The River (studio album) by Bruce Springsteen

First 12 tracks are a decent 80-90, the complement tracks are for me filler, better thank nebraska though

En mi opinión, este es el mejor álbum de Springsteen, una colección de canciones comparable al mejor recopilatorio.

This album is just unnecessarily long and really needed to be cut down. The whole of side 2 is filler and could be taken off the record and it would be improved drastically. Even without that side it still isn't up to the same level as his other work even though a few of the tracks on the first side are some of my favourite Springsteen songs. There is definitely an improvement in song writing on this record so if you are into the more lyrical side of Springsteen you might enjoy this one more than most. Furthermore, no song is sonically bad and there is still very enjoyable moments, such as the trumpets when they appear and the drum work. However, my attention kept wavering while listening and by the middle of the second half I end up just waiting for it to end. Overall, this is a huge dip in quality for me and is an over rated album that desperately needs to be trimmed down and is far off the mark from his masterpieces.

I usually frown on double albums, but there is a decent set of songs here. The River is mostly an upbeat album, with hints of rockabilly and a few ballads to mix things up. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band would record Cadillac Ranch and an outtake from this session called From Small Things.

Recommended.

A Side: Cadillac Ranch
B Side: Drive All Night

From teague 10/05/2021 16:12

I went into The River thinking it would expose a lot of Springsteen's flaws due to the length of it, but it's a lot more consistent than, say, Darkness On the Edge of Town or Born in the U.S.A.

Pfff... It's a very rough album. It has a lot of real gems in there, but a lot of 'bad' tracks for sure. As a single album it may have been one of his best, now it is an average one at best.

From NowhereMan 01/04/2021 23:50

This is a deeply flawed album, but ironically I come back to it more than most of Springsteen’s. It’s a real journey. Each song tells a story worth hearing.

The first disc is basically on the level of the other Springsteen albums in the 70s and early 80s. The second disc is also a recording of music. Filler filler filler filler. Fav tracks The Ties That Bind, Jackson Cage, Hungry Heart, Independence Day, The River which might be his very best song or at least is his best quieter/writing-driven song.

This is real Springsteen: achingly personal storytelling lyrics, Americana everywhere, proper songwriting. As with most double albums it could do with a trim, but this is at least a contender for his best.

I have mixed views on this album, but on writing this review i giving it positive a thumbs up. On this album its the ballads that stand out, and their no denying that he is good song writer.