Bruce Springsteen writes happy music with sad lyrics. The exceptions to this are the two 1980s albums that sandwiched his happiest record of all. Born in the U.S.A., which came out in 1984, was preceded by Nebraska, from 1982, and Tunnel of Love, from 1987. Tunnel of Love is more than sad. It sounds like tricyclic antidepressants set to music: minor chords and moany lyrics in a padded cell of synths and numbly metronomic drum programming. Nebraska is also more than sad. It is tragic, and bare and raw where Tunnel of Love is overstuffed and dull.
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