Two Words, One Answer.
John Mellencamp
 Scarecrow $9.98 Scarecrow is John Mellencamp's best and arguably the pinnacle of the entire heartland rock genre, with its blend of heartbreak, wisdom, and ultimate triumph. Tracks like "Between a Laugh and a Tear" and "Rumbleseat" capture a bittersweetness lacking in Mellencamp's previous efforts, while "Minutes to Memories" and "The Face of the Nation" exhibit a new-found wisdom. "Small Town," the perfect tribute to his Indiana upbringing, is perhaps Mellencamp's most quintessential single. Where that song romanticizes rural American life, "Rain on the Scarecrow" offers powerful insight to its other side. John Mellencamp has something to say on every cut; even a song like "You've Got to Stand for Somethin'" avoids sounding preachy, if only for its immaculate sound design. That sound owes itself to his requirement that the band listen to a variety of genres, especially old soul music, before making this record. Scarecrow blends the powerful lyrics of future releases like The Lonesome Jubilee with the same rebellious rock of Uh-Huh and American Fool (especially on "The Kinda Fella I Am"). As a result, it showcases John Mellencamp at his creative and commercial peak; if you only have one of his albums, make it Scarecrow. 5 Stars.  Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits $19.98 I grew up in the rural midwest, so I relate to the values and perspective of John Mellencamp's work. He is a talented songwriter, and this is a comprehensive collection of his work. I own Scarecrow and Lonesome Jubilee, and bought this to round out the John Mellencamp selections loaded on my iPod.  The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988 $13.98 This is the first John Mellencamp album I have purchased.I recently saw him in the US with Willie Nelson & Bob dylan.His performance was powerful.This album is in the same stream as his live performance.The songs are powerful,about life & about America.John's band is powerful & they heighten the quality of the songs.A great album! |
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