The Distance [RCA, 1983]
I had this filed as unlistenable until the amazing tuneout power of "Roll Me Away" piqued me to find out why. The music is alright enough, adequate melodically with moments of good writing here and there, but Seger's romantic individualism is suffocated by overstatement, more late-outlaw than Bruce. Just about any country singer could show him how to approach a cliche kinda easy like. In fact with Seger's connections he could get lessons from Willie himself. But knowing his tastes, he'd probably choose Waylon instead. C
>>127290201 (OP)Ah I get it. He doesn't like RMA because Seger is singing about picking up this chick in a bar and presumably getting laid afterward which is something he can't identify with as if he tried that he would get slapped or pepper sprayed.
Bob Seger really did suck he was like 80s Nickelback.
as a Seger fan I don't take issue with this review.
both the title track and RMA go for anthemic in scope and sincere in content and fail at both. the other single, Shame on the Moon, is a good ballad; but I don't like ballads and this one's really slow and plodding.
imo the good material on it are a few deep cuts: Makin' Thunderbirds, Boomtown Blues, and Little Victories are pretty tight rockers in his signature style, and the weirdie House Behind a House, which I do like, but I'm convinced that he saw how popular The Cars had gotten and said "I could do something like that." not the most congruous sound for Seger.
>So I get on my hog and go in this bar
>and I meet this hot chick there
>she agrees to ride off with me into the night
>she eventually gets homesick and wants to go home
>ah fuck maybe next time I'll get lucky
not exactly triple digit IQ songwriting on that one.
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md5: 830a0f4591d8c9b99afced3961473f83
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I’ve nothing bad to say about Seger. I don’t get how anyone faults him being earnest and sentimental. Maybe that’s what triggers faggy boomers like this dude. The ballads are unapologetically romantic and masculine like a Sinatra or Martin song. Seger was one of the more mature lyricist of the classic rock era. A much needed counterpoint to the “squeeze my lemon until the juice runs down my leg” and “pull the trigger of my love gun” crowd. When I listen to songs like “You’ll Accompany Me” or “Against the Wind” it’s like being a kid walking into a room where the adults are doing all the talking.
