Music Worth Buying Week of 08/04/08

Life Death Love And Freedom

Artist: John Mellencamp

You will be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Rock, Blues, Old School Country, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Early Roots Music, Electric Folk

Worth buying? Yes, the whole album!

Tell me more: Sometimes, when an artist stops being concerned with releasing a hit, it becomes the time  when they create some of their greatest music.  For years I have only known John Mellencamp by his hits. I have never really bought or listened to any of his any of his albums.  So that opening statement may not be a fair one, but as I listened to this album, I couldn't help but feel that he doesn't care one bit anymore if he ever has a hit song again or not. John Mellencamp's latest CD is an astonishingly powerful music al statement about.......Well, life, death, love, and freedom. The title pretty much sums up what the album is about. There is a haunting sparseness to the sound of this album that just echos in your head long after you've listened to it. Like I said in the beginning, I knew his hits, but I wasn't really a fan....But with this album I have become one.

What about the packaging: The CD comes in a digipak with a nice lyrics booklet that is easy to read. What is really unique is that it also comes with a DVD version of the album that boasts a quality that is nearly indistinguishable from the master tapes. This DVD version can be played on your computer or DVD player and is a real plus for you audiophiles

Listen to the album and buy in mp3 format here

CD Version (Includes bonus DVD)

What if I am not ready to buy the whole CD? Try buying  Don't Need This Body (A song about a man accepting the end of his life).