1. "Johnny 99"
Not once have I heard this songs mentioned in any context whatsoever, let alone in any list of Springsteen's best works. It may not be as chilling as the other tracks on Nebraska, but the grim story and Bruce's whimpering vocals give it just as much desperation as the rest of the album.
2. "Better Days"
Perhaps compensating for the relative musical staleness without the E Street Band, the Boss' voice never sounded manlier than on this overlooked single from Lucky Town. So what if half of the lyrics sound like worn-out sayings? The other half are among his strongest.
3. "Two Hearts"
Thumbs-up to Win Butler for loving this song, which seems to have blended in to the rest of the "throwaway" rock and roll tracks on The River. It has just as much pop stamina as "Hungry Heart," and if Bruce had given that song to the Ramones like he planned, "Two Hearts" could have easily taken its place as his first big radio hit.
4. "Blinded By The Light"
You know how people make fun of Bob Dylan for writing nonsensical lyrics? The colorful insanity generated by this early Springsteen composition could be the basis for a whole Where's Waldo? puzzle. Back when the Boss was "another Dylan clone," he probably relished the idea of us finding ourselves totally lost in the tireless instrumenation and absurd character jumble in this song, which features some of the most delightful energy and rhyming of his whole career. The Manfred Mann version is missing a lot of that.
5. "Into The Fire"
6. "You're Missing"
and 7. "My City Of Ruins"
Everyone goes crazy for the opener ("Lonesome Day") and the title track from Springsteen's 9/11-themed The Rising, but these are clearly the album's greatest emotional triumphs. Between the three of them, they sum up perfectly all of the grief, confusion, faith, and unity that Springsteen strove to address on the rest of the album. And musically, they are some of his most impressive works. It might just be the strings talking, but "You're Missing" could definitely be considered the Boss' gentlest composition, and "My City Of Ruins" is perhaps the most emotive keyboard-based recording since the legendary live version of "No Woman, No Cry."
8. "Streets Of Philadelphia"
I know it won an Oscar, but still. This song don't get no respect.
9. "Blood Brothers"
For the most part, I can understand the lack of interest in this mid-90's single. It might be a bit on the conventional, mainstream side, but I find it more agreeable than most of Springsteen's work of that era. Plus, the EP of the same name reuinted him with the E Street Band. Nothin' wrong with that!
