Reviews (page 6 of 12)
Remek djelo
This is bleak and sad, like Nebrsaka. It’s also boring. Top tracks: "Atlantic City," "Open All Night"
--Nebraska...sets the mood --Atlantic City...the desperation feels real --Mansion on the Hill...nice but doesn't jump out at me --Johnny 99...a great change of pace --Highway Patrolman...similar to "Mansion..." but this one is perfect --State Trooper...meh --Used Cars...simple and sad. things are starting to blend together --Open All Night...we pick it up and things get fun again --My Father's House...nice but things have become samey --Reason to Believe...it's fine
Stone cold classic. The Springsteen album for non-Springsteen fans.
A different sound and angle for Bruce for sure. A decent listen. A solid 7/10. 3.5/5
A nice departure from the large anthemic sound that Bruce is more known for. Even cooler is how this was unplanned and almost accidental. Just a dude in his bedroom using a 4-track recorder. A very polarizing album for many fans and critics, but I dig it. Listening to it in context front to back paints a more dark, bleak and not so joyous story through the lyrics and it made for a really good listen.
Pretty textbook example of an artist going on a stylistic side quest and nailing it. This is so good, so haunting. Glad to have an excuse to sit with this one
This hit the mood driving home from work on a raining autumn evening. Very raw, vulnerable and stripped down. Not what I expected from the boss but I think highlights him as a songwriter and artist. Not sure I loved it front to back but very solid. 3.5 with a round up for the boss.
I get why Bruce Bros like this album. Stripped down and shit. I enjoyed it. Putting it up there with the Born albums as my favorites of his. Really good, but not amazing. Maybe I'll put it on the next time I'm driving my 4x4 down a long and lonesome road all alone.... sounds pretty amazing actually... 4/5
I actually don’t have loads to say, except that I think this is just a drawn back Bruce where the music consists of less components and is slightly slower. More of an acoustic feel than perhaps you’d associate with him. Which is a nice change.
Very bleak, i liked it though.
It's listenable compared to Born to Run which I couldn't make it through. It's a pretty chill album, with a harmonica and guitar on many songs. If you can listen past the songs where he starts howlin, it ain't so bad.
My favorite Springsteen album. I think the storytelling and world building are great. This is the first time I've romanticized Nebraska. 8/10
Did not grab me at all
Nebraska is Springsteen's raw, unflinching vision of the dark underbelly of America. The album is populated by desperate characters who are anti-heroes at their absolute best, and full-blown criminals and murderers at their worst. It is an absolutely brilliant and deeply haunting stripped-down masterpiece.
Creo que en otras circunstancias me podría haber planteado un 5, es un álbum del que me gustan todas las canciones, pero estoy harta de tanto hombre y tanto inglés.
Creo que en otras circunstancias me podría haber planteado un 5, es un álbum del que me gustan todas las canciones, pero estoy harta de tanto hombre y tanto inglés.
Albummet blev åbenbart optaget på en billig 4 spors båndoptager på hans eget soveværelse. Det var meningen det skulle have være poleret og "velproduceret" til at starte med, men det blev i stedet en meget rå og enkel lyd hvor det bare var ham, guitaren, mundharmonikaen og stemmen. Det er åbenbart også inspireret af gamle amerikanske gotiske tekster og film noir. Det er americana som er mørkt, melankolsk og intimt. man kan virkelig mærke at det er som om han synger direkte til én selv, hvilket er meget fedt. jeg er ved at samle lidt på de albums fordi det føles så personligt og det er virkelig noget man bare kan leve sig selv ind i. Jeg kan godt lide lyden af det dark folk som det er, lidt i modsætning til det andet heartland rock han plejer at lave? idk.
Bruce is great
One of my favorite Bruce albums.
This land was made for you and me. And Charles Starkweather.
Had a feeling this one would make an appearance. I listened to Highway Patrolman again and again last night. It was probably on when I finally fell asleep. The legends around the recording of this album will probably go on to live next to the music itself. "Man turns his back on his family, well he just ain't no good." Springsteen became something else with this album. Before he was another rock singer trying to rise above a saturated east coast scene. Two years after Nebraska he would rise with Born in the USA. I wonder how much he listened to Nebraska during that time to keep himself grounded. I wish I would have had this album then, too.
A haunting, sparse album of the downtrodden. Recorded on a 4-track with just some guitar, harmonica, and the occasional keyboard, it was intended to be a demo tape only to be released as it stood with no other contributions. Bold, and for the most part, it works out. It's certainly a pioneering effort for more lo-fi, bedroom demo folk, which I can enjoy. That being said, the lack of differentiation between tracks is a hindrance, where it's quite same-y. And after listening to The Band's version of "Atlantic City", the original just sounds bad in comparison. I do think this album is mandatory listening - some people will love it, some people will hate it. It's a good listening exercise, anyways. Springsteen is at his best when he has the E Street Band with him, though. Born To Run, Born in the U.S.A, Tunnel of Love, and Darkness On The Edge of Town are some better Springsteen albums.
Y'all, I've tried with this one, several times, and I think what I'm concluding is that I'd rather read this album than hear it for the most part. The stories are all at least pretty good and usually much better ("Used Cars," "My Father's House") but this is music and there's sometimes a dearth of it - only "Atlantic City" really feels like it rises to the occasion. I know Bruce is going for this solemn, hushed tone, and I know how influential it's been for plenty of other artists I like. But I just come away with the feeling that *he* thinks he sounds more profound than he actually usually does. Still worthy of the canon based on the lyrics alone, but yeah.
A change from his previous rock albums. This acoustic solo album is magnificent. Just excellent.
