Suffering Jukebox

This morning's episode features an interview with Bell Witch members Dylan Desmond and Jesse Shreibman. Stygian Bough, Bell Witch's ever-evolving collaboration with Aerial Ruin's Erik Moggridge, will release Stygian Bough: Volume II on Friday 14th November 2025 via Profound Lore Records. You can find out more about Bell Witch and Stygian Bough (and purchase their music) here; https://bellwitch.bandcamp.com/album/stygian-bough-volume-ii

NIck's Pick of the Week is a little different this week, there will be no album review, instead I will be discussing Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, a new film by Scott Cooper that is in cinemas now. Adapted from a book by Warren Zanes, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere stars Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen and retells the making of Springsteen's classic 1982 album, Nebraska. My review can be read below.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

In Cinemas Now

In a lengthy career littered with classic releases, 1982’s Nebraska is —quite possibly— Bruce Springsteen’s finest and purest artistic statement. Written and recorded in 1981 and released in 1982, Nebraska came at a difficult time in Springsteen’s life and career. Recently 30 and riding a wave off success generated by his previous album, 1980’s double LP The River, The Boss was suffering from depression and struggling to come to terms with the impacts of fame. Recorded alone at home and into a four-track, the demos that would eventually comprise Nebraska were intended to serve as a reference point for the E-Street Band to flesh out later in the studio. Attempts were made to add to the bones of the tracks, but Springsteen became dissatisfied with these efforts and chose instead to release the songs in their original form.

Nebraska baffled many in Springsteen’s camp, there was no press and no tour to promote the record. Despite reaching number three on the Billboard charts, the album’s stark songs, detailing murder, alienation and social decay, puzzled The Boss’ rapidly growing fan base and it would take several years for the album to be reappraised and (finally) give the recognition it deserves. Often considered to be a “Springsteen album for those who don’t like Springsteen,” Nebraska gained a fanatical following amongst the alternative rock crowd who responded to Nebraska’s honesty and appreciated the courage it took to release something so polarising.

Based on Warren Zanes’ best-selling book, Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making Of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere was adapted for the screen by Zanes, alongside director Scott Cooper and with The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White cast as Springsteen. Unlike many Hollywood adaptations, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere sticks —mostly— to the facts, going to great lengths to recreate the people, places and events that were pivotal to Nebraska’s difficult birth. 

Where the film most notably strays from the truth is in the creation of Springsteen’s love interest Faye  --played by Odessa Young. Rather than being based on a particular individual, Faye is a composite of multiple women who had brief relationships with Springsteen during the early 1980s. Bruce himself has expressed that he was struggling with his relationships at this time, burdened by fame and his growing depression, he was seeking the stability of family life whilst also bristling against making a lasting, romantic commitment. Some may question the filmmaker’s decision to falsify this aspect of the story, likely a decision required to provide the audience with a more predictable and continues narrative, in this capacity it works, even if it does somewhat jeopardise the film’s legitimacy.

Flaws aside, the performances from the main cast are nothing short of incredible. White (notably wearing brown contacts) doesn’t just play Springsteen, he becomes him; even going so far as to learn to play guitar and mimic Bruce’s accent, singing voice and mannerisms. Particularly worthy of comment, is Jeremy Strong’s turn as Jon Landau, Springsteen’s long-time manager, friend and mentor. Strong’s portrayal emphasises Landau’s integrity and strength of character with his performance often overshadowing White whenever they share a scene.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is not a perfect movie, at times it feels a tad too emotionally charged and the aforementioned fictionalisation of Springsteen’s love-life has proven to be a sticking point for some. Another issue is that of its ability (or lack of) to appeal to an audience beyond fans of Springsteen, or even just music lovers in general. It is bolstered, however, by its strong performances and a sensitive handling of Springsteen’s private and personal struggles. Compliments and criticism aside, if you consider yourself a fan of the man and his music, then this a film not to be missed.

Nick Stephan