 The Swedish newspaper "Aftonbladet" claimed that the second and third parts of the show were the greatest rock show ever put forth on Swedish ground.In all, the Tunnel of Love Express lacked the athletic, boisterous liveliness that Springsteen had been known for, and featured largely fixed and predetermined performances and on-stage banter.Bassist Tallent would say a couple of decades later,
Springsteen biographer Marsh would write in 2006, "As a tour, Tunnel of Love Express presents the greatest puzzle of Springsteen's career."