If I like an the music of an artist and am a fan, I'll buy the album but if I'm not necessarily a fan but like some of the music of that artist, I'll buy individual songs.  Apple's iTunes philosophy on selling albums and individual songs does make sense.  Artists like AC/DC shouldn't have fought against that.  They'd still have made their money.  It's certainly better for the music industry and the artists than Napster.  I don't think there's an argument against that.




Mike

With the Life Death, Love & Freedom, No Better Than This and Plain Spoken albums, John has put out the best music of his career.  Lyrically and musically there's a rich and soulful sound.  There is so much emotion.  Emotion we all feel.  In some ways John is the Bob Dylan/Pete Seeger/Woody Guthrie of the 21st century.  That's quite an achievement.  John at 63 is still the angry rebel he was as a young Johnny Cougar.  He just grew up.

Each on of the last 3 albums is fantastic.  They all have something special about them.




Mike   

I believe he broke his baby finger and mentioned it in an interview.




Mike

Critics don't always get it because they don't connect to the artist or the music.  The critics may complain that John doesn't put out rock records anymore as do some of John's fans.  Who cares?  I am enjoying the Plain Spoken album the same way I enjoyed (and still do) John's Lonesome Jubilee, Scarecrow, Uh Huh, etc.  To those critics and fans, I say, do the same.



Mike   

The Isolation Of Mister, Blue Charlotte, Troubled Man, The Company Of Cowards and The Brass Ring are on my top play list.  Every song on this record is terrific though.  When I play the Plain Spoken, I play it in its entirety.




Mike

The music industry and fans will continue to identify John Mellencamp, the young man, the rock star with those familiar hits, Jack And Dian, Hurts So Good, Pink Houses but those days of having hits are golden and gone.  John is making records now that have a meaning, that reflect on life, love, loss, loneliness, etc.  Is there some of that "rock star" still in John?  There sure is.  You can't completely shed your past life and that's the thing, those hits came out what seems a lifetime ago.  Whenever I hear Pink Houses or Check It Out, it takes me back to that time in my life when I first heard it.  Those hits will always remain in our memories and I'm sure John feels the same way.  Even if the arrangement is changed on the hits, we'll still connect to the meaning of words.




Mike   

I believe John did say in an interview that Meg took the photo and it was in Italy.




Mike

That is a great story!  I enjoyed reading it.  Thanks for sharing!




Mike

John sure doesn't mince words.  Some people don't like that kind of directness but it's the truth.  John is Plain Spoken and 100% correct on this subject.




Mike

I really like the gruffness of his voice.  It doesn't sound forced, or strained.  It's quite natural.  It blends perfectly with the subtleness of the music.




Mike

Yeah, well said!  Hopefully more people on this forum will put reviews up on all these online stores and also post them here.




Mike

With John's lifetime recording contract, we might very well be treated to some unreleased music that otherwise would never have seen the light of day.  I'm hopeful anyway.




Mike

There's a theme sadness, darkness and anger in John's voice and lyrics on Plain Spoken.  That's what I love about the album.  We've all felt and feel that in our lives.

I agree with what Jed Gottlieb says about John's melodies in the 80s.





Mike 

Another excellent interview.  I liked the part where John say he's still an angry, an angry old man. 




Mike

Excellent interview.  John doesn't mince words.  He tells it like it is.  He's a "Plain Spoken" guy.  he is so right about what has happened to the music industry.



Mike