Nebraska

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.

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

More folky leaning than I'd expect

Not really my thing. Good for background noise during work

Listened to the first galf. Fav was Atlantic City.

Boy this was depressing.

Couple of good ones, couple of meh ones

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.

Listenable.

Liked it a lot but folky

Never been into Bruce, appreciate the artist though.

Nebraska Atlantic City

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.

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

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.

🌽

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.

Excellent album for cold winter days.

Vibey

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.

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.

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

No notable tracks that I remember

This was ok but I prefer high energy rocker Bruce.

LOVE Atlantic City but the rest of the album is just alright

Springsteen is always kind of a mixed bag. Love the messaging, but the delivery sometimes falls flat.

not his best work, a bit boring but it was sound like

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.

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

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

Haunting and raw. I'll try this on a long drive tomorrow.

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

decent, no standouts

Lyrics and the pared-back sound were highlights, though I struggle to tell many of the songs apart.

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 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.

I like Bruce a lot and I've never heard this album before. I didn't know he had a whole album without the E-Street Band. The twang he's got going on "Nebraska" is great. I hope the whole album is from the perspective of characters. I enjoyed the album, but didn't love it. Bruce singing over acoustic sans backing did grow a little old, but it definitely wasn't bad. It was a lot of classic Bruce blue collar american stories. Maybe I'll revisit one day and listen much closer to the lyrics, and I'll up my score. Like everyone else, my favorite song was "Atlantic City". 6/10

I'm just not a fan of singer/songwriter music where it's just a dude and his guitar. Still better than Bob Dylan, though.

Atlantic City is the only stand-out

Pov: jedziesz na koniu pilnować swojego stada owiec

Not really my thing but maybe I’d need to listen a couple more times. Well-written though!

Definitely has a very similar vibe in pretty much every song. Think the scene in the office uk has ruined Bruce Springsteen for me because I couldn’t stop hearing that for the whole songs. Not my favourite Springsteen. specific rating- 3.3 Fav song- open all night Least fav- nebraska

Got a little sick of the harmonica at points. Liked the upbeat songs more than the slow ones. Favourite song: Atlantic City Least: Nebraska

It's fine, and because it's Bruce you want to vote it up, but for me, its just fine.

Pretty decent.

Vale un tres, lo siento

i can imagine this album made a lot of southern men cry. country isn’t really my thing but this one’s a lot more tolerable than other stuff i’ve heard, some songs are a bit repetitive though and they’re all more or less the same format of song but the storytelling is good

Rustig, niet helemaal mijn stijl

J - 3/5 Best Track - "Atlantic City"

This is a bit of a dirge, but I liked it. I give it 3.

I don't normally love Springsteen, but this album was a different side of him than I'd ever heard before. It was much quieter, much more solemn and simple. Mostly just Bruce, a guitar and a harmonica, and I really kinda liked it. Three stars,

Blandly enjoyable. Wouldn’t seek it out to listen to again but wouldn’t turn it off if it came on either

If Springsteen can do anything, he can paint a picture with words. A true poetic storyteller. However, that's the only thing good I can say about this album. You can feel that this was a personal project, with his heart and soul poured into it, but it also musically feels very empty. The songs blend together and you can't say when one song starts and the other ends. The minimalism didn't work for me here. It's a shame, this could've been a 4 or 5 star album if it had more instrumentation and variety, but solely on its lyrical merits it's a 3/5.

Ah, this album is not really my cup of tea. It's just too acoustic for me, although I can tell he's doing work with that harmonica, and just overall compared to some other country/folk stuff I've heard thus far. Some tracks I would nearly like enough to listen to more often, but just aaaaren't quite there. I can tell he's good at his work though, and the songwriting is solid, which is why he gets a 3 here where I'd usually dish out a 2.

One of those albums where you really have to pay attention to the lyrics to appreciate it. I don't really care for this flavor of stripped-down acoustic folk, but the storytelling is just something else with Bruce. Even with just two listens I kept finding little lyrical callbacks and connections between the stories that felt pretty rewarding. Musically, I want to point out how he makes the harmonica SING whenever he pulls it out. Standout: Johnny 99 • Used Cars • My Father's House

This was pretty mellow compared to other Bruce Springsteen music I’ve heard. But I liked it. My favorite song on this album was My Father’s House.

I don't like country music, and I've never really been a fan of Springsteen either, so when I say this is okay that is a complement. This album is ok, I think it is a little boring, but whatever, I can see why people would like it. Low 3.

OK, a bit samey though

Really good, but gets repetitive around the halfway mark.

Pretty good I enjoyed it a lot.

Not my favorite album by The Boss.

very understated. good as always but not my favourite Bruce album

Not much of a Brucey bonus

If one must listen to Springsteen, I guess this would be the album to listen to...

Listened in the truck via YouTube music. Very quiet album. Never attempted to listen before. Will probably need to again and really listen.

Better than I expected

3,1/5

This is the Springsteen album I enjoy the most, but even at its darkest there's still something "off" with his music that I can't quite put my finger on. It's like it works so hard to put me in a reflective mood but in the end I just find it well done, it doesn't really move me in any way.

It's alright. Probably his best since he's not "screaming" around.

My favorite Bruce Springsteen, more heartfelt and relaxed than usual. Still, I can't say I'm fully in love with the album. It misses something catchy... A lack of melody maybe.

