Nemesis
This second album gets mixed reviews, the main critical focus
being the ‘takeover’ in the band by Tom Neme, and I can certainly hear the
variable rather than Seger-solid sound: opener and title track a good example
with its echo of Amen Corner’s Half as
Nice and the sax solo playing a version of Benny Hill’s theme tune [though
this song is commented on as ‘classic’ Seger by some…], whilst second Innervenus Eyes is a more expected heavy
cut that sounds like it could be Iron Butterfly playing: that’s quite a mix.
Overall there is more of a pop-psyche feel to many of the
tracks, two Neme songs Lonely Man and
Loneliness is a Feeling [oddly placed
side by side at 3 and 4], not surprisingly reflecting this, though I do rather
like the second of these. Fifth Cat
could be by Beefheart with its percussion core and Seeger shouting out, so
again not perhaps the expected norm, but I like this too.
We endure – relatively speaking – four more popish numbers [three
by Neme] until arriving at the final stand-out track Death Row which is both driving rock with a driving narrative, the
two elements combining to produce the musical and emotional intensity that
seems more Seger’s signature style…as I continue learning.
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