Nebraska

moody Bruce

This is number two of five Springsteen albums, and definitely a lot more unfamiliar than the songs on his earlier "Born to Run". In many ways, though, I found this a more interesting album than "Born to Run", as he doesn't sound like he's trying to pound his sound in your face. It's also interesting as a collection of solo demo tracks that never got the E Street Band treatment (for good and bad); I'm kind of reminded of Neil Young's Voice-O-Graph album, "A Letter Home" (courtesy of Jack White). My favorites are probably the opening track "Nebraska", "Atlantic City" (apparently his first music video), and the haunting "Highway patrolman" (very cool that Sean Penn created a movie based on this song), but I enjoyed almost all of the album, with the possible exception of the more conventional "Open all night". I like the concept much more than I expected to, and really enjoyed all of side one, but I'll admit the second side didn't sustain my interest quite as much, and it's a bit hard to ignore how monochromatic most of the tracks seem without much else besides his voice, a guitar and a harmonica. Interesting, though, that this predated the whole "unplugged" movement by quite a bit, and it certainly gives me a lot of respect for Springsteen for branching out this way. I was also reminded strongly of both Townes van Zandt and Nick Cave, in different ways, but in very good ways too.

I like this one. I know it was recorded alongside Born to Run, and maybe I appreciate it because I know its context, but I do like these songs. I don't really care about the rough edges. Actually, I kind of like it more for them. Full of somber soul.

Bruce channelling his inner Woody, pretty sad and lonely from psychopathy to family obligation, we all answer to something. 4*

A little bit slow in places, but some great tracks and lyrics in there.

BRUCEEEEEE

Raw, meaningful, A REVOLUTION IN INDIE MUSIC THAT CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED?!?!?! Certainly cohesive thematically, it says a lot to the weight of fame and holding true artistic integrity. I'm happy to say that in this case, Bruce was successful in navigating that. I love that he wrote this at home with a four track recorder, thus giving agency to every kid with a guitar in the modern age.

It's a very strong folk album, and Atlantic City is the standout for me. I think Springsteen works best at his most bombastic and cheesy though, so I'd give this a 4 rather than the 5 of Born to Run.

this album is a lot quieter and sadder than i thought it would be. while it's very somber throughout, this album is still worth the listen, especially if your mood is a little sour. while i'm not typically into pure acoustic rock on this level, this album is pleasant-sounding and feels very relatable to the human soul. it's very different compared to what he usually puts out, but if the time is right... this album will hit you like a high-speed train.

Lyrically, this album is superb. Springsteen’s storytelling shines through in every track, painting vivid portraits of blue-collar America and tales of hardship, crime, and despair. However, the stripped-down, acoustic nature of the album makes it feel a bit too laidback for me. While it’s undeniably relaxing to listen to, many of the songs tend to blend together in terms of their sound. That said, the simplicity of the arrangements allows the lyrics and emotion to take center stage, and I can see why this album has been so highly regarded over the years. It’s one I’d revisit when I’m in the right mood for something reflective. Score: 4/5

why are you people such haters on this album omg classist

I grew up hearing Bruce Springsteen, but was never exposed to this full album. I've only ever heard the single "Atlantic City" because it was on the (excellent) Greatest Hits compilation. It's the best song by a mile, so fair enough, but the whole album is an interesting part of Springsteen's discography. As always, he paints pictures of the joy and despair of working class America. What makes "Nebraska" interesting is that it's recorded without the E Street Band, based mostly on the original demos. It makes the entire thing feel more stark and sad. The characters in the songs feel a bit lonelier. The towns feel emptier, like it's the break of dawn and you've been out all night with no where to go. The sun has risen, but only a handful of disparate people are awake because they have to be. I can't call it Springsteen's best album, but it certainly stands out against his better known anthems and gives a reprieve. You don't need to feel the excitement of "Glory Days". You can just be.

I was expecting a high amped album like born in the usa but this is a nice quieter stripped down album, I quite rate this

Very good, was not expecting the minimalist folk approach, this was my first Springsteen album and he's been on the list for a while. Time to explore The Boss

Shit will make you cry in a long car ride home, melancholical as fuck

Sad Bruce took a while to grow on me. I didn't enjoy itwhen I first got it, during winter. But I took my time, and after 6 months it paired very well with the melancholy of long boring summer days

This is my kind of Springsteen, sombre, storytelling, acoustic. The title track is fantastic telling the story of a spree killer from the first person perspective. I like the fact Bruce recorded the tracks at home and then said actually these are good to be released in its own right with out the E Street Band. Stand out tracks: - Nebraska - Atlantic City - Mansion on the hill - Highway Patrolman - Used cars - My Fathers House

Possible unpopular opinion, not my favorite from Bruce. I love Bruce's storytelling and how he can conjure a complex vignette of feelings and images in my mind with simple lyrics and music. To me, Nebraska was that concept taken to the extreme, and it leaves me wanting every time I come back to it. It's great, but it's not his best, and maybe could have been better.

Mansion on the Hill and Highway Patrolman are beautiful songs.

This one is a pretty somber and mellow album overall. Not a bad thing but also just doesn't make me as excited as other stuff by The Boss.

Okay so in terms of my enjoyment this was probably a 3. I’ve never really listened to The Boss much before and I’ve found his voice is kinda meh. I really couldn’t understand a lot of what he said. However, I think this album is a 4. It is really well crafted, the storylines and the lyrics are compelling, the feel of the album is very appropriate for what Springsteen was going for. I did like the stripped back melancholy feel to the whole thing.

I thought I wouldn’t like this album very much because I don’t really care for the popular songs by him that I already knew, but this album really surprised me. It made me empathize and feel and get lost in another time and place. I would listen to this album again.

Intimate

Just beautiful Americana

I think liking this album comes down if you like Bruce or not. I am a fan of his singing style and lyrics so I thought this was quite good. Atlantic City is my favourite track on this album. It is very different from his other early work which I think is kind of cool. While not as catchy as his other albums I still think it holds a certain charm. No big hooks but it feels cozy and the stories told pull you in. Weak 4.

This is a great record with great songs, but I have to admit it's not the kind of thing I'm going to reach for often. I deeply appreciate the 'folk' roots of the writing here, but it doesn't get my juices flowing the way I think it's 'supposed to'. I would say overall I still maybe don't 'get' Springsteen the way true fans do. There was a duo of songs in the middle of the record Highway Patrolman and State Trooper that I found esp captivating on this listen.

I know this is the record store guys fave Springsteen. I can recognize the kill. Big Springsteen is my fave. This is nice tho.

Took me a while to get Bruce Springsteen and even longer to get this. But I see the woody Guthrie comparisons here and obviously Dylan. Best tracks State Trooper, Nebraska, Atlantic City.

Nice little acoustic album, i could come back to this.