He wanna be Bob Dylan so bad

Like "Atlantic City"

This was decent, but only 1 song I decided to add to my library from the lineup.

A generally pleasant album with an Americana feel that I can't really relate to

This was better than the last Springsteen album I got. With harmonicas instead of blaring saxes, and actual dynamic range instead of bombastic production, it was a less jarring experience. That said, I just don't enjoy listening to the Boss. I can understand why this is on the list, but it is not something I will ever seek out again.

...

Hyggligt!

Not the best Springsteen but an easy listen

I wanted to like this album more than I did. I honestly had a better time reading and learning about it than I did actually listening to it. I liked the idea of a moody melancholic look at middle and lower class American life with acoustic guitar, but a lot of the songs just fell flat for me. I like a good story in my songs, but for whatever reason most didn't connect for me. I think it was a combination of not really liking the vocals, and the lyrics and storytelling not being grabbing. Not a bad album, and there are a few songs I vibed with, but definitely not a standout for me. Standouts: Highway Patrolman, Reason to Believe Rating: 3.25/5

too experimental to my taste, but some great tunes there

2.5

IMO (jokingly) all good albums should be made up of atleast 25% harmonica - this is at least 60% and I am so here for it - twas my first proper listen to bruce Springsteen, and lowkey I am a fan. and for real I do love the harmonica.

Bummer of an album but that's the way it's supposed to be.

Decent album and I like the low fi feel. Wouldn’t listen again apart from state trooper

It's a good album but not as epic or essential as the critical consensus implies

Jeg nød albummet for hvad det er. Især State Trooper er klasse. Lyden var Bruce.

Wasn’t a Springsteen fan before and this didn’t convert me, unfortunately. Not sure whether it’s his voice or my general, overpowering aversion to singalong stadium rock which colored my listen and kept me from being open to it. I did enjoy the first two tracks and I appreciate that it’s well-written though, so it’s a 6/10 for me.

A decent, albeit quiet and sparse, folk album from the Boss. I hadn't heard much of him like this; most of the songs I know are bigger, louder, and backed by the full band. He toned it down here, with most tracks barely having more to them than vocals and acoustic guitar. I can see this having a big impact on singer/songwriter types, as it showcases how even big artists can produce quieter, simpler music. Normally, Springsteen grates on me. I can only do a few of his songs before needing to change to something else. That didn't really happen here. I think it being much more subdued led to me having a higher tolerance for the album. Even so, it did start to get old toward the end. The lack of variety in song style probably had something to do with that. While I appreciated his effort and didn't hate the album, some tracks really didn't work for me. I couldn't get into State Trooper at all. Plus, with the compositions having very little differentiation, some of the songs started to blend together for me. I think that was exacerbated by its quietness; it lost me at times, and I didn't know if it was the same song when it came back or not. I'm a little torn on this one. There's nothing to really make it great for me, outside of it being different and intimate. There's also nothing really to say it is bad, other than a few tracks I didn't particularly like. It seems like a treat for someone who is a Bruce fan, but not for me, even though I did like the stripped down vibe he went with here. Thinking of repeat listenability, I wouldn't say it is something I'll come back to very much. I'm settling on fine/solid, though I'll probably go back and forth about it after I hit submit. Overall: 2.75/5

A different sound to Springsteen. Less commercial. Enjoyed the album.

NICE STORY. FW IT

It's ok, a shame he has gotten so political.

as far as bruce springsteen albums go, this is certainly one of them. he definitely made it and im not entirely sure why

Classic slow American rock. Springsteen is always one of the best. Unfortunately, this speaks to an America I don't experience; slow country life with nothing to look forward to other than tomorrow. Not for me but still good.

Het klinkt een beetje alsof Bruce dit op zijn slaapkamer heeft zitten opnemen. En raad eens wat... dat is ook zo. Heel minimaal, maar ook een belabberde geluidskwaliteit. De Boss maakt soms rare keuzes wat hij wel en niet uitbrengt, want kennelijk waren de naderhand gemaakte professionele studio-opnamen niet goed genoeg. Ik ben helaas niet zo onder de indruk. Heiligschennis? Vast. Maar het oor wil ook wat, en het is allemaal wat kaal.

Een verhalend en ingetogen album. Ik wil hier helemaal niets van vinden, want ik luister nooit naar de teksten. Maar we moeten de 1001 afronden, dus ik deel toch maar sterretjes uit. Eén man met zijn gitaar, zijn mondharmonica en vooral zijn stem. Dat is niet mijn genre. Was ik dit als één van de eerste albums tegengekomen in de lijst, had ik waarschijnlijk 2 sterren gegeven en snel doorgegaan. Inmiddels heb ik wat vergelijkingsmateriaal. Enerzijds van anderen en anderzijds van Bruce zelf. Als ik dan een keuze moet maken tussen die albums, dan komt deze toch boven drijven. Ja, het is verhalend, maar niet zo theatraal als vergelijkbaar werk. Bij Darkness on the Edge of Town schreef ik dat ik Bruce niet geloofde. Dat is nu wel het geval. Zonder dat het (wederom relatief) saai wordt. Het is een mooie middenweg. Zelf zal ik dit niet meer opzetten, maar laat ik dat deze keer terzijde schuiven en toch 3 sterren uitdelen.

The moody atmosphere hits like a truck, but I find it hard to return on an individual track level other than the first few ones. Definitely a great night listen front to back, especially on my record player with a few crackles here and there, but past that, not really.

Sad songs for sad boy. ACAB

I liked this but I don't remember it

Büro, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Okayes Bruce Album

Yay more Springsteen 😐 I can appreciate this album for departing from Springsteen's usual sound (I mean just look at what he released 2 years later), but unfortunately its still kinda dull. Favorite track: Atlantic City

Incredible funk

There isn’t anything awful about this album by any means, but it really didn’t grip me. The Boss has had some other songs that get me fired up (Born To Run being the first to come to mind) but nothing here really had that level of oomph. It seemed to be a much milder album, but whereas other chilled out singer songwriters can write beautiful music (Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, etc.), Bruce’s venture into the more sedate scopes of music just fell a little weaker that I’d have liked. Not awful though. Fine to have on while doing things and not wanting to give you undivided attention.

It's Bruce at home! Apparently recorded in his home in NJ, it does sound like a really subdued acoustic performance album. Guitar, harmonica, and vocals - it's as raw a performance as you can get. It's mostly slow and grim and personal. You've got to be invested in the lyrics. I wouldn't call this a particularly fun listen, but it is a good one. Standouts for me were "Johnny 99" "State Trooper" and "Open All Night" There were some cool sounding songs. Some of the lyrics hit. I'm not a huge fan of the whole folky Americana genre, but it was an interesting listen. Probably wouldn't come back to much of it, but certainly don't hate it. 3 stars for me.

not my style

I don’t like Bruce Springsteen

I’ll admit that I never cared for Bruce Springsteen. It’s not a hatred thing, it’s more straight apathy. Something about this album felt like it would be different. It’s more acoustic and it’s got a darker lyrical tone. So I figured I might like it. But really, it’s just ok. The album alternates between some slower paced songs and the usual Springsteen style songs, but like, more sad I guess. Honestly, I wish the whole album was just the slow stuff, because I liked those songs a bit better. And to be blunt, I didn’t really feel much from the somber lyrics. Half the songs are just about someone committing a crime, and the other half is just reminiscing on childhood. I kind of just wish Springsteen focused more on one aspect or the other. I kind of respect the idea of Bruce deviating away from his usual stuff and attempting to go into a bold direction. And I admit, it almost works in some ways. But it doesn’t change my opinion of his music that much for me. Favorite track: Mansion on the Hill Other hits: Highway Patrolman, Used Cars, My Father’s House, Nebraska

Always been more of a Bon Jovi kinda guy but still the respect the Jersey love. Shoulda known he was the original Atlantic City guy and not the The Band. But The Band does it wayyyy better Album got me nostalgic for a home I’ve never even seen but Bruce’s slow style in this jsut dosent really get me allll that into it

There's definitely some quality songwriting here and I enjoyed. Though I think that this is one that gets stronger with more listens. Highlights: My Fathers House Atlantic City Highway Patrolman

Slower version of Springsteen. Songs are well played, but a little lacking in verve. 3/5 Probably won’t listen again

…why did i kinda enjoyed this album??? i hate american country but this album was good, surprisingly. i was expecting to be bored (i mean, there were some boring songs) but i was looking forward to listen to the next one. this album surprised me for good and i’d listen to more Springsteen if needed :) my favourite one is Atlantic City

I like some of his other albums better

Unusual. I was prepared for a dark, morose and sombre album, which it is in places. However several tracks feel like standard 12 bar rock and roll songs, just played solo on an acoustic guitar - not a criticism, just an observation. My favourite Springsteen is when he's sad or angry - Streets of Philadelphia, Ghost of Tom Joad - and while I appreciate the sparseness of the album, I'd rather more of that vibe. High 3/low 4

A nice album - desolate ballads that don’t seem to live up to their potential mostly, dissonance without a purpose or something like that

Didn't resonate with me. Was a bit to monotonous for my liking. Had a few good moments though and definitely is a vibe for a sad walk in the rain

Hey wait that’s a state

Atlantic City is a classic, others were alright

Chill music. Probably would be better to listen on a long drive through Nebraska instead of walking through the airport. I struggle to enjoy singer-songwriter stuff more.

Not bad 3

Not a big country fan sorry!

Realized I need to pay more attention to lyrics. This album was all acoustic and kinda sad. It was ok- not my favorite Bruce album.

I like Springsteen but this didn't do much for me. Might benefit from repeat listens.

This is clearly "good", but I don't connect with his voice, lyrics/ characters, or the production usually, though the atmosphere is pleasant and "correct" on this album. I still think the other singer/ songwriters with important bands did it better

Sounds like bob dylan

More fascinating when you learn Bruce recorded this alone with a tape recorder. Pretty vulnerable compare to his other albums. Definitely makes his next album (his best) hit harder because of the tone shift.

Not my favorite Springsteen album

Bruce Springsteen's voice, the guitar, the harmonica, it all comes together so nicely. I've heard some Springsteen, but never came across any of these songs. I'm glad I did now. Most of these songs are a little slower, sort of a sadness to them. Nebraska, Atlantic City, and My Father's House all fit that soft melancholy vibe. Open All Night and Johnny 99 were some fun faster numbers. Ends on the fun and chill Reason To Believe. All in all a solid album. Best song: Johnny 99

After a string of hit albums, Springsteen switched it up in dramatic fashion. Gone are the electric guitars and saxophones; in their pace a lone acoustic guitar and Springsteen's voice. This stripped-down approach lends Springsteen's songs a gravitas that they don't typically carry. Murder ballads, tales of down-on-their-luck working class folks faced with moral complexities, and one hopeful attempt at escaping it all ("Atlantic City") The dour mood is powerful and the songwriting is poignant, but the vibe is one that I'm not always ready for. I do find it hilarious that Suicide inspired this album, and I get a little giddy with each mention of "Frankie". Highlight: "Atlantic City"

Good but kind of sounds the same after a while

Not what I expected - kind of liked it. Little stories and vignettes. Still, I can’t see myself listening to it again.

Nothing special but I enjoyed my time with it

Listened to a bit of it. Very sad, very country. Would listen to the whole thing, but need the right mood

It was okay.

i mean some good storytelling but I don’t think this needs to be on the list

I went to Nebraska for harmonica

I hate Spingsteen. But I didn't hate this one for some reason. Way to go, Bruce!

Brucey

Not my favourite of his but still good

Very stripped back, storytelly songs about petty criminals and troubled people. Solid, honest folk stuff

This is #day247 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my second Springsteen record on the list. As I'm listening to Nebraska, I'm about an hour away from turning 35. Well, 18 hours, if we're being precise. According to my mom, I was born on a Friday, April 13th, around 5 p.m. It was Good Friday before Easter, which, for some reason, feels meaningful to me. Now, my wife and I have finally settled into a new place. We did a great job together, and one by one, and it's starting to feel like home. It's been a hell of a week, so it's time for a little bit of "me." I've invited a few friends over to celebrate, and I'm looking forward to seeing my mom and dad, too. Nebraska is a fine album to end my 34. I also like its artwork. This is a strong 3 out of 5. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Looking forward to my birthday, aka #day248.

Correcto

Mellow, thoughtful, reflective, and emotive Bruuuuuuce.

Nice.

Heard a lot of Dylan in this.

5/10 great campfire music

It's sad. I've listened to so many albums on this list, yet I feel no closer to being an authority on music. I remember nothing about the last Springsteen album and would have nothing to say about this artist were he ever brought up in a conversation. I need to find a way to rid my brain of all the useless shit floating up there so I can start making room for the things that really matter in life. I'm talking mild to severe brain damage. The small town, desolate setting of the album is very compelling and something I would like to return to in the future. "Narrative songs" are a kind of song that I sought out the most when I was initially getting into music, so I already have an appreciation for songs of this variety. Springsteen is a talented vocalist, though it comes with a catch. The way country songs are sung is very alienating and inaccessible to me. The pacing is generally very slow and the vocals are accented in a way that is somewhat difficult for me to follow. Once I'm lost, it's very difficult for me to regain my footing with these albums. The instrumentals are very humbling and nice. While the album was unrelentingly tragic and bleak, the delicate instrumentals convey a feeling of light at the end of the tunnel, or perhaps to emphasise the fragility of the characters these songs are centered around. The harmonica doesn't really work for me in country, though it's a staple of the genre and something I can respect. I'm going to give this album a 4, though mentally it is sat at a very comfortably 3. Hopefully I can make my way out of the backlog hole I have dug for myself, as I really would like to revisit this one. ==================== Edit (8th of July, 2025): Yeah, I haven't revisited this one in the time since first listening to it. I may in the future, but for the time being I think I'll withdraw this lil buddy from my summary page. Original rating: 4 stars Amended rating: 3 stars

this would go very hard on a long drive through the US in constant rain. It's very American, even the lyrics remind me of Cormac McCarthy stories with their nihilism and despair. I enjoyed it but I must admit that it got a bit boring towards the end.

5/10…heartland rock / folk / country

Pre-listening thoughts: rolled my eyes when I saw this. There are FIVE Bruce Springsteen albums on this stupid fucking list????? My week just went from bad to worse. Genuinely I might give this a one because I’m so pissed off and I haven’t even listened to it yet. Only one person gets to write a song about Nebraska and that is Lady Gaga in her song Yoü and I. Post/during listening thoughts: PUT THE HARMONICA DOWN!!!!!! Also do we really need two back to back songs called Highway Patrolman and State Trooper? What's next, Town Sheriff? Traffic Cop? 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: NO Fav tracks: Atlantic City Least fav tracks: everything actually sounded the same.

3 stars

Ah jeez. I really wanted to like this but it really is a dirge. None of these songs are fun or up lifting. It’s all bummers all the time. I don’t know when I’d ever listen to this. Atlantic City is the exception, and if more of the songs were like it this would be 5 stars. But I can only give it 3

This was a bit all over the place for me. Hated Nebraska, liked Atlantic City, disliked Mansion on the hill, rinse and repeat...

liked this soooo much more than i expected! don’t know why i thought i’d hate it

It's a lot more stripped back and folky than most of Springsteen's work. I mostly enjoyed it, but it's a little too dreary for a full album for me.

