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Music review: Bob Seger – ëƵRide OutëƵ

2 min read
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YouëƵll certainly get the urge to take those old Bob Seger albums off the shelf after listening to the 69-year-oldëƵs latest effort.

ëƵRide OutëƵ finds the ramblinëƵ man in fine form as Seger proves that rock ëƵnëƵ roll truly never forgets. I certainly wonëƵt forget the first time I heard the gravelly-voiced artist deliver his 1975 gem ëƵBeautiful Loser.ëƵ

Songs like ëƵKatmandu,ëƵ ëƵTravelinëƵManëƵ and ëƵNutbush City LimitsëƵ instantly won me over to the Michigan nativeëƵs swaggering style. SegerëƵs first album in eight years recalls the days when he was a leader in mainstream rock with weighty albums like ëƵNight Moves,ëƵ ëƵStranger in TownëƵ and ëƵAgainst the Wind.ëƵ

When I think of Seger, IëƵm always drawn to that memorable Tom Cruise scene from the film ëƵRisky BusinessëƵ as the actor lip syncs ëƵOld Time Rock ëƵnëƵ RollëƵ in his tidy whities. While SegerëƵs black flowing locks are now much shorter and more gray, he delivers his signature style on the opener ëƵDetroit Made.ëƵ

The arrangement penned by John Hiatt is a rousing hometown tribute powered by SegerëƵs weathered vocals, fiery guitars and plenty of attitude. Blues rocker ëƵHey GypsyëƵ follows and is fueled with a Stevie Ray Vaughan vibe and smoldering guitar work. The country flavorings of Steve EarleëƵs ëƵThe DevilëƵs Right HandëƵ are comfortably suited to SegerëƵs heartfelt storytelling on the tragic anthem.

ëƵAdam and EveëƵ finds longtime Seger backup singer Laura Creamer sharing the vocals and delivering a compelling performance on this simplistically organic arrangement. Seger is at his best on the fragile and passionate ballads ëƵAll of the RoadsëƵ and ëƵYou Take Me In.ëƵ

The latter number is my personal favorite track as it evokes memories of classics like ëƵAgainst the WindëƵ and ëƵWeëƵve Got Tonight.ëƵ With ëƵRide Out,ëƵ one can only hope that Seger doesnëƵt ride off into the sunset after successfully offering up absorbing arrangements about finding a secure and comfortable place in this complicated world.

Clint Rhodes is the ëƵ-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.

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