Not a Springsteen guy, but this is my favorite of his work even though I find it dull in places. Atlantic City and Highway Patrolman are extraordinary songs

This one was a surprise to me. My knowledge of Springsteen was really only "Dancing in the Dark" and "Born in the U.S.A." which made me think Springsteen only made bold and loud rock songs. But this album is almost a really laid back folk album which I actually really loved. The only thing I feel sets this back is how samey all the songs feel, which gives the album a really consistent sound but bores me a little. The Vibe: You were taking a road trip through the Midwest and did everything you wanted to do, but now you have to take the long drive back and pass all the places you've already been, but this time you don't have that excitement you had when you were seeing everything for the first time. So now you're kind of just quietly and passively taking it all in and it all seems more real and beautiful somehow.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Something about the bleak depiction of run-down old working towns reminded me of home It seems this is the music he wanted to be making, except for the fact it didnt sell & no one else liked it…

Had always been a massive Springsteen fan, although this seemed a change of direction

I like Bruce Springsteen, and this album, has song great songs on it for sure!

it feels weird simplifying all these albums just to a 1 to 5 star scale... i feel like there's a lot of parity. This will score the same as others that are not the same quality and that's annoying IMO. strong 4 nearly a 5

I did not realize that The Band was covering Bruce Springsteen's Atlantic City. That's seriously such an amazing song. I'm also a big fan of State Trooper. This is a solid record.

This is a really beautiful album. It’s kind of one that you have to sit with and intentionally listen. It’s storytelling songwriting at its finest. Which has always been a strong point for The Boss, but what I like about this one is the intentional approach to singer songwriting. It’s feels more like an indie movie or book than maybe an album or collection of songs. A few notable songs: *Nebraska -such a great way to start the album. It sets the tone and opens the story. It feels very visual. It really puts you in the setting. *Atlantic City -one of my favorites! I love the storytelling of this one, but also the the tune and overall flow. I can always sing along to this one. *Johnny 99 -really fun change of pace that keeps to the overall theme of the record. *Highway Patrolman -heartbreaking. I had to stop reading anything else when this one was on. Really draws you in. *State Trooper -haunting! Love this song. *Open All Night -I love how this a boogie song all on one guitar with very minimal percussion. Super fun and interesting to listen to. *Reason to Believe -great way to end the album on a rad blues song.

I really liked this. I didn’t know this side of Bruce; I pretty much only know his big hits. I was surprised, and realized that this is yet another artist whose heyday was before my time that deserves a deep dive.

A man and a guitar. Simple and deep at the same time.

More than many singer/songwriter, Springsteen gets away with some of his storytelling themes because he comes across as sincerely trying to get into the heads and hearts of other people, to tell their stories. No judgment. Because who is really qualified to judge? Just human nature...

I had not heard this and loved it. Never been a huge Bruce guy but over the years have grown to really enjoy some of his stuff. This one really landed for me. Seems insane that at the height of his power he released a folk album with tracks about serial killers. No percussion? Somehow works.

Classic, never gets old.

Grew up listening to and seeing a lot of Bruce. Saw him with my dad on the Rising tour in 2002. At college in Philly, it was kind of an obligation to have some Bruce knowledge, saw him play the final show at NY Giants stadium, and later the final show at Philly Spectrum. More recently saw him in SF with “The Sheriff”. I’ve mostly gravitated toward the full band songs and albums, and haven’t spent a lot of time with the quieter stripped down albums like Nebraska and Tom Joad beyond the hits like Atlantic City. Tried to listen to this first during the day as background, and that just didn’t work at all. This is definitely a dark nighttime album - hey it starts with a song about a murderer going to the electric chair. After a closer and slower listen, really enjoyed the songwriting, simple production, and economical storytelling. I don’t think it’s something I’ll come back to a ton, but I’m happy I finally took the time to go through it. Highlight for me is still Atlantic City, but also enjoyed Nebraska, Highway Patrolman, and State Trooper.

I felt like was in Nebraska.

cool, very different from what I'm used to listen to. the harmonica sound throughout the album is a execellent way to tie the album together

4-

If ever the release of an album shocked me, it was when Springsteen dropped Nebraska. After a stellar decade that ended with The River (1982), this was the last thing I expected. And after a few listens, I dutifully filed it for a couple of years. But it eventually wormed its way into my heart, mainly via hearing Highway Patrolman on a compilation somebody gave me & realising how much I loved that song : “ I got a brother named Franky and Franky ain’t no good” and “Me and Franky laughin’ and drinkin’ nothin’ feels better than blood on blood”. Then I also realised what a great song Atlantic City is when I heard the version on the Live 1975 - 1985 triple album (1985). The Band did a great version of it on their album Jericho(1993), but make no mistake, Springsteen owns it. The sound he got from the home recording of these songs is remarkable - his voice, guitar & harmonica are perfect for the songs & their subject matter. This is working-man stuff to the nth degree. Speaking as someone who, like my father, has never owned a brand new automobile, I have to say that Used Cars still makes me tear-up. Well worth the trouble.

Dark album but really good

Really solid album.

4/5. Stark and dark lyrics, this is a difficult one. It's not even bad, the lyrics are sad and so expressive while also being mostly quiet throughout and creates the most palpable environment on any album I've heard. It is a place of danger and darkness, of sadness and broken promises: the United States of America. His voice speaks of experience of several lifetimes while also still sounding young and naïve. As much as I do enjoy this album, I will say the amount of times I had to listen to get into it as well as some songs still not standing well enough to not skip sometimes take away from the perfect score. It's a great album but not perfect imo. Best Song: Atlantic City, Highway Patrolman, My Father's House

just listened to this record the day before

Wowsa. You can really hear the weight of empathy he carries for humanity and all of its struggles. The raw demos are so intimate without the energy that gets infused by the band. Hats off to him for having the confidence and vulnerability to release them as is. The Boss for President in 2024! 4.4

Very folky. I like this kind of music it is very vulnerable. As a Nebraska native, it doesn't sound like the state in the 2020s but maybe it used to..then again, I live in a city. Maybe this is the sound of the wide open?

Great album, different from the Springsteens other albums on the list that it deserves its place also.

Great album! Stripped down soulful Boss. Excellent.

Bruce was tot dit ijkpunt in z'n carriere de stem van het volk van Amerika, en in het speciaal van de staat New Jersey. Maar met ''Nebraska'' zien we hem eigenlijk echt voor het eerst in de huid kruipen van een Midwesterner. Hij doet dit - godzijdank - zonder z'n E Street Band. Dit levert namelijk een veel intiemere, maar ook killere, plaat op, die past bij de 'dust bowl' thematiek. De stijl heeft meer weg van een moody Neil Young, of de southern gothic van een Townes Van Zandt, en lijkt mijlenver verwijderd van z'n arena rock waarmee hij de rest van het decennium furore maakte. De eerste helft van de plaat is verhuld in een atmosfeer die aansluit bij een John Steinbeck boek, waar ik geen genoeg van krijg. M'n favoriete werk van 'The Boss'. Hij haalt z'n inspiratie uit een verrassende hoek, waar de spannende progressie in 'State Trooper' een knipoog is naar Suicide's 'Frankie Teardrop'. Het is een lieflijk nummer vergeleken met dat duivelsgebroed, maar toch een bijzondere link. De tweede helft heeft minder te bieden, en repliceert het concept dat we horen in de opener en titelsong 'Nebraska'. Maar die eerste helft staat bij mij zo hoog in het vaandel, dat 4 sterren op z'n plaats zijn. 8/10 Highlights: Nebraska Atlantic City State Trooper

American despair that completely captivates you in its stories and mood. It’s not something I’m gonna come back to much but I have a ton of respect for it. First Springsteen album and I know it’s very very different from his norm.