-I did not much enjoy the previous Bruce Springsteen album I got on here, but I liked this one more than I thought I would -has a very haunting and elegant quality I don’t usually associate with country music or any of its variants. it was a nice change from what I expected… still not my absolute favorite, but damn State Trooper had me on the edge of my seat. beautiful -Favorites are State Trooper and Reason to Believe

Pretty sleepy. Sounded fine

Don't like mellow Bruce nearly as much as energetic Bruce. This isn't as good as his other old stuff that we've listened to

319/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Highlights: Used Cars, Atlantic City. In a nutshell: The Boss - Unplugged If you're only familiar with Born in the USA, Nebraska will be a shock to the system. The lyrics deeply introspective, perhaps more than previous releases. As a listener, it was a tedious and depressing experience for me. I don't think Bruce intended to mimic Neil Young or Bob Dylan but it sadly came across that way. Nebraska is touted as a masterpiece by fans. I'll take their word for it. Overall: 5/10

Pretty solid, despite the somber mood throughout the whole album. There were some really beautiful tracks like Highway Patrolman and Used Cars that stuck with me. I still feel like Bruce is at his best when there's a big band with him. That said, if you don't like country music, you're probably not gonna like this.

Not bad

This album was okay. It’s a decent blues album in the vein of someone like Bob Dylan, even down to the sometimes hard to listen to voice!

While I don't explicitly *like* this music, there is something unique about an ascending star (superstar) running off the path to create something so barren and unsafe as a 4 track acoustic album. There's an old review that said it might be "more admirable than likeable" and I get that. The lyrics are a little "ok ok already" for me, yeah auto plant, johnny down at the mill, mister trooper kinda clichés so that gets old but it's really about the overall mood/feel. The simplistic album cover kinda nails it. Overall feeling: listening to it through a different lens than a knee-jerk "...well this is *nothing* like 'Hungry Heart'...." does give it a different kind of potency that - surprisingly to me - makes it worthwhile for the occasional listen. (the harmonica does kind of bug me a little, but I'll side-eye it and move on.) 7/10 3 stars.

Melancholy

I liked this more than I normally like Bruce, which is not at all. It sounded closer to Johnny Cash than his normal work, which sounds like he's recorded everything while he's on the john. I like that it was stripped down to just him and his guitar, instead of a full band. That being said, I won't listen to it again.

Great lyrics and I’m a big Springsteen fan but this was a little boring for me production-wise

Very chill, good for a late evening drive, just as the sun is setting. Highlight has to be Highway Patrolman and Johnny 99

There is something soothing in country.

Kinda indifferent towards this. Not bad but a little more country than my taste

This is not one of my favorite albums by Bruce Springsteen. Nothing really bad with it, but I’m just not likely to listen to it again.

It seems to me that the two main selling-points of this album are the unglamorous, often bleak character studies in the lyrics and the stark, surprising contrast it provided to Springsteen’s maximalist output up to this point. It succeeds on both these fronts, but musically it can be a bit *too* sombre and austere to really make me want to revisit it, with the exception of Atlantic City.

Мне видилось, что этот чел - это АОР инкарнейт, но здесь ничего такого нет. Это такой дилановский гитарный фолк в классическом понимании, с гармоникой и какими-то мелочами, без этой все не-колхозной эйфории американских стадионов его главных хитов. Приятно удивлен. Лучшая песня - Johnny 99.

I just wasn't feeling this slice of americana overly literal story telling to be honest. I didn't hate it but it just didn't resonate with me.

obviously the bruce springsteen album to include in 1001 albums to listen to (i am being sarcastic)

Pretty low key. Enjoyable but not really something I find myself drawn to.

A solid 3 for sure. It was merely ok but it’s not something I’d want to listen to again

nice relaxed vibe but just didn't stand out to me

I try and I try and I'm still mystified as to why Bruce just doesn't do it for me. This was his best shot - I love intimate music and he's clearly talented but it almost always misses my heart and hits my spleen instead. It wears me out trying to get something special out of his music. Next!

For me, this is the best Springsteen. I think his voice is better in it's low key folk mode than on the large scale rock albums. This album fits neatly aside early Bob Dylan and the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack.

Different sound for Bruce. Not bad, but not what I was expecting.

Listen, i love Bride Springsteen. And I like the stripped down sounds of this album. But I was looking for either catchy or searing lyrics and this just didn't quite get there. It's a 3 for, liked it, didn't love it.

My son says that this album sounds like Nebraska tastes. Not sure what that means, but this was dull and forgettable.

I liked this more than Born to Run, but maybe it swung too far the other way; while that was too bombastic, this was frankly a bit dull. A low three.

I started out saying about this album, and I quote: "Springsteen: the more tolerable Bob Dylan". But as this album developed, it became clear that this album leaned a little too Bob Dylan; it was extra mumbly and extra harmonica-y, even for Springsteen. Production on this album is pretty minimal, but it doesn't feel intimate so much as it just feels like a drag. That said, it does feel kind of dark in tone and mood, and I can appreciate that. All said and done, pretty average inclusion from Springsteen.

I listen to a lot of Bon Jovi and I can see a lot of the inspiration that Jon may have gotten in this album. Thinking of some of his solo stuff and some of the later stuff around Not Running Anymore and What's Left of Me

Good, if a little bland. Favorite Springsteen album so far though, pleasant surprise.

I always found this album to be kind of boring

Much like Nebraska, that was boring with spots of brilliance. Goes well with a melancholy mood.

Melancholy Bruce

Mr. State Trooper, please don't stop me. Please don't stop me. Good album. Good songs. Boss going all acoustic.

