Mike Reilly attempts to rank the Boss's best work
By: Mike Reilly
Bruce Springsteen is dropping a new album soon (June 14). It is safe to say that I, and many other Bruce fans, are hyped. The album, titled Western Stars, will be his 19th studio album.
Each of his albums have distinct qualities, really, their own story. At the beginning of his career, his albums focused on the chase and the lust for freedom and adventure. Now, Springsteen, who will turn 70 in September, is settling down and focusing on the moment. This is evident in the only released track from his upcoming album, “Hello Sunshine.” Its lyrics embody a man who is done running and is happy in the present.
Springsteen’s growth as a human and an artist provide fans with anthems to celebrate and hard-hitting songs to reflect on emotional moments. In honor of the upcoming album, let's look back at some of his finest work.
(Note: This isn’t a definitive ranking. Feel free to disagree! I’m basing it off of several factors: start-to-finish quality, depth of storytelling, musical strength and pop culture impact.)
5. The Rising
Springsteen produced this album as a response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. The album consists of 15 songs, including three singles - “The Rising,” “Lonesome Day” and “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day.”
The record is simply an emotional rollercoaster. It conveys the raw sadness, anger and emptiness experienced by countless both during and after 9/11. “Empty Sky,” “You’re Missing” and “Lonesome Day” tug at heartstrings. The skyline devoid of the Twin Towers, the dinner table devoid of a loved one and a day devoid of a lifelong companion are images that were all too common then and are enough to make anyone tear up.
There are songs of hope and promise, though, such as the album’s title track. There are also tunes such as “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day” and “Mary’s Place” that provide optimism and hope in times of despair. Essentially, the idea was “now’s tough, but we are going to find our way.”
This album is one of Springsteen’s heaviest albums. His voice was much needed in a time of grieving and pain. The success of the album, it's time relevance and the many meanings of its songs make it one of his best.
4. Darkness on the Edge of Town
This album just fires me up. There are only 10 songs (three singles: “Prove It All Night,” “Badlands” and “The Promised Land”), but boy, do they pack a punch.
The successor to Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town is packed with passionate songs that immediately catch one's attention. The racing introduction of “Candy’s Room,” the anthem-like beat of “Badlands” or even the deep-spirited belief of “The Promised Land” make Darkness an album about chasing what you want, with little regard to anything else.
Springsteen incorporates serious topics into the entire album, but some songs capture that tone more than others. “Racing in the Street,” “Factory” and the album’s title track exemplify this. They focus on a passion such as cars, enduring the harsh realities of factory life and facing the emotional and physical challenges of everyday life.
3. The River
The River is action-packed. It consists of 20 songs, including SEVEN singles (four were released in the U.K. only).
There are rockers, ballads and a few trips throughout this entire album. For me, the album’s title track takes home the cake. Based on Springsteen’s sister, Virginia, “The River” discusses the trials and tribulations of a young man growing up, working and accidentally impregnating a woman. The song is written exceptionally and coincides perfectly with the cold and slow music.
“Independence Day” and “Point Blank” also paint emotional portraits. The former discusses a son leaving his father and beginning life on his own, while the latter discusses the loss of power and inability to have an impact on people.
But, the album also has some crowd pleasers. Rockers such as “Hungry Heart,” “Sherry Darling,” “Out in the Street,” and “The Ties That Bind,” get the energy flowing easily. They’re passionate songs that people can sing, dance and relate to, which is a difficult trifecta to pull off.
2. Born to Run
I hope this doesn’t shock anyone or make anyone throw their heads back in disbelief. This album launched Springsteen to the top. Born to Run, his third studio album, is comprised of eight songs. It includes two singles: the album’s title track and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.”
I mean, really. Words can’t do this album justice. “Thunder Road” slowly builds up a rock-and-roll explosion with its slow piano and harmonica followed by a passionate journey of a man “pulling out of here to win.” “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” a tale about the The E Street Band’s formation, continues the party with Clarence Clemons’ iconic saxophone driving the charge.
After some deeper tracks about chasing love and doing whatever it takes to succeed, the album is capped off by “Jungleland.” This song is literally 25 percent of the album, running almost 10 minutes from start to finish. It is worth every second. It is a multi-faceted ride highlighted by an incredible saxophone solo from the Big Man. It makes you want to dance, cry and everything in between.
I (and many music fans) could listen to this album straight-through and be thoroughly entertained. It has great songwriting and even better musicianship.
1. Born in the U.S.A.
I love this album for all of the same reasons I love Born to Run. The difference on Born in the U.S.A., though, is a more mature Springsteen. This album, his seventh, consists of 12 songs detailing American life. It’s number one because not only does it incorporate all of the fantastic aspects of all of his other works, but it is relatable to a larger group of people.
Born in the U.S.A. has seven singles (!more than half of the album!), indicating its popularity at the time and to now. The songs aren’t just great stand-alone tunes. This album flows seamlessly from start to finish. There literally isn’t a bad or even average song on this, for my money. There are classics such as “Dancing in the Dark,” “Glory Days” and the album’s title track, as well as deeper cuts such as “My Hometown,” “Downbound Train,” and “Working on the Highway.” Simply, there’s something for everyone. It’ll make you want to hop on your feet, and maybe to stare deep into the wounds of our nation’s history. The storytelling is stunning.
That last part is where this album stands out from the rest of the Springsteen’s discography. The album’s title track challenges America for its involvement in Vietnam as well as its handling of its troops when they returned from combat. Other songs dived into the struggle of working-class life. Some songs captured personal feelings of anxiety and lust. Other songs captured feelings of nostalgia and coming to accept the realities of where you came from.
Each song is delivered perfectly, too. The upbeat pitch of success in “Glory Days,” the charge of “No Surrender” and the lustful tone of “I’m On Fire” all capture the mood that the lyrics are describing.
Born in the U.S.A. is Springsteen’s best work. It is a complete album with an overarching theme. This theme is approached from multiple angles, tones and styles, though. Not to mention, it was immensely popular, which means people resonated with what Springsteen was saying.
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Mike Reilly is currently a senior at Quinnipiac University where he is working towards degrees in communications and public relations. You can find him on Twitter here.