Darkness on the Edge of Town | 
 enlarge | Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy New: $5.09
You Save: $6.89 (58%)
New (47) Used (33) Collectible (1) from $4.95
Rating:  131 reviews
Sales Rank: 2021
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 35318
UPC: 074643531825
EAN: 0746435318258
ASIN: B0000025D0
Release Date: October 25, 1990
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Tracks:
| • | Badlands | | • | Adam Raised a Cain | | • | Something in the Night | | • | Candy's Room | | • | Racing in the Streets | | • | The Promised Land | | • | Factory | | • | Streets of Fire | | • | Prove It All Night | | • | Darkness on the Edge of Town |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential recording
The pain of a protracted legal battle with his former manager and the release of being allowed to record again after a three-year layoff are equally apparent from the piercing hard rock and harsh lyrical content of Darkness on the Edge of Town. Betrayal and hard work that comes to naught are the primary subjects on his mind here, evidenced by songs such as "Adam Raised a Cain," "Factory," and "Streets of Fire." Elsewhere, there are signs of hope or at least the possibility of outrunning your problems ("Racing in the Street," "The Promised Land," "Prove It All Night"). But mostly, these are songs about exorcising some serious demons, and from the sound of things, Springsteen's loud, lonesome howl and blistering guitar work went a long way toward making him whole again. This is angry art, made by someone pushed to his absolute limit and more than ready to push back. --Daniel Durchholz
Album Description
Import exclusive two-disc set combines Bruce's 1978 album Darkness On The Edge Of Town with his1982 album Nebraska. Two standard jewel cases housed in a slip case. Sony/BMG. 2005.
|
| Customer Reviews:
A true Master September 7, 2008
Ross M. Robertson
Bruce Springsteen shaped the futures for many artists to follow. And he is as good now as he ever was.
Springsteen's best August 3, 2008
jcd
The cover photos for this album symbolize what it's all about. On the front, Springsteen wears that emblematic "Born to Run" black leather jacket, as seen on the cover of the previous record that made him an overnight superstar. On the back, the famous stud-leather is gone; the Boss is stripped down to a plain white T.
For all its success, to my ears "Born to Run"'s songs are often sentimental and even phony: the record pumps up banal, everyday stories into unconvincing epics with comic book melodrama and unlistenably hyper-inflated wall-of-sound treacle. It doesn't stand the test of years well, IMO.
But "Darkness" is its shadowy obverse. More banal, everyday life-stories, yet made powerfully compelling by simple, honest, confessional story-telling and gritty, stripped-down musical arrangements that keep you close to the bones of some of Springsteen's sharpest, loveliest songwriting.
"BTR" is unconvincingly overpowering; "Darkness" is shattering, unforgettable. Not to be missed!
Rocking all-american music August 2, 2008
Philip Bradshaw (toronto canada)
Although the sound is at times muddy/murky; it suits the subject matter. However, as others have commented, this cd screams out for a re-master. That is the only negative thing that I can say about Darkness. The material is uniformly top class. One great song follows another. As on all of his 1970's albums there are several instant classics - are there any better sing along car songs than Racing in the Street? Bruce rocks more than on the previous three albums and certainly more than he has since this was released in '78. Until I listened to this cd again recently I hadn't realized what an accomplished guitarist Springsteen is. Here, on a number of songs there are suitably controlled solos - searing but not overblown or showy.
On this record Springsteen continues his history of spinning personalized stories of love, loss, failure, pain and unhappiness. This is angrier than Born to Run. The three earlier recordings really focused on what you might call Jersey life. This is universal in its scope - Darkness is all-American music about American subjects.
Before I conclude I must, again, remark that the LP format of two 20 to 25 minute sides was the ideal. Sure it is great to have 80 minutes of songs on a greatest hits package. However, for music like this ten 4-5 minute songs are perfect. You can listen to the entire record at one sitting. There is no risk of boredom setting in with 30 minutes to go. As with the golf swing less is more! Logically this makes sense. If artists must fill an entire cd with music and release a cd every so many months then obviously there will be more "filler" than would be the case if they had to produce half as many songs in the same time period.
Hardest rocking Bruce with a whole lot less hope June 2, 2008
R. Kyle (USA)
Bruce's rocker status is signed, sealed and delivered with this CD. This is the hardest rocking he and the band have done. If you read the backstory, you'll understand why--the band fought hard to record this music and I'm glad they won.
It's also some of the most painful music. There's a whole lot of anger here at a father, "Adam Raised a Cain," at the working life, "Factory."
"The Promised Land" and "Streets of Fire" offer a bit of hope, but it's thin and maybe won't happen--but what are people without dreams. What stands out is the artist's humanity.
Rebecca Kyle, June 2008
Darkness On The Edge Of Town April 2, 2008
Morton (Colorado)
Bruce Springsteen-Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Dealing with subjects like betrayal, broken promises, Darkness On The Edge Of Town plays out like the continuation of this albums predisessor Born To Run except only twice as dark and Melancholy, and yet twice as hopeful at the same time.
Songs like 'Factory', and 'Adam Raised A Cain' feature excellent hard rock that Springsteen would never touch so wonderfully again, but they are rockers because they have such heavy and saddend subjuect matter. Songs like 'Candy's Room' seem to show the other side of the spectrum without losing this sides evil undertones.
Darkness On The Edge Of Town is THE Bruce Springsteen album. Not even the great Born To Run can contend with the lyrical genius of Darkness, and the instrumentation is superb. If only one Springsteen album is bought this is the one, though I guarantee afterwards you'll want more
|
|
|