Folk lore sprongspoon

Shades of early Dylan with the harmonica action

I my first reaction to getting this was "okay, this is Springsteen album #3, and can we please be done with him, then?". Now. That was a bit unkind towards this album, which, to me, is way more bearable than any of is other stuff. It isn't so overly 80s adult-contemporary produced, and basically a collection of songs and stories not dissimilar to Bob Dylan, harmonica and all. I actually found that the original Born in the USA Demo was on the tapes that were the foundation for this album. Lo and behold - in that shape, it's actually a very listenable track. I'll never be a fan of Springsteen's, but this album actually takes some of the edge of my overall dislike for his music.

Bit country like for me 5/10

Bruce sings "wee wee" on a track here. That's all you need to know. Very important to tell the story of forgotten parts of America. There's a lot to enjoy here if you like being sad about our country's rich history of the wealthy exploiting the working class. The music is fine. The mixing was odd for me. Bruce's voice on some songs was so quiet it was barely a whisper, while the harmonica was so effin' loud it hurt my ears. In short, okay music about an important topic.

I can't decide whether this is genius or terrible, so my rating is entirely a compromise. Simple, noodling, yet strangely comforting tunes involving only an acoustic guitar and Springsteen's vocals. The singing is kind of bad, especially compared to his more bombastic works, but it somewhat works in this context. The guitar-playing is pretty good – again, incredibly simple, yet charming and moving. As far as I can tell, the only "upbeat" track is Open All Night, but oddly it doesn't manage to be a standout. Instead, I picked the songs with the most comforting and heartwarming feel to be my key tracks. To those people giving this 1 star: fair enough. To those giving the album 5 stars, you're clearly not paying attention to how unengaging and uncreative some of these tracks are. Or maybe you're one of those people who pays attention to lyrics. (In this economy?) 3/5 Key tracks: Atlantic City, Johnny 99

It was always a pleasure to bump into Bruce on the circuit. With Houmous & Chutney it was far too common to generate jealousy amongst others. But not Bruce, it was more mutual respect. Take this record, we all knew this wasn’t his best but the thing with Bruce is that it always comes from the heart. It always means something. Which is lovely. And let’s face it, he’s gotta be the most compelling front man this side of Len Houmous! 3.1

favourite song - highway patrolman favourite lyric - well they closed down the auto plant in mahwah late that month / ralph went out lookin' for a job but he couldn't find none / he came home too drunk from mixing tanqueray and wine / he got a gun, shot a night clerk, now they call him johnny 99 cover - 8/10 overall rating - 3/5

Although I’ve never listened to him personally, I’m not going to sit here and try to undo history. Bruce Springsteen has probably done more to legitimize and popularize country-affiliated rock music in the mainstream than any other artist ever. He’s called “The Boss” for a reason, and he’s easily one of the most successful and celebrated rock musicians of all time. So my opinion of him or his music isn’t going to change anything for anyone. Although I wouldn’t say I really had any concrete thoughts, because I don’t know if I’ve ever put on a song from him on my own volition. Although I’m not going to allow my thoughts on this record decide how I feel about him as a whole. Because I know this is very different from his typical style. You know, generally something like this is inspired by tragedy and sorrow. But I don’t think any personal event led to the creation of this album. It’s more so based on individual fictional stories about the sufferings of others. It’s so interesting seeing such a record like this come before what would end up being his biggest and most commercially renowned success. If the contrast between the red and the black and white wasn’t enough, Nebraska is incredibly dark and solemn. Almost exhaustingly so. It’s strange to hear someone who is almost always backed by his band be so stripped back and musically naked. I can almost envision him sitting alone in a completely empty warehouse with just his instruments. He recorded everything you are hearing on this, and there really isn’t even one ounce of a rhythm section to be found. It’s like the 80s Americana equivalent to Pink Moon. As much as this helped me learn to appreciate Bruce as a songwriter and become accustomed to his methods, his voice here is definitely an acquired taste. And it’s such a bare set of recordings that it’s not something I would want to revisit. It’s foreboding melancholic, and doesn’t make for an enjoyable listen, which I doubt was really the purpose in the first place. Rating: 6/10

It’s hard to judge the Boss. On one hand his born in the USA uptempo songs are emblematic of the American experience and can leave you dancing in the dark. His down tempo songs are heartfelt storytelling at its best, yet not something you can’t listen to them at a wedding. This album is mostly the latter. His songwriting is amazing, and I respect that fact that you can see him preforming these in an Obama coffee shop on a Tuesday night. Key songs are State Trooper and Johnny 99, though I liked the ‘50s Buddy Holly feel of Open All Night. Much like Dolly Parton, he’s an American treasure.

I think my Bruce awakening is happening thanks to the Blinded by the Light movie. This is a very stark album and is definitely not gateway Bruce. I really like Atlantic City track. I will revisit this one and read the lyrics and do some real active listening.

It doesn't live up to the hype. I remember the hype for early Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run, Asbury Park etc, and recall the success of Born in the USA. The Nebraska came along, and the music press went doo-lally for it. But me? It always seemed like the "I'm a serious musician, yes I am" project. Worthy, serious, but just not particularly enjoyable. If it didn't have Bruce's name attached, it would have sold 10,000 albums, max.

Ja mooi maar beetje saai

Kut Amerika Kut album Rot op met je mondharmonica Waarom staat dit erin

I am not a huge Springsteen fan and this one did not really change my mind. I think he is better rock than suedo country. It was okay, but a lot of the songs sounded very similar with the same story lines.

