Rough Harvest (1999)

For those who could take or leave this Hoosier's catalog of vest-pocket Springsteenisms, a scratchy odds-'n'-sods anthology from his ex-label might rank down there with root canal. Die-hard boosters, however, will find some chewable grains of wheat-field whimsy on Rough Harvest, particularly in a roadhouse revamp of ''Rain on the Scarecrow,'' a folk-fiddled take on ''Human Wheels,'' and surprisingly passionate readings of rock standards ''Wild Night'' and ''Under the Boardwalk.'' It ain't Bruce. But it ain't half bad.