I like and respect John. I especially admire that he actually went to Walter Reed to spend time with the folks there. But he really needs to focus on writing a song with a strong melody. Something he really hasn’t done (With the exception of Our Country) for a number of years. The new album is bland folk.
He was also an Edwards supporter which isn’t saying much these days.
Peace.

the new album was John’s best in years, I’d have to say. Out Bruce’d Bruce, if I do say so myself.

Mellencamp’s new album is better than Bruce’s “Magic,” and so was last year’s “Freedom’s Road” for that matter. Mellencamp will never get the credit he deserves and will always live in Springsteen’s shadow, even though Mellencamp has put out more good music over the past 25 years than Bruce.

If you want a strong melody from Mellencamp’s new album, try “Longest Days,” “John Cockers,” “Troubled Land,” and “Mean” to name just a few.

oh boy..I’m gonna vote for Obama cuz John and Oprah told me so…idiots.

So Jesse, because he’s a celebrity he’s not allowed to support a candidate and have an opinion? Oh but we have to listen to yours???? You’re the idiot.

Two rock stars help each other out!

He and Bruce need to stop trying to be Woody Guthrie. He’s been dead for over 40 years. It was a different era when true injustices really existed.
Mellencamp’s heyday was “American Fool”, “Uh-Huh” and “Scarecrow”. after that quality of songs began to drop because John believed his own press that his words were really important and he put more importance on lyrics than music.
(Roger Waters has the same problem)

John, Bruce and all celebrities have a right to their politcal opinions they just don’t need to vomit them all over the rest of us.

I would disagree that Freedoms Road was as good as Magic, in fact I would put that one at the bottom of the JCM catalog. The new one is a very good record but I don’t play it too much. Magic on the other hand just keeps getting better (and more spins).

Ps – JCM’s self titled record from 1999 is his best since Big Daddy

I agree with Muzikman.

It’s OK to have your political views (yes, you, too, Rolling Stone), but barfing them all over us day in, day out is ridiculous. As if these celebrities don’t think we are intelligent enough to view facts, do our research and make up our own minds about politics and issues. It’s odd, being that most celebrities didn’t even finish high school, yet they supposedly are so much more intelligent and worldly than the rest of us in society.

And why are those who oppose Obama called racists and bigots? It has nothing to do with race. Before you call someone a racist, maybe you should look into their record collections, movie libraries and the books they own. I get tired of the race card being thrown around. Just because a person isn’t an Obama fan, that doens’t make him or her a racist.

P.S. I never thought Mellencamp’s music to be that important as, say, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Who, The Stones, etc. I appreciate his campaigns to help farmers, but how are Bush/McCain killing small towns and Obama is helping small towns?

John is great, but to say his new stuff is better than Bruce Springsteen’s Magic is pretty far out. I thought Magic was one of the greatest albums this decade.

That about sums it up perfectly! People can and should think for themselves. Hoping Rollingstone’s subcriptions are going way down with their constant one sided political coverage.

I heard John Mellencamp singing Obama’s praises today. I have always been a big fan, but his ad is so very unfair. I am certain that the U.S. House and Senate were for the last 2 years(and are now) controlled by Obama’s Party, but somehow it is all the republicans fault. I am tired of entertainers using the prominent and highly visable positions that we the fans have elevated them to, to lecture and preach their political doctrine, be it republican or democrat, to us! To all the entertainers, come on down off you iveroy towers and do something funny, make me laugh…sing me a song…