I Knew You When

On Seger's first album as a septuagenarian, his fire burns as fiercely as ever. When he wants to rock, on the growling, stomping "Gracile" or the roaring "The Sea Inside", he emerges with all pistons firing, and that gritty, soulful voice demanding undivided attention. When he waxes lyrical, on the poetic waltz "I'll Remember You" and the moody "Marie", he's as penetrating as ever. And when he tackles Lou Reed's chugging "Busload of Faith" and Leonard Cohen's epic "Democracy", Seger shows his gift for transforming any tune with his deep Detroit mojo.