Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (Music CD)

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Bruce Springsteen's pessimism bottomed out with Nebraska. Born in the U.S.A. trafficked in much the same struggle, albeit set to galloping rhythms and set off by chiming guitars. That the Reagan regime attempted to co-opt the title track as a campaign song wasn't surprising: the chorus was intended to be angry, but came off as anthemic. Then, too, Springsteen had softened his message with nostalgia and sentimentality. More than anything else, Born in the U.S.A. marked the first time that Springsteen's characters seemed to relish the fight, and for Springsteen, that was a step. Born in the U.S.A. was where Springsteen remembered that he was a rock & roll star, which is how a vastly increased fan base was happy to treat him. ~ William Ruhlmann