Nebraska Atlantic City Highway Patrolman State Trooper

I loved how stripped down this album one. Not one I was familiar with before now but I instantly fell in love

Rating: 9/10 Amazing album, loved the folk and country influences. There is a genuine nature to the songs that really resonated with me. The instrumentation, although quite sparse, really complemented Springsteen's voice.

Þetta er plata sem inniheldur kannski ekki hans þekktustu lög en þetta er samt frábær plata. Mjög ljúf og fín til að hafa í bakgrunninum og ég held ég muni setja hana á af og til þegar mig langar í rólega stemmningu. Frábær plata sem ég hafði aldrei hlustað á áður.

4*

Springsteen is at his best when stripped down, so Nebraska is obviously his best work. Uniquely American as always, songs about Highways and Serial Killers, it’s dark, raw and real. 8.7/10

A bit too dour for my morning commute, but the musicianship is there, and the storytelling is compelling.

I don't know that I listened to this one as a core Springsteen album. I'm too young to have caught him on the way up. I might have been about 10 when 'Born in the USA' came out. That was my first exposure to BRUCE. I do appreciate this one now. Especially as I know the story around the album. It is also a real departure from almost everything else Springsteen has done.

it’s Good, but not like exception but also I understand it more being from Jersey.

Schön, hätte ich gerne auf Platte

Høres veldig deprimert ut, men funker

Amazing album! Really loved the lo-fi sound, reminded me of my favorite Elvis Presley recordings. Now I understand more why does this album has such a great reputation.

Minimalistic and hauntingly beautiful, this album is the ultimate what-if. Bruce’s home studio 4-track demos won out over a fully orchestrated and arranged E Street band album, which is considered lost media at this point. A true lightning in a bottle moment featuring brilliant songs about people pushed to break bad as their last option.

Yeah, great singer songwriter stuff but material is a bit grim. Not in the mood right now. Can’t say it’s a bad album.

4.0 several very good songs.

Definitely the best Springsteen album I've listened too. Nebraska is an ode to downtrodden America. I think there are valid concerns about songwriting ability, but it's undeniable that this album hits the folk/blues vibe on the head. Most songs are melancholy, and it shows a completely different side of Bruce compared to the other projects I've listened to. Best Songs: Atlantic City, State Trooper, My Father's House Worst Songs: Open All Night

Probably need some more time with this one but I can see why indie heads love this.

Algjör eðall. Tók mig nokkra áratugi að finna mig í þessari plötu en ég skil það núna að þetta er gull.

I really didn't think we needed a fifth Bruce Springsteen album (even more mumbling American folk-pop-rock for background listening with the rare arena-worthy anthem buried amidst the chaff?). But this one was actually different and by far the best I've heard from Bruce. The thoughtful, brooding, introspective nature of these songs actually make them much more interesting than pop-rock stinker number thirty-thousand-and-four. It was also a somewhat novel experience to hear a rock(ish) album without any drums whatsoever. If it works, it works.

I guess if I must listen to a BS album, then I would choose this one. Still, it was a bit of a struggle.

Noice

Driving through the parts of our country where it’s flat and empty and feels washed out somehow, with nothing but abandoned towns that used to be vibrant communities breaking up the landscape, feels like listening to this record. This is an album about the forgotten places. The places that have been dying a slow death for 100 years and the people who still choose to live in them for whatever reason. This album is about hopelessness and the beauty that can be barely felt on the edges of stark, ugly despair.

This is one of the few times when Bruce Springsteen did not record with the E Street Band, as he chose to release the 4-track demos as they are. Not only that, but the tone is a lot more melancholy than previous efforts, where the lyrics revolve around characters who have been through rough patches in their lives as extreme as criminal behavior or mass murder, and then finding a turning point for themselves. This album is not for everyone based on the overall tone, and how naked it is with just Bruce and his guitar. Perhaps there could have been a drummer for the faster tempo tracks like "Johnny 99" and "Open All Night", but that wasn't Bruce's intent. As it is, it's certainly an interesting piece for the diehard fans and those curious.

3.5

This ruled

This is one of those albums that makes her break she was a Bruce Springsteen fan. There’s not a single big hit on this album. Born in the USA was still to come. Everybody loved that album for a while before some decided that it was an anthem against the United States. Lots of big hits. Cox dancing in videos. But this, this is a fantastic album without all of the commercial hoopla. It’s raw emotion. There’s no rah rah, just life. I’ve never listened to this album. But I’ve listened to it four times now. I didn’t even want to read it until I listen to it numerous times. Great job, boss!

Instinct is to skip this one outright for the same reason as Kev stated: I just don't give a damn about Bruce. I'm sure I "just don't get it," but to to me, he is an overrated cash cow with one hell of a manager. I just don't get the appeal, nor can I understand people in 2024 paying $500+ to see him live. Album opens on an unexpectedly sober note. Light finger plucked guitar and bells in the background with slow-burn vocals out in front. Naturally, the harmonica makes an appearance in this southern-dripped ode. Honestly, I am enjoying this side of Bruce more than what I have been accustomed to via radio. Atlantic City trades in the exposed vocals in favor of his bread and butter, mid-poop husky strained vocals. Song tells a story of some variety -- probably some guy selling everything and going out on a limb on a hope of a better life. Honestly I don't give a damn, these vocals are dogshit. Highway Patrolman is another plaintive tale told from the perspective of a police officer protecting his brother "Frankie" who strays the other side of the law. For me this is a high point of the record so far. Really powerful and effective storytelling with a calm delivery. State Trooper is like Elvis meets punk in terms of composition. Really dig the echoed vocal effect at play here that gives a ghostly atmosphere. Another high point of the record. Remainder of the album really just slipped to the background of my focus; nice music for the background. Honestly, this is the first Bruce that I have listened to that I actually enjoyed start to finish. I think a lot of that is due to two things: (1) this is stripped down and does not feature all of the overfilled bombast of the E Street Band, (2) he doesn't sound like he is about to shit himself on 90% of the songs here. I really enjoyed the storytelling throughout and feel like a certain amount of credit should be given to his ability to craft narratives into songs so effectively. That said, I don't actually listen to music (typically) for the narrative element -- I'm generally there to generate emotion. I feel like if i was really focused and put emphasis on the lyricism this is probably a 4 leaning 5. But given my personal preferences and the fact that much of this record sort of mushes together into a single sound, I'm somewhere closer to a high 3, leaning 4. I'll give the nudge here because I feel like I am biased against Bruce from the jump and this was pleasant. I could imagine listening to it again on a chilly day near a fire.

L’album de Springsteen que j’ai préféré jusqu’à présent. Folk contemplatif et dépouillé.