Stories are pretty good even if his voice isn’t the best convey decent things

Husker suck but this album is okay. 3 stars

good intimate album

I've always been tepid on Bruce Springsteen. I totally get his place in music history, and I really like some of his songs/albums. But with any major artist, the obsessive fandom really turns me off. This is a collection of decent demos.

This is so interesting, it’s so different than his later full-band things, almost singer-songwriter. Nice, though!

Close to four but not quite. Still, Atlantic City is a goat.

Enjoyed it.

Rennur notalega í gegn (enda sleppi ég að pæla í þessum sorglegu textum) en eftir eina hlustun er þetta allt sama lagið, productionin enda varla til staðar. Held ég hendi samt þristi á þetta, því þetta var ekki leiðinlegt.

I never really “got” this album. So many people think it’s brilliant and Springsteen’s best work, but I’ve always found it to be incredibly mediocre. There are a few decent songs, “Atlantic City” and “Johnny 99,” with “Highway Patrolman” being the standout on the album, but the rest ranges from underwhelming to outright bad (I’m looking at you, “State Trooper”). I can appreciate the stripped down nature of it and the history of its recording, but even with all that, it’s still not that great of an album. If I listen to it with the idea that it’s a concept album, it works a little better for me, but not by much. I really like Springsteen, and I’m probably rating it higher than I would if it were almost any other artist, but this album is just not great.

Surprisingly really good. Not the Springsteen I was expecting. 7/10

Thus album is both beautiful and depressing. Quite melancholy and lovely.

Enjoyable though not his best project

This may well be the Springsteen album I’ve liked most so far, but I still can’t quite definitively say I liked it. It’s almost there, but there’s something here that rings false to me; that may be an incorrect impression, but it’s the sense I get.

более меланхоличный чем я привыкла от Брюса, но и более мимо нот)

Enjoyable

Stripped down, country like set of NON anthem rock. A great storyteller.

Pretty nice

A bit bland, however, it was short and therfore didn't have enough time to be able to get on my nerves.

Have to be in the exact right mood to listen to this, and listening while on the elliptical was definitely not it. Still, I don’t love the combo of spare instrumentation and heavily reverbed vocals. Feels like a clash of aesthetics. Atlantic City is obviously a classic but nothing else really moved the needle for me.

A better Springsteen than normal. Quiet.

I like Springsteen, but this isn't his best album. Not by a long shot.

Bruce Springsteen is one of those musicians who are somewhat overhyped. Some of his music may actually deserve the praise heaped upon it but most of it is mediocre at best. This album is definitely seriously mediocre.

It's ok. A little boring. Many of the songs sound similar.

He’s the boss but just more of the same

FIVE!! Yes 5 Springsteen albums in this chart. Surely they're not all groundbreaking? Well I like the lower key vibe of this one. Sober and dour. Guitar and harmonica. It's a refreshing change to the other rocky loud albums. This is actually quite good on it's own. Not exactly original but good to listen to.

3.5

Before Springsteen's career would switch into overdrive with Born in the USA, there was Nebraska. It's low key, even sombre affair. It shows a very different side to Springsteen. I applaud the effort, but I'm missing memorable songs. 2.5/5

A lot of building up to a chorus but never actually getting there.

It’s alright. Often pretty, but overall meh.

Not special, but Atlantic City is a positive standout.

I bet Blake, but a couple of tracks.

This was honestly fine, maybe better than I thought it would be. It was actually insane to hear the clear influence from Suicide on "State Trooper." That's definitely one of the coolest parts of this experience. Although why he chose to imitate that I'll never know...

70% Best: Atlantic City, Open All Night, Reason to Believe Must-Hear? No

Meh not bad. But not really my thing

schnurregiige schnurregiige

much softer and more singer-songwriter than the other stuff i've heard -r eally good.

No es lo mismo sin la E street band y sin entender las letras. Se queda demasiado espartano y poco variado. No es representativo de bruce

Saw this after watching the Springsteen movie. Loved the movie. Didn't love the album

A much sadder album than Born in the USA which came after. Paired with the album cover, it paints a bleak picture. I prefer his more upbeat numbers so this album doesn’t do it for me.

This is probably one to really absorb over time, but it was a good quick listen. No frills, just straight acoustic singer songwriter. It can get a little same-y after some time, but there are some stand outs. "Reason To Believe" sounds like it could have been a rocker. Bold of him to put out such a sparse album. 3.8

Another artist whose catalog I have been meaning to explore. I expected more upbeat songs like Open All Night, but I think this album would grow on me with more listens.

Well, they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night... (did he just say, chicken man?) Not one I’d listen to all the time, but every once in a while it just hits right. Still curious what it might have sounded like with a full band but that’s what live shows are for.

Bueno

bruce is always a good listen - this album was a little on the boring side though

Liked this much more than I had guessed I would.

i actually had no idea that bruce springsteen could also be this. pleasantly surprised.

I can sense a general aura of critical acclaim and big thoughts about this album, but honestly, it's another "this was fine" from me. I assume it's one more instance of "if I could understand lyrics I bet thsi would be really interesting and perhaps very thoughtful".

Ik vind Nebraska heel moeilijk te raten. De titelsong en Atlantic City zijn erg mooi en laten het beste van Bruce horen. Dat de rest van de plaat zo traag en zacht blijft stoort me. Ik mis de Bruce - energie van platen als Asbury Park en Born to Run. Natuurlijk is het mooi en natuurlijk moeten artiesten niet altijd hetzelfde doen. Ik vind het alleen niet zo super goed. 7/10 Highlights Nebraska Atlantic City

Intimate & Dylan-esque. Beyond Atlantic City nothing in this unplugged thing really resonated with me.

