Nebraska

Released in late 2022, Nebraska is a full-album cover of Bruce Springsteen’s seminal 1982 acoustic record. This project followed Adams' previous full-album cover of Taylor Swift’s 1989, though Nebraska represents a much closer sonic alignment with the source material. Recorded with a stark, lo-fi aesthetic, the album strips away any vestige of Adams' rock tendencies, focusing entirely on the folk and Americana roots that have always underpinned his work. The recording is notable for its heavy use of tape hiss and room ambience, mimicking the four-track cassette origins of the original Springsteen sessions. Critics, including those at AllMusic, noted the reverence Adams shows for the material, highlighting how his vocal delivery captures the desperation of tracks like 'Atlantic City' and 'Johnny 99' without drifting into caricature. It stands as a significant moment in his prolific 2022 release cycle, showcasing his ability to inhabit the narratives of others while maintaining his own distinct, melancholic sonic identity.