I’ve run into several songs from the album Badlands – A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska and as a collection I’ve enjoyed the songs as much as I’ve always enjoyed the original album. So I bought it. Finishing the first listen, I can tell it will be one of my favorites. Much like the Elton John / Bernie Taupin tribute album Two Rooms, the variety of artists makes for a great listen.

I don’t know why Nebraska has always been one of my favorite albums. It is as much a demo record in that Springsteen recorded the songs in 4 track for what he intended to be a full band album, but he liked the raw sound enough that he published the songs mostly recorded in his home.

The Badlands tribute, at Springsteen’s request, were also recorded in 4 track. I particularly like Crooked Fingers’ Mansion On The Hill, Dar Williams’ Highway Patrolman, Deana Carter’s State Trooper, Ani DiFranco’s Used Cars, and Aimee Mann & Michael Penn’s Reason To Believe. Ben Harper’s My Father’s House is probably my favorite.

There’s not a bad song or artist rendition on the album.