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16  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Plain Spoken Reviews on: September 23, 2014, 10:56:17 pm
I am shocked this album isn't getting higher reviews as of now.

3.5 stars from allmusic.com, thats lower than Cuttin Heads and No Better Than This.

3.5 stars from Rolling Stone... tired of Rolling Stone giving every album he makes a 3.5 (the last 3 have all been 3.5). Rolling Stone doesn't even offer anything more than a generic review on the album. This is the same Rolling Stone that just gave U2's (very weak) new album a 5.

6/10 from TeamRock.com.
http://www.teamrock.com/reviews/2014-09-23/john-mellencamp-plain-spoken
This one really irritates me because of what is said in the review:
"He addresses social issues, as is his wont. He’s been paying attention to the news. Less universal perhaps is a dig at digital downloading as theft, but this self-regarding sidestep is redeemed by the touching Blue Charlotte, written from the perspective of a man watching his wife dying. Sometimes There’s God cleverly straddles the divide between religious faith and scepticism (it’s all in the “sometimes”), while Tears In Vain – relatively candidly – deals with his own acrimonious 2011 divorce after eighteen years of marriage. If all these lyrical themes are highlighted, it’s because the music is very stripped-down and slightly ho-hum, operating primarily in the area of acoustic folk-blues, with “earthy” guitars, fiddles and harmonica. Mumford alert!"

Really?!?! John copying Mumford and Sons, John invented that sound!!!!

There's a few other reviews I have found that say the lyrics are weak.

I just found it all a bit strange, this album is definitely a 5 out of 5 in my books and one of Mellencamp's best.

Right now Sometimes There's God, The Isolation of Mister, and The Company of Cowards are my favorites. I am so glad John really let his band and his melodies shine on this album, which was missing on the previous few albums. NBTT was strong regardless but Plain Spoken is on another level.
17  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Troubled Man on: August 18, 2014, 11:49:58 pm
Whats everyones opinion of the new single "Troubled Man" for the upcoming album.

I like the strong presence of Sturm's violin throughout the song, she has been missing from the past few albums, making only a few appearances. I really think she is the driving force behind the band's unique sound. Unlike NBTT and LDLF in which Mellencamp really changed his style of music, I hear a lot of the bands old sound in this song. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the rest of the album has the same vibe.

On the negative the song is a tad slow but it is lyrically strong and personal which make it enjoyable. I think we are going to see an album much like Big Daddy considering Mellencamp's family troubles over the past 4 years. That should be a good thing. No artist puts out his best work when life is perfect.

18  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / He's Back - 2014 will be huge on: December 07, 2013, 12:53:06 am
http://m.rollingstone.com/music/news/john-mellencamp-hard-at-work-on-new-album-eyes-massive-2014-tour-20131206
19  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Re: John and Meg Buy Paint in NYC on: September 08, 2013, 12:26:49 am
These pictures are gross lol. Ugly ugly couple. They are happy though so thats good. Can't wait for some new music! Bring in 2014 and a new album.
20  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Re: Hud and Speck in the news. on: August 20, 2013, 12:38:02 am
"That's okay I knew this would happen
But I was hoping not today"
21  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Re: New Album -- JM Starts Recording This Fall! on: June 17, 2013, 01:19:03 am
I would have to agree, nothing against T-Bone but I'd prefer he do this album without him. More Mike Wanchic Please!!! I think he had a lot of influence on Freedoms Road and that was an awesome album.
22  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Re: Ghost Brothers of Darkland County CD on: June 13, 2013, 12:41:43 am
So cool that Andy co-wrote that song... I now like it that much more! It seems like writing songs for other people and characters really freed up John's creative writing process. Hope he uses this approach on the new album.
23  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Re: Things John says on: June 13, 2013, 12:35:45 am
The last post creeps me out. Embarrassed
24  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Ghost Brothers of Darkland County CD on: June 12, 2013, 11:27:23 pm
Not too much talk here about the music for Ghost Brothers. Which is a shame, John wrote all of these songs so its surprising no one is all that excited.

I think John wrote some of the best songs of his career, lyrics are fantastic. My favorite songs are:

That s Who I Am (Performed by Neko Case)
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong About Me (Performed by Elvis Costello)
Brotherly Love (Performed by Ryan Bingham, Will Dailey)
How Many Days (Performed by Kris Kristofferson)
You Are Blind (Performed by Ryan Bingham)
Away From This World (Performed by Sheryl Crow)
Truth by John Mellencamp - although there's not enough John for my liking in the song

I would love to see John perform any of these works of art. Anybody else have any songs they really like?
25  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Re: Things John says on: June 12, 2013, 11:14:59 pm
I love that he has a black eye right now by a punch from his son. They don't call him the little bastard for nothing. He's just like Bob Dylan when you interview him he just wants to contradict everything you say. But in all honestly it's this crazy rebellious/unstable side of him that also fuels his creativity.

Just gotta let John be John no matter how destructive it is.
26  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Re: JM Rarities on: October 07, 2012, 03:55:14 pm
Thank you Walktall, I can't believe I am just now listening to Never Too Old for the first time. What an amazing song!
27  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Re: Some JM-related thoughts on: October 02, 2012, 10:58:53 pm
This thread has put a smile on my face. I quit posting on these boards when everything was about Johns personal life. I just listened to the two unreleased songs from John's self titled 1998 album and they were amazing. Thank you so much Walktall. I love finding bootlegs and it always amazes me the great stuff you will find. Which is part of the reason I have become Bob Dylan obsessed lately, that man has so many great unreleased/live songs that I can explore for years. I really wish John did more of this, you would think he would when you consider how much he idolizes Dylan. Walktall I feel like you have more treasures that I might enjoy and I was wondering if you have more stuff on sendspace?

28  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Re: Mellencamp's Poetic Tribute to Woody Guthrie on: July 12, 2012, 12:11:49 am
Great poem, good post! Thanks for this.
29  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / New Topic New Music on: July 08, 2012, 01:04:32 am
Hey folks, its been awhile since I've posted anything but it seems like things are getting quite stale. Anyone want to take any guesses when John will release his next album. Believe it or not its already been 2 years since the last one, WOW! Any sound you want to hear him go back to? Personally I am hoping we get a new album in the next year and half. I love the way he sounded on NBTT but I would like to hear the band "sound" again, especially the violin. I think a mix of Freedoms Road, Nothing Better Than This, and the self titled "John Mellencamp" would be perfect. Maybe going to a Bob Dylan "Love and Theft" sound would be awesome too. Anyways just felt like posting something different and rambling a bit.
30  MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION / All About John / Re: TOO FUNNY on: July 08, 2012, 12:51:23 am
Gee Gee no one is even talking about banning you. Your free to say whatever you want. Relax! Wooooosah...
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