Other People's Stuff (2018)
1. To the River
2. Gambling Bar Room Blues
3. Teardrops Will Fall
4. In My Time of Dying
5. Mobile Blue
6. Eyes on the Prize
7. Dark as a Dungeon
8. Stones in My Passway
9. Wreck of the Old 97
10.I Don't Know Why I Love You
It really has gotten to the point where you really never know what to expect
with a new John Mellencamp CD. He's publicly stated that he strongly dislikes (if not hates) his earlier classic
period that most of his fans adore, and he seems to experiment with different styles and genres. Some well received,
some not so much. Personally, I'd much rather listen to albums such as American Fool,
or Uh-huh than I would listen to him grumble and complain about everything over a solidary
acoustic guitar.
This record of covers (with a title only John Mellencamp could come up with) actually is a happy medium in terms of style. It
recollects the sound of The Lonesome Jubilee, complete with violins, accordians, and
other acoustic instruments. What makes this record so enjoyable is that it sounds spirited. Mellencamp and co. actually
sound like they're having a good time performing as opposed to exorcising anger and depression.
My guess is most won't be familiar with these cuts anyway, and they do range from old blues to old folk, so it can easily be
said that Mellencamp can cover this ground quite well. While this release might not necessarily be an essential addition
to his catalog, it is a quite enjoyable listen.
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