Grumbl rumbl tumbl

Rolling Stone had an article on their site last week featuring the results of a readers poll of their favorite Bruce Springsteen albums. It was interesting to see the order and how it compares with my list. The readers did not have Greetings… (I do) but did have Tunnel of Love (I don’t). Our top three are the same albums, just in different orders. It was always a fight for The River or Darkness for my number two spot, but I think The River definitely won that one.

Here is the Rolling Stone fan list:

Readers’ Poll: Ten Favorite Bruce Springsteen Albums

10. Magic (2007)
9. Wrecking Ball (2012)
8. The Rising (2002)
7. Tunnel of Love (1987)
6. Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
5. Nebraska (1982)
4. The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (1973)
3. The River (1980)
2. Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)
1. Born to Run (1975)

I think I was also shocked (?) to see Wrecking Ball on the list so soon after its release, but after listening to Bruce’s lastest albums it definitely is one of the strongest ones (along with The Rising and Magic). After that Wrecking Ball found its way onto my list.

So, that brings us to my list:

10. Wrecking Ball (2012)
9. Magic (2007)
8. The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (1973)
7. Nebraska (1982)
6. The Rising (2002)
5. Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
4. Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ (1973)
3. Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)
2. The River (1980)
1. Born to Run (1975)

I found Nebraska the hardest to place on this list. If I listened to all of the albums again its position would probably change, but it would hover in the middle/end of the list.

I know that my top three, even top four is pretty concrete. The albums in the five to ten rankings will always be on the list (unless something new bumps one of them off) but the order would probably jump around depending on what’s going on with me, the world and how it resonates in today’s world.

I also thought about putting We Shall Overcome on this list, but decided to keep it only to Springsteen’s own material.