- Audio CD (29 Jun 1992)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Columbia
- ASIN: B0000264EP
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Audio Cassette | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 86,009 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Product details |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Roy Orbison drama, the Wall of Sound and the soul energy of Born to Run are still present here but there's a darkness now, too, and it's more than around the edges. The stories have more at risk, for one thing, a definite sense of the pain that can accompany the hardest choices. These real-world consequences are felt most strikingly in Bruce Springsteen's newly prominent guitar--his solos are ugly and twisted but he sounds all the stronger for it. Recorded for everyone who has "a notion ... it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive", Darkness on the Edge of Town might just be Springsteen's greatest achievement. --David Cantwell
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Like many, I was introduced to Springsteen by Born in the USA. I would never attempt to talk negative about that album, but in my own opinion, it is probably the least Springsteen record he ever released.
If you want to get to the Heart of what Springsteen has been about, over the last 30 years, Darkness is the Album. It has the Rock part down perfectly, but like the album says, the Darkness is never far away.
It has the best of both worlds, the short, sharp rock of songs like Adam raised a Cain, and the melodic anthems, like Racing in the Street, without doubt one of my top 5 Springsteen songs of all time.
There is not a track that I would rate below 4 out of 5, but the standouts for me, this from an album that I already love start to finish anyway, are Adam Raised a Cain, Racing in the Street, Prove it all night, and the title track.
Its not going to tell you the world is a great place to live, but if an album about fighting to break away from small town problems, like family and redundancy, can uplift you, this is the one.
50 of 51 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is the Springsteen album everyone forgets. This is perhaps understandable, sandwiched as it is between the twin commercial peaks (the world conquering ‘Born In The USA’ aside) of ‘Born To Run’ and ‘The River’. But ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ is a criminally neglected masterpiece: arguably Springsteen’s finest album. Musically, the Boss was at his peak in the mid 70s to the early 80s, and this is slap bang in the middle of that period. But what makes it stand out is the fact it has everything – newfound maturity, variety and deft blending of stark ballads with up-tempo rockers.
From the very start, we know this is Springsteen at his voice-of-a-generation best. Just witness these killer opening lines from ‘Badlands’: ‘Lights out tonight/Trouble in the Heartlands/Got a head on collision/Smashin’ in my guts man’. The romanticism of ‘Born To Run’ is but a distant memory – it’s time to confront life’s harsher realities. And the tortured, jackknifing angst of ‘Adam Raised A Cain’ keeps the proverbial boot placed firmly on the throat.
Songs like ‘Badlands’, ‘The Promised Land’ (the most optimistic song here) and ‘Prove It All Night’ are cut from the stadium rock cloth, but each is infused with furiously articulate spirit and passion. And they mingle effortlessly with the brooding slower numbers like ‘Something In The Night’ and ‘Factory’. It is the piano-led ballad ‘Racing In The Street’ that is arguably the finest song on an album overloaded with gems. It’s a shattering take on the sort of topic Springsteen reputedly glamourises: drag racing. The promised land waiting down the end of ‘Thunder Road’ is a distant memory now: guys race just to avoid ‘dying little by little, piece by piece’. And the narrator’s girlfriend? ‘…all her pretty dreams are torn/She stares off alone in the night/With eyes of one who hates for just being born.’
‘Darkness…’ remains the definitive Boss statement: a brilliant evocation of our everyday hopes, fears and dreams. He may not be musically innovative or groundbreaking. But when it comes to addressing and giving voice to the everyman’s psyche, he’s in a league of his own.
From the very start, we know this is Springsteen at his voice-of-a-generation best. Just witness these killer opening lines from ‘Badlands’: ‘Lights out tonight/Trouble in the Heartlands/Got a head on collision/Smashin’ in my guts man’. The romanticism of ‘Born To Run’ is but a distant memory – it’s time to confront life’s harsher realities. And the tortured, jackknifing angst of ‘Adam Raised A Cain’ keeps the proverbial boot placed firmly on the throat.
Songs like ‘Badlands’, ‘The Promised Land’ (the most optimistic song here) and ‘Prove It All Night’ are cut from the stadium rock cloth, but each is infused with furiously articulate spirit and passion. And they mingle effortlessly with the brooding slower numbers like ‘Something In The Night’ and ‘Factory’. It is the piano-led ballad ‘Racing In The Street’ that is arguably the finest song on an album overloaded with gems. It’s a shattering take on the sort of topic Springsteen reputedly glamourises: drag racing. The promised land waiting down the end of ‘Thunder Road’ is a distant memory now: guys race just to avoid ‘dying little by little, piece by piece’. And the narrator’s girlfriend? ‘…all her pretty dreams are torn/She stares off alone in the night/With eyes of one who hates for just being born.’
