind Terry: 89
  • Linda Let Me Be the One: 94
  • Thundercrack: 96
  • Rendezvous: 93
  • Give the Girl a Kiss: 91
  • Iceman: 77
  • Bring on the Night: 97
  • So Young and in Love: 92
  • Hearts of Stone: 95
  • Don't Look Back: 97
  • Restless Nights: 91
  • A Good Man Is Hard to Find (Pittsburgh): 83
  • Roulette: 100
  • Dollhouse: 98
  • Where the Bands Are: 100
  • Loose Ends: 99
  • Living on the Edge of the World: 95
  • Wages of Sin: 81
  • Take 'Em As They Come: 98
  • Be True: 93
  • Ricky Wants a Man Of Her Own: 94
  • I Wanna Be With You: 97
  • Mary Lou: 93
  • Stolen Car [Alternate Version]: 89
  • Born in the U.S.A. [Demo Version]: 86
  • Johnny Bye-Bye: 86
  • Shut Out the Light: 82
  • Cynthia: 87
  • My Love Will Not Let You Down: 95
  • This Hard Land: 92
  • Frankie: 90
  • TV Movie: 90
  • Stand On It: 87
  • Lion's Den: 88
  • Car Wash: 92
  • Rockaway the Days: 90
  • Brothers Under the Bridges ('83): 94
  • Man at the Top: 93
  • Pink Cadillac: 93
  • Two for the Road: 89
  • Janey Don't You Lose Heart: 98
  • When You Need Me: 87
  • The Wish: 87
  • The Honeymooners: 86
  • Lucky Man: 74
  • Leavin' Train: 91
  • Seven Angels: 92
  • Gave it a Name: 88
  • Sad Eyes: 87
  • My Lover Man: 79
  • Over the Rise: 77
  • When the Lights Go Out: 85
  • Loose Change: 80
  • Trouble in Paradise: 89
  • Happy: 86
  • Part Man, Part Monkey: 84
  • Goin' Cali: 79
  • Back in Your Arms: 90
  • Brothers Under the Bridge: 84
  • A B-sides and outtakes collection; as such, it's pretty much guaranteed to be a mixed bag, but the good far outweighs the bad. "Roulette" and "Where The Bands Are" are top-20 material and would be among the best on any Springsteen album; many others, including "Janey", "Loose Ends", "Dollhouse" and "Don't Look Back", run them pretty damn close too. Some tracks don't work, and the early demos are of novelty value only, but there's far more good than bad here.

  • 18 Tracks (1999)

  • Trouble River: tbc
  • The Fever: 90
  • The Promise: 95
  • "Fever" is good but better with Southside Johnny. Other two unheard.

  • The Essential Bruce Springsteen Bonus (2003)

  • American Skin (41 Shots): 90
  • Land of Hope and Dreams: 98
  • From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come): 97
  • Big Payback: 83
  • Held Up Without a Gun: 89
  • Trapped: 87
  • None But the Brave: 97
  • Missing: 73
  • Lift Me Up: 77
  • Viva Las Vegas: 86
  • County Fair: 88
  • Code of Silence: 84
  • Dead Man Walkin': 83
  • Countin' on a Miracle [Acoustic]: 77
  • "From Small Things" and "None But The Brave" are top-class, and there's plenty of other good material here too, bar the rather monotonous "Missing".

  • Live In Dublin with the Sessions Band (2007)

  • Atlantic City [Alternate Arrangement]: 97
  • Further On (Up The Road) [Alternate Arrangement]: 86
  • If I Should Fall Behind [Alternate Arrangement]: 85
  • Long Time Comin' [Alternate Arrangement]: 96
  • Open All Night [Alternate Arrangement]: 98
  • Growin' Up [Alternate Arrangement]: 89
  • When The Saints Go Marching In: 86
  • This Little Light Of Mine: 97
  • Blinded By The Light [Alternate Arrangement]: 86
  • Love Of The Common People: 94
  • Some marvellous arrangements here - "Atlantic City" and "Open All Night", in particular, are radically re-imagined, and they work out brilliantly.

  • Christmas songs

  • Santa Claus Is Coming To Town: 88
  • Jingle Bell Rock: 77
  • Merry Christmas Baby: 93
  • Pilgrim in the Temple of Love: 90
  • Fun stuff, especially the latter two.
Author Comments: 

Rankings
1. Born to Run 99%
2. The River 96%
3. Magic 96%
4. The Rising 96%
5. Darkness On The Edge Of Town 96%
6. Born In The USA 94%
7. Nebraska 93%
8. We Shall Overcome 93%
9. Working On A Dream 92%
10. Devils and Dust 91%
11. Tunnel of Love 91%
12. The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle 91%
13. Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. 86%
14. Lucky Town 85%
15. The Ghost of Tom Joad 83%
16. Human Touch 72%

Cloned From: 
Bruce Springsteen