Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska

Reviewed by:
David Peisner

Filled with unrepentant killers and unfulfilled dreams, the Boss’ stark 1982 masterpiece, Nebraska, is the sound of John Q. Public getting his ass beat by The Man. On this inspired tribute, artists such as Ben Harper, Los Lobos, and Johnny Cash prove Springsteen’s bitter sentiments haven’t lost their sting. Hank Williams III channels his granddaddy with a blackhearted take on “Atlantic City,” while Chrissie Hynde’s interpretation of the title track may out-bleak the original. While most tributes sound like karaoke jams, Badlands sounds like an album, making this trip back to Nebraska more than a jaunt down memory lane.

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