CD Review: John Mellencamp, Life, Death, Love and Freedom

One of music’s survivors, John Mellencamp has run the gambit through an interesting and somewhat hit and miss career.

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Having finally lost the ‘Cougar’ moniker, and gotten over heart problems, he seemed to have faded into self-imposed exile while other, younger, more verile songsmiths took over.

Over the years, Mellencamp has sometimes been compared to a poor man’s (metaphorically speaking) Springsteen, and this album seems to convey Springsteenesque overtones with its brooding melodies and serious lyrics.

However, although sometimes bleak there is something simple and pleasing about this album and it’s good to hear Mellencamp still has what it takes to write songs that make you think.