Forget "Born to Run". Forget "Born In the USA". Forget it all for a little while. "Darkness on the Edge of Town" stands alone as Bruce's truly defining album. It is his first foray into the dark side of life. It is the place where the characters in "BTR" ended up--a roadblock on Bruce's long highway. His optimism has waned and his perspective is bleak. Bruce is no longer lookiing through the eyes of a teenage rebel with a dream.

Despite the legal battles behind the scenes of this album that were quite the catalyst for his descent into darkness, it seems like it was the only logical way to go after embarking on the hopeful escapes in his first three albums. It was the natural progression of his maturity into the music. I would be so bold to say that without this record, Bruce Springsteen may have never reached the heights that this newfound lease on life provided him.

But...enough with my take on the importance of "Darkness...". The songs speak for themselves on this record. I think the best track is "The Promised Land" because it is like the workingman's anthem, so to speak. It is Bruce declaring that even though he is living a desolate, machine-like existence just to get by in the cruel world, he still holds on to the dreams of the promised land. Another favorite of mine on the album is the title track. His passion in this particular song you can feel in your veins...literally.

But...the showstopper track has to be "Racing in the Street." When I first heard this heartwrenching masterpiece, it gave me chills. I do believe that it is probably the most painfully beautiful song I have ever heard. The reality of it will floor you alone.

Overall, the anguish of Bruce on this record can be heard in every track. From the understated cynicism, to his angered and wounded cries and shrieks, this record is a MUST OWN.

I had a lot of anger toward my family at the time I was listening to this album, and it helped me to find expression to what I was feeling. Especially songs like "Adam Raised a Cain," "Badlands," "Darkness on the Edge of Town," and "Streets of Fire." Springsteen's music reflects the sense of anger (check out the searing guitar work on "Adam Raised a Cain" and "Streets of Fire"), but the album also has the same hopeful optimism that eventually, things are gonna work out right. This comes through particularly well on "The Promised Land," and "Badlands." It's not your typical Springsteen album - he's never rocked this hard before or since - but it's a great statement of fiery determination.

This is one of the most powerful albums I have ever heard. I didn't get Bruce in younger days. Back in the 80's I was only interested in heavy metal and it wasn't until my early twentys when I began to expand my musical horizons that I understood the Boss. These songs take on a whole nother meaning now. A couple of years ago I remember making my hour long trip to work where I supervised a department that due to layoffs was overworked and I was catching heat for the work not getting done from corporate and worried about getting laid off myself. (It was a lot like the movie Office Space) I felt like I was fighting a losing battle and Badlands and Promised Land literally gave me the strength to go into the building. Sounds corny but listening to this CD was like a religous experience. Even though there is uncertainty and darkness in these songs there is still a sense of hope. Thanks for the inspiration Bruce.

Years before Nirvana exploded, Springsteen wrote Darkness on the Edge of Town. Years before Pearl Jam extolled Neil Young as the father of grundge, Springsteen perfected the musical form. This album lays out the format of grundge in a desperate fury.

It all started with a lawsuit and an injunction that kept Springsteen from recording for three years. While Born To Run used a uniquely American garage-band sound to propel itself, it also held true to the thematic played out rock opera of the period. Born To Run was Springsteen a bit confined to the time of the record. Three years later the walls of mainstream rock had collapsed with punk coming to the forefront. Springsteen takes advantage as the songs get shorter, darker, and more driving.

The injunction got to Bruce. Three years off had scarred him. So much so that he wanted to explode, as he says in "The Promised Land". He sings of an America that has betrayed him and hurt him throughout the album. From lovers who hate for just being born in Racing In the Street to a man who has fallen from society's graces and blames his father in Adam Raised a Cain, Springsteen uses the grundge theme of reaching for the most private thoughts and grabbing at the most public issues.

Every song is so strong and so heart-rendering that Springsteen bares a bruising rhythm to keep from breaking down. The grittiness of his lyrics tell of men who've lost everything and the music brings dignity to these characters. Everything that Pearl Jam and Nirvana were told that they had created, Springsteen had brought to life in 1978. In his darkest time, he wrote an album that so perfectly described what he was feeling, that it became ahead of ITS time and ahead of OUR time.

As the fading notes to Darkness play out, there is an undeniable hope in all the characters Springsteen has presented and in every listener. It's undeniable. Even though the man is still in the darkness, he's content with what he has. The perfect thought for the restlessness grundge would dredge up in the nineties.

It is hard to put in words how great this album is. How does a legend like Bruce top such a great album as "Born to Run"? By making an album that is perfect. Darkness kicks into gear with the first cut, "Badlands," a moving and dynamic Springsteen classic. The remarkable cuts keep coming, with such classics as "Candy's Room." Heck, every cut on this album is a classic. Just talking about it makes me want to pull it out and pop it in the CD player. Come to think of it, see ya.