This album clearly is trying to be tragic. Seems to be going for the same idea as American IV by Johnny Cash. The only sad aspect of this album is how bad it is. There are worse albums, but I felt nothing listening to this. I was just bored and tired of the flat, breathy vocals and slow instrumentals.
Bruce Springsteen uses emotion so well in this album. Unfortunately it does get way too repetitive near the end. Still, some really heartbreaking stories are told beautifully. It's hard not to love this. The instruments aren't anything amazing, but work perfectly here.
This was alright. Nothing particularly compelling.
I know the hits from Bruce, but this is a bit softer. Very singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar.
3.
I love the atmosphere and narrative of this entire album, and I've listened to it many times. One complaint would be that there's very little difference in the songs themselves, musically. Would have liked a little variance from song to song. 3.5
Classic. No notes!
Fucking harmonica
As if my week couldn’t get worse - this album made me listen to nonstop harmonicas. Death to harmonicas
Bruce Springsteen could make an album of nothing but fart noises and bad bird impressions (think “tweet tweet” instead of whistles) and critics would herald it as a masterpiece. I don’t know what he did to get such a pass, but I’ve never understood the appeal. This album did nothing to help. For someone known as a songwriter who tells, I don’t understand half what he says, and what I do understand doesn’t fit any kind of meter and only rhymes when he fees like it. It comes across to me as sloppy writing and anyone else would get lambasted for it. Normally, I’d give something like this a couple stars, but I have higher standards for anyone who gets this much praise.
Not my kind of music
Good vibes. Chill album, well performed, entertaining lyrics. Ok all around.
Depressing songs by The Boss. I see the appeal to some people, however it doesn’t appeal to me. I prefer rockin’ Bruce Springsteen.
I like Bruce but I never fell in love with him like everyone else I know
Good album. Steady Bruce.
A fantastic acoustic album. Perfect for enjoying in the rain. "Nebraska," "State Trooper," "Open All Night," wow!
This sounds like a 1982 version of Bob Dylan. Singer, guitar, harmonica. Pitchfork: 10 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #150 Best Songs Nebraska Atlantic City Mansion on the Hill Johnny 99 Used Cars My Father's House
Cool album, really liked some of the atmosphere of the songs. A few bored me. Worth playing red dead to
When I got Born In The USA, I was like "Man, so close to the movie, but maybe Nebraska would've made more sense for the occasion". And here I am about two weeks (as of writing 11/16/25) with the big movie album now. What strikes me about Nebraska is how raw it sounds for Bruce at the time. I think it was the perfect switch-up to release after years of E-Street Band material. It stripped down Bruce back to where he started: words and guitar. I think a lot of Bruce's music strives on flashiness whether it be through looks or through musical prowess. In Nebraska's case, it strives on lyricism. The use of storytelling is very clear on this release appearing in its first-person glory on the title track, Highway Patrolman and My Father's House. There's also something claustrophobic when you hear the quality of the recording. The deep reverb punches the space around my ears and this is especially true on State Trooper (when he shouts woo!). This is an ideal album to walk around the fall/winter in a jacket while you let the chill get to your heart. It's emotionally poignant, but I still think I have some hang-ups with like one or two songs. For that, the star rating is going to make it clear that I find this to be fascinating. However, the degree of my more traditional rating notes how I still feel there's some easing up to do. Nonetheless, an important recording by the Bossman (8/10, 5/5 on this scale).
I don't get it, but i could see how other people could like it
The most overrated, over-hyped, over-done piece of crap to ever pick up a microphone. And i doubt this idiot could even find Nebraska on a map. 0.00
I'm not sure if it's better or worse than I was expecting. One thing I'm sure of is, I don't think us white folk should play the harmonica, it just doesn't seem to have the right vibe.
So, outside of his hits I'm not a huge Springsteen fan. He was everywhere growing up so I was kinda over his sound early. That said... I love this album. It is literally one of my favorite albums of all time. Absolutely amazing. It's so stripped down I want to say it was a demo that everyone went no it's good, ship it. It's Bruce and a guitar singing about the hope and sadness that is America. It's about every town your drive through, it's about the people there living. Great fucking album. If you like this one look up Badlands. It's a tribute album from 2000ish. Great covers of every song on this one.
What in the huuliharppu is this? Ja miksi nariseva ääni? Ei kiitos. ps. Tämän arvostelun kirjoitin jo ensimmäisen minuutin aikana eikä tähän ole mitään lisättävää.
Tylsyyden huippu.
Quite a slow album but heartfelt singing
I expected to enjoy this because of his voice and guitar, but instead I found it very boring.
4.4
My favorite Bruce Springsteen album. I prefer this acoustic, country-inspired sound over some of the more triumphant and anthemic albums in his discography like Born to Run (god forbid an artist is happy!), as I feel like maybe they haven't aged that well. I've never been to Nebraska, but this album creates such a vibe and paints such an imagery, it feels like driving through the state and looking at the window of your car when it's raining outside. Doesn't make me wanna visit it tho. The acoustic guitars have a very nocturnal and kind of lo-fi vibe, which gives the album a cold, autumny feel that is also quite unique. I love how genuine the songs feel, Bruce's vocals are pretty muffled, but sentimental, full of melancholy. Also weirdly comforting in a way. And musically, the arrangements are quite minimal, but they do just enough to contribute to this overbearing atmosphere. Also, being unemployed, some of these songs hit hard. If there's one thing I could do without it's the harmonicas, but they don't appear on every song and aren't the main element anyways.
acoustic music has my heart. sweet autumny vibes. something very comforting about his voice. funny accent. an overall good listen! the first song is quite chilling with the topic and the calmness of his voice "well, sir, i guess there's just a meanness in this world". with the rest of the album the sound makes me wanna close my eyes and sway my head slowly from side to side. such calmness and peacefulness, almost meditative. i particularly liked mansion on the hill.
