There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's “Born In The U.S.A.” and the End of the Heartland by Steven Hyden

4.03 AVERAGE

encgolsen's profile picture

encgolsen's review against another edition

4.25
funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
My husband is the Springsteen fan in the family, but he surprised me with this book and I ended up really enjoying it. It isn't just an account of how Bruce Springsteen came to record the legendary rock album Born in the USA; the author explores imaginary albums that never came to be, what it means to be a heartland rock band, and how Springsteen's evolution reveals the cracks in the heart of America itself.

joey_p_dub's review against another edition

5.0
emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
I've read Hyden's other books and I love his style. Coming from my generation, he is a great writer writing about the bands and artists I love(d) and care about. I'm looking forward to whatever his next book may be. He could write about an artist I had no desire to listen to in the past and by the end of the book, I would have devoured that artists whole catalog with fervor and have an overall deeper understanding of what they were trying to convey. Keep it up Steven

lecoben's review against another edition

4.25
emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

bkellyreads's review against another edition

4.5
informative reflective medium-paced
alihewitt's profile picture

alihewitt's review against another edition

4.0
challenging emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced

markramsey1984's review against another edition

4.0
hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

b_jud's review against another edition

4.0
informative reflective medium-paced

steffrugg's review against another edition

4.5
challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

mattellis84's review against another edition

5.0
emotional reflective medium-paced

peters19's review against another edition

4.0
emotional hopeful informative reflective relaxing fast-paced
A very enjoyable read for any fan of The Boss. Hyden's love and knowledge of Springsteen's music shines through. The author brings us on a journey through Bruce's career with a focus on the Born in the USA album and its effect on Springsteen's later albums, his career and his life.