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Review: Mellencamp's heavy mood isn't without humor
Posted: Jul 15, 2008 in Music
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Don't look to "Life, Death, Love and Freedom" to be the feel-good hit of the summer. Of the four items listed within the title of John Mellencamp's album, which arrives in stores today, death overwhelms all competing topics on the 14-song collection produced by mood-music specialist T-Bone Burnett.
The sonic textures are unplugged and haunted, suggestive of Bob Dylan's 1997 meditation on mortality, "Time Out of Mind," and Mellencamp's own roots-blues cover album, 2003's "Trouble No More."
But Indiana's long-running rock star showcases a sense of melody and a sense of humor on "Life, Death, Love and Freedom" not always evident on those previous works.
Hear Mellencamp whistle through the graveyard on "Don't Need This Body," where he concludes, "I loved and I fought with many, and the people, they loved me just the same."
That sounds about right for the 56-year-old who grew up in small-town Seymour, became rich and famous all across North America and settled down in Monroe and Brown counties.
Mellencamp bristles at the notion his songs are autobiographical, but his story appears to be revealed on several of these new tunes.
"You tell yourself, 'I'll be back on top someday,' but you know there's nothing waiting up there for you anyway," he sings during "Longest Days," the album's emotionally heavy opening track.
"This life's been right to me," he admits during "If I Die Sudden." "I got a whole bunch more than I deserved, and now I will be free."
It's logical to break down the album's title into a pair of equations: Life equals love, and death equals freedom.
The second sentiment isn't the sunniest, but there's no depression in heaven, as the Carter Family famously sang in the 1930s.
Mellencamp could have trimmed as many as four exit-themed numbers to lighten the mood without diminishing the album's thematic spirit. Eventually, he shuffles from resignation to relief when closing with the uplifting duo "For the Children" and "A Brand New Song."
Burnett's distinctive talents are heard on current single "My Sweet Love," a rockabilly romp that pairs Mellencamp with Little Big Town vocalist Karen Fairchild. "My Sweet Love" rambles as a proud cousin to "Gone Gone Gone," the recent Burnett-produced hit sung by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.
Elsewhere, Burnett adds slow-burn electric guitar at the edges of several songs, and his high-definition CODE format truly amazes when the instruments and voices of "Young Without Lovers" separate to 3-D effect.
It might be in high def, but it will still be the same sub par slog he has always put out.
Found the record at Starbucks on the evening of the 14th. Already listened to it all the way through 3 times. I think it's great work. Total reflection of the times.
And there is no doubt about it. It IS high def. The production value is simply amazing. It deserves a Grammy just for that.
just curious if anyone has any info on this CODE format...
the audiophile part of my brain really questions how (what would seem to be) a standard, "red book" CD could be "high definition."
a quick google search didnt yield much
thx -tom
Listened to the new CD - Horrible, one of his worst
Mellencamp's a piece of s---. How much of this is anti-Bush songs?
Demonizing someone because you disagree with their point of view--very Karl Rove.
I love the hypocrisy: if you're a celebrity and you lean Left, you should be dismissed; but if you lean Right, not only is it okay but you should hold office! Freud would be proud. Self good. Other bad. So simple a 2 month old gets it.
Bards expressing their discontent with the ruling class has only been going on for a few millennium. Suddenly it's evil to question authority through your craft.
MisterT: An overview of the CODE format accompanied this review in Tuesday's edition of The Star. You can check it out here.
Really great album. We love it.
Demonizing someone because you disagree with their point of view--very Karl Rove. I love the ...
Haha...that quote you used is funny in speaking about Mellencamp...who made McCain stop playing one of his songs during his campaigns because he is a Republican and Mellencamp "disagrees with his point of view".
I love Mellencamp's music a lot...but the dude does get out of line with pushing his political views sometimes.
Haha...that quote you used is funny in speaking about Mellencamp...who made McCain stop playing one ...
The two don't compare. Mellencamp owns the rights to that song. He's not telling McCain to shut up or calling him a POS 'cause of his point of view. McCain, or any entity, doesn't have the right to use someone else's property without their permission and it has nothing to do with political perspective.
I'm sure there's some Right-leaning artists (Lee Greenwood maybe?) who wouldn't want Obama using their property.
And as for the last point, Mellencamp doesn't lose his rights as a citizen just because he's well-known. It's never out of line for any American to express their views. Only people who fear rebuttal ask for that. He's not pushing his views on anyone. He's expressing them. You can chose not to listen, or you can listen (as you have) and respectfully disagree. You also have the freedom to respond. You don't have the right to ask for others' rights to be suppressed.
Remember, if we had never questioned authority we would all be British!
This new album is awesome and I'm enjoying it a lot. I'm not really getting much political vibe from it at all...maybe an aging vibe?? I think its great when an artist puts out something a little different...as opposed to putting out the same album over and over. I have tickets to see him in Cincinnati on Wednesday July 23 and may end up with an extra that I'd sell for face value($70 for upper pavillion). Lucinda Williams is opening.Private message me if interested..MJ