Sounds like a demo tape, and whaddaya know, it is a demo tape. A fairly good one.
I listened to a lot of Springsteen during covid. Late 70's / early 80's are my peak Springsteen years and whilst Darkness on edge of Town is my favourite album this is a close 2nd. I dig the dark tones and low-fi musical sparseness.
I think this is going to take more listening in the appropriate settings. Its a listen for a lazy, wintery Sunday morning. Can't say I'm a huge fan, but admire Springsteen and he has done some great tunes. I see the merit in this album, even if I don't immediately get it.
Good album. Pleasing pared back sound that has aged well with good songs.
Classic, thematic, lo-fi Springsteen album. Instrumentation is very cozy, but the overall style & Bruce’s voice/tone just don’t really do it for me on this one.
Pre: I haven't listend to this album front to back Post: I liked it, 4 track stripped down spirngsteen was great
I really liked the writing on this album. A little more dour than I liked but still solid.
Slow but Springsteen start. ‘Nebraska’ (the song) and the melody is beautiful. ‘Atlantic City’ was already a ‘liked’ song. Love it. The transition from ‘Mansion on the Hill’ to ‘Johnny 99’ … more energy. ‘Highway Patrolmen’ slower. Song about friendship. Romantic. ‘Open All Night’ was a head nodder! ‘Reason to Believe’ encapsulates the album.
It’s not you it’s me Bruce. I a bit tired of country, so think I just didn’t really want to listen to this. I thought it was a good album that was well written. Felt like it flowed well. Favourite song: My fathers house
First impressions I like the voice and stripped back nature. More country! 'Atlantic City' would go off in freemount. Bit dreary and sad not what I needed Monday morning. Feels like a pastiche not a fan. Glad when it was over
Such a great album! Love the boss! This is a good one cause it's very stripped down and just feels like bruce being so open and vulnerable
Could've been a single. Very little substance and completely forgettable.
this once is a no brainer - one of my favorite albums #albumsky #musicsky *****
Great album
There are a couple of iconic Bruce Springsteen albums and songs. This is not one of them. As mentioned by others it sounds like an album of campfire songs. It is not anything special but it's not bad. I have an issue with the mix though... it sounds like some songs are recorded in a cave (and here i though i was the only one who drowned my sorrows in Reverb). Not the best, not bad, not something you have to hear.
Not a Springsteen fan...and after three plays of this album, I found it interminably dreary with little variation in either musical style or lyrical content.
2/5 the Electric version is better
4.5
Three days in a row of albums Iin my collection, and thus is an all time favorite of mine. This dark largely acoustic album recorded on his own really pull what to me makes Springsteen great. A bitter look at the human condition with sparce arrangement and emotional resonance. This was the album that truly got me into Springsteen. And is still my favorite. (10) ★★★★★
So stark, so depressing, but so beautiful. 5 stars
Possibly my least favorite of Bruce's legendary Born to Run -> Born In The USA run, but it's still a fantastic album. I think the songwriting is great here, and the the stripped down arrangements really hammer that home. The first side of this album is really where it shines for me -- the title track, "Mansion on the Hill", "Highway Patrolman", "State Trooper" (which sounded super cool while driving to work in the dark this morning), and "Atlantic City", which might just be my favorite Springsteen song. The second side doesn't quite live up to the promise of the first, but it's still super solid. I do like that for all the darkness on the album, Springsteen ends the album reminding us that people still find a reason for hope. 5 stars.
Proof that a stripped Bruce is the best Bruce. Not just born to run or born in the USA but also born to Nebrask as well. So stark. So chilling. So purdy. And now also a hit motion picture!
Still not a fan of harmonicas. But surprisingly okay.
Great album but won’t listen to again due to his anti-American views
Favoriten
Much more folk than I have heard from Springsteen before. Springsteen channeling Johnny Cash.
There really isn’t much substance to this. I prefer it to the repetitive piano led rock from born to run but this is also incredibly repetitive. It’s kind of like campfire songs but from someone whose voice doesn’t work for the quiet vocals. The acoustic guitar is quite nice but simple and the harmonica is honestly annoying for the most part as it really cuts through the silence and destroys your ears. I will praise the storytelling though as it is definitely the strongest aspect of this, with each song telling a story of different people in crime and remembrance of their past but it suffers from being the most generic American sounding tales. I don’t know why he thought it was a good idea to leave the E-street band out of this, it probably would have sounded a lot better with some actual instrumentation. Also, why is this even on here? I’ve already gotten what is seen as his “best” albums so this just feels like a waste of a space. Favourites: none. Overall, 4/10.
rating just to get to the next one
Day660 - i guess thanks to ronald reagan for giving us one of the best springsteen album
Not my cup of tea
8/10 first time listening to a springsteen album. pretty good
Boring and way worse than his other records.
Way more interesting than born to run or whatever his more well known breakout album is
Perfect
Curti curti
I love Bruce Springsteen but this album just does not sound very good to me
Donne envie de chanter avec, sans connaitre les paroles. Il faut apprécier l'harmonica par contre. Un peu l'impression d'écouter plusieurs fois la même chanson, à réécouter plusieurs fois pour saisir les nuances. Pas fan.
Genre: Contemporary Folk (Singer/Songwriter) I can't get into Bruce. Like, I get it, I can see the appeal most of the time, especially his full-band efforts, but this acoustic, post-Dylan, corporate-Americana stuff just sounds like beer commercials to me. Not essential for me, but I'm sure there are plenty of diehards for this. 2/5
Probably the only Springsteen album I like. Instead of his normal overly dramatic yell singing he just sings. It allows his lyrics to be the focus.
