Bob Seger vs Bruce Springsteen

[Zemo]

Okay - going over Segar's discography I want to amend my first post. I'm not crazy about Springsteen, but I respect him. I wish Bob Segar's music never existed.

"Like a Rock" Yeesh!

I'm glad if some people like it, but that stuff is just not for me.

Well there's no accounting for taste I guess.

Bob just as good live as in the studio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEBwq4A1wsU

[Afaninfull]

If I could go back in time I'd head for New Jersey in 1975 to grab some Megos at Kresge's and then catch Bruce Springsteen playing at a club. Heaven.

And the guy standing next to you clutching a Kresge Shazam and shouting (respectfully) for Incident on 57th Street would be me! Have you heard the version from Bryn Mawr where a police siren cuts into the club from outside at the end of the song?

[megoscott]

No, I'll check it out!

Clutching a box of carded Green Goblins and shouting for Jungleland!

[Afaninfull]

It' a really great and great sounding show. It is found on a bootleg usually called something like "The Saint, The Incident and the Main Point Shuffle." it's from early in 75 so the band was still polishing some of the tunes from Born To Run and, if I remember, Jungleland might have a few alternate lyrics. Bruce does the definitive cover of Dylan's I Want You. You might give that a few minutes, too. He had a violinist in the band at this point and she adds some nice flair to many of the songs.

[torgospizza]

Wow,
I never met ANYONE that didn't like Bob Seger

I think it was because when I was growing up, a group as jerks I knew were playing Seger constantly. I just associated him with them, for some reason. I'm not a Springsteen fan, either, but I do think "Born to Run" is one of the most polished pop songs of all time. I don't know how much he knows about music theory, but the key modulations and stuff he employs makes it custom made for a build-up in the listener. I guess I'm saying, despite writing what is essentially a perfect song, I don't care for him. It's like watching a film and thinking, "Oh, by using this trope, they are trying to evoke sadness."

And I wish stores would quit playing "Born in the USA" on the Fourth of July. Listen to the lyrics...it's an indictment, not a revelry.

[MLoudin]

The Main Point show is a great copy... I saw Bruce the first time in 1974 at Kent State, I have been lucky enough to find a sound board copy of that show... I saw Seger in concert a couple of times too... really both are darned good!

[Evel KMego]

I just saw Seger in concert about 2 weeks ago. Awesome show! My favorite song of all time is "Turn the Page". The sax in that song along with the lyrics just paint a picture. Don't even get me started on what Metallica did to that song. Love Springsteen too though. The live version of "Thunder Road" where he slows it down is just haunting. It's high on my list as well!

[thunderbolt]

Ugh - through "Old Time Rock and Roll" in the pile of songs I never need to hear again too. Right next to almost everything The Eagles ever did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm-o7_VVAoU

[Hector]

We could go off topic: Sammy Hagar vs David Lee Roth

David Lee Roth clicked with Van Halen much better...but as a stand alone rocker...Sammy Hagar smokes his ballerina arse...lol.

[Hector]

I said the exact same thing the other day....the subject of that debate was Springsteen vs. Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi.

[madmarva]

I like both. I believe Springsteen is unquestionably a better lyricist, but Seger's got a touch that's rock but also very appealing in a pop sense. Seger's songs are certainly more catchy than Springteen's. While Seger's voice is raspy, it's very polished. Springteen's voice and style gives off a more raw and emotional feel, which could be good or bad depending on one's tastes. While both can have a cynical touch (more so Springsteen) both are romantics at heart and their music tends to be nostalgic and sentimental even when it has some bite, kind of like the Eagles, who also irk a lot of folks.

I can also understand why their styles grate on some. Both were played heavily on FM radio and some of their albums had such a mass appeal that they had to be hard to escape if it wasn't your cup of tea.

I love the sax, which both incorporate in their music. I wore out cassette tapes of both back in the day and their music still makes me recall good times with friends and young ladies of my past. I not into most new music. What I like about "my music" is that nostalgia and the memories it brings back.

When their tours come within five hours of me, I try to see both of them.

If I had to favor one as an artist today, I'd go with Springsteen. There's still some vitality in his newer works, while Seger is really an oldies act at this point, but a really good one in my opinion. His show was great last summer.

As for Roth vs. Hagar in Van Halen, I like Roth better. He was just fun and their music just had a randy, rowdy, dirty rebel attitude that was so appealing to teens back in the late 70s and 80s. I'd say Van Hagar's actual music was more substantive, but not nearly as fun. And you go to see Van Halen to have fun. While I don't have any VH on my iphone, Eddie Van Halen's awesome. His finger-picking sizzles. The latest issue of Rolling Stone rates the top 100 guitarists and Pearl Jam guitarist compared EVH to Hendrix, saying guitarists can play the music but they can't capture the same sound as EVH.

As for Bon Jovi, I like several of their songs. They are no doubt the most talented, stable and most evolved of the hairbands that were popular in the 80s, but they were a little after my time for me to much of a connection to them.

[Figuremod73]

Bon Jovi was one of my favorite radio bands back in the eighties. I came so close to seeing them in concert once. (I think it was cancelled or something...). Slippery when wet is still up there as one of my favorite albums from the eighties.
Good points about Hagar vs Roth. Roth had a couple of pretty good albums. Skyscraper really kicked, but Hagar has him beat solo. I have NEVER heard Hagar sing jump or any other Roth Van Halen songs. Has anyone? How does he do on them?

[Mikey]

For Seger fans, check out this cover of Main Street on youtube ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qduWzKmcx_w

m

[ddgaff1132]

Come back baby. Rock and roll never forgets

[Brazoo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm-o7_VVAoU

Yup!

"If you ain't got Mojo Nixon, then your store can use some fixin'!!"