Music The River
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - Bringing out the best in The Boss!
"The River" is an album for every Springsteen fan. While it may not adhere to the epic content of "Born to Run," it is by far my favorite of his albums. It has a bit of fun-time music like "Cadillac Ranch" for the rockers, classic blue-collar ballads like "Point Blank," and Springsteen genius like "The River." This is an album you can dance to, drive to and sit back and smoke to. It makes you want to sit with the lights off in a dim room, drink a beer, and smoke a cigarette. Woe to the fool who interrupts you. Or maybe you'll just get in the car and drive, drive, drive, letting The Boss take you away. While many may not recognize the value of Springsteen's balladic hits off albums such as "Nebraska" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad," one has to accept the calm intensity of "The River." He weaves these simple hits into the album as if to warn the rockers of the real reason he's making music. Time has shown us that not everyone can feel the glory of his reality. Those of us who can value the simplicity and rebelliousness of smoking a cigarette will remain true fans of the true spirit of "The River." "..her body tan and wet down at the reservoir..." .....it's a haunting way of making music.

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Rating: - Bag-o-Springsteen
Well....lets get this out of they way....I am a big Springsteen fan. Ok....Huge.... This disc gives you the best of both worlds. I totally disagree with the previous review that stated "and left the rest(Two Hearts, Drive All Night(9 minutes of painful moaning), Wreck On The Highway, Stolen Car)on the cutting room" Particularly the last two....Stolen Car and Wreck on the Highway. These songs are Bruce. There are songs on here that will appeal to people who had never heard of Bruce before Born in the USA (mostly side 1), as well as songs for people who think its a sin not to have Born To Run, Darkness, and Nebreska in the CD player at all times. This album is really a transition album...for the old bruce to the new bruce. It is the gateway to his born in the USA fame. You would think that it was its predeccessor, but Nebraska was. Which is about as far away from "Born In The USA" as an album possibly could be...it is very refelctive on the second half of disc 2. Whether you think Dancing In The Dark is his best song, or Thunder Road is the Gossepel, there is something on this disk for both of you.

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Rating: - My favorite Springsteen album
This is a very poigniant album and one of the best albums by any artist. Springsteen is very expansive on this album, touching on many different facets of life with a minimum of pretention.

My favorite songs are "Point Blank" and "Stolen Car." Anyone who's lived through a failed relationship should be touched by these songs.

Parts of the album continue the ode to blue collar life begun in "Darkness on the Edge of Town" including rockers like "You Can Look but you Better Not Touch," "Sherry Darling," and "Out in the Streets." Then there is the heartfelt blue collar ballad, "The River," as well as the other great ballads "Fade Away" and "Independence Day."

Then you have a bunch of his best good-time, flat out fun, rocking numbers like "Ramrod," "Cadillac Ranch," "I'm a Rocker," and "Crush on You." And don't forget the top ten "Hungry Heart." Despite a variety of styles the album is a very unified whole.

This is Bruce at his best, which is to say, rock at its best. An essential CD.

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Rating: - Great double album
Springsteen is for sure the Boss of rock 'n' roll storytelling. There's not too many rockers these days that can combine great rock with great stories. And this being a double album chock full of great stuff and no fluff, make this an album that all fans of the Boss and rock in general should have. Springsteen is not just a great singer but also songwriter..he wrote every single song on this album...but also a great musician, playing electric 6 and 12 string guitars, harmonica and piano. What a talent!