Some people just don't like some music. For me, the most powerful album of Bruce's has always been Darkness On The Edge Of Town and it ain't because the music is so great, the lyrics aren't flowery or imaginative, just purely visceral like the whole album. So, as far as musical catchiness, several albums were better and the lyrics on his first three albums were incredible. That was truly when he was imitating his heroes the most and his lyrics would never be the same after.
I stood stonelike
at midnight
suspended in my masquerade
I combed my hair til it was just right
and commanded the night brigade.
I was open to pain
crossed by the rain
I walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone through a fallout zone
an came out with my soul untouched
He'd never write like that when he was going for the commercial audiences of Born In The USA