Frontier Folk Nebraska

Detail: Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska sounds best on vinyl, roughly crackling out from the needle, an authentic American man telling us what it's like to be in his callused skin, delivering natural legends, giving the working man, as the song says, a "Reason to Believe."

Although local band Frontier Folk Nebraska claims their name wasn't originally meant as a reference to Springsteen, they embrace the correlation. There's definitely an "old Boss" feel to their work. These songs hold the same droning, long-road sound and the beauty present in slight sorrow.

Their edge comes from back-porch, laid-back Folk roots and soul-driven lyrics. Words are story-oriented and rich, backed by a bleeding violin. There's dancing, guns, blood, the broken-down man's hope, willow trees, wind and whiskey. Jesus makes a guest appearance. A never-ending, cross-country car ride. Lucid pictures. A double-yellow dream.