Nebraska (album)

Nebraska is the sixth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on September 30, 1982, by Columbia Records. Springsteen recorded the songs as solo demos using a four-track recorder in the bedroom of his home in Colts Neck, New Jersey, intending to rerecord them with the E Street Band, but decided to release them as they were after full-band renditions were deemed unsatisfactory. Seventeen songs appeared on the tape, ten of which appeared on Nebraska, while others appeared in full-band renditions on the follow-up album Born in the U.S.A. (1984) and as B-sides.

Living isolated in Colts Neck, Springsteen was influenced by American literature, films, and folk music when writing Nebraska. The short stories of Flannery O'Connor particularly inspired him to write about his own childhood memories. Featuring a stark, lo-fi sound, the tracks tell the stories of ordinary, blue-collar workers who try to succeed in life but fail at every turn, going in search of deliverance that never comes. Some are told through the eyes of outlaws and criminals, such as the killer Charles Starkweather on the title track. The album's cover artwork, a 1975 photograph taken by David Michael Kennedy, depicts a black-top road under a cloudy sky through the windshield of a car.

Nebraska stylistically stood apart from other releases in the year. Commercially, it sold well, peaking at number three in the United States. It was accompanied by two European singles—"Atlantic City" and "Open All Night"; the former was supported by Springsteen's first music video. Springsteen did not promote the record, believing listeners should experience it for themselves. On release, critics praised the album as brave and artistically daring, and Springsteen's most personal record up to that point. Negative reviews felt the songs stylistically merged together and its dark themes would appeal to fans only. The album appeared on several year-end lists.

Retrospective reviewers call Nebraska a masterpiece and one of Springsteen's finest works, being applauded as a timeless record that has lost none of its power since its release. It has appeared on numerous lists of the greatest albums of all time. Nebraska proved influential in home recording, being recognized as one of the first DIY records released by a major artist and influencing the indie rock and underground music scenes. Numerous artists have paid tribute to the album and have cited its impact on their music. It has also inspired films and literature; a biographical film based on the album's making will be released in October 2025.