Holy hell, yesterday was so much fun that I’ve decided to do a double shot (as KZEL-FM in Eugene would have put it back when I was in high school) of On The Fence madness.
Today, I dare to question one of rock’s holy scriptures, Born To Run. Not an album I grew up with, or ever really lived around, the importance of this LP has always eluded me. I’ve heard it in fits and starts over the years, and listened to many people expound on its brilliance, but it still just… well… read on…
THUMBS UP: Forget my faint praise, AllMusic.com says “Born to Run was an intentional masterpiece. It declared its own greatness with songs and a sound that lived up to Springsteen’s promise.” Pitchforkmedia.com says “Born to Run lies entirely on the dreamy and reckless side of maturity and is all the better for it.” Rolling Stone named it the 18th greatest album of all-time, and said that “In his determination to make a great album, Springsteen produced a timeless, inspiring record about the labors and glories of aspring to greatness.” Amazon.com editor Daniel Durchholz wrote that “When Born to Run was released in 1975, it earned then-unknown Springsteen the rare honor of simultaneous covers on both Time and Newsweek. The attention was warranted then, and it still is now.”
THUMBS DOWN: I have a ton of respect for Bruce Springsteen as an artist, and I dearly want to enjoy Born To Run as much as everybody tells me I should. I actually get jealous when people tell me how much this album means to them, because I love music, and love finding albums that are meaningful. But Born To Run is partly undone for me by its breathless reviews – no album could possibly live up to the hype that’s been bestowed on this. And more importantly, this album has always sounded overwrought to my ears – like bad high school drama. If such thoughts make me a heretic, then so be it, but every time I listen to Born To Run, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m hearing a pretty good bar band taking 8 minutes to play 3 minute tunes.
[This is the place where I would normally invite you to share your opinion, but today I'm not even going to bother. The mob of angry Springsteen fans is already forming outside my front door...]
Album info:
Release date
August 25th, 1975
Producers
Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, and Mike Appel
Label
Columbia
Side One
Thunder Road
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Night
Backstreets
Side Two
Born To Run
She’s The One
Meeting Across The River
Jungleland
Tags: Born To Run, Bruce Springsteen
29 April 2008 at 1:59 pm |
Stink Bomb. I have never been able to get down with the boss. Bring the hate…
29 April 2008 at 2:21 pm |
Whoa, whoa, dk, let’s not get cocky here. Too many memories tied up in this album for me to forsake it now. Sure, it sounds a little overwrought in the jaded 21st Century, but through the ears of an angst-ridden teenager circa 1981, it has the magic ring of truth, baby. I remember writing out the lyrics to Jungleland for a class poetry project. It was the only “poem” the nuns liked, which might have something to do with the fact that I also included lyrics to Black Sabbath’s Children of the Grave and Deep Purple’s Sweet Child in Time in the same packet.
Thumbs up!
29 April 2008 at 3:20 pm |
Springsteen’s “Born To Run” = Nirvana’s “Nevermind”
It’s an important album because it’s the introductory one that got the masses hooked.
Musically? Meh.
Springsteen in general? Never got into him or understood the rabid fan base. In the end, are Springsteen fans that much different from Barbara Streisand fans?
I do like his Santa Claus is Coming to Town cover, though. ‘Course I only have to hear it once a year.
29 April 2008 at 3:28 pm |
I never liked Springsteen back in the day. Disliked his stuff really. Now that I’m in my 30s and have kids, it’s like the anthem of my life. That’s quite a thing to commit to writing.
I like what The Killers did with the “Born to Run” tune on “When you were young”.
…and I fucking hope kdub weighs in on this…
29 April 2008 at 3:49 pm |
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/29/people.hendrixsextape.ap/index.html
29 April 2008 at 6:43 pm |
Oh, the hate has been brought Mr. James Cabral you can rest assured of that. And the hate I bring, is in a bag, waiting for you outside your vehicle parked … oh, I know where. You just don’t mess with the Boss.
29 April 2008 at 6:47 pm |
Wait, is Springsteen involved in some kind of crime syndicate??
Am I invoking the wrath of Bob by asking that question?
Let’s hope so…
29 April 2008 at 6:52 pm |
Now that I know this chump can’t even outsell Billy Joel, he sucks even more.
