[rating=5.00]
From its title to the cover graphics and to the music inside, Bob Seger’s Ride Out has all the earmarks of a swan song. Of course, that’s probably not in the offing given the level of success Seger’s nurtured since his break-through in 1976 with Night Moves, including continued sold-out concert tours, but subsequent and increasingly more polished records haven’t depicted a sympathetic character, much less an inspired one.
This all makes it ironic in the extreme for Seger to cover a John Hiatt song called “Detroit Made” and place it as the opener of Ride Out. Hiatt has become more rather than less himself as he’s continued through the course of his career, an evolution distinctively contrary to Seger’s early workingman persona and how it morphed into the rock star detached from his roots. The craftsman-like nature of this tune is right in line with the fundamentally ‘safe’ approach of Ride Out, no doubt why its four-square changes (not to mention the metaphorical auto imagery therein), compel the head-long surge of the musicians on that track. The players aren’t much less abandoned on “Hey Gypsy,” but they don’t sound really refreshed (or refreshing) in navigating its rudimentary changes.
Ride Out comes eight years after Seger’s previous album, Face the Promise, so the inclusion of four tunes from writers other than the principal is understandable. But Steve Earle’s “Devils Right Hand,” has a predictable sing-song quality, despite it’s low-key acoustic guitar foundation, that’s all too similar to Seger’s own observations on contemporary culture as collected in the title song. Meanwhile, the banjo and fiddle that appear on “California Stars,” sound equally contrived, making this selection from Wilco & Billy Bragg’s Mermaid Avenue (a 1998 project devoted to Woody Guthrie archive material) a transparent ploy to entice the audience of Jeff Tweedy & Co, even as its horn-laden arrangement evokes latter-day Springsteen.
Minor charms as it boasts—impeccable sound and at least superficially sharp musicianship–Ride Out nevertheless sounds like the work of a man uncomfortable with himself and the world around him. “All of the Roads” holds a faintly evocative tune over which Seger attempts to recount his personal growth, but he sings with unnerving detachment, the females almost drowning him out (or perhaps present to camouflage his lack of vocal range). That noticeable absence of personality also echoes in a paean to personal relationship, ”You Take Me In,” when he solemnly ”there’s so much to share and so much to feel/having a vision and knowing it’s real.”
The presence of such stalwart musicians such as drummer Chad Cromwell (latter-day Neil Young sideman) and guitarist Tom Bukovac (late of Trigger Hippy) isn’t all for naught, but as (sole) producer of this album, Seger missteps not using them more effectively and extensively, in addition to, if not in place of musings alternately sentimental or pretentious.(an impression reaffirmed in the photos in the CD booklet). And unfortunately but not surprisingly, the cliched conceit of “Gates of Eden” is further bloated by synthesized strings that obscure a tasteful slide part by Rob McNeeley which would otherwise provide edge to the track. It’s an apt microcosm of this record and the logical extension of Bob Seger’s work since he rose to national fame beyond the confines of his Motor City hometown.
12 Responses
Horrible…just horrible. Seriously? Why don’t you just start the article by saying “I hate Bob Seger and it is my job to rate his new release”. Contrived? Seger is 69 years old. You bash him at every opportunity, which makes it obvious he couldn’t do anything you’d like or appreciate. First off Detroit Made is taken up a notch for the most part rocked out. Good lead off track that is reminiscent of earlier Bob (Get Out of Denver) albeit with a more ‘Nashville’ sound (that is where it was recorded). Hey Gypsy I would say is certainly out of his norm and stands out as a great cut and an homage to his friend Stevie Ray Vaughan. Ride Out has a great fresh sound on it and musically sounds like it could fit alongside other tracks on Night Moves. The Devil’s Right Hand was recorded in the same vein as Waylon Jenning’s version and Seger admits that was the version he had heard and liked. While I don’t mind it I wish Seger had heard Steve Earle’s original and went more in that direction, but it is still a great song. California Stars is very well done and immediately becomes a Seger song. All the Roads is a tribute to his fans. Adam and Eve has Bob playing Banjo – banjo…you might have overlooked that. This album is very well done and shows Bob hasn’t lost a step. Of course what a would an amateur review be without mention of Bruce Springsteen in your review. Your review is pathetic. Seger is playing to 16-17,000 fans nightly so I’d say stupid reviews by haters aren’t affecting him too much, it’s just hard to read it when I know all the words are written by a hater. Try to be somewhat subjective. Geeze
Hey Paul,
Great job…Glide should hire you and fire this tool.