Springsteen goes acoustic. Not bad, but not all that interesting to me personally.
an incredibly haunting record - that I just wish wasn’t made by Bruce
Only recently came to the correct realization that Bruce is the best. Go see him, seriously. This album is exactly what I DON'T need from Bruce. Gimme the E-Street Band. My favorite songs are the ones that boogie a lil' bit (assuming I will like the Electric Nebraska versions more when it drops tomorrow).
Springsteen just doesn’t do it for me. A bit too sleepy of a record, but can’t deny the songwriting is great.
This is a perfectly timely review, coinciding with the impending release of the 'Nebraska' box set (which includes 'Electric Nebraska') and the debut of the Springsteen bio-pic, which covers the era leading right up to this album’s release. I bought "Nebraska" the week it came out. While the album wasn't what I expected on that first listen, I loved it immediately, and nothing has changed in the 43 years since. "Nebraska" stands as an utterly brilliant and essential album. Its power lies in the compelling storytelling and the stark, bare arrangements that highlight the excellent performances. It is, without a doubt, among Bruce Springsteen's finest work and remains one of my all-time favourites. Five stars. Perfect to these ears. Side one 1 "Nebraska" (5/5) 2 "Atlantic City" (5/5) 3 "Mansion on the Hill" (5/5) 4 "Johnny 99" (5/5) 5 "Highway Patrolman" (5/5) 6 "State Trooper" (5/5) Side two 1 "Used Cars" (5/5) 2 "Open All Night" (5/5) 3 "My Father's House" (5/5) 4 "Reason to Believe" (5/5) Total - 50 Average - 5 139/1001 72/139 albums reviewed were new to me.
turns out I hate too much harmonica and this is mostly harmonica
My major weakness: One Man, One Guitar. Every damn time. Elliot Smith (kind of), Nick Drake, now this guy. Maybe Springsteen should stick to this and not pop rock. It sounds like he's telling stories around a campfire, really nice feel. Most of the songs are absolutely heartbreaking. Kind of struggling to find words for this album, but it was amazing enough for me to tolerate the Faux-Southern accent. That's saying a lot.
By far the best Springsteen album so far
Bruce is good. You know this. (Besides that one song about Atlantic City)
slow. predictable. original?
- Overstayed its welcome - sad bob Dylan - not enough variety or emotion
Mostly sad.
Honestly really good. Nice and easygoing, but genuinely a joy to listen throughout. What a range on this guy. He should be famous!
Who's this drunk mumble rapper trying to rip off Leonard Cohen?
I loved this album. A raw Boss distilled down to story telling. I loved the theme across the album. Atlantic City, Johnny 99, Mansion on the Hill, and State Trooper are all standouts on this album for me. Why wasn't he doing more of this stuff all along?
First time listening to Bruce. Good, fun experience. Interesting style of music delivery. Mouth Organ usage is cool. Definitely will give his collection a go..
It didn’t blow me away. Johnny cash had more of a profound impact on me.
Great raw album. Movie coming out Friday!
Atlantic City // Highway Patrolman //
So fucking boring, I like Bruce but this shit is a snooze fest.
Beautiful stripped down, only Bruce and a 4 track. 8/10 Favoirte tracks- “Atlantic City” “Jonhhy 99” “Sate Trooper”
Isn't Bruce from Jersey? The hell is he doing out West?
Loved title track!
Decent but still don’t get him.
This is very much not my jam. It’s not that I’m not a fan of the stripped down acoustic sound, I very much am, but this just doesn’t get it for me. I know people rave about this album; and I do know the story behind it and why everyone says it’s so great… and I honestly do see why people love it. It’s just not for me. It’s too much of a downer in too many ways. Aside from Atlantic City, I’ll pass. Give me upbeat Bruce any day of the week.
Very American feel
Actually a pretty good album. I'm not a big Boss fan, but at least the lyrics are meaningful and cool!
I really liked this!
The guy with the big band singing anthems to arenas does a stripped down largely acoustic album, creating a surprising masterpiece
Det her er den indgangsvinkel jeg har manglet til Bruce Springsteen. Jeg har tænkt længe at der måtte være nogle kvaliteter jeg overså når jeg bare så en lidt, på overfladen, stereotyp arbejderklasse rock-and-roller med en Telecaster, men her skinner hans kæmpe talent for sangskrivningen virkelig igennem, og han bygger et så smukt univers op. Det hele er leveret med nærvær og nerve i stemmen, og det var en fornøjelse hele vejen igennem
I like it. Mellow, simple, good Springsteen
I could see this becoming a 5* on repeat listens but not quite yet. Reminds me of the best Killers' album, Pressure Machine.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 87 Stripped-down Springsteen 🪕 Nebraska is the antithesis of stadium rock as here Springsteen retreated into a quiet, unlit corner of America. What emerged was a lo-fi, solo acoustic album recorded as demos, never re-recorded with the E Street Band because Springsteen felt they captured something too real, too fragile to be replicated. It’s an album about murderers, outlaws, drifters, criminals, and working-class nobodies. But its real subject is moral ambiguity, American despair, and isolation. 🎧 Classic Track: Atlantic City 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Used Cars 🎧 Personal Favorite: State Trooper 🎧 Memorable Standout: Nebraska Recorded on a TEAC 4-track cassette recorder in Springsteen’s New Jersey bedroom. The tape hiss, room noise, and bare instrumentation all add to the sense of isolation. This production approach was radical at the time, especially from a major star. It helped legitimize home recording and inspired future artists (e.g. Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, Elliott Smith). 🖼️ Album Artwork: Poetic visual to these haunting tales Nebraska is a masterpiece of minimalism, proving that intensity and complexity don’t require volume or production. It’s not an album of answers — it’s an album of haunted questions. It shows Springsteen at his most vulnerable, most literary, and most daring. For anyone interested in the darker underside of American life, this is essential listening.
