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Thursday, June 7, 1984 Page 5 Born in the U.S.A. Born In the U.S.A. is Bruce Springsteen's first album since 1982's desolate Nebraska, an acous tic meditation on America's darker side. The new album, a retreat from the cynicism of Nebraska, must suf fer in comparison to 1980's majestic The River, but the distancing mech anism provided by Nebraska allows Born in the U.S.A. to stand on its own merits. As a songwriter, Bruce Spring steen is now virtually in a class by himself. His songs are always excit ing and forceful. The themes of his songs are in part extensions of Cree dence Clearwater Revival's working class ethic and in part vitally new explorations of adult themes. The characters in his songs are middle class Americans faced with the bleak prospect of growing old, trapped in small-town America. " I'm ready to grow young again," Bruce cries in "No Surrender," the album's most powerful cut, "and hear your sister's voice calling us home across the open yards Well, maybe we could cut someplace of our own with these drums and these guitars." The power of rock 'n' roll as both a means of escape and as a means for establishing one's own limits has fueled Springsteen's music from the beginning. "No Sur- Avoid the lottery blues. Apply now! All apartments on the bus line to UNC Call today for full information 967-2231 or 967-2234. In North Carolina call toll-free 1-800-672- 1678. Nationwide, call toll free 1-800-334-1656. The Apartment People m I Join The 1111? it serving until 2:00 a.m. every day of the week u i . specialties include Prime Rib Sandwich Gourmet Burgers, Soft Shell Crab Sandwich, Potato Skins, Fried Zucchini HAPPY HOUR 9 pm-2 am Mondays 300 West Rosemary St. 942-7575 i i s m a m m m Review Eddie Huffman render" uses a no-holds barred mid-1960s rock approach to describe his vision of the music's promise. The rest of Born in the U.S.A. follows suit. As always, the support of the E Street Band is impeccable. Max Weinberg's tense, controlled drum ming is balanced by Springsteen's driving guitar and vocals, and Roy Bittan and Danny Federici's key boards add vital emotional color. There are no important musical breakthroughs here on the order of a Sgt. Pepper's or a Who's Next, but such breakthroughs have never been the point of Springsteen's music. The E Street Band is exciting and innovative, filling out Bruce's lyrical and emotional sagas, from the . synthesized dance beat of "Dancing in the Dark" to the stark, subdued "I'm On Fire." Lyrically, Springsteen continues to tell stories of characters trying to find their niche within the con straints of small-town America. The BUY ONE rr. Medium 2-ingredient pizza, get one of equal or less value for $2.00 Medium 3-ingredient pizza, get one of equal or less value ' for $1.00 Medium 4 ingredient pizza, get one equal or less value FREE Expires 61334 'one selection per coupon DELIVERY ONLY Late Night powerful new album characters who first discovered those limits on Darkness On the Edge of Town are now approaching middle-age. "My Hometown," which cuts across three generations, begins with an appealing picture of a father and his son: "He'd tousle my hair and say; son take a good look around, this is your hometown." The song continues by exploring mid-1960s racial violence and the town's gradual decay in the 70s and 80s. In the end the boy is grown but still trapped: Last night me and Kate we laid in bed talking about getting out Packing up our bags maybe heading south I'm 35, we got a boy of our own now Last night I sat him up, be hind the wheel and said son take a good look around, this Is your hometown. The lyrics of all of Born in the U.S.A. 's 12 songs tell a sad story, but a backdrop of killer rock 'n' roll overwhelms the cyncism. The lone some sound of Nebraska's music drove the depression deeper; the ex- Reg. crust only 968-UNC1 Crowd At m m m w m m m m f s s s m m i : n m m w c t s m m m w m a m m m m a m m m m i I plosive power of Born in the U.S.A. kicks cynicism out of the way. The title track, "No Surrender," and "Glory Days" are as exciting as anything Springsteen has ever done, even if they lack the impact "Born to Run" had when first heard in 1975. Born in the U.S.A. will probably receive most of its criticism for be ing too ordinary. There are no songs as grand as "Jungleland" or "The River," and "Born in the U.S.A." and "Darlington County" are basically musical rehashes of "Cadillac Ranch" and "You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)." The mix, as on The River, is a bit too dense, and some songs have an unnatural surface sheen that ob structs the clarity of his song's need. But, these problems are, at worst, minor. Springsteen's prolific song writing skills (rumor has it that more than 100 new songs have been I ii n iiniiimitniiinimmmwtlMim 106 Henderson St. (2nd Floor) Directly above Hectors, enter from henderson St. Chapel Hill. NC 27514 967-CUTS (2887) I $10.00 off perms - Expires August 15, 1984 mm a mm? mm rBB an ihhi wttm wutm im hm aHR9 -.If I I price! So for the classy, conservative or colorful frames to suit your lifestyle, visit today! This sale is being of I fered for a limited time, so hurry. But remember, in I order to take advantage of this offer, be sure to bring thiscoupon. r r .i t . I I Sales ends: recorded since The River) have left America with another fine album. From the album's title Born in the U.S.A. to the Patton-like flag used as a backdrop, the cover shows Bruce Springsteen as a quintessen tial American. A baseball cap sticks out of the back pocket of his blue jeans, and the sleeves of his white t-shirt are rolled up. His face is hid den he could be a greaser ready for a rumble, a gas station atten dant at a country store, or a rock 'n' roller about to strap on a guitar and try to save the world with his music. DO SOMETHING WILD! Adopt a wild horse or burro from the U.S. Government For details, write. Bureau of Land Managf-ment 350 S. Pickett Street Alexandria. Virginia 22304 A public service of this publication. 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Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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June 7, 1984, edition 1
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