A Career on Grantland

A curiously exhaustive Grantland post on is Bruce Springsteen's career overrated, underrated or properly rated. Not only his album, but everything:

The Live Concert Experience

This is the most mythologized aspect of Bruce Springsteen's career. Springsteen isn't described merely as a great live performer — his concerts are classified as RELIGIOUS experiences conjuring SPIRITS that will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Forget the hyperbole. I can only address this based on my firsthand experience.

I've seen Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band four times. The first was at Target Center in Minneapolis in 1999. I was 21 and it was just OK. The second time was at Bradley Center in Milwaukee on St. Patrick's Day in 2008. I loved it. The third time was also at Bradley Center in 2009. He played the entirety of Born to Run and brought out Richard Davis⁷ to play on "Meeting Across the River." It was amazing. The fourth time was in 2012 at Wrigley Field. My seats sucked, the sound sucked, the Old Style Light could've been a touch colder, and I still had a wonderful time. PROPERLY RATED.