Highway Patrolman pushed it to 4 for me
2,5 - kinda boring
3/10
Hey girl long time no see. Confess ive not actually listened to nebraska in full so. Lez go. Oh this is. This is gorgeous. Maybe im biased and maybe its aided by listening on a lazy sunny sunday morning but hoowee. Lot of people in the reviews like 'ugh this is just him getting his guitar out round the campfire' and youre telling me you arent feeling a little melancholic round the campfire?? Youre not going apeshit when he tunes it to eadg for state trooper??????? Grow up.
Atlantic City is a great song. Not too much interesting outside of that. It's interesting to read about the album... is it truly that the studio thought it was good, or was it that they wanted to get something out fast? The album definitely has a coherent feel. It would probably grow on me if I listened more.
2.8 Dull, dull, dull. Do me a favour and quickly skip between tracks 1, 3 and 5. They're exactly the same. 7 and 9 are almost similar as well. Did he think by spacing them one out we wouldn't notice? Was only 40 minutes but got what a slog. The good thing about coming towards the tail end of the list is that I know after this I never have to listen to Springsteen again. And this was one of his better ones ffs.
Springsteen trying to be Dylan. It's ok though
Quite pleasant....it was worth a listen and not as avasive as I pre-empted it to be.
Never been a huge Bruce fan, and this hasn't changed my mind.
One of the bleakest, sparsest, most depressing albums I've ever had the misfortune to sit through. It's also very boring.
A little too country for me at times
Subdued and not flashy. I really enjoyed this.
I get why old dudes like him
Actually better than the “red blooded American born in a small town” type music I thought he made
I love the raw sound and several of the songs remind of the mood on the ghost of Tom Joad album that I listened a lot to in the past. I will listen to this again. Four stars
If I could give 4 1/2 I would. It’s a great album but sometimes a little too mellow and folksy for me.
better than i expected
Better album than state.
Harmonica is the most American instrument, overlayed by a phenomenal storyteller.
Not so terrible
puta que pariu que streak de merda que esse site tá dando viu pqp ser obrigado a escutar mais um do springsteen é tortura
nossa fi que horror jesus amado esse aqui eh tudo que eu odeio hein. não acho nem que me pegou num dia ruim, só acho ruim mesmo. americana voz e violão com letras até que interessantes, mas que, sinceramente, eu quero mais é que se foda. chato pra caralho. acabou com meu dia, papo reto.
I have to be in the right mood for singer/songwriter style music where it's just a person and their guitar. Also not helping is the fact that I've never cared for anything Springsteen has done, and this did not change my mind.
Very sad! But glad I listened
A favorite of mine when I'm in a dark, retrospective mood. Fantastic storytelling with a haunting sound.
Favourite Track: Highway Patrolman, Mansion on the Hill
The best album from The Boss. Atlantic City is an all time favourite.
not a fan of this particular lo-fi recording style. It just sounds bad at times, to be honest.
my anti0christ album - no. 666 This got a lot of heat from fans when it came out since it was such a divergence from his other work, He made up for that with his next album, "Born in the USA". Deep lyrics with haunting music. A sad one for sure.
This album aint for me This album aint for me As anyone can plainly see This old album aint for me
Der Bob Dylan für Blue Collar..c
It’s BS. But not a great album.
I had no idea that this was a fully acoustic record! Acoustic projects can get boring but I think Bruce did a great job of keeping this one lively with minimal instrumentation. And the range of influences (rockabilly, folk, country, blues) is very subtle but key to making these recordings work as well as they do. The narrative is strong, and I can see more clearly now how directly The Killers were influenced by Springsteen's work. Great album.
This is an easy listen for me. This album is mostly acoustic, maybe entirely acoustic, has elements of blues, rock & roll, folk, set over themes like run-ins with the law and meeting God. There are excellent harmonica riffs that gave me chills. There is some great emotion here. This is an 8.4 for me. AH
Oui!! 4 étoiles
Meh
Haunting desert campfire vibes, except there's a depressing cowboy on the guitar that is trying to convey stories I just don't want to listen to.
Nice
Reminds me of all the good of america
A great album. It's a little slow at times and the lyrics can be gut wrenching (though very good). Something different, wouldn't listen to it all the time, but it's very good.
Overall pretty boring. Either incredibly monotonous or just straight up cacophony
Such a different side of Bruce Springsteen than I’ve heard before. Will come back to this one again
Un album Folk intimiste qui parle de bandits. Le proto lofi emo folk scene. Un petit 4.
Au top des 1001 albums à ne pas réécouter avant de mourir.
C'était 10 tounes ou c'en était juste une? Je sais pus. Ça vaut pas un clou.
Other than Atlantic City, I find these songs very boring
I don't know who " Bruce Springsteen " is, but this album was pretty catchy.
I normally like a bit of Springsteen, but I didn’t gel with any of these songs. Didn’t hate any either, so a solid 3
Loved it! Spun this one on the decks, because I’m really cool. Really like this side of the boss. No big stadium anthems. Just a guitar and some tunes. Not that I don’t like the anthems, he’s superb at both. Simpsons: Yes
Feel like the last album we had from him wasn't really my thing. But really loved this. Perfect vibes right now, will actually try to listen again over Christmas.
I’ve always liked The Boss but never got it. This album is definitely my favourite and surprised me. Give me more stripped back shit like this.