Nothing but Bruce, his guitar and mouth harp, and a portable 4-track. The vocals are raw, spacious, chilling. Where many may look at Springsteen as an arbiter of bombast, this LP shows his appreciation for the American backwater, haunted with old crimes, hard memories, beater cars and spooky midnight drives. The project deserves to be looked at as a fine pastiche of Western Americana - you wouldn't play "State Trooper" at your wedding or house party, but you can certainly reflect on it. Thoughtful and morose.

Spännande men sorgligt

The boss did something with this one… wish I would’ve checked it out before

I enjoyed these songs, but I didn’t necessarily enjoy the album. I think the first half was a lot better than the second. It really lost steam towards the end there, but Springsteen is a fantastic writer and that’s worth something. 4/5

It's not perfect, but I'm glad it exists. Really cool stripped-down record by as great songwriter! Really liked Used Cars.

Hauntingly cold, beautifully stripped back.

This was nice. A cohesive album that flows beautifully and can be played from beginning to end. Oh,and The Boss

Favorite song(s): Nebraska or My Father's House Very good, expected to like this one.

I liked the slower and more emotional tone to this album. My personal favorites were “Johnny 99” and “My Father’s House.”

Sparse, bleak, arresting, excellent.

One of those Springsteen album you either love or hate, its insanely stripped back as it's literally dems that got released. A departure from the E Street Band sounds of The River, Darkness On The Edge Of Town, and Born To Run that preceded it, and radically different from the Born In The U.S.A. that would follow, its solid Springsteen storytelling, but you need to be ready for the bleakness that come from it.

Epic and depressing story telling

Despite his riches, Springsteen somehow manages to feel very authentic when singing about the plights of the less fortunate. This album is pretty sad, but deep and beautiful too. In general, I prefer more upbeat tunes, but this is a great album for what it is. I especially love the sound the harmonica brings. It feels both ethereal and strongly rooted in southern blues. Very moving.

Rock, 1982 -> 4

Springsteen is generational. Very good music.

Some words to describe this project are minimal, melancholic, and somber. It’s minimal in the sense that the instrumentation is limited to three major components: guitar, harmonica, and vocals. However, it’s engaging because Springsteen tells tales of individuals living across America. The tone is melancholic because the stories aren’t very triumphant and make the listener feel a sense of sadness over their various plights. Ironically, the overall tone has a tinge of warmth and is music that would be perfect for an early morning with a cup of coffee in hand. I definitely enjoyed this project and am surprised since I don’t listen to this genre of music much at all.

Solidno

Missing link between Bob Dylan and the upcoming storytellers Mark Kozelek Or Conor Oberst. A darkness I did Not expect from the Boss.

Here's Bruce Springsteen, stripped down without the pomp and circumstance we're used to. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but the mood of this album is so strong, it's hard not to be pulled in.

Good album, calming to listen to Top tracks: Atlantic City, Open All Night

4/5

I started out kind of bored by this album, but ended up liking it a lot by the end. I'm more familiar with the Hank III cover of Atlantic City and the Johnny Cash cover of Highway Patrolman, so it was cool hearing the originals here. Johnny 99 had a super cool vibe. I think this is an album that I'll keep enjoying more on subsequent listens.

I really thought I hated Bruce Springsteen, but I was surprised by this album. I guess when it's just him and an acoustic guitar, I'm into it. I don't really *love* any "guy and acoustic guitar" thing, but I like this about as much as I can like that. 3.5/5

Wait, I didn’t rate this? I was never a Springsteen fan and I’m still somewhat of a skeptic (give me Petty every day), but this is the album that made me accept that he’s pretty good, actually. The fact that he was able to go to such a dark and intentionally unprofessional-sounding release during his height of popularity shows range, and his collection of murder ballad-esq ballads are worth repeat listens. I can take or leave his voice, but I get why he’s the Boss now. B+

So mellow.

I struggle with Bruce sometimes, because a lot of his stuff feels very "middle of the road" for me. But this really plays to his strengths.

The Boss innit. Beautiful album though!

See me on the porch listening to my boy Bruce. Not exactly my style but I give it an extra point to not get disowned by my dad

Makes me want to sadly hitchike across The Mid-West.

Reminds me of all the good things of America

I love that this was meant to be a demo. The E Streeters are great, but they also make it easy to forget how good Bruce really is. Hearing him by himself is a great reminder of his genius.

It's good

Got lost in it great story telling especially about the brother on the run. 4/5 starting to get Springsteen.

I didn’t realize before Springsteen went Rock and Roll it was just him and an acoustic guitar. Think I’d like to hear some of these songs with more instruments. Top Tracks: 1) Atlantic City 2) Highway Patrolman 3) My Father’s House

The best Springsteen album, and really the only one I enjoy.

One of my personal favorites.

I really had no idea how acoustic this album was…some phenomenal songs on here and I need to listen to it a few more times. For whatever reason it’s one of the few Bruce albums I’d not heard much of. Reason to Believe was a highlight

First 5 songs are amazing, including my two favourite of Bruce's Highway Patrolman and Atlantic City. From there it drifts a little but still great!

This was such a sad and pretty album. It captures life in the Southwest United States but also the messy relationships and hardships of people everywhere. I can see how this inspired Pressure Machine, which is one of my favorite albums. Lyrically, this album is really great. It isn’t the best album music-wise, but I loved the harmonica solos!

I think I need to listen to this in autumn or winter. on first pass I love how dark and gloomy this is. ol brucey's songwriting on full display here amidst pared back and beautiful instrumentation. why must middle america suffer. best tracks: atlantic city, state trooper, johnny 99

Pas trop mon truc dans l'absolu, surtout le springsteen mélancolique comme ça, mais je dois avouer que ça reste pas mal fichu

Someone unfavorably mentions Bruce and a guitar and a campfire, but I'm impressed that sans-E-Street the songs move from dark to downright evil. Despite that, plenty of recognitions.

Best I've ever from boss man.

I know how important and famous this album is in the Springsteen discography but compared to his other albums, I am not a huge fan. I prefer Springsteen with the E Street Band giving a huge sound. Like the live version of Atlantic City from the Live in NYC with the band is so much better. The demo nature of these songs just isn't what I want from Springsteen. Still it's Springsteen so the quality is high.

Springsteen is very talented at both writing and performing. I hope some of his earlier albums are on this list

I quite enjoyed this more stripped down Bruce album. Partly because I needed something calming and this did the trick. I think this album did a great job of showcasing the lyricism and musicality of Bruce, rather than just the performer rock side of him.

Springsteen’s Nebraska is a harrowing collection of fireside songs that expose the underbelly of society in a way that mainstream music generally shies away from. within its somber 40 minutes are found tales of murderers and gamblers; alcoholics and deadbeats — you know, the kind of blue collar people just trying to keep their head above water and will do anything to survive. not once does Springsteen cast any judgement on their character — this here is an objective documentation of humanity at its lowest and darkest, which makes it the most honest depiction you could ask for. sure, this isn’t flashy like Born in the USA, the album Springsteen is best known for. but what it lacks in anthemic flare, it more than makes up for in atmospheric elegance. you can hear it in how the tone and style of each song reflects the tale being told: how “Highway Patrolman” sounds like the guilt of watching a loved one make terrible decisions, unsure whether to scold or protect them; how “Johnny 99” (by far the most alluring song to be found here) carries an anxious pace as the character faces a bleak future behind bars. Springsteen’s pen is sharp and searing, and you get the sense that even after the record comes to an end, the stories continue beyond.

