Comments on: JOHN MELLENCAMP – LIFE, DEATH, LOVE, AND FREEDOM

By: Darius

Darius — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:34:35 +0000

I’m a liner notes freak from way back, so I’ve been drooling to hear this ever since I heard Mellencamp was working with producer T-Bone Burnett. It’s everything I hoped it would be. And it will be on my Christmas list too. Thanks.

By: jh

jh — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:27:37 +0000

Freedom’s Road was uneven, granted, and Our Country was lame, agreed, but Rodeo Clown made up for it easily. Rural Route was a dark story too.

I don’t comment to be apologetic, just to say so much emphasis regarding Freedom’s Road is put on Our Country that the rest is drowned out.

Got the new one too; only had time to spin it once but I liked it.

By: Ravel

Ravel — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:24:53 +0000

I have to agree that since the time he made Hurts So Good, etc, I didn’t listen to Mellencamp much… With your 3 tracks here, it makes 4 tunes I hear from his new album and I really like it. Maturity?
Your blog post is quite interesting. Everything, past & present, should be considered “Indie” because every kind of music should be worth a listen and a discovery… maybe.
Thanks for it all!
Ravel, Montreal, Quebec

By: DownSouth

DownSouth — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:08:48 +0000

I have always like JCM’s “Heartland Rock” (or whatever you want to call it) but when he tried to start recording crappy pop songs is where he lost me. Keep to the small town storytelling songs Johnny.

From what I have heard I like the new record.

By: Todd

Todd — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:02:04 +0000

My goodness, you guys quit listening 1 album too short! What about The Lonesome Jubilee?!? C L A S S I C !!

By: Autopsy IV

Autopsy IV — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:54:25 +0000

Y’all just keep posting my occasional contributions over there and you’ll be doing good work.

By: boyhowdy

boyhowdy — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:48:48 +0000

Nice work here, AuIV. My timeline is similar, too — received Scarecrow as a gift as a kid (from the guy who was the head music writer and reviewer for Newsweek at the time — man, you think WE get too much music in the mail each week; you should have seen his house, with multiple rooms all lined with vinyl), went backwards from there, had mixed feelings about his more recent work afterwards, esp. the production…but continue to admire his songwriting, and think this new stripped-down sound is a great return to his roots.

Nice to see the shout-out for Star Maker Machine, too, esp. in a list of some of my favorite blogs. As an almost-founding member (and now admin) of SMM, I’m a biased observer, but I, too, think we’re doing good work there.

By: Adam Fenwick

Adam Fenwick — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:41:58 +0000

All three of these songs are good, so good in fact i’ll be putting this on my Christmas List I think. I’m glad he finally put out another good record!

By: Timmy Mac

Timmy Mac — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:41:57 +0000

Wow…your timeline of Mellencamp listening pretty much mirrors mine. Loved everything up to Scarecrow and been kind of embarrassed about it lately. I’ll check this out on your recommendation, then.