Mellencamp Outdoes Springsteen... - Bloomberg CD Reviews

The man once known as Johnny Cougar has spent his career trying to get serious while fending off negative comparisons with Bruce Springsteen.

At the age of 58, John Mellencamp -- as he prefers to be known -- has at last succeeded in surpassing the Boss with his new album, “No Better Than This.” The CD, produced by T-Bone Burnett, features tunes like the folkie opener, “Save Some Time to Dream,” that could have been written decades ago: Mellencamp makes a virtue of this.

He recorded in vintage locations: Sun Studios, Memphis (with a vintage single microphone and the floor plan used by Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash); in the hotel room where Robert Johnson cut some tracks in 1936; and in a Baptist church.

The material is so good that Mellencamp rises above gimmickry. Numbers such as “Right Behind Me” recall his peaks like “Hurts So Good” and “Jack and Diane.” Springsteen’s blue-collar rock faces stiff rivalry at last. Rating: ***...

(3 out of 4 stars)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-23/mellencamp-outdoes-springsteen-klaxons-get-lost-eels-relates-cd-reviews.html