Day 215: Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska

I’m exploring the beautiful west coast of Scotland today. I thought my road trip was the right time to listen to RAYE’s new release, but I started it and cried during the first song, so that was not the right vibe whatsoever. I pivoted to something more drive-appropriate, Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen.

The Boss himself needs no introduction (by which I mean I have no time to introduce him today) so let’s get straight into it: Tennessee was recorded by Springsteen in his bedroom with the intention of him re-recording it with the E Street Band, but he ended up releasing the versions with just him. It was released in 1982 as his sixth studio album, and it’s pretty widely regarded as one of his finest.

It’s slightly melancholic songs from a nihilistic point of view, where Springsteen was channeling famous outlaws and criminals, including a killer called Charles Starkweather. It’s an album of slow acoustic man with guitar songs that have many things in common with country artists more than the big stadium rock bangers that Springsteen is known for.

It’s fairly melancholy but very beautiful, perfect as road trip music. There’s something very nice about listening to acoustic songs when you’re somewhere rural, especially hearing harmonica and seeing trees, that feels like a thing that’s happening just as it’s supposed to. There’s a similar feel to it as when seeing someone slip on a banana peel or seeing a cat chase a mouse, classic stuff.

9/10, it’s a great album, listen to it in the car.