Could've posted this in the other thread, but I suppose it's thread worthy.
After Davis showed John Mellencamp’s performance of “Pink Houses” from the first Farm Aid in 1985, he and Mellencamp talked about when Davis passed on signing the roots rocker because he had yet to develop his sound. “It’s a decision that’s come to haunt me,” Davis said, although Mellencamp said Davis made the right move.
At the time, Mellencamp was getting compared to Bruce Springsteen, and now, he revealed, he and The Boss have worked together. “Bruce is singing on the new record and is playing guitar,” Mellencamp said. “I finished the record a week ago today.”
I've come to the notion that this is the first Mellencamp record since 1989 on which every character is an older version of the folks on Scarecrow/The Lonesome Jubilee/Big Daddy while also being John himself.
This is an album to like. He has invented this persona with many facets and a damn it all to hell attitude. I like his raspy voice - you can always imagine that a whole lot of living and some superiour insights caused it.
I'm not sure why I never took much notice of Mellencamp - I think something put me off during his "cougar" phase, but it may have been that I was too immersed in the Springsteen cosmos at the time to take others seriously.
Anyway, a Life full of Rain is is a great song, and the Thom Zimny video of Wasted Days was instantly recognizable and rather good.
Time to listen to the album some more.
Got the album today, haven't had time to listen. Tomorrow morning first thing!
A Life Full Of Rain is brilliant. I've been listening to it on repeat for over half an hour now, and I think it's getting better with each additional listen.
This is a great campfire record, by the way.
I love the songs that sound a bit like French chansons, Driving In The Rain, A Life Full Of Rain in particular, and the bluesy Sweet Honey Brown more than the songs with the more traditional rock vibe.
It's a great album, thematically regretful and bleak. I read an interview where he admits these songs are as honest as can be, no filtered writing, and how he used to not reveal his true self in his songs when he was young.
I absolutely love the cover, read his son made this portrait of him.
At only four listens, I think this record is fantastic. I think it sounds exactly like the Little Bastard should sound at, as he put it on Human Wheels, this short success of age.
Driving In the Rain is exquisite. Do yourself a favor and play it directly after Hello Sunshine. What a fine pairing of songs.
Did You Say Such A Thing, the title track, Wasted Days are all standouts, too, at this early appreciation and A Life Full Of Rain is a masterpiece.
I'm glad that I made the lucky choice as a young man to have heroes who would last. When it comes to Bruce, I knew as early as Darkness and the River that he would still be making music that matters to me when we're both old. John has been an artists who had made a career out of defying low expectations and listening to his music and talent mature over the last four decades has been a real treat. He may have taken longer than Bruce to find his footing and set his course on the road he was meant to travel, but he's walked steadily on since he did.
Great album. Mr. Mellencamp should be proud of it.
New album drops Friday, I've heard another single, Chasing Rainbows, and though his voice is shot, so shot, it's a freakin' great tune. Again.
Duh, he only finished the record a week ago, I reread the OP.
Was wondering where the hell this album was.