More folky leaning than I'd expect
Not really my thing. Good for background noise during work
stone cold classic
I like a few of his songs but overall, I found this album boring and whinny at times.
Ehhh. First springsteen album and I'm not exactly impressed. Fake deep sounding songs that kinda just say nothing, and nothing to write home about sonically. I'm sure this would be a wonderful listen if you never left your hometown in Jersey.
Shouldn't be on this list at all in my opinion. Never heard someone sing about roads so much in my entire life. Some moments were pretty good, but there isn't even one song that I really liked through and through. Very mid album
Listened to the first galf. Fav was Atlantic City.
I would rate it with a five. I liked the harmonica parts and it's clear it was written with soul and lots of feeling, but the sound is not great and I was expecting more rock. Not a waste of time bad I would not listen to it again.
Not an album i would go to right away, but still a pretty good album regardless
Mai piaciuto Bruce Springsteen
Still not a fan. I don’t really like his voice.
Boy this was depressing.
Couple of good ones, couple of meh ones
8.1
point8.
First time listening, and wow did some feelings get elicited. Definitely an album that needs consecutive listens. I didn't grasp a lot of the lyrics but the delivery and lonesome sound presents itself so well. I almost cried haha
Another classic from the Boss. Favorites include Atlantic City, Johnny 99, State Trooper, and Reason to Believe. Incredible how he can record a stark, chilling classic like this and then have the anthems of Born to Run and Born in the USA.
I like it, not listened before!
I love the haunting tone and imagery on Nebraska. When the production is combined with the boss’ great songwriting it creates some of his best work. However it’s also the most repetitive of his albums and the great concept of the record wears thin.
Album 15/1001 This is Bruce at a time where he was struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts...and you don't need to be a doctor to recognise that when you listen to this album. These songs are all beautifully writen, bleak stories about the struggles of life. Don't know about you, but sometimes I just want to wallow...and for me, there's no better companion in those times than The Boss, armed with just his guitar, his harmonica and his sad weary voice. Favourite lyrics: ATLANTIC CITY "Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade And the gambling commission's hanging on by the skin of its teeth" "Well, I got a job and tried to put my money away But I got debts that no honest man can pay" "Now I've been looking for a job, but it's hard to find Down here, it's just winners and losers And don't get caught on the wrong side of that line Well, I'm tired of coming out on the losing end So, honey, last night I met this guy And I'm gonna do a little favour for him Well, I guess everything dies, baby, that's a fact But maybe everything that dies someday comes back So fix your hair up nice and set up pretty And meet me tonight in Atlantic City" OPEN ALL NIGHT "Radio's jammed up with Gospel stations Lost souls callin' long distance salvation Hey Mr. DJ, won't you hear my last prayer? Hey ho, rock 'n' roll, deliver me from nowhere" REASON TO BELIEVE "Struck me kinda funny Funny yeah indeed How at the end of every hard earned day People find some reason to believe" Favourite song: Atlantic City 🌊🏙 Honourable mention: Nebraska 👫🔫 Mansion on the Hill 🏠🌄 Highway Patrolman 🛣 👮♂️ Reason to Believe ✝️
Listenable.
Liked it a lot but folky
Never been into Bruce, appreciate the artist though.
Nebraska Atlantic City
I was really bored after a couple of songs, his style of singing in combination with his monotonous melodies were sleeping pills for me. I don’t doubt his talents but this is not for me.
There are a few Springsteen songs which I like, but none of them are from this album. Apparently The Boss decided to put out an album that was a departure from his previous records. This one was mellower, with darker lyrics. Springsteen was the only musician on the record, which was recorded in his house. This would rate two stars from me, but it gets three stars because of the good storytelling and unusual lo-fi sound.
I love Bruce as a person, but to be totally honest, this isn't my vibe. The music is chill, but it turns out I don't like to hear too much harmonica. The lyrics are good, but the singing is too "country" for me (there's a fine line between country and folk, I guess). Bring back the band, Brucey!! Highlight: 'Atlantic City' Related fun facts: Bruce is also into model train sets. There exists a Wikipedia list of "List of 1980s albums considered the best" (this is on it).
Never been a huge fan of Springsteen, but never hated him either. I hadn't listened to Nebraska all the way through before and was a bit surprised by how many songs I already knew from other people's cover versions. Gotta say I like the quieter, more introspective side of The Boss. Faves: "Atlantic City" (The Hold Steady do a great cover), "Mansion On A Hill", "Highway Patrolman" (Johnny Cash himself covered that one), "My Father's House"
I am really not a fan of Bruce Springsteen to begin with. But listening to 'Nebraska' at work, running on four hours of sleep after seeing a NIN show the previous evening is not a good combination. Not one song sounded different from the other, and I constantly was fighting off sleep.
they blew up the chicken man in philly last night
oh my god little guy inside the generator who chooses the albums give me another harmonica-y album I dare you 😾 ngl I was a little bored by this album. It was okay and not bad but not something I’ll probably ever think about again. Also I wish the guitar was just a little louder 😭 fav song: Johnny 99 maybe?
This whole album feels pretty dark. The stories in the lyrics feel like they really capture middle America at a certain time. That being said, I don't think the actual musicianship on this album is thaaat good. Springsteen’s guitar is composition wise very simple and way too quiet. The harmonica is pretty harsh and doesn’t mesh nearly as well as a Bob Dylan or Neil Young song. Something about Nebraska makes me feel kinda annoyed and I can't quite put my finger on it. I don’t really know enough about Bruce Springsteen’s other music to compare it to this album. The vocals and lyrics are what’s carrying everything, but they only take it so far. Standout Tracks: Atlantic City, Highway Patrolman, Open All Night 3/5 deserves to be on this list
Geez, this whole album is a gut punch. From the opening seconds. So dark. So sparse. I heard it described as an American Gothic and I think that’s a perfect description. The Boss has range. 5/5 Highlights: Atlantic City Johnny 99 State Trooper Reason to Believe
This was a touching album. Say whatever you want about liking it or not but it's honest and earnest and you can feel the artistry in it. Good one to have on the list and I'm glad I listened to it as an album versus just random songs.
