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The  Promise Image
Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 53 Ratings

  • Summary: As a collection of recordings from 1978, The Promise has been heralded as the great lost Springsteen album, comprising previously unreleased B-sides from the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions.
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  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Genre(s): Singer/Songwriter, Pop/Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Album Rock, Rock & Roll, Heartland Rock
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Dec 8, 2010
    100
    The Promise is what got left behind, and the quality of these 21 songs serves to remind the listener how brilliant Darkness On The Edge Of Town really was, and how discerning its craftsmen must have been to leave so much in the dust.
  2. Dec 8, 2010
    100
    The Promise is as compelling an advert for the Boss's beautiful, blue-collar soul as you're likely to find outside of the hits; an indispensible portrait of an artist at the top of his game. File this one under American Greats.
  3. Dec 23, 2010
    100
    The Promise demonstrates how wide-ranging Springsteen's musical interests and abilities were when he was 27.
  4. Dec 8, 2010
    90
    The Promise stands on its own as a great Bruce Springsteen record; it feels finished, focused, and, above all, offers more proof that Springsteen is one of the greatest rock and pop songwriters.
  5. Dec 8, 2010
    85
    The Promise is also a good demonstration of how Springsteen mines his unused songs from material, and shows how many ways he tried to record things before figuring out how they worked best.
  6. Jan 4, 2011
    80
    In the end, the artificial pop of The Promise makes it, as a whole, a more realistic album.
  7. Dec 8, 2010
    70
    The Promise hits a ceiling just below what you'd call essential listening, but it's still more than just a fan-only release. These 22 songs show a band at the height of their powers stretching out and trying new things, indulging in their musical loves to bright and catchy results.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Nov 17, 2010
    10
    This amazing box set is worth it for the full live concert from Houston '78 alone...an absolutely amazing performance showing Bruce & The EThis amazing box set is worth it for the full live concert from Houston '78 alone...an absolutely amazing performance showing Bruce & The E Street Band at the height of their powers. Totally scorching. Add in the remastered original album, 2 CDs of unreleased material, the behind-the-scenes documentary, more live/rehearsal footage and the beautiful packaging giving a glimpse into Springsteen's songwriting notebooks and this is a BARGAIN at $80. An absolute must-have for any Springsteen fan.
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  2. Dec 28, 2010
    10
    The deluxe boxed set is a revelation in several ways. First, thereâ
  3. bjk
    Apr 20, 2011
    10
    10. This is a treasure. Van Zandt mentioned how Bruce could have been the most successful pop song writer if he had release the hundreds of10. This is a treasure. Van Zandt mentioned how Bruce could have been the most successful pop song writer if he had release the hundreds of commercial rock he left off his theme oriented albums. After listening to these CDs I have to agree. This just adds to his resume and credentials. What an amazing song writer and performer! Expand
  4. Feb 23, 2011
    10
    Bruce Springsteenâ
  5. Aug 17, 2011
    9
    I rarely like ALL of the songs on any given Springsteen album. So I was pleasantly surprised to find this "Promise" release on sale for 8.99I rarely like ALL of the songs on any given Springsteen album. So I was pleasantly surprised to find this "Promise" release on sale for 8.99 at our special record store here in Chicago since I've heard so many good things about it; and I was even more pleasantly surprised to discover that I like this WHOLE album. I found "Darkness on the Edge of Town" sorta uneven - I liked only half the songs. This mini-box set satisfies my craving for some good Springsteen from beginning to end! Expand
  6. Jan 29, 2011
    9
    Only a living legend like Springsteen can keep a bunch of songs in his attic for 30 years, and then manage to take you along for a brilliant,Only a living legend like Springsteen can keep a bunch of songs in his attic for 30 years, and then manage to take you along for a brilliant, timeless, and wonderfully nostalgic ride. He is The Boss for good reason. Expand
  7. Nov 28, 2010
    9
    This is a very solid collection of pop songs, an absolute must for any Springsteen fan and worthwhile for lovers of pop in general. Being theThis is a very solid collection of pop songs, an absolute must for any Springsteen fan and worthwhile for lovers of pop in general. Being the collection of out takes it is, it does not have the same fluidity that Springsteen albums usually offer and lyrically there a few songs that might have belonged in the studio, but over all it's a fantastic collection. Expand

See all 9 User Reviews