Strictly a One-Eyed Jack (2022)
1. I Always Lie to Strangers
2. Driving in the Rain
3. I am a Man that Worries
4. Streets of Galilee
5. Sweet Honey Brown
6. Did You Say Such a Thing
7. Gone Too Soon
8. Wasted Days
9. Simply a One-Eyed Jack
10.Chasing Rainbows
11.Lie to Me
12.A Life Full of Rain
Is it really possible that the music of John Mellencamp could get any more depressing?
As soon as we hear the leadoff drudge I Always Like to strangers, we know we're in for a long haul. As with most of his
current releases, he's more of a gruffled old pissed-off story teller with a guitar than a genuine hook-filled musician. His voice
has gotten very hoarse and craggy and definitely seems to be in his element. It's just quite sad that's what here doesn't really resonate
with anybody that might reasonably be in a good mood.
There is one very good track here, a song that reaches back to several years ago when music was just as important as lyrics, and
that would be Did You Say Such a Thing. It's one of the 3 songs here that features Bruce Springsteen on backing vocals, but to be honest,
the Boss's presence on this record really isn't necessary and almost seems pointless. It's interesting because there have been comparisons
between Mellencamp and Springsteen over the years, yet Bruce seems to have found some sort of peace in his soul and still manages to sound
musically interesting despite some of his somber recollections
One can also hear traces of latter day Bob Dylan hear as well. Again, though, like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan knows how to take his
gruffled cigarette-laden vocal chords and still sound somewhat poetic - using his right brain more than his left. The oddest thing on this
record is the somewhat upbeat Chasing Rainbows, yet it sounds quite out of place here. It almost comes across has a 1960's "love is
all we need" tune that jerks the listener too hard in the opposite direction to really have any impact.
The album cover is nice, though. I think Mellencamp painted it himself.
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