I enjoy how stripped down this is. I like harmonica. He is a good song writer and this is a solid album, but I do not feel that this is something people need to hear before they die.
Bruce’s, best album, and also his most depressing…
The minimalist approach from Springsteen works for me. This is one of my top 10 fav albums across all genres. Raw, sincere, well written stories from the rough side of life. 5 stars.
Bruce Springsteen at his bet. None of the trumpets and band involved, just him singing acoustic songs with a guitar. This really brings out the Americana-vibes, especially with the album title and cover. I'm 5 Bruce Springsteen albums in now, on the whole I'm more positive towards him, but I'd rather he'd made more of this and less of Born in the USA.
AM: Featured on Dad rock essentials
🌽
Yeah, this is good! Great atmospheres, good lyrics, I like it.
I never really knew much about this album, and I didn’t care much for what I heard at the time. Album-oriented FM was no longer the soundtrack of my daily routine. But listening to it now, and having learned its back-story, I can appreciate it for what it is, even if it isn’t an album I’m going to play over and over.
Wow, what a nice surprise!
meh, just incredibly meh,.
It's the most calm and serious Bruce Springsteen record I've heard. It's lyrics are deep and needs attention for each and every song. It may feel like a background-ish record that you put on and walk away, but it's more than that.
Nebraska is Springsteen's attempt in creating an American folk classic album. He's good enough a songwriter to make this a solid output, but the record lacks the bite that characterises Springsteen's best works.
That was a strange one. I like the atmosphere and the background behind the album but I'm not sure I liked it as a whole. It sounds thoughtful and a bit unsettling, I like that a lot, but after it was over I wasn't sure what to think - I was kinda glad that it was over but at the same time now I want to listen to it again, perhaps, in a different headspace? I liked "Johnny 99" the most.
Really enjoyed.
Excellent album for cold winter days.
not for me
For some reason I expected this to be an hour plus… 40 minutes was just fine.
I just don't like him despite many attempts.
Bruce Springsteen constantly sings like he's about to cum
Vibey
God Album. His best album ever recorded at home on an eight track. Atlantic city wow
Maybe unfair, but I wasn't in a Nebraska mood. I'm certain this is quality stuff, but you need to be wanting to hear this.
Pleasantly surprised by this album, i didn't enjoy born in the USA, so didn't have high hopes for this. I enjoyed this album a lot more, Springsteen's stripped back approach was a nice change of pace, and I enjoyed the theme of Morality that was laced throughout this album.
Springsteen once again delves into the subject of moral complexity, but this time with considerably darker material than on his previous releases. Also, in contrast to more maximalist Springsteen works like *Born To Run*, the music here is radically stripped down, reflective of the starkness of the words. It's an admirable effort that doesn't completely work though, as the plain-vanilla acoustic guitar 'n' harmonica backing is so musically primitive that it's frankly kind of boring, leaving little distinct impression from track to track.
I didn't really need to listen to this one again for this project, but I decided to anyway. A family friend gave me this album years ago after I played a version of Atlantic City on an old guitar. At the time I hadn't heard much Springsteen, only the hits, so I didn't much know what to expect from Nebraska. I pretty quickly fell in love with the stripped down, minimalist sound that serves so well to highlight Springsteen's songwriting. Putting the record on again and sitting out on the balcony on an overcast day, listening to the mournful wail of freight trains across the river, and sipping some good bourbon, I was again absorbed by this album.
I'm not really a Springsteen fan by any means, but this album is objectively pretty good all the way through. It's a first listen, but one of those that I feel like would get better over time. I like the acoustic guitar, the harmonica. A definite folk feel.
Surprising this is actually sick. I cant even belive it. I really dont like born in the USA or born to run or Jason borne or any other birthright songs. Those are terrible. I was expecting that type of stuff. But he makes actual music. Like real heartfelt stuff. Just a guy with an acoustic guitar and maybe some xylophone or something to bring it all together. I liked almost every song here. A few get a bit too much toward the end but its a 90% hit rate. What happened from here to the next record. It worked out for him thats for sure but this is much more for me
It's decently interesting while I listen to it. And there are interesting stories like the first song Nebraska in the point of a serial killer and some sergeant excusing his brother. I do like "Atlantic City" and "Mansion on the Hill" has some pretty effective imagery. But overall, I don't think the music itself is all that interesting and I wouldn't have much desire to return to this album a lot. 8/9/2025
Enjoyed this - good strong songs and story telling
5 star as hell wdym
No notable tracks that I remember
Not a fan, but I'll give it a 2 for being marginally better than that John Zorn thrash jazz atrocity from a few weeks ago.
The only Springsteen album I listen to repeatedly. These acoustic gems about violent criminals and the repercussions of their actions never fails to draw me in. Bruce' best.
I don't think I like Bruce Springsteen
This was ok but I prefer high energy rocker Bruce.
LOVE Atlantic City but the rest of the album is just alright
Not a huge fan.
Springsteen is always kind of a mixed bag. Love the messaging, but the delivery sometimes falls flat.
Introspective, beautiful, authentic
nothing much to it
I don’t know how/ why I continue to sleep on Bruce Springsteen. I enjoy his albums when I hear them and need to seek them out more. I thought this was great.
