Bob Seger - Face the Promise

We have a five-star rating system here at About.com. As a matter of principle, 4.5 is the highest rating I ever give an album. Until now.

Gut Level Music

You know how it is. One of your favorite classic rock bands or artists releases an album of new music and you rush to give it a listen, hoping it evokes the same reactions you experienced 30 or so years ago when you first heard them. As often as not, you’re disappointed to find that the “something” that originally made you a devoted fan just doesn’t seem to be there anymore, at least not consistently.

A handful of artists can, for me, still deliver with new material today what they did back in the day: Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young. And with his new release, Bob Seger maintains a favored spot on that list.

With 2006’s Face the Promise, Seger is still delivering the same addictive brand of roots rock he began cranking out with 1969’s Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man. The themes are timeless; the voice is still clear and powerful; the appeal is visceral, gut level.

The 11 Year Wait

As always, it is music with a simple but effective message, set to a medium-hard rock beat. Later practitioners like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and John Mellencamp owe much to Seger’s everyman style and work ethic. Waiting 11 years between albums might be risky for some artists, but Seger has had no problem picking up where he left off with 1995’s It’s a Mystery.

“The Answer’s In the Question” with Patty Loveless is one of the most well-chosen duet pairings I’ve heard in a very long time. As players of both instruments will tell you, there’s a big difference between a violin and a fiddle, just as there is a big difference between the musical styles of Seger and Loveless. The two instruments and the two voices are blended here with surprising results. The track stands out on an album full of standouts.

There’s plenty of classic Seger rock throughout, especially the lead track, “Wreck This Heart,” “Are You” and the title song, “Face the Promise.” And there’s plenty of the lyrics that are Seger’s trademark: simple, direct, easily related to by common everyday folks like us.

Extras, Too

The “bonus” DVD included in the deluxe edition package isn’t just filler. There’s a “making of” video about the album, a career retrospective and classic footage of several previously unreleased performances.

Face the Promise is a stomp-your-feet, make-you-think, give-you-some-goosebumps album that has what may be some of the best work Seger has ever done. If you’re already a Bob Seger fan, you’ll listen to it often. If you aren’t already a Bob Seger fan, this album will make you one.

Video / Audio Streams

The first single from the album is "Wait For Me":

Video Stream: Windows Media | Quicktime | RealPlayer

Audio Stream: Windows Media | RealPlayer

Album Sampler

Track List:

1. "Wreck This Heart"
2. "Wait For Me"
3. "Face The Promise"
4. "No Matter Who You Are"
5. "Are You"
6. "Simplicity"
7. "No More"
8. "Real Mean Bottle" (with Kid Rock)
9. "Won’t Stop"
10. "Between"
11. "The Answer’s In The Question" (with Patty Loveless)
12. "The Long Goodbye"