Non-American, so don't quite get the social impact and "importance" of Bruce. Solid enough gritty blue collar rock for sure.

People that know Bruce can name a few songs. Casual fans will say Born To Run is their favorite album. High-brow fans keep Nebraska close to the heart as a favorite. The story of how the album came about deserves it's own place on the list, but for an artist on the fast rise to super-stardom to stop and put out an all acoustic album at a time when that wasn't done is brave. 4/5

There are some bleak songs on this album, but I am captivated each time I listen. The storytelling is outstanding and the performances by Springsteen are honest. In my opinion, this is a true artistic statement by someone with great confidence and conviction.

Melancholy stories about working class folks. Stripped down production, and nearly isolated vocals. Springsteen at his best. Listened twice and loved it more the second time.

7/10. I could see myself coming to like this more in time, but on a first run-through there were a couple songs I quite liked, especially Atlantic City, but a lot more that didn't quite land.

yala

Nebraska- Pretty haunting first person narrative of an unrepentant spree killer Atlantic City- Great tune with a engaging narrative throughout 👍 Mansion on the hill- overly simplistic Johnny 99- Classic murder ballad 👍 Highway Patrolman- I like lyrics, musically not very interesting State Trooper- Nice ominous atmosphere, weird cutoff at the end 👍 Used Cars- Very nice working class vignette 👍 Open All Night- finally an upbeat song, but quite generic lol, still enjoy 👍 My Fathers house- Deeply personal, just not for me Reason to believe- bit rambling but still good 👍 Engaging, visceral album 4/5

It's a gloomy album. One track sounded like Suicide on an acoustic guitar. I enjoyed it though, not the wide-screen Bruce Springsteen - a more gentle bleak Springsteen is a bit beautiful.

I like this album a lot, Atlantic City is a great song and I like state trooper too. It feels a lot like a concept album I even though I don’t think it’s intended as one. I like how raw it is compared with some of his higher production cheesier stuff. I’d love to hear the full band recordings from the vault.

The cooler Dylan. I appreciate Bruce although his music has never been my favorite. I'm reading reviews with people describing him as some patriot bonehead when he is actually the opposite. He writes and sings about, especially in this album, the down on their luck middle/lower class. He is not afraid to criticize this country and also tries to empathize and understand those who make mistakes. I like the dark and somber tone of this album. It might be a little boring, but it's true storytelling from a man who has always been a real one.

Bar none, the best Springsteen album.

I had to occasionally remind myself that this was Bruce Springsteen and not Bob Dylan, but I prefer this "Americana" style to his rock.

Una vista retrospectiva. lo que conocia de springsteen, digamos que se trata de su version dylanezca. Pero las letras son buenisimas, la narrativa es clara e incluso pega con el arte del disco. Lo unico que rechina es que por sonido el disco parece más viejo de lo que es y eso corta un poco la experiencia de algo que podría sonar mejor 7/10.

Slow, generally well put together. Not my thing tho.

definitely a classic.

*State Trooper

Listened to it in the car, it's a nice car album

Simply, The Boss

2 years before the shining, glistening glory of Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen released his somber folk masterpiece Nebraska. It's a cold and desolate reality, and Springsteen sings it. Without a band backing him, he's profoundly vulnerable. It's incredible.

Well good

At first I thought this boring but then I liked it lots. It's sad but good I guess

My 2nd album by the boss this week. Some deep cuts on this one that I wasn't familiar with, very sombre, emotional

Real good

Solid Album, a little on the slower side though

loved it, which surprised men favorite track was reason to believe.

Like it was written by ghosts of American highways and train lines. None of the pomp and polish of his other work but a stunning, stripped back acoustic record that captures the working man spirit of much of Springsteen’s work

Vau, visai nieko. Visai klausyciausi. Toks chill, pilkas moodas

A nice album full of solemn folk ballads. It's a gloomy day of self-reflection and I think the tone of this album worked well for that. I did get a bit bored at times, but it was still a rather nice album to listen to, and the rock-and-roll feel of Open All Night was a nice short break from the monotony. I think this'll be a nice one to listen to when it's finally nice enough to get back out in nature again. Favourite: Open All Night

Springsteen is an international treasure.

Atlantic City en State Trooper zijn fantástische nummers! En de rest van dit album vind ik ook echt heel mooi👌

Excelente album, uma pegada mais lenta e melodica do Bruce mas mto bom

Simple but moving. A solemn working class folk hymn.

I haven't listened to much Springsteen at all, and this was more folksy than I thought. I thought he was more rock. I think this is his usual thing subject matter-wise, as it was all struggling blue collar people and their desperation, which is very American, I feel like. These people have really messed up, and it's not completely their fault. I will be listening to this again to hear the lyrics better. Each song is a story, which I like. My favourites were probably "State Trooper" and "My Father's House."

moody and beautiful. 4 stars.

Bit dour

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: State trooper, Reason to believe

Kuuntelin levyn eilen autossa (auto parkissa), samalla kun yritin estää raivoavaa esikoistani vääntämästä sormiani katki. Unohtumatonta.

Brucen henkilökohtainen kriisi ja ero sai muistaakseni tämän hienon teoksen aikaan. Oon viime vuosina kuunnellut Brucen tuotannosta melkeinpä eniten tätä ja sit toista akustista levyä the Ghost of Tom Joadia ysäriltä. Hieno levy. Toi kai aikoinaan esiin uuden puolen Pomosta. 4/5

Loved these 10 songs. Hard topics with a charming delivery.

The Boss is far from dancing in the dark on Nebraska, where he channels his main inspiration Bob Dylan to create a collection of intimate tales of outsiders across the nation. The harmonica is haunting and the instrumentation sparse. Springsteen was always a great lyricist, but unlike 'Born in the USA', Nebraska is an album were the listener is actually forced to listen and consider each and every word. I will never be the biggest Springsteen fan, but where some of his biggest hits are perfect for hitting a 6 lane highway, tracks such as 'Atlantic City', 'State Trooper' and 'My Father's House' are perfect for driving on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere in complete darkness.

Tremendously beautiful and mellow output from the Boss. It’s no secret that I’m not a huge Springsteen fan - even though he has arguably delivered his fair share of great hits. The intimacy created on Nebraska shows a more delicate and extremely personal aspect of Springsteen’s exceptional songwriting skills and I always find myself almost spellbound listening to his storytelling on this. Sometimes it pays off to take it down a notch and let the E Street Band sit back and relax.

Good but have enjoyed other Springsteen albums just as much.

It's one thing to completely change directions after your most commercially successful record, it's another to do that and write some of the best songs of your career. A truly beautiful record.

I liked i because it was really something different from what I'm used to listen.

