this is not bruce's best work by any stretch. however, every song on here is good. it is a bit on the poppy side, but no as much as one would think. the songwriting, the energy and the fire are all here. you can't miss with songs like darlington county and going down. it still maintains a little of that darker side of springsteen with songs like i'm on fire. if you are a springsteen purist or someone looking for a good intro into the boss' work, this is would be a good starting point and re-entry for those who chose to overlook.