Record #307: Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel of Love (1987)

/ Nathaniel FitzGerald
Record #307: Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love (1987) Bruce Springsteen’s discography follows a curious (if not slightly predictable) pattern. In the most simple terms, it goes “poppy, uplifting record; dark, introspective record.” The pattern...
Bruce Springsteen’s discography follows a curious (if not slightly predictable) pattern. In the most simple terms, it goes “poppy, uplifting record; dark, introspective record.”

The pattern begins on Born to Run, which is pure hype-up fuel. It was followed by The Darkness on the Edge of town, a more subdued disc. The Riv

er was chalk full of rock anthems, Nebraska was stripped bare of all production and was Raw Boss. Born in the USA was top charting, fist pumping, synth laden, protest party music. Tunnel of Love uses the same textures, but there’s nothing here to get arenas pumped up. Rather, Bruce uses the synth pads and steady four four to

reflect on his failing marriage, his absent father, and other gut wrenching themes. Most of the disc could pass for Nebraska outtakes or I’m On Fire B-sides, which is fine with me, since that’s my favorite song on USA. Overall, terrible cover and cheesy title aside, Tunnel of Love is as fine a record as The Boss ever made: engaging, challenging, and relatable. And, if the critics are to be believed, the last great Springsteen album.