Harmonica-y
I was not born in the USA.
kinda slow
I hate Bruce Springsteen, but I liked this album.
nice stuff - never new it existed
Great album
not his best work, a bit boring but it was sound like
This did not sound like The Boss, in a bad way. He sounded like he had a mouth full of marbles to me. All of the songs sounded the same and didn't have distinguishing characteristics. Slow, melancholy, FAFO vibes. Would not listen again.
What a melancholy album. Songs about guilt and suffering, loss and hope. This is probably the loneliest album I've ever heard. I think the songwriting here is really beautiful at times, and some of these tracks almost verge on hymn-like. That said, I don't think the performance and writing can make up for the uninspired song structure and repetitive tone.
A surprising amount of range for an acoustic album. I think the album ends stronger than it begins with Open All Night and Reason To Believe as the standout tracks for me. I enjoyed the storytelling a lot (and for most tracks more than the sound). Each song is like a snapshot of an average Joe dealing with their life and most are quite moving. I appreciate the slight hope the last track brings after an otherwise fairly dreary set of vignettes. Overall though the sound for a lot of the tracks leaves a bit to be desired for me so I can’t go much higher than a 3.
Such classic americana. It's really typical music but I do think Springsteen captures something of the rural american spirit from this era in an honest way.
Favorite tracks: Atlantic City Man, I hope someone checked on Bruce after this album was released, this was incredibly depressing. Americana is definitely not my style of music, but I can appreciate that this was well made and shows another side of him that I had not heard.
Day 20 Some good songs but the album as a whole didnt really grab me, definitely prefer his anthemic rock stuff. Highlights Atlantic City Johnny 99
I'm so sorry, Bruce!
Made me cry
Solemn and dark. Reads a bit like a poem (a la Joni Mitchell) or a prayer. The thing with this type of album is, that it hits you hard if the themes happen to match your experience at the moment. This one doesn't really for me. Not a bad album, and cool to see a man who is not afraid to touch large emotions.
To be honest it barely registered with me. Maybe I’ll give it a spin another day
Very nice
Every single track was so beautiful & the storytelling was so rich. New appreciation for Springsteen!
What an incredibly whiney album. I quit halfway through, so a 1.
Imagine yourself locked in a room with Bruce Springsteen singing through the wall, insistent on wailing about poor murderers. That’s this album’s experience. If the first place my mind goes to while listening is Bob Dylan, you know the album is headed down a dark road — and a poor review. The tracks are so formulaic, in both sound and lyricism, that I applaud anyone who’s able to tell them apart — or even stay awake during a listen.
Raspy-voiced dude moanin' and blowin' a harmonica over acoustic guitar is not for me. I'm sure there's someone out there who enjoys this...
Equal parts haunting and beautiful. A big departure from the kind of music Bruce had been making up to this point in his career, it's a bold move that paid off in a big way. Favorite song: Atlantic City
Generally not a fan of folk music but I liked this and some of the songs feel very relevant for the times we're going through.
could i write poetry to this? n
This isn't the Bruce Springsteen that I enjoy. Come to think of it, I only like Springsteen records with the E Street Band on them. Must be the saxophone.
Haunting and raw. I'll try this on a long drive tomorrow.
The soundtrack to a vasectomy. I'm giving this a 2, and one of those is for a great album cover. I've never been to Nebraska, but that's how I picture it...monochrome and everything. The other is for State Trooper and Open All Night...the only songs that have some sort of a beat that commanded my attention. The rest is just a meandering mess of quiet guitar, softly sung lyrics and some intermittent harmonica playing.
First Dylan, then Cohen, now this... are you trying to kill me?
I would appreciate it being in the background while having friends over. It's real mellow and acoustically pleasing. Also nice hearing Springsteen's songs I'm less familiar with. 6.5/10
Solid writing but a little boring
3.5 pretty solid, slower than I remember Bruce. Atlantic City is cool
For many fans of The Boss, this is one of his best albums, if not his best. I agree.
A boring Midwestern state in the USA known for its corn. It has the high percentage of rural land out of all 50 states.
The most depressing album ever! I owned it when it first came out & ended up giving it away to a Springsteen fan
Good
decent, no standouts
Lyrics and the pared-back sound were highlights, though I struggle to tell many of the songs apart.
Good Grief. What a downer. Hated it.
Thought Springsteen was a bit more country pop, but this album slowed things down. While I didn't love every song it made me feel like I was driving down a long motorway as the sun had just set (in a positive way)
I have loved this album for 40 years, so I was pretty happy to see it pop up. Ok, maybe “happy” and Nebraska don’t naturally go together. One of Bruce’s finest sets of songs and I love that they went with the demos over a full E Street album that would have taken some of the magic and pathos out of these beautifully tragic songs. It’s tough to make solo acoustic interesting across an entire album, Bruce shows us how it’s done.
I feel like I’m sitting around a campfire listening to someone sing. It’s melancholy, but emotional and intimate. Not my favorite style, but I’m glad I listened.
Definitely a lyrics over music album (I suppose that's just the Folk genre in general). I want to listen more to see if it strikes a chord but right now it's meh.
Almost a folk rock thing going on, crazy it’s only two years before born in the USA
I’ve tried but Bruce just doesn’t resonate with me. I appreciate the story telling but that’s about it.
Very stripped back folk album, with just Bruce on acoustic guitar, harmonica and singing. I can definitely appreciate how raw and vulnerable it sounds, and I think it's very effective at what it sets out to do. But I didn't really enjoy listening to it. The melodies were very simple and repetitive, I didn't find that any of the songs had any great hooks, they mostly sounded the same, and there wasn't much that was interesting about any of the instrumental parts. Definitely not a bad album, but it's not for me.
Found this really boring. 3/10