10 More Perfect Rock Albums Of The 80s With No Bad Songs
8. The River - Bruce Springsteen (1980)
The River served as the creative stepping stone between Springsteens break though album, Born to Run and his magnum opus, Born In The U.S.A. The tone of the record was bitter sweet. You had all the usual upbeat big band sounds that gave Springsteen his joyous energy, but the American-heartland story teller included a number of far more sombre numbers.
The title track was a haunting ballad that served to highlight the economic and cultural struggles of the more impoverished communities in America. In many ways, it's one of Springsteens bleakest songs, but as always he was able to imbue a sense of defiant dignity into the featured character. Sung from the perceptive of a young man who gets his partner pregnant, he reflects on the struggles of raising a family with next to no economic prospects.
It's a haunting telling of someone who can still remember the hopefulness of youth and the passion of young love, but never lived up to his potential. The track set the tone for his follow up album Nebraska, which saw Springsteen do away with the E Street Band, in favour of a more stripped back and sombre tone.
This record is over 80 minutes of prime lyricism, you'll be dancing for joy at times, and be left quietly reflective at others.