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Album Review: John Mellencamp, "Freedom's Road" (Universal/Republic)
Patriotism and love for America have always informed John Mellencamp 's music and progressive politics. His new set, "Freedom's Road," is his most unabashedly American album yet.
Of course, there's nothing as powerful as "Scarecrow" or "Pink Houses" here, but "Freedom's Road" does contain some potent explorations into poverty, racism and jingoism. His duet with legendary protest singer Joan Baez on the impressive "Jim Crow" is as affecting as Mellencamp's "Jackie Brown." It's a clear standout. Elsewhere, Mellencamp offers a quiet sermon with "Rural Route," a haunting tune that gallops along at an intensifying pace.
But this is not the old-school John Mellencamp. Not by a long shot. "The Americans" is a glossed-over, ready-for-a-truck-commercial anthem. Its chorus is grueling. Sings Mellencamp, "I'm an American/And I respect you/For your point of view." Come on. Thankfully most of "Freedom's Road" is a better written than that clumsy line--except for that other ready-for-a-truck-commercial track, "Our Country," already featured in a GM truck commercial, naturally.
While "Freedom's Road" doesn't come close to the powerful Americana Indiana's favorite son has delivered in the past, it does provide enough firepower to remind fans that John Mellencamp still has something important to say--even if it sounds a little cheesy some of the time.