I watched Terrence Malick's "Badlands" recently so I was excited tto give this record a listen. I enjoyed it, it had a great, bleak atmosphere. I see why people say this is Springsteen's best.

A little slow and really need to be in the right mood to listen. But great song writing from The Boss.

Stumbled onto this one after our last Springsteen album and have been through it a few times. Excellent.

To be honest I was dreading another Bruce Springsteen album. But this is decent; more sombre and stripped-back than his other, more work. I think I like Grumpy Bruce more than Hollerin' Bruce.

Apple described this album as bleak and I completely agree, but what a theme for an album. I listened to this one at night before bed and it really felt like the perfect late night album just due to its slow nature and sheer difference from the other BS albums we’ve gotten. I wouldn’t listen again but I have a lot of respect for this album.

Another from the Boss. Much darker than his usual fare, and I don't really mind it. Some heavy hitting emotional tracks and performances on here. Not a whole lot that stood out to me, but the style was very consistent and enjoyable throughout. I like this one a lot, an excellent change of pace from Bruce. Favorite tracks: Atlantic City, Nebraska, Highway Patrolman. Album art: About as bleak as the music. Black and white is very effective here, and the blood red font and borders elevate this dramatically. I've said it before, it bears repeating: if you add red to a black and white cover, you're putting yourself in "serious business" "great album art" territory. 4/5

I'm not a big fan of the boss, but much prefer this style than the E Street Band.

This is better than I want to admit. A lot better. This is by far the best version of Bruce. Best track: Atlantic City

Not the very best of Springsteen but it's certainly very good.

I think a low 4 for this. It's lyrically very nice, tells some great stories, and is wonderfully haunting, but doesn't do enough musically to elevate it further than this. Not a lot of variety in it, other than the harmonica (which I don't particularly like).

A stripped back Springsteen, playing all of the instruments, recorded on a 4 track. Familiar themes and stories of blue collar struggle, but more downbeat and lacking the overblown musical cheesiness of some of his most popular compositions. It really works and is by far my favourite version of The Boss that I've heard so far. As an aside, after listening to 'Atlantic City' I couldn't get 'I Want It That Way' by Backstreet Boys out of my head. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Atlantic City Date listened: 14/11/22

beautiful, nostalgic melancholy

Anyone expecting Born In The USA style Springsteen won't be disappointed. You won't get Born In The USA style Springsteen, but you will not be disappointed. Beautiful, eerie, simple, or made to appear that way, storytelling at its best. 4.5/5

One of the most improbable things that I've learned while listening to albums from this list is that I am apparently a Bruce Springsteen fan. Don't get me wrong, he always seemed like a cool, hardworking guy, but knowing him from his hit songs provided me with a much different perspective on him. This is the fifth album (Darkness on the Edge of Town, Born in the USA, the Rising, Born to Run) of his that I've reviewed, and the only one I didn't really like was Born to Run. The others were fantastic. This album is my favorite so far. It feels so personal and intimate, and I'm glad that he didn't go through with rerecording the songs with the E street band as he originally intended. It's an album so stark in terms of its outlook on the future that it, that it could have been released today. The song State Trooper shows a notable influence from the band Suicide, which was a cool nod (I know that Springsteen has covered their songs live) and also shows just how far-ranging Springsteens influences are 4/5

Like this one a lot.

My favorite Springsteen album but I still don’t love Springsteen.

Powerful lyrics, enjoyed the storytelling and singing in this album

I really like this album. Very stripped down, just great song writing. It's only real flaw: it inspired a lot of inferior albums that wanted to be like this. Of course that's not Bruce's fault. I don't think it's quite a 5 but I will give it a very enthusiastic 4 stars.

Great sense of rawness and emotion, very moving songwriting. I feel like I need to listen to the lyrics more closely to truly get it, but it's really effective at what it is. There aren't many songwriters that can just ditch the band for a bit and pull off this kind of album.

Great album, don't listen to Springsteen often but it's always a pleasure.

Rock oscuro típico de Springsteen. Un 4.

Taste havers with a time machine: Bruce, drop the E Street Band

Not his best but some oh his most solemn work, great album

It’s so interesting to hear how much can be expressed with just three chords. This collection presents a bleak portrait of American life, between the serial killers of Nebraska and the trucker driving through the lonely night hours of Open All Night. There are also conflicts unresolved both internal (Highway Patrolman) and external (My Father’s House.) After all the dark stories and expressions of deep loneliness, all augmented by the production which relies entirely on Bruce’s single voice, his guitar and his harmonica, aided only by some echoey reverb that also serves to enlarge the space around the singer and the listener, it is hard to find real solace in the closing track, Reason to Believe. Bruce is telling us, rather than showing us that reason, and his apparent hope that we take him for his word here doesn’t seem to be enough. I was excited to receive the assignment to listen to Nebraska start to finish, and there are really some great songs on it. But it’s not an easy listen, apart from the fact that Bruce Springsteen happens to have one of the most charismatic and inviting voices in rock and roll. Here we get a real close look at Bruce’s dark side, and while a visit to the dark side can often be both fun and thought-provoking, it’s also a challenge.

I mean, its Springsteen we know what is in this box. Banging harmonica, some good country guitar and that classic vocal. It's good but on occasion.

Some real good tunes on here. First half of the album is soft, then it gets bigger in instrumentation.

I didn’t expect to like Bruce Springsteen but this was a great album.

My favorite Springsteen album by a lot. So beautiful.

Very good

4.2 - An amazingly stripped down showcase of Bruce Springsteen's talents as a songwriter, singer and performer. What a ballsy move to release his 4-track recordings as is, but it's a gamble that works. Having long ago written off Bruce Springsteen as the MOST overrated, this is a record that redeems him as an artist. Standouts: "Johnny 99", "State Trooper."

For some reason, this was my favorite Springsteen album growing up. I loved the hushed emotion and storytelling on the record, and I loved that if I wanted to, I could fall asleep to these near-lullabies. The first two tracks are absolute perfection. Bruce’s singing on “Atlantic City” is desperate and powerful, and the production on “Nebraska” is so wonderfully purposeful. I love it. The second half of the album is a little bit of a let-down (outside of “My Father’s House”), so I unfortunately give this 4 stars, but if we’re really counting I’d say 4.5.

Really really good. You’ve shown me this one before, I absolutely love how tired he sounds. Although it’s not enough to turn me into a full on Springsteen fan, this album is really great.

Sparse, but works really well. Springsteen's lyrics do a wonderful job of painting pictures of various characters, which might be lost with a full band performance. Favorite tracks: "Atlantic City", "Jonny 99", "Open All Night"

Americana.

I guess this is my favorite Springsteen album so far. Not generally a fan, but the stripped back style sounds OK to me.

My Bruce Springsteen experience is limited to Born in the USA and Born to Run with a couple of songs here. When I saw that Nebraska was the album for the day I got pleasantly surprised as I've never listened to it. The opening song to Nebraska which is also called Nebraska starts very slow and much more folk than I'm used to when it comes to Springsteen. The following song Atlantic City picks up the pace but keeps the same folk style. Nebraska continues as a folk album which is very different from what I'm used to. It really required me to stop what I was doing and sit down and listen to the lyrics. As usual Bruce's lyrics are extremely well written and from the perspective of blue-collar characters dealing with serious situations. It's much more solemn than Born in the USA which was released two years later. I liked this album but it won't get many repeat listens as it really requires attention and the correct mindset.

