[Springsteen's] first two albums, "Greetings from Asbury Park" and "The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle" seemed to signal new life for rock music….

His poetry about growing up in Asbury Park, New Jersey, indicated that here was a man who understood growing up in America of the '70s in the same way that Dylan understood being young in the '60s. The albums had a number of flaws, loose ends, and generally messy production. But they were significant for what they promised. "Born to Run" was supposed to be fulfillment….

[This] isn't fulfillment. It's better, but not exactly red hot….

[Aside] from some excellent arrangement the music is not that exciting….

Springsteen's lyrics go into what it's like to be young on big city streets, and they do a good job as far as they go. But the subject is too narrow. "Thunder Road...