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The Ties That Bind: The River Collection [Box Set] Image
Metascore
91

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

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

  • Summary: The six disc set contains a remastered of his 1980's The River album; studio outtakes from 1979-80; The River: Single Album; tour rehearsal footage; a never-released video of the 1980's show in Tempe, Arizona; a documentary about the making of the album called "The Ties That Bind" and aThe six disc set contains a remastered of his 1980's The River album; studio outtakes from 1979-80; The River: Single Album; tour rehearsal footage; a never-released video of the 1980's show in Tempe, Arizona; a documentary about the making of the album called "The Ties That Bind" and a coffee table book. Expand
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  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Genre(s): 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 16, 2015
    100
    It's a mind-bogglingly superb testament to an artist at peak power.
  2. 100
    Such is the bounty contained on The Ties That Bind that it might make you question Bruce Springsteen’s judgment even as you marvel at his ridiculous talent.
  3. Dec 8, 2015
    91
    The River Collection isn’t a glimpse of what could have been--it’s raw proof that The River sessions produced too many good songs for one album (even a double album) to contain.
  4. Dec 14, 2015
    88
    It's an iconic if flawed album. But the overflow of songs presented on The Ties That Bind makes for a great argument-starter. Did Springsteen assemble the best version of The River? This boxed set provides evidence for piecing together an even better one.
  5. Jan 27, 2016
    80
    What becomes apparent with them is that with The E Street Band backing him, Springsteen seemed incapable of writing a clunker. At this point they were on fire and could have turned just about anything into a grandstanding rave-up or stirring anthem, as required.
  6. Mojo
    Dec 14, 2015
    80
    The box set joy is the archive additions, their whiff of ancient wasted sweat. [Jan 2016, p.102]
  7. Uncut
    Dec 9, 2015
    70
    What are we left with? A handful of wonderful "new" songs, some interesting also-rans and alternative choices, and the sobering realisation an entirely different double album from The River: a work not quite of equal quality, but still of a remarkable standard. [Jan 2016, p.86]

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of
  2. Mixed: 0 out of
  3. Negative: 0 out of