Real folksy and slow. Nice to listen to

Well this felt like a change of tempo for old Brucey B. or as I know him. I really liked it! Reminded me of Leonard Cohen sadness and delivery but a bit of Dylan guitar style... I dunno really what I saying but I liked it

Good

Wasn't always a fan of this era of Bruce, but this time through I mostly enjoyed Nebraska.

Perfect early morning background music

The BOSS has an amazing ability to do emotion. I've never been to America so I can't say it "feels like Nebraska" but it definitely DOES feel like a heap of well-written, really miserable shit. Plus, another album of his I've never heard before but feels instantly familiar. 4/5.

mournful. better than born in the usa which was inadvertently jingoistic.

Bruce Springsteen followed up his highly successful (both commercially and critically) albums, Born To Run and Darkness On The Edge Of Town, with a solo acoustic album, Nebraska. Sparse and raw, Nebraska could have been career suicide for a less talented artist, as his band was at the height of their creativity, both live and on record and Nebraska seemed like a step back. The demo quality of the songs may have put off fans that wanted another rock album, but the depth and honesty of the lyrics and music displayed the incredible talent of Springsteen and I give him credit for having the guts to release this record despite record label pressure for another chart-topping, best selling album. I like this record, more so now than when it was released, but it will be a piece of art that will stand on it's own as a triumph, in his vast discography.

There may be bleaker albums, but probably not from a multi-million record selling major label artist of Springsteen's. Even the nominally "up" songs aren't really.

I really like this version of Springsteen, I do love great story telling, especially done simply. Fave: My Father's House

So sparse, and so powerful. I can’t believe how simply he recorded it.

This...was shocking to me. So good...really expected it to not be my kind of listen. But definitely was, and will be again at some point.

SHACK Well if he had gone dark story telling country, this would be SHACK. SHACK Where's Maddie SHACK?

Very stripped down. Nice!

Not a fan of the boss but i liked this album.

A little less harmonica would have done it for me, but really good relaxing/driving/campfire album.

Four stars An all-time classic, and an album which still holds its own many years after it was released. As is usually the case with those classic albums, I won't write a full-blown review here given that others have already written wonderful stuff about them and there's not much I can add that I feel could be relevant and interesting. Nebraska is just a timeless gem for anyone who has even a remote interest in Bruce Springsteen before he blew everything with that awful, generally cheesy-sounding *Born In The USA* album. Number of records left to review or just listen to: 939 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 28 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 17 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important to me): 17

Listened Before? N Beautiful album. Simple and stripped down, classic Springsteen subject matter. Not a happy one, but a good one. Lots of harmonica, reminds me of Dylan. Added to library? Y Songs added to playlist? Atlantic City

Wonderful folk sound from Bruce Springsteen. Favorites: "Atlantic City", "Johnny 99", "State Trooper"

3.75

Widely acclaimed as Springsteen's best album, I really like it but would probably put it 3rd on my list of his records.

Nebraska Nebraska I love youuu

Yeah listen. Its bruce slringsteen. Its going to be good. I think they might have gone back and rerecorded some of these track and i think im more familiar with those. But yill very good.

4.75

I first listened to this as background music and my initial impression was, eh, it's ok. Give it a 3. Then I paid attention to the lyrics. Damn. What a dark album. Bleak. I went back and forth between a 4 and 5. The music isn't exactly groundbreaking (although certainly good), but the lyrics are like a gut punch about what life is like for the downtrodden and the criminal. Bruce has an almost disturbing affinity for people who feel forced into a life of crime. Is there something you want to tell us, Bruce? By the time I reached My Father's House, a truly devastating tale of estrangement, I decided I had to give this a 4 only because I think I'd be hugely depressed if I listened to this album often. (oh, and then, in case you haven't already been devastated by this album, Bruce quickly gives you 4 more depressing stories in Reason to Believe to end the album. Thanks, Bruce).

Sad and gloomy

Good.

We love the Boss

Definitely a classic. A few of the songs are a bit samey tho.

EVERYTHING DIES BABY THAT'S A FACT but maybe everything that dies someday comes back😭

No era lo que me esperaba. Disco triste y tranquilo. 3.5 que suben a 4. Gran sorpresa.

This is great… it’s 1D, but I suppose that’s the idea. Just feel like it needs some E-street sometimes!

Maybe Springsteen's best?

Not the type of sound i love bruce for but still an all timer

Revolucionari en el seu moment, mostra a Bruce per primer cop despullat de la banda, amb unes balades rurals a guitarra i harmònica que supuren sabor a terra endins, a pobles perduts i perdedors sense futur. Un pont entre 'The River' i 'Born in the USA' que no pot diferir més del seu so bombàstic i espectacular. Un moment de reflexió en plena època de musa inspirada del de New Jersey

I know Bruce's classics, but haven't heard anything on this album before. Not a lot of happy songs. Have to listen to this album a few more times to see if it'll be on the permanent list.

Gritty folk to a hard harmonica and acoustic guitar. Lyrics struggle with morality and tough choices at the margins of blue collar life. Love the drawl of Nebraska intro with an American the beautiful feel and Falsetto open of Johnny 99. Different version of Atlantic City for me sounded a little faster and tinnier but still delivers. Nice storytelling on patrolman and trooper. Nebraska, Atlantic City, mansion on the hill.

I really like the storytelling on this album and the raw presentation style. I think it shows a lot more maturity than what most people assosciate with Springsteen, and reminds me of The Rising in that sense.

As far as an outro to 2021 goes, it couldn't get better than this. I read the back story to the recording of this iconic album and doubled down on the gear. Plugged some hard to drive AKG702 headphones into my phone. This showed the flaws and fancy of the recording process like some kind of magic. The 4 track, the tape dubbing, the carry me in your pocket sound was just something special. My fave Bruce experience without a doubt.

8/10

Not the stuff I know from Springsteen, but good

Great storyteller. Most songs are depressing or slow sounding

Americana at some of its finest. Some blues, solemn harmonicas, overwhelmingly suggestive of the USA in parts where opportunity and dreams were either squandered or just forgotten. There is not much else to say here, this album is neither happy or sad, yet it carries a type of reverence or gentle observance of life in general. Circumstances, injustices, sewn between moments that should be cherished, the album is very down to earth. That makes it great.

A fantastic album. Great storytelling from the heart, a genuine artistic expression from beginning to end. Dylan-esque musically, but Bruce makes it his own as always.

Bruce managed to create a album not full of hits but full of atmosphere, storytelling and great music

Very good, this was his only album I'd listened to before this challenge. A slower pace than most of his other stuff but at least there is no sax.

Atlantic City is one of my all-time favorite songs of his. Great album. Of his acoustic works I might rank The Ghost of Tom Joad a little higher, but I liked this one a lot. Definitely would listen to again.

