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Title: Embarrassing
Review: Although I've valued Dave Marsh's musical taste and criticism over the years, this book is an embarrassing suckup to Bruce. Marsh criticizes Springsteen's fans for resisting elements of Born in the USA and its accompanying hoopla, but never fairly addresses the possibility that they may be correct in assessing the album's failures. Other reviewers are right that in Marsh's mind, Springsteen can do no wrong, both musically and personally. The low point of this book for me was his fawning over not only Dancing in the Dark (one of my most depressing moments as a Springsteen fan was the disappointment I felt when the long awaited new single turned out to be this synth-driven throwaway), but the dance remixes of the Born in the USA singles. Yuck! Even more frustrating is the fact that Marsh never questions the judgment of Jon Landau as he pushes the reluctant Springsteen towards superstardom. It was clear to me the compromises Bruce made to gain such popularity.
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