Born in the U.S.A.

It's a well-executed rendition of a musical style that I generally can't stand whatsoever. His vocals got on my nerves a fair bit, and it's all a bit saccharine for me. The nice, warm bass was a positive feature throughout.

Guys, I’m sorry, I hate it. I’m old enough to just come out and say I hate it. Maybe it’s just a 90s punk kid hating anything that was mainstream in the 80s. I want to tell a story about how Reagan and the right misappropriated it and all that, but in the end I just don’t care, I don’t want to listen to it. “I’m On Fire” creeps me out, “Glory Days” creeps me out. I like “Dancing in the Dark” and a few other moments, but honestly I was thrilled when it was over and I could put on Nebraska instead.

Ik ergerde me ook vaak aan de luie uitspraak van Born. 'Bòòòò' in the USA'. Er wordt niet eens een r of n uitgesproken. Ik heb nu pas door dat dat eigenlijk alleen op het einde is.

Ik had altijd wat moeite met de typische jaren '80 klanken van de hits van dit album. Toch heeft Bruce iets bijzonders gedaan met deze klanken, vooral in Born in the USA. Met zijn volle rauwe keelgeluid ertegenaan, heeft hij gezorgd voor een continue muzikale strijdigheid, die toch duidelijk een geheel wordt.

Die strijdigheid is wel nodig om het interessant te houden. Als de zang van overgaat in Shalalala (derde nummer), verdwijnt direct alle magie. Dit zijn de uitersten. Soms kom je een vergeetbare 3 tegen, maar onmiskenbaar heeft bijna elk nummer grote kwaliteit.

Born in the U.S.A. is not just one of the greatest albums of all time. It is probably in my top three albums ever, and it is my go to record whenever I need something to lift me up.

I must listen to it at least five times a week. It is an easy five out of five, right up there with Born to Run for me.

The album is packed with incredible songs. The title track is one of the most powerful protest songs ever written, and still widely misunderstood. It sounds huge and anthemic, but the story at its heart is devastating. Bobby Jean, written for Steve Van Zandt, is a beautiful reflection on friendship and loyalty. I’m on Fire is pure atmosphere, simple, tense and unforgettable. No Surrender feels like the anthem of my upbringing. Then you still have Dancing in the Dark, My Hometown and Glory Days. The depth on this record is ridiculous.

What makes it even more remarkable is that it followed Nebraska. From stark acoustic storytelling to stadium sized rock songs, and yet the emotional weight never disappears.

Favourite track: The entire album. It is all brilliant.
Least favourite track: None. Every song feels essential.
Album artwork: An iconic cover and one of the most recognisable images in music history

(3) patriotism: yes

This album suits my overall vibe more than I care to admit.

That run of Born in the USA, Cover Me, Darlington County and Working on the Highway is pretty hardgoing; probably what most sceptics thing of as basic, barky Bruce.

Lot to love in the rest of this though. And a nice contrast with Nebraska. Glad I did a deep dive into Bruce's entire back catalogue a couple of years back. Even if it fucked with my Spotify algorithms.

Better than Coldplay

Famously dark and ironic, tho seldom understood by its biggest apostles, Born In The U.S.A. explores American folklore from a place of resignation. Following the stripped-down bleakness of Nebraska, the Boss decided to be just as bleak, and in many ways, just as bare, albeit w/ production that at least offers a semblance of the upbeat. But even that's not entirely true - tracks like 'Downbound Train' and 'I'm On Fire' are thoroughly minor-key anthems. Indeed, one of the major themes of the record is boredom, or as the modernists would have it, ennui: go ahead and check out the lyrics to 'I'm Goin' Down,' 'Glory Days,' 'Dancing In The Dark.' But in the special way Beckett never leaves you bereft, Bruce roars 'no surrender' and means it.

Solid. I don't always feel this American but I can't deny it's quality.

I hope this is the last Bruce Springsteen album. We get it, the author loved Bruce Springsteen. I don't love BS, I don't even like him, but I don't hate him either.

Great voice. Found myself waiting for my three favourite songs 9,10,11...and damn, are they good.

Perfect combination of stadium ambition and artistic integrity. Despair has never sounded so good.

“Born in the USA” is Bruce Springsteen's most famous song and also the title of his most famous album. While I was already quite familiar with the title track, I had only heard the rest of the album once or twice. And I have to say that now that I've listened to it more closely, I'm pleasantly surprised. Of course, not every song is as catchy as “Born...,” and this album is anything but complex, but Springsteen's voice still sounds pleasant even after ten songs, and I personally like the powerful yet transparent 80s sound (yes, I like a serious snare drum ;).

This is just a great album. The hits are incredible, and the filler is strong enough to stand on its own. I'll never be a huge fan of his voice, but it works here.

Just what we needed: Ol' Bruce still sounds like he's singing while taking a dump, but now that dump is drenched in 80's reverb. But wait - there's more: every song consists of the most predictable melody repeated ad nauseam with no development of theme whatsoever and not a single note or rhythm to challenge the ear. Even when Bruce decides to branch out and attempt more challenging genres than regurgitated two chord American folk slop, it ends up being a pale, pathetic, plagiaristic imitation (see the rockabilly of "Working on the Highway"). But generally, this album is about as basic as music can be - essentially what would happen if you wrote music for people who don't like music. Lyrically, this sounds like ChatGPT being asked to write the least self-aware doggerel possible. The first two Springsteen albums on this list got 1 star for being a blackhole of creativity and this makes it a trifecta.

0.5/5.0: Unlistenable

more tolerable than the other bruce springsteen albums on the list but nothing of note on here either

A very difficult album to listen to. The vocals are grating and flat in many of the songs.

However, I did find a couple of the songs earworming my brain afterwards to save it from being a 1*

Bruce Springsteen is 'Basically Fine: The Musical'. Nothing about his music stirs any kind of feeling in me. Even his biggest hits - both of which are on this album - leave me with a feeling of ambivalent indifference. I can't understand how anyone could dislike this music, and I can't understand why anyone could like it. It's magnolia dad rock which as a non-american has zero cultural meaning.

Born in the U.S.A. is a great song to start a Friday with, gets you pumped and is a great reminder how lucky I am to have not been Born in the U.S.A. Other standouts are I'm On Fire, Glory Days, and Dancing in the Dark.

Wouldn't be a big fan of Bruce in general but with the amount of stand outs on one album and how many bands have made careers off imitating him, looking at you Sam Fender, this deserves a 4/5.