The first thing you need to know about this album is that these songs are basically DEMOS. And many songs from the same demo session eventually became full fledged E Street Band songs on "Born In The USA" two years later. So there's no Big Man or Silvio Dante here. Just The Boss, his harmonica and acoustic guitar. And it all works in terms of creating what it feels like to be on some back road in desolate, Western Nebraska (as someone who was born in raised in Nebraska, I'm a little too familiar with these trips). State Trooper, Reason To Believe, Mansion On The Hill and Johnny 99 belong on any Best Of The Boss list. This album isn't always my go-to-Springsteen (I prefer the energy and enthusiasm the E Street Band brings out of him). Fun, somewhat related, fact: When I was in college, my roommate and I went to Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska just to literally take a piss all over Charles Starkweather's grave. It's an experience I recommend highly. I'm sure The Boss would be proud.

Raw, gut wrenching and agonizingly haunting. I think this is truly one if Springsteen's best work.

Much quieter Springsteen than Born in the USA, Nebraska continues on I'm the tradition of Bob Dylan with the singer-songwriter with a harmonica, and the outlaw country of Johnny Cash, with heavy blues influences. Lots of themes of criminality and moral murkiness. Some of the tracks like "Open All Night" could have used the full E-Street Band treatment, but it might have felt jarring on this quieter record.

Desolate Bruce sounds great!

I've listened to this album at least once before, and some of the tracks more than once. "Open All Night" is the one song from Springsteen that I've learned to play on the guitar. "Nebraska" and "Reason to Believe" are tracks that I would definitely come back to for a second listen. I'm not a huge Springsteen fan, but this album fits in well with what I like. I'd listen to the whole album again.

More good than bad, and have decided not to give 3* to anything

One of my favorites from Bruce

In my top 3 for Springsteen. Strongest in the lyrics: a lot of the music and delivery are great too. Some of the story songs get a little dull and plodding though, less songs than monologues, but it’s a minor quibble.

Moody, plaintive, brooding, contemplative Springsteen

Classic, but so dark.

Those who dislike this album will argue it is incomplete and somber. And while I certainly agree that it is though things, I think that’s what makes it beautiful. Springsteen had some unplugged demos ready to go for his next E Street Band album, but decided that this is the way he wanted Nebraska to be put out. And although it is bare on instrumentation, “simple” is the worst word to describe this album. Lyrically, he covers serious topics like death, crime, corruption, familial bonds, and finding hope. Very heavy stuff, all from the perspective of average people who are the product of their environment. He presents it with such naked vulnerability and the tiredness of a blue-collar worker, that you feel a sense of compassion for some of these blemished characters. Springsteen draws you into these stories with beautiful presentation, you get an emotional stake in these stories. To me, it’s a true songwriter album accompanied by beautiful composition that is presenting a story of connection and redemption; even if its full of characters that have little redeeming qualities for the surface. Favorite Song: Nebraska, Reason to Believe Least Favorite: Johnny 99

I am liking the Boss

A great album

Ệie

Jesus it's like 1001 albums but 400 will be Bruce Springsteen. Once you here 1 Springsteen album is hard to separate the rest. The album is named after one of the most boring places on earth. Loved it

Classic. Perfect for sitting around the kitchen table

One of my favourite Springsteen albums. Absolutely love this

The spare sound of Bruce and his guitar fits perfectly with the stories told in these songs.

Gave me chills but one or two songs were a bit lower quality

Real good folk. Not what i expected from bruce springsteen

Very dark, gloomy album. Traditional folk stuff with the mood and aura of Nick Drake

good for pipe smoking on a calm summer evening

Bruce in his rawest form - shame the first album we got wasn't with the mighty E-Street band, but his lyrical genius is on show here. I'd give my left ball to be able to tell stories as well as this guy with just a guitar and a harmonica.

I've tried and failed many times to like Springsteen. However with an open mind I can see this is a classic. Also fair play to having the balls to release an album of home demos at this time of his career.

Okay. A little sad.

I didn’t know Bruce made an album like this, big fan.

I've never listened to this album before, but I've always known that Bruce wasn't afraid to go deep with his lyrics. Wow. I love the rawness, both of the recording and the subject matter.

Muutama vuosi sitten tein kulttuuriteon ja asioikseni kuuntelin Born In the USA -levyn, mutta muihin Bruce Springsteenin levyihin ei ole tullut tutustuttua satunnaisia kappaleita lukuunottamatta. Tämä menee siihen kategoriaan, että vanhemmat ainakin jollain tasolla tykkäsivät, eli itse ei voinut kuunnella yhtään. Ihan ok tarinankerrontaa, enemmän minä tästä tykkään kuin Bob Dylanista. Kiva että tulee syy kuunnella tällaisiakin artisteja tässä listan mukana.

Very soft

I always think about Bruce Springsteen like something like bad country songs (don't know why), but this album is very different from my expectations and it is a very good piece of good songs.

Fins avui no havia escoltat mai un disc sencer de Springsteen. M'ha sorprés el so íntim i proper, i crec que hi ha un grapat de temes força inspirats. També he llegit que van ser grabats en un quatre pistes i que en principi eren només demos, i van acabar covertint-se en les versions oficials. Això diu molt de la qualitat interpretativa de Bruce en aquella època. Mha fet venir ganes d'escoltar més coses seves.

Rock oscuro típico de Springsteen.

Too american

Lofi indie Bruce Springsteen

Solid Bruce.

No conocía el disco. Aunque por momentos me resultó algo monótono, se convirtió en una grata companía.

Loved this album. State Trooper is such a great song!

Álbun de resaca de Bruce, lejos de lo anterior y de los posterior. Probablemente necesario para su discografía.

Really quite liked this

Good to compare this minimalist Springsteen with the maximallist "Born in the USA" which came from the same sessions. Again, I can see why he's been so acclaimed and has the reputation he does. Fave track - "Atlantic City" - great track!

Nebraska is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on September 30, 1982, by Columbia Records. Springsteen recorded the songs as demos on a 4-track recorder, intending to rerecord them with the E Street Band, but decided to release them as they were.[3] Nebraska remains one of the most highly regarded albums in his catalog. The album begins with "Nebraska", a first-person narrative based on the true story of 19-year-old spree killer Charles Starkweather and his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, and ends with "Reason to Believe", a complex narrative that offers a small amount of hope to counterbalance the otherwise dark nature of the album.[5] The remaining songs are largely of the same bleak tone, including the dark "State Trooper", influenced by the vocal stylings of Alan Vega and Suicide's "Frankie Teardrop".[19] Criminal behavior continues as a theme in the song "Highway Patrolman": even though the protagonist works for the law, he lets his brother escape after he has shot someone.[5] "Open All Night", a Chuck Berry-style lone guitar rave-up, does manage a dose of defiant, humming-towards-the-gallows exuberance.[5] Springsteen stated that the stories in this album were partly inspired by historian Howard Zinn's book A People's History of the United States.[20] A music video was produced for the song "Atlantic City"; it features stark, black-and-white images of the city, which had not yet undergone its later economic transformation.[21]