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| Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town Band: Bruce Springsteen Tracks: - Badlands - Adam Raised a Cain - Something in the Night - Candy's Room - Racing in the Street - Promised Land - Factory - Streets of Fire - Prove It All Night - Darkness on the Edge of Town One of Springsteens best. I just realized that it's very hard to write a Fair and levelheaded review of something that has had such a large impact on my personal life. This album, together with Nebraska, is Springsteen at his absolute best. And it feels like it has been a close friend for quite a long time now. Dark. Angry. Powerful. Deep meanings and implications about love, family and everything in between. But at the same time -- and this is what has always drawn me to his music -- accessible, listenable and extremely enjoyable. Songs as "Badlands", "The Promised Land" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town" are among his best ever and they deal with important and serious issues. Feelings of abandonment. Of loneliness. Of not feeling like you're a part of society. But unlike the Nebraska album, there's also very much hope buried inside the stories of Darkness on the edge of town. The characters have not given up although their life is difficult and they are searching for, I guess they are just searching for, something. The short story is: this record rocks, lyrically and musically. NOT BETTER THAN BORN TO RUN, JUST MORE MATURE First of all, let's set the record straight: "Darkness" is not better than born to run, it's just different. Gone is the youthful naivete found on its predecessor; it has been replaced by a hard-won maturity and acceptance. This album says that life is tough, but life is not something to run away from. The answers are not just across the county line or in some far-away fantasy world; they exist in the individual. For the first time we see Springsteen embracing reality, not trying to create some fantastical universe where the guy gets the girl and they Live happily ever after. In fact, I remember Bruce saying something about how in his previous albums the guy always got the girl and they rode off into the sunset...but this was the first album where he began to question, "Yeah, and then what?" Well, this album contains every kind of "then what" you can imagine. Throughout the album, Bruce acknowledges the difficulty and pain we experience in life, but he says that we must keep going ("Badlands"). Going for what, you say? Well, "The Promised Land," of course; and in this song he says that he believes that life is still worth living, despite shattered illusions and broken dreams. The people who give up are also a constant force on this album, especially on songs like "Racing in the Street". On this song, Bruce divides the world into two types of people: those who die a little bit more every day, and those who go home every night, get dressed up, and go racing in the street. Unlike the characters in "Born to Run," it doesn't even seem to matter if they find the fulfillment they are looking for. What matters is that they continue to search. I haven't even begun to Talk about the music, either, have I? Well, the recording of this album ushers in a new Bruce; there is no Wall of Sound, no jazzy, funky E Street Band jamming. This album is full of twisted guitar solos by Bruce, and it is the first time his guitar skills are completely realized. This may be the most "guitar" album he's ever done. But don't get me wrong: you still get the rest of the E Street Band in full force: Max Weinberg and his thundering drums, Clarence Clemons with that saxophone. This album has a certain stark quality to it; however, it is not nearly as stark and simplistic as later efforts such as "Nebraska" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad." It's a great rock album, but it's not JUST a great rock album. Bruce become a philosopher here, the prophet we disciples followed into the next decade with the release of its sequel, "The River." And if Bruce is a prophet, this masterpiece of an album surely must be our guiding light. In many ways, "Darkness" is better than "Born to Run." It surely is more textured and somehow throughout the record Bruce establishes a connection with his listener like he Flawless Record Bruce Springsteen had the unenviable task of following up 'Born To Run,' considered by many the greatest rock and roll record of all time. As if that basic pressure wasn't enough he also found himself in a huge legal battle with his management that had him siphoning hit songs off to other artists while he waited for the dust to settle. It was three years between 'Born To Run' and 'Darkness' and it's obvious the songwriter of 'Darkness' is a touch more world-wise than the one who wrote 'Born To Run.' The E Street Band, as expected, proves completely up to the task of bringing Bruce's new music to life. But this record is astonishing. From the opening pounding of the legendary 'Badlands' it's obvious that not only did Bruce keep his momentum from 'Born To Run,' he had clearly progressed as a songwriter to levels American rock hadn't seen before, and still haven't seen. As said earlier, this is a dirtier record than 'Born To Run.' The dreamers are still there, but they can see The Shadows the sunlight casts. A song like 'Something in the Night' is haunting and distant. The title track is the same way. 'Badlands' and 'Promised Land' are as big and bawdy as Bruce has ever been. We know Bruce has been up and down but when he exclaims 'it ain't a sin to be Glad you're alive' it's all we need to hear. As usual, Bruce can tell a Love story and describe that perfect date. 'Prove It All Night' and 'Candy's Room' deliver the love. Meanwhile, 'Racing In the Street', takes us down an emotional and musical road that is as complete as opera, and far more moving. This is not a down album. It's the opposite. It's an inspiration. It points out the darkness, absolutely, but then points us to the top of the hill where the sun is always shining ... in the promised land. As good a rock and roll record as there ever has been. Buy Bruce Springsteen Darkness On The Edge Of Town at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.comJamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