29 April 2008 at 6:53 pm |
except Darkness on the Edge of Town. That album kills!!!
29 April 2008 at 6:53 pm |
Oh, and Joey… before you go throwing around veiled threats and prepping the horse’s head for Jimmy’s bed – do you have anything to say about the music?
Perhaps something poetic? A nice haiku??
29 April 2008 at 8:48 pm |
ah no haiku just P U. With you on this one DK his music just never touched me with one cheesy exception-his cut on the 911 concert album. wanted to love him but no. but do love me some kdub potty mouth and all. bwha ha ha rock on sister. pretty sure that big red will weigh in on this at 180 degrees
30 April 2008 at 7:10 am |
i used to live in asbury park and i’ve had enough of “the boss” to last a lifetime….
while i do not doubt the greatness of this album for me its a pass….
30 April 2008 at 11:21 pm |
I have this image of Asbury Park: every street corner has a pool hall or bar with some young hoodlum standing out front wearing a leather jacket and a five o’clock shadow. They’re all tough kids, but a lot of them wear their hearts on their sleeves while they plot midnight escapes in their muscle cars.
Please don’t ruin this for me…
1 May 2008 at 5:36 am |
years ago that was pretty much the picture dk but you have to add in the drugs, the gangs, the crime, the crooked politicians, the whores & transvestites and general malaise of the city and you’d be pretty on point…..
I won’t ruin it for you now by telling what it’s turning into…..
but all the (good) bars are gone…
1 May 2008 at 5:57 am |
MIA Asbury Park bars of yesteryear….
The Golddigger
The Hitch n Rail
Dugans
The Cameo (still there but not what it once was)
The Tap Room
T-Birds
The Wonder Bar
The Clover Room
The Fastlane
Crossroads
there’s a few more i can’t remember…. lot’s o’ beer and dead brain cells between the 80’s & now…..
1 May 2008 at 8:52 am |
If it’s like every other town in America, those establishments have been replaced by TGIFridays, Walmart, Chili’s, Subway, Starbucks, and a host of other godforsaken chain stores that I’m conveniently spacing…
Adios to Mom & Pop!
1 May 2008 at 10:38 am |
the cameo had the best deal in town an 8 oz. draft pabst (before it was trendy) and a shot of fleischmann’s whiskey for a buck 25, yep, $1.25 and a juke box with Hank Williams and Patsy Cline among other greats…. until one day after work me and my buddy went in and made our order and were greeted with this reply….. “Pabst? We don’t sell that old man beer anymore”
We turned and left, never to return…. last i heard they turned the inside into a springsteen shrine…..
NO THANKS!
1 May 2008 at 2:33 pm |
Had A Bruce sightin not to long ago which impressed me cause I’m not of the Jersey.
Was in Asbury Park, a local bowling alley seeing Wanda Jackson which was a real treat ~ Mr Springsteen and His wife were there. People were crowding him for photos and autographs, he was drinkin jager shots @ the bar. I caught him in the mirror and was like Shit thats Bruce, kinda wished I was joinin him for a shot
I dont hate him or his Music
Later in the night I ended up walking next to him by chance from the bathroom.
I looked him and said your just another Jersey Boy like everyone else
His drunk response was:
I cant find my Wife
5 May 2008 at 4:43 pm |
I’ve decided to take a pass on this one. But I will share the following link (amazing performance IMO, although not of a BTR song):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp-oDAxx8So
Also, be sure to count among those “hoodlums” hanging in front of the pool halls in Asbury Park:
Jack Nicholson
Danny DeVito
Stephen “Red Badge of Courage” Crane
5 May 2008 at 5:20 pm |
Next time I listen to Born To Run, I’ll be sure to imagine Danny DeVito as the protagonist…
5 May 2008 at 7:44 pm |
More YouTube madness, this time featuring Bruce and Danny DeVito on the same stage:
6 May 2008 at 6:51 am |
Stephen “Red Badge of Courage” Crane was actually from Ocean Grove, which is actually where i lived but its so close to AP everyone just says they are from Asbury Park because let’s be honest, who the fuck has ever heard of Ocean Grove???
19 May 2008 at 8:42 am |
Who ARE these people who hate Springsteen?!? Hipboy, I will cut a bitch.