Bruce Springsteen

Darkness at the Edge of Town - Columbia 1978

Tracks: 1. Badlands / 2. Adam Raised a Cain / 3. Something in the Night / 4. Candy's Room / 5. Racing in the Streets / 6. Promised Land / 7. Factory / 8. Streets of Fire / 9. Prove It All Night / 10. Darkness on the Edge of Town

Comments:

Initially, I first got to know Bruce Springsteen with "The River" and "Born in the USA". I followed with "Tunnel of Love", but lost some interest after "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town".

I never really checked up on his back catalog, so apart from a few tracks "Darkness at the Edge of Town" was almost ”new” to me, when I recently bought the album.

What strikes me most here, is the extent to which the album is akin to "The River" and "Born in the USA" - both musically and with lyrical themes. I imagine that his wel-known stadium-rock sound was more or less founden here. The songs are generally of high quality and the album as a whole must be one of his most consistent.

"Badland" and "Promised Land" are fine catchy rockers and two favorites. "Racing in the Streets" is a slower melodic song with nice melody that may lead the mind towards both "My Hometown" and the title track from "The River". The title track "Darkness at the Edge of Town" is also a strong track - with great lyrics and musical drama. The short "Factory" is possibly my absolute favorite; both melodic and catchy – can’t help singing along on the simple chorus.

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