I really would like to know this reviewers age. I won’t Google any info on him because I do not respect him, or his opinion. Above article, 5 out of 10 stars, I immediately said to myself, “This guy doesn’t like Seger”. I continued to read though. These words jumped out at me, “Records haven’t depicted a sympathetic character, much less inspired”, In ref to Hiatt, reviewer seems to indicate Seger is, “Less himself”. He writes about, “Fiddle and banjo contrived”. He mentions a ,”Transparent ploy to entice audience of Jeff Tweedy”, I may be wrong but Seger has sold WELL OVER 50 million albums, repeat WELL OVER. Does that indicate a need for an audience? It doesn’t to me. He also writes about, “Absence of Personality”. He sums up all his feelings with this thought(?, insult perhaps), “Ride Out ends on a ponderous note”. I don’t see this as a review of Seger’s latest album, I see it more as a PERSONAL ATTACK ON SEGER. The lines I quoted are not those of a reviewer, they are those of someone who seems to actually, DISLIKE SEGER. He makes it clear, sentence after sentence. This is a list of insults. This is the rant of a jealous man, who may at one time had musical aspirations but didn’t make(Obviously). I am wondering if “Glide” reviews it’s reviewers or does it just, “Let their attack dogs go”. This review(??????) says more about the reviewer than it does about Seger. Jealously drips from this guy’s pen. He probably doesn’t even realize he let us know he is an unhappy,not sympathetic, not inspired man who is, “Not himself” and never will be. This is a “transparent” letter of regret of his own life. He shows, in his writing, an “Absence of Personality” and the entire review “ends on a ponderous note”. “I know what I like and I like what I know”(to quote Peter Gabriel), I don’t think this reviewer can say that. He sounds petty, he sound jealous and lastly he sounds very sad. My feelings about that, TOO BAD, GET A LIFE. It is easy to hate, easy to be mean. This guy should try going the extra mile and maybe TRY BEING NICE, he may turn out to like it.
Good Morning! Saw your comment re the nink-can-poop(I don’t know how to spell that)who didn’t listen to the Seger”s new album, but still wrote about it. My last name is Dunne, I guess the Dunns and Dunnes out there love Seger. You probably know this, but I will tell others, even though they probably don’t care. . Our name is derived for the Gaelic word dun(meaning brown). Hi I am Robert Brown, nice to meet you Paul Brown. Going to MSG on 19th w my wife. We love Seger concerts. Be Well!
Love Bob Seger. This guy must be a newby and doesn’t appreciate rock and roll. 69 years old and still rocking where he is selling out concerts. In fact this critic is an idiot and doesn’t know what rock and roll is. DMF he is. Cannot wait to see Bob next week in Buffalo. Saw him 2011 in Buff. Rocked. This is my 5th time from the 80’s till now.
Rock on
This author doesn’t know, as we used to say in the Bronx, Sh#t from F@ck about, real
Rock and Roll. Kudos to commenter PAUL DUNN….Glide should fire the tool , and hire Dunn! And be Dunn with it.
Thanks MK.
I saw your comment re Paul Dunn’s response to Seger non-review and laughed. I had posted a reply under my name Robert. My last name is Dunne. I have to get in touch with Paul, so we can start, “Dunn and Dunne”. We will go after Glide and this guy, collander_____colon_______college_____co__co____coalesce___________Coolot? Forget it. It is still early, I am having trouble moving my lips. I agree Paul should write for Glide he is very, very good. Going to see Seger on 19th at MSG, 7 rows from riser on side of stage. My wife and I love Seger. His concerts are epic.This will be our 20th! Be Well!
BOB SEGER IS THE MOST UNDER RATED ROCK STAR EVER. I SAW HIM IN BANGOR ME..THIS YEAR 2014. AND SAW HIM IN CLEVELAND OH…1977 AND 1979. (ALL SOLD OUT CONCERTS) MY GIRL FRIEND GOT A PICTURE OF HER AND BOB”S SAX PLAYER (ALTO) AT THE CASINO IN BANGOR ME.. ANYWAY HAD TO PUT THAT IN THERE………WE LOVE BOB SEGER AND THE SILVER BULLETS…AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM AGAIN. KEEP ON ROCKIN BOB……..
Who is Doug Toliet anyway? Oh I mean Collette.
I absolutely love anything Bob Seger sings!I seen him on crossroads paired with Jason Aldean,on cmt.I dvr’d it and watch it often. I swear he sang Jasons songs better than Jason did.I have loved his music since the 70’s.there is a story to every song he sings.
This review is a joke, right ? The new CD Ride Out is brilliant. The slow songs “Listen”, & “Let The Rivers Run” are as good as anything he has ever done. When I seen the lazy throw-in of Springsteen’s name I knew this was not going to be a serious review. Not wasting any more time on this nonsense.
Love to know how many of these commentators own or at least have heard Seger’s Mongrel, Smokin’ OP’s, Back in ’72 or Seven? The latest John Hiatt and Rodney Crowell records make Ride Out sound even more like the aural greeting card it is…