‘Darkness…’ remains the definitive Boss statement: a brilliant evocation of our everyday hopes, fears and dreams. He may not be musically innovative or groundbreaking. But when it comes to addressing and giving voice to the everyman’s psyche, he’s in a league of his own.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
For me this is Springsteen's best work to date. Here are the reasons why:
Badlands
What an opening track! The upbeat music completely contradicts the lyrics. It's one of those songs that really makes you think and everyone can relate to this song.
Adam Raised A Cain
This tune bleeds emotion. Amazing lead guitar from Bruce and the way he goes from a whisper to a scream makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. The main theme here is the relationships between father and son, a theme most men entering adulthood can relate to.
Something In The Night
Bruce's screams say it all as you can actually FEEL his emotions running through your own vains. A masterpiece.
Candy's room
A song that deals with temptation, obssession and love. Musically superb as well as lyrically genious.
Racing In The Street
The narrative of this song is heartbreaking along with the lyrics. Beautiful
The Promised Land
Great chorus and the last verse is one of the best lyrics he's ever written.
Badlands
What an opening track! The upbeat music completely contradicts the lyrics. It's one of those songs that really makes you think and everyone can relate to this song.
Adam Raised A Cain
This tune bleeds emotion. Amazing lead guitar from Bruce and the way he goes from a whisper to a scream makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. The main theme here is the relationships between father and son, a theme most men entering adulthood can relate to.
Something In The Night
Bruce's screams say it all as you can actually FEEL his emotions running through your own vains. A masterpiece.
Candy's room
A song that deals with temptation, obssession and love. Musically superb as well as lyrically genious.
Racing In The Street
The narrative of this song is heartbreaking along with the lyrics. Beautiful
The Promised Land
Great chorus and the last verse is one of the best lyrics he's ever written.
Factory
Many artists with as much money as Bruce wouldn't have gotten away with a song about the feelings of a blue colar guy but Bruce succeeds because he shows tremendous compassion.
Streets Of Fire
Bruce's vocals are so raw on this song as he delivers it with such passion.
Prove It All Night
A live favourite and the poppiest song on here. Great lyrics and a superb chorus.
Darkness...
The title track is one of the many highlights on here. Vocally, lyrically and musically perfect.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A landmark album
I'm not an huge Springsteen fan, if fact I've bought a number of his albums which in retropect I rarely listen to. Read more
Published 3 months ago by youngsie
tE WORK OF A GENIUS
CD deliverpromptly at a a good price.
The work of Springstein is well representd in this disc and it feels as if like Dylan he will just go on and on providing powerful... Read more
The work of Springstein is well representd in this disc and it feels as if like Dylan he will just go on and on providing powerful... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Devonshire lad
Darker than THE PROMISE.
I bought Darkness after having bought The Promise.I dont understand how this material was released all those years ago and not The Promise which to me is much better!
Published 14 months ago by Mr. A. Howden
I find Springsteen too late
Many years ago I heard Born to run. It was the song of 1976 and I adored it. For some odd reason I never bought the album and Springsteen faded from my life. Read more
Published 14 months ago by A. E. Finn
A 60 year olds comment!
Having seen the recent TV "documentary" on Springsteen I was reminded how much I liked some of his original work. Read more
Published 14 months ago by D. Smith
Outstanding
Guess there are not many albums out there with 31 5* reviews out of 31 so that pretty much says it all. Read more
Published 16 months ago by ChrisG
Brilliant album, shame about amazons dissapointing delivery system.
Originaly bought this album on tape when it first came out, knew how good it was, so decided to buy a modern version, mp3 download from amazon. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Alwyn
Real life.....
Definitive Bruce,'dreaming' of 'Born to Run' finished,now facing up to 'Real life' on Darkness.......
It's just bloody great ,buy it !
It's just bloody great ,buy it !
Published 17 months ago by Mr. Scott Barrance
My favourite ever Bruce Spingsteen Album
Just an absolutely classic album. The fact that it followed one of Bruce's greatest albums 'Born To Run' is astounding. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Stuart Saunders
A masterpiece
Very probably his best. Now sounds even better than ever with decent CD mastering. Forget cartoon Bruce and the over-rated Born to Run, this is where the action really is. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Nicholas B. Gibbs
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
