A couple of people expressed an interest in continuing this discussion, and there were a few posts I wanted to respond to, so I started a new thread here. Perhaps the mods will decide to move the other posts here as well.
This is not a simple question to answer, IMO, and you are of course correct when you say a great deal depends on what sound you like. I'd also say that if we were having this discussion 18-20 years ago, my answer might well have been different; however, we'll talk about now.
First off, Bruce and Meat have very different voices- always have. Both have changed over the years. Bruce's voice isn't one that might be called a "pretty" voice, and there's plenty of people who are of the opinion that he can't sing. I think many people base this primarily on a song like "Born in the USA", where he's practically shouting, and which, quite honestly, I'm not all that fond of.
If you dig deeper into the catalog, however, and especially once you start looking at live performances, you get a different picture. In some of the slow songs, especially, he sounds particularly good, IMO:
"Something in the Night" 1976:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bfZby9CN8E
Now, I think we'd all agree that there's many components to what makes a good musical performance of any kind, and "technical perfection" isn't as important as being able to convey emotion, and Bruce could always do that in spades:
"The Promise" (Live- solo piano) Seattle, 1978: (one of my very favorites)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCXcsTq_H9g
"You're Missing"- (solo piano) 2002 (IMO, one of the most heartbreaking songs ever)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xb1...?search_algo=1
Over the years, I think Bruce's technique has actually gotten better, in that he's learned to
use his voice better. Bruce has always had loads of power- still does; what he may not have as much as Meat is range, from the highs to the lows. However, he has developed a falsetto at some point, which I don't think he could do early on. What he also does very effectively is to create an "atmosphere", by which he's doing anything from a whisper, such as in the end of "Jungleland" (to draw you in, IMO) up to a scream. Some of my favorite vocals of his, chronologically:
"Real World"- (solo piano) 1990
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_PxWw_g_pE
"I Wish I Were Blind" 1993
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqxNg_rb350
"The River" 2000 (End of the song is a good example of the falsetto)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGHqeYNe_1g
"Incident on 57th Street" (solo piano) 2002
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb6SG9GtgMU
"Nothing Man"- (solo piano) 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9XCv...eature=related
"Adam Raised a Cain" 2011 (not to mention killer guitar solo, and I was there)
)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MxfDkUHySI
"Youngstown" 2012- I was truly amazed (I was there) at how long he could hold the word "Toooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwn"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liAsh...D63BB54CCCDB16
If you'll notice, there are no "hits" on this list (except maybe "The River", and this is a different arrangement from the album version), and nothing from the "Born in the USA" era.
Now, to get back to Meat. In terms of power, I'd say he has no lead. In terms of range, sure, I'll give it to him. Now, does this automatically (i.e. "obviously") make him "technically" a better singer? I'm going to say no.The talent/ voice one is given is just the beginning; to quote Eric Clapton, "It's in the way that you use it".
One can also argue on key/ off key, in time/ out of time, isolated notes hit on pitch- it's all irrelevant, IMO, if the end result isn't pleasing to the listener. So, if you ask me who I would rather listen to, I'm going to be totally honest and say that I don't really like the way Meat sounds live these days (on record, it's not bad). Bruce, on the other hand, I enjoy listening to very much. It is what it is.