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 let the river run wild Oct 28, 2009
Maybe I'm all alone here, but the reason the River is such a good album is the way the vocal melodies seem to have REALLY improved for this one. Bruce Springsteen was never one to write catchy vocal melodies because his attention mainly focused on lyric writing, his emotional voice, and the millions of fans who can relate to said lyrics.
On the River however, we're treated to all the things that made Bruce Springsteen great on albums such as The Wild, the Innocent and the E. Street Shuffle, PLUS the addition of immediately enjoyable vocal melodies.
Perhaps this was due to the fact that the rock scene in the early 80's changed for many musicians and forced them to write simpler and catchier vocal melodies in order to make it big and make a splash on the commercial radio scene, or perhaps Bruce just felt like changing his songwriting around a little bit to diversify his talents. Who knows.
The River remains a classic album for those who appreciate great vocal melodies combined with the important lyrics of Bruce Springsteen from the past. This is one album Springsteen fans MUST own.
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The pinnacle Oct 21, 2009
I'm gonna get hung upside down for this, I know, but, for me personally, this was and remains Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's finest hour.
One of the reasons is that the songs just seem to flow out of the Boss here; he's dealing with people and subjects with which he SOUNDS at ease, and on both the exhuberant songs ("Out In The Street," "Crush On You," "Hungry Heart") and the ballads/sad ones ("Point Blank," "Independence Day," the title track), Springsteen connects with the heart and the head of the listener all at once. Another reason is that the production, the track order and the ace musical muscle of the E Street Band combine here to make this one of the few double-albums that really works as a whole. Even with a few songs that are perhaps lesser in quality than others here, nothing feels like a mistake or an overreach. THE RIVER works both as a whole and with the individual components.
I'll be honest and say that, as far as I'm concerned, Bruce Springsteen has never made as completely satisfying an album since THE RIVER, though the sheer high quality of his entire musical career is indisputable. Agree or disgaree with me all you want---when I hear this sublime album, that's all that matters.
He rocks forever! Aug 14, 2009
This is his very best collection and speaks to those of us who loved the film, "The Deer Hunter". Straight from the hood!
The River ... 'nuf said Jul 18, 2009
I was in high school when this album was released and my girlfriend gave it to me as a Christmas present. Being what you could call a "music freak" but from the South (Georgia), I really hadn't listened to much of Bruce's work prior to that point. I'd obviously heard "Hungry Heart" on the radio prior to receiving the album but wasn't necessarily enthusiastic about it. As a matter of fact, Bruce's voice on that track sounded much different to me than his earlier songs that I'd heard (and even to other songs on "The River"). In any case, after hearing "The River" track (LP 1, track 6) I was definitely hooked. I'm a big fan of lyricists and that song will probably remain my all time favorite for the rest of my life. I realize that, like all others that write reviews for this album, have their own personal reasons for liking/not liking this one. I like most of the songs but not all of them. Being that it came out during a very impressionable time for me, I will always hold a special place in my heart for it. It reminds me of friends that I still have and some that were lost over the years. And that's all I can ask of a record ...
 The River is a Classic Apr 12, 2009
The River captures Bruce Springsteen at an interesting crossroads. He's evolving from the introspective, quiet songwriter on "Born to Run" into the confident celebrity behind the pop-oriented "Born in the U.S.A." As such, this album features a mix of both types of songs. "Hungry Heart" and "Sherry Darling" have the same singalong qualities of his future work, while tracks like "Independence Day" and "Drive All Night" are beautifully sentimental ballads. There's even a taste of the helplessness he would delve into with Nebraska, thanks to numbers like "Stolen Car" and the tragic closer "Wreck on the Highway." The title track includes some of Springsteen's best lyrics, while "Fade Away" manages to be both irresistible and heartbreaking. Even the lighter songs like "Out in the Street" and "Crush on You" are excellent. There's hardly a dull moment on this record, which is an amazing feat for any double album. Though the overall production could be tighter, The River is one of his best records, since it has Springsteen and the fantastic E Street Band showcasing so many of their styles so effectively. 4 Stars.
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