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Orpheus Descending follows quickly on the heels of Strictly a One-Eyed Jack, the 2022 album that found John Mellencamp returning after a five-year silence. There, he invited Bruce Springsteen into the studio for a few songs, a nod to their shared past as heartland rockers. Here, the guest isn't as big a star, but the connection may run deeper. Much of Orpheus Descending features a returning Lisa Germano, the violinist who played with the rocker from 1987's The Lonesome Jubilee through 1998's John Mellencamp, tending to an adventurous solo career all the while. Germano's presence accentuates how Mellencamp is returning to the earthy, rangy roots rock of Big Daddy, a sound that seemed slightly out of time in the 1980s and now feels somewhat traditional; Mellencamp's blend of sinewy rhythms and burnished acoustics is recognizably his, yet it draws upon a sound that's now part of a shared past. It's a sound that's aged well, and Mellencamp has aged within it. His voice has been weathered to a nub; he now sounds eternal, even primal. His leathery croak helps give this lean, direct music a gravelly anchor that Germano offsets with her lithe, graceful support. Listening to their interplay gives Orpheus Descending an unexpected emotional kick that helps the record transcend the occasional overly literal lyric from Mellencamp, such as the lead single "The Eyes of Portland."
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Guitar, Bass, Music Director & Conductor, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Germano, Violin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kristina Grossmann, A&R - Troye Kinnett, Keyboards, Organ, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marianelly Agosto, Voice, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Guitar, Bass, Music Director & Conductor, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Germano, Violin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kristina Grossmann, A&R - Troye Kinnett, Keyboards, Organ, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Guitar, Bass, Music Director & Conductor, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Germano, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kristina Grossmann, A&R - Troye Kinnett, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Guitar, Bass, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Germano, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kristina Grossmann, A&R - Troye Kinnett, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Guitar, Bass, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Germano, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kristina Grossmann, A&R - Troye Kinnett, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Guitar, Bass, Music Director & Conductor, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Germano, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kristina Grossmann, A&R - Troye Kinnett, Organ, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Bass, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Germano, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kristina Grossmann, A&R - Troye Kinnett, Keyboards, Piano, Harmonium, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Guitar, Bass, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Germano, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Kristina Grossmann, A&R - Troye Kinnett, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Guitar, Bass, Music Director & Conductor, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Germano, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kristina Grossmann, A&R - Troye Kinnett, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce Springsteen, ComposerLyricist - Andy York, Guitar, Bass, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kristina Grossmann, A&R - Troye Kinnett, Keyboards, Organ, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Guitar, Bass, Music Director & Conductor, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kristina Grossmann, A&R - Troye Kinnett, Accordion, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Montesano, A&R - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marianelly Agosto, Voice, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
Album review
Orpheus Descending follows quickly on the heels of Strictly a One-Eyed Jack, the 2022 album that found John Mellencamp returning after a five-year silence. There, he invited Bruce Springsteen into the studio for a few songs, a nod to their shared past as heartland rockers. Here, the guest isn't as big a star, but the connection may run deeper. Much of Orpheus Descending features a returning Lisa Germano, the violinist who played with the rocker from 1987's The Lonesome Jubilee through 1998's John Mellencamp, tending to an adventurous solo career all the while. Germano's presence accentuates how Mellencamp is returning to the earthy, rangy roots rock of Big Daddy, a sound that seemed slightly out of time in the 1980s and now feels somewhat traditional; Mellencamp's blend of sinewy rhythms and burnished acoustics is recognizably his, yet it draws upon a sound that's now part of a shared past. It's a sound that's aged well, and Mellencamp has aged within it. His voice has been weathered to a nub; he now sounds eternal, even primal. His leathery croak helps give this lean, direct music a gravelly anchor that Germano offsets with her lithe, graceful support. Listening to their interplay gives Orpheus Descending an unexpected emotional kick that helps the record transcend the occasional overly literal lyric from Mellencamp, such as the lead single "The Eyes of Portland."
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:49:00
- Main artists: John Mellencamp
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: John Mellencamp PS
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2023 John J. Mellencamp ℗ 2023 John J. Mellencamp
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