Darkness on the edge of "Small Town"
Much like the mystic juju he juked up for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' Raising Sand, voodoo priest/super-producer T Bone Burnett slathers John Mellencamp's new Life Death Love and Freedom with the same sorta Gothic swamp stank. Oooh, it's dark all right. Think Jack and Diane as corpse bride and groom.
But the 14-track album, which hits store shelves today, also grooves with the sound of resonator geetars, rattling bones and things that go bump in the muddy subconscious. Lil' Bastard wants to make a gloomy Americana album: kids getting stabbed at county fairs, politicians spiking the Kool-Aid, old men praying for a timely deaths. But Burnett saves John from himself, summoning a dead man's party of supernatural sounds.
I'm still letting this one soak in, but I've been dazzled from the start (and no, the fact that I once used Mellencamp's bathroom has not infected my decision process). To be honest, although John writes all the songs, you gotta think T Bone is the star here. Check out the killer Bo Diddley beat on the rumbling, rollicking My Sweet Love (LISTEN) and the mortal bittersweetness of Longest Days (LISTEN).
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
Pshh. I can't believe I have to search for the songs myself.
I won't hold it against you, Sean. I'll just blame the establishment.
Posted by: Marissa | July 15, 2008 at 09:05 AM
Hey Riss, you're a Web savant. Find me some Mellencamp links and I'll post 'em up there. You can save the day!
Posted by: Sean Daly | July 15, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Ris, Mina must be out getting Funyons. Now that SD has "people" you can see the attitude change.
Posted by: sparky | July 15, 2008 at 09:11 AM
*scratches head* I thought I left a comment. Oh well. I must be getting old and forgetting to hit post.
FYI: Amazon.com has "The Best of Mellencamp: 20th Century Masters" digital download for 1.99 -- 10 tracks.
Interesting sounds coming from Mr. Mellencamp on this new one. Initially, I felt haunted by Johnny Cash. Then, a touch of Jacob Dylan was splashed about. Darker fo'sho'.
Posted by: Marissa | July 15, 2008 at 09:12 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LETCRDBDr7I
Here ya go, SD & Pop Lifers
Posted by: Marissa | July 15, 2008 at 09:14 AM
"If I Die Sudden" Live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEPMlSpMQQU
Posted by: Marissa | July 15, 2008 at 09:16 AM
"Maybe I'll have my intern..."?
Such gratuitous, self-aggrandizing, minion-dropping is unbecoming a executive of your stature.
I might have my staff prepare a sternly-worded memo.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | July 15, 2008 at 09:16 AM
Crap! Sean just said "jump!" and I asked, "how high?"
What the hell is wrong with me?
Posted by: Marissa | July 15, 2008 at 09:18 AM
John Mellencamp = The Robert Blake of Rock.
Posted by: scotty | July 15, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Not liking it. Then again, I haven't liked anything by him since "Big Daddy."
Posted by: Bassnote | July 15, 2008 at 10:00 AM
For all the praise here, I should say the album cover is laughably air-brushed. Mellencamp goes for a gritty feel -- except his wrinkle-free glam shot, taken by wife Elaine no less.
Posted by: Sean Daly | July 15, 2008 at 10:07 AM
So Sean, does my speed on finding the clips make me your Girl Friday?
Or is there an application I have to fill out in order to be considered?
Posted by: Marissa | July 15, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Whoa, Marissa and Sean? Didn't see that coming. Why didn't you tell me, boss?
Posted by: Mina | July 15, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Huh? no, no, no, no! Sean is my music critic hero.
"Girl Friday" is a gopher with a fancy name.
Posted by: Marissa | July 15, 2008 at 01:38 PM
Aw jeez. Nice work, Marissa. You freaked out my intern!!!
Posted by: Sean Daly | July 15, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Was there an application I was supposed to fill out to be the FF? I must've missed the memo.
Mellencamp's face looks smoother than Kid Two Two's bare bottom. He has either discovered the magic of Botox or Elaine Photoshopped the heck out of that thing. Curious to hear the album. Bring it home, SD...I'll keep it in my car for a few months and give it a listen....you won't mind, right?
Posted by: Forever Fiancee | July 15, 2008 at 02:05 PM
The FF's car...where Sean's CDs go to die. How's Katy Perry doing these days, hon? I haven't seen that one in weeks.
Posted by: Sean Daly | July 15, 2008 at 02:14 PM
Consider yourself lucky,Sean! Once a friend borrowed me a Dylan album,i didn`t see it for over a year(14 months to be precise).Oh! And my cousin borrowed me a comedy book when i was about 8 years old,i haven´t seen that one yet!
Posted by: Miguel | July 15, 2008 at 02:41 PM
I want to hold on to Katy Perry for awhile longer, but you can have your Justin Timberlake back now!
Posted by: Forever Fiancee | July 15, 2008 at 02:44 PM
spinning the new mellencamp cd right now. it is a bit dark, just a wee bit. john must be going through something, it might be his darkest cd since big daddy. i do like the sparseness of it. bassnote, its true john will never reach the heights of his 80s work, but he still puts out quality material.
Posted by: CHAD | July 15, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Sheesh, I come back from two weeks away from the magic of Internet access to find that there's a new Mellencamp CD! Heck, I even drove through the Little B@stard's hometown of Seymour, Indiana just yesterday on my way home and nary a soul told me about this! I'm all over those links, thanks Marissa. Mellencamp rocks huge, even when he's dark AND airbrushed.
Posted by: Sherrie | July 15, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Sean, it's an honour and a privledge to freak out your intern.
I do humbly apologize for any confusion.
Posted by: Marissa | July 15, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Just downloaded a couple of tracks from the album. Dark but I like it. Much better than that damn Chevy commercial ear worm.
Plus, Riss the correct phrasing is Sean says jump and you say, "how high do I have to be to take orders from you."
Posted by: DoctorDrew | July 19, 2008 at 09:38 AM