John Mellencamp has become a real-life-America craftsman. His songs tell tales, whether real or not, and people just latch onto them. Better yet, Mellencamp is able to take these songs and add a hook that makes them even more user friendly. After eighteen albums, he has seemingly peaked, but that isn’t stopping him as he finds new battles on Cuttin’ Heads.
The first single, “Peaceful World”, opens wonderfully with that now easily distinguishable hook and carries the song atop a high throughout. It’s Mellencamp at his best. Trisha Yearwood helps him along on the Nashville-tinged “Deep Blue Heart”.
“Crazy Island” seems to be a tribute to America, in some odd, obscure way. “Women Seem” is a tribute to women. It’s how they can make a guy feel like a million dollars with just a word, and then they can break you with just one touch. “Shy” is another song to the ladies, but this one is really off the hinge and flat, or just plain bad.
The anti-racism song “Cuttin’ Heads” finds Mellencamp and Chuck D. fighting the good fight. Chuck D. is his amazing self as he poignantly talks about the overuse of the word nigger and how wrong it is that such a destructive word has become popular culture. Wonderful is the female chorus singing, “Don’t call me nigga ’cause you know I don’t like it like that.” Strong, and compelling.
+ rae gun
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