John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
»
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
Columbia, 1998
RiYL: Bruce Springsteen |
Certainly, Mellencamp could push on, recording the exact same rock tunes that made him famous and find a certain success on the generic rock stations. To a degree, his early '90s records such as Whenever We Wanted and Human Wheels were apparent extensions of the rocker's aging career, filled with songs ready-made for drunk barbecues and lazy disc jockeys.
But Mellencamp returned with Mr. Happy Go Lucky in 1996, an album on par with some of his best work. He switched up his sound a bit, dropped parts of his band's cheesy routine and brought on a young New York City producer that propelled him in a new direction. The album's singles "Key West Intermezzo" and "Just Another Day" got decent airplay, showing that the work even had broad appeal.
Thankfully, this album doesn't take Mellencamp all the way back to the mire of the "Get A Leg Up"-era of songwriting. There is something familiar in the grit of numbers such as "Fruit Trader," "Where The World Began" and "Miss Missy."
Still, this is a strange mutation of the "new direction" of his last release. It gives way to a half-interesting recording full of interesting risks. Unfortunately, "interesting" isn't always a good thing.
On one hand, you have "It All Comes True," the kind of number that extends Mellencamp's connection to the man on the street. It resounds the story of the singer's complicated life and darkly implies, "What you believe about yourself / it all comes true / like a wheel inside a wheel / it turns on you."
Well done.
Then you have "Break Me Off Some," an odd smoothed-out tribute to Kit- Kat candy bar commercials replete with cheesy synths, fake drums and a truly ridiculous chorus. Things don't get much better with "Summer Of Love" or "Days Of Farewell," the album's final tracks, both of which try to incorporate the sitar into modern rock recording (George Harrison got lucky when he got England and India to mix - Indiana and India is just downright impossible).
Mellencamp's subtle artistry comes through on foot-tappin' pop tunes like "Your Life Is Now" and "Eden Is Burning." His sentimental side shows nicely on "Positively Crazy."
But the album as a whole isn't up to snuff. It seems Mellencamp wants to focus on weaving radio-friendly material for the fans who dance, instead of serving up tasty treats for the hard-assed rock critics.
If only Mellencamp would stop taking chances that promote his bankability...
If only he would concentrate on making a more complete composition that continues his musical rendering of Midwestern life ...
Only then he might take an artistic step forward. It's been a long time since Scarecrow, and Mellencamp should know there are others who would listen closely.
BEN FRENCH | Ben founded NATN in the winter of 1998-1999 with fellow IU alums Troy Carpenter and Jonathan Cohen. During the day time, he's working for Nielsen Business Media, publisher of Billboard. Ben's favorite acts include Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Sonic Youth, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys.