Life Death Love and Freedom

As if any further proof were needed, the man is a musical genius. The depth of both the lyrics and the music are stunning. It's a captivating collection that leaves me feeling that he both captured my own thoughts in music, and also gave me something new to ponder. A result I suspect was intentional.

If you are a long time Mellencamp listener, you will find it his deepest, most soul-touching work ever. If he's new to you - you should find yourself going back and exploring his earlier work. This CD has been called "dark" by many - I call it "real". He has captured mankind's soul and paired it with his ever amazing ability to write melodies that are infectious.

Mellencamp romanced the masses with incredible songs that were upbeat and "for everybody" in earlier years. And, while he certainly could, is not one to rest on his laurels by simply replicating his own work just to sell a record and please the mainstream listener.

A Buffalo, New York critic wrote "Mellencamp's swagger is intact". Perfect. Like a great movie, book, or painting, there is something new to discover each time you listen to this CD. With this body of work he has proven himself a master, and silenced those who questioned his deserving a place in the Rock Hall Of Fame. He has demonstrated how truly overdue that recognition was.

Thankfully, he is an artist who has never been afraid to trust his own instincts and stick his tongue out at those who just didn't "get it".

From both the sheer number of reviews and the wide range of reactions to Life Death Love and Freedom it is clear that John Mellencamp has successfully roused his fan base. I have been a sometimey Mellencamp fan since he was billed as John Cougar yet never did I imagine that he had a record with such emotional depth bottled inside just begging for release.
I had read the hype about CODE and Mellencamp's collaboration with T Bone Burnett prior to LDL&F's release, but because of the mixed quality of his last few releases I didn't buy it until I saw it at an excellent price in a favorite music store. The first time I played it through, I was floored! This is an album that not only is wonderfully bleak, it is very nearly perfect.
Recently, a reviewer of another album complained that today's releases contain too much filler. Well, there is no filler here. I even like the lone upbeat song My Sweet Love and the obligatorily politically correct Jena! Here are the songs I think make this album one of the best of 2008: If I Die Sudden, Troubled Land, John Cockers, Don't Need This Body, A Ride Back Home, Without A Shot, County Fair and A Brand New Song. I think that the best lyrics are those written from a dark perspective. Any dolt can write happy-sappy songs. It takes a real thinker to write songs like these. Those who are uncomfortable listening to realistic and gritty songs like the ones on this CD should stick with swabs like George Michael or the Jonas Brothers.
I understand that those who cut their teeth on Mellencamp's more commercial outings may be taken aback by this. But no artist worthy of the name will continue cranking out the same old tired sounds. They challenge their fans with something new. That Mellencamp has greatly matured is apparent. Those who are open minded will join him.
The CD comes with a DVD that is for listening only as there is really nothing to watch. It is also accompanied by a useful booklet containing album notes and the all-important lyrics. If you are a sometimey Mellencamp fan like myself, then know that LDL&F is his "desert island" disc. If you like Dave Alvin, Nick Cave, and James McMurtry then you are just gonna love this!

This albun takes a total reversal to almost all of his previous works. Definetly one to purchase!

What happened here?? Every song is very sober and mellow.....nothing wrong with that, but what happened to John's ROCK !!?? And his incredibly brilliant fiddle player missing!!???? No way!!!!! I grew up in Bloomington, Indiana with this incredible artist!!! I expect more!!!!

John Mellencamp has been in the music industry over 30 years, and on this, his 23rd studio album, he mostly zeroes in on what it's like to age (Mellencamp is 56 now), and death.

"Life Death Love and Freedom" (14 tracks; 50 min.) is as far away from his early/mid-1980s heyday as a mainstream hit-making artist as he's ever recorded before. Once cannot miss the almost constant focus in the songs on getting older and death. "If I die sudden/Don't tell anyone/There ain't nobody needs to know" laments Mellencamp on "If I Die Sudden". And "This getting older/Ain't for cowards/This getting older/Is a lot to go through" he croons on "Don't Need This Body". The production by T-Bone Burnett is exquisite (although not as pervasive as on the outstanding Robert Plant/Alison Krauss album). Be aware: there are no sing-along songs here at all (just to give you an idea: drums are featured on only 6 of the 14 tracks).

In all, while this is certainly not a bad album, this is generally a downbeat listen throughout, making me wonder what makes Mellencamp get up in the morning... I saw Mellencamp in July on his current tour, and not surprisingly he didn't play a lot of these songs, 3 or 4 in a solo-setting with just acoustic guitar midway through his set, which absolutely killed the fun vibe of the show.