Pretty good

first listen laidback album, it's nice but still doesn't capture my attention

Um album diferente das outras musicas ja conhecidas de BS. Esse tem musicas mais paradas e tristes.

More subdued than the other album. I’m still not a big fan of the whole white Americana dude persona

Mellow, lots of harmonica

2.5 it ok

It’s sparse but the songs are there. I’ve not listened to much Springsteen, never cared for his radio songs. I enjoyed this album though. The songs are well written and I like that they’re all little short stories. I’d only heard one song off this album before and it was the Nitty Gritty Dirt Bands cover of Atlantic City. I prefer their version of the song, but the cover is only good because the bones of the song were good in the first place. I would give this album 4 stars but I’m docking it one for too much harmonica, harmonica almost never benefits a song in my opinion.

Classifying this one as Country Poetry. The entire album is Midwestern sad. Open All Night is a standout gem, but the rest feels heavy. Excellent album for a rainy day or a sad drive across Kansas.

i couldn’t finish - hauntingly sad, i love bruce but my mental health takes precedence 🫡 3/5 for what i did listen to - highway patrolman will stay with me for a very long time, especially bc i thought the man lying on the ground was his brother and he chased and chased a random car bc he hallucinated he saw his brother driving WOW anyway

Better than the other Springsteen album on this list. Chill acoustic vibes. Could be played at a coffee shop.

I see a lot of over reactions on the reviews here! Apparently I’m the only person who thinks this is “ok”. Yes, an interesting side step from his previous catalogue. Yes, sparse and a bit boring. Yes, harrowing subject matter. Yes, some issues with the recording. I tried a few times over the weekend and it never really grabbed me, but I didn’t find it unpleasant or annoying. I probably do have a bit more appreciation for Bruce after this but doubt I’ll ever revisit this album. Down the middle - 3 stars.

Good

Good.

not my favourite sound from him

An acoustic short-story book. Each track tells a compelling story echoing blue collar America.

Best Springsteen album so far. Nothing memorable but a really nice listen. 3.5/5

kinda boring but good storytelling he used to be cute!

I felt like I was listening to personal stories that were sometimes easy to relate to and other times not as much, but still enjoyable. I don’t remember hearing many, if any, songs from this album and it was an easy listen but probably won’t be on repeat for me.

Nr. 165/1001 Nebraska 3/5 Atlantic City 5/5 Mansion On The Hill 3/5 Johnny 99 3/5 Highway Patrolman 3/5 State Trooper 2/5 Used Cars 3/5 Open All Night 3/5 My Father's House 3/5 Reason to Believe 3/5 Average: 3,1 Very somber album from Bruce. Atlantic City is among my favorite songs of all time. Aside I think this album just doesn't offer enough diversity.

Not his best. Too boring for me.

Cool, but I like the E Street Band too much.

Miksi tämä on niin hidas? Siksikö koska teema on Nebraska? (Aito kysymys, en kuunnellut niin tarkkaan). Meni aika tasapaksuksi, kun (tempo)vaihtelua ei ollut. Brucella on kyllä vetoava ääni

Tätä kuunnellessa vajoaa omiin ajatuksiinsa, paitsi ehkä Atlantic Cityn kohdalla, KUNNES ryhtyy huvikseen lukemaan sanoja: kaikkiin tarinoihin jää koukkuun. Tässä mielessä levy on saauvutus, vaikka sen kuluttaminen tuntuukin raskaalta.

Favourite song open all night.

Springsteen is talented but very over-rated.

A classic artist

Country Springsteen. Not bad.

Not so rockin’ Bruce. A little dull for me.

A nice relaxing feel to the album, I liked Atlantic city and Highway Patrolman the most.

Bleak as fuck, and it doesn't sound that great either. Disappointing overall, despite some redeeming moments.

I listened to this on a rainy day in Nebraska, which would seem like the optimal conditions, and... it was just fine.

Ok 3/5

Nice album to listen to on a rainy morning. Don't have too many notes on this one except that it was enjoyable, but nothing special to me. The singer/songwriter style has never been my favorite, so I'm not entirely surprised that I didn't fall in love with this one.

Mellow and enjoyable.

Oy. I get it. There’s definitely some real quality songwriting here. He’s a famous storyteller. And these songs are solid, classic, sincere and really kinda pretty. I never really connected to Springsteen’s style. But I have to admit that there’s something genuinely good here. Unfortunately, I am going to have to smash that damned harmonica. It absolutely ruins everything for me. Omg I hate this fucking harmonica.

Nice album. Springsteen is always a good listen.

Ok but no great sings

while it was nice to hear a more emotional and plaintive side of bruce, a full album of it was a bit heavy. atlantic city is the only track i knew going into this (and one of my favorite songs by the boss) but after two listens, i picked up a few others i enjoyed. the songwriting is really evocative here but the actual presentation feels lacking. bruce's voice is gravelly and the rest of the E Street Band is nowhere to be found, so it's just you and him. also, lotta songs about cops for some reason? highway patrolman, state trooper, the mention of an off duty cop, etc. favorites: nebraska, atlantic city, johnny 99