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Through much of its history, rock & roll has walked hand in hand with youth culture, and most major artists have seemed wary of advancing age. Conventional wisdom has it that the greatest compliment you can pay a veteran musician is that they sure don't look or sound as old as they actually are, and that they still appear young at heart. Through much of his career, John Mellencamp has seemed ambivalent about rock stardom, so it makes a certain sense that from 2010's No Better Than This onward, he's been content to let his music reflect his time served on the planet. These days, he leans more to folk than the heartland rock that made him famous, and his vocals are steeped in audible grit caused by many years of smoking and even more time shouting out his songs. 2022's Strictly a One-Eyed Jack was released when Mellencamp was 70 years of age, and he seems proud to be something of a relic, a bit cranky and worn but with plenty to say and no shyness about sharing his thoughts. Mellencamp casts himself as a cynic and a rogue in many of these songs, one with a certain charm and a plentiful amount of swagger, and his rasp more than suits the character, complementing the mournful, jazzy tone of "Gone Too Soon," the bitter cynicism of "I Always Lie to Strangers," and the fatalistic caution of "Streets of Galilee." Mellencamp can still rock when he feels like it, though his attack is lean and sharp like a razor, aiming to cut rather than pummel. One of the major selling points of Strictly a One-Eyed Jack is the appearance of Bruce Springsteen (one of the few heartland rock acts who clearly bested him) on three tracks, and while Springsteen is two years older, the grand irony is he brings a more youthful energy to his tracks with his incisive guitar work and vocals that show the passage of time while befitting the mind of a man determined to make the most of every day he has left. The rueful "Wasted Days," the album's first single, feels like a look at one of the characters from The Lonesome Jubilee 35 years down the road, and Mellencamp and Springsteen make the most of its sadness and introspection. But the real winner is "Did You Say Such a Thing," where Springsteen's wiry guitar and sly backing vocals goad Mellencamp into a cockiness that bridges the gap between the Enlightened Grouch and the Artist Formerly Known as Johnny Cougar. More than most artists of his commercial stature, John Mellencamp embodies the stubborn independence of an artist who unquestioningly follows his heart and his muse, and Strictly a One-Eyed Jack is the work of a man accepting the passage of time rather than fighting against it. As a songwriter and a performer, it's a gambit that works in his favor.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
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David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, AssociatedPerformer, 12-String Acoustic Guitar - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Fretless Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Merritt Lear, Violin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, Tambourine, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Accordion, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Banjo, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, 12-String Acoustic Guitar - Merritt Lear, Violin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Wanchic, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Hammond B3, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Troye Kinnett, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Electric Guitar, Harp, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Harmonica, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce Springsteen, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Merritt Lear, Violin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Merritt Lear, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Fretless Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joey Tartell, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce Springsteen, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Wanchic, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Accordion, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Merritt Lear, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Merritt Lear, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Organ, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Merritt Lear, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Wanchic, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Piano, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce Springsteen, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Accordion, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Stucker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
Album review
Through much of its history, rock & roll has walked hand in hand with youth culture, and most major artists have seemed wary of advancing age. Conventional wisdom has it that the greatest compliment you can pay a veteran musician is that they sure don't look or sound as old as they actually are, and that they still appear young at heart. Through much of his career, John Mellencamp has seemed ambivalent about rock stardom, so it makes a certain sense that from 2010's No Better Than This onward, he's been content to let his music reflect his time served on the planet. These days, he leans more to folk than the heartland rock that made him famous, and his vocals are steeped in audible grit caused by many years of smoking and even more time shouting out his songs. 2022's Strictly a One-Eyed Jack was released when Mellencamp was 70 years of age, and he seems proud to be something of a relic, a bit cranky and worn but with plenty to say and no shyness about sharing his thoughts. Mellencamp casts himself as a cynic and a rogue in many of these songs, one with a certain charm and a plentiful amount of swagger, and his rasp more than suits the character, complementing the mournful, jazzy tone of "Gone Too Soon," the bitter cynicism of "I Always Lie to Strangers," and the fatalistic caution of "Streets of Galilee." Mellencamp can still rock when he feels like it, though his attack is lean and sharp like a razor, aiming to cut rather than pummel. One of the major selling points of Strictly a One-Eyed Jack is the appearance of Bruce Springsteen (one of the few heartland rock acts who clearly bested him) on three tracks, and while Springsteen is two years older, the grand irony is he brings a more youthful energy to his tracks with his incisive guitar work and vocals that show the passage of time while befitting the mind of a man determined to make the most of every day he has left. The rueful "Wasted Days," the album's first single, feels like a look at one of the characters from The Lonesome Jubilee 35 years down the road, and Mellencamp and Springsteen make the most of its sadness and introspection. But the real winner is "Did You Say Such a Thing," where Springsteen's wiry guitar and sly backing vocals goad Mellencamp into a cockiness that bridges the gap between the Enlightened Grouch and the Artist Formerly Known as Johnny Cougar. More than most artists of his commercial stature, John Mellencamp embodies the stubborn independence of an artist who unquestioningly follows his heart and his muse, and Strictly a One-Eyed Jack is the work of a man accepting the passage of time rather than fighting against it. As a songwriter and a performer, it's a gambit that works in his favor.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:48:37
- Main artists: John Mellencamp
- Composer: John Mellencamp
- Label: Republic Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2021 John J. Mellencamp ℗ 2021 John J. Mellencamp
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