John Mellencamp Orpheus Descending (Republic)

John Mellencamp releases his 25^th studio album. The Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer coming off a previous album that, depending who you talk, to was either a triumph or a disaster.

That album was 2022’s Strictly A One-Eyed Jack and it found the former Johnny Cougar ranting about the State of the Union.

A year later and not much has changed.

Mellencamp’s voice has grown raspier with each year passed and each cigarette smoked, but deep down you know he’s still in there, the self-proclaimed “Little Bastard”.

We start this set out with what sounds like the crack of a whip, a stinging guitar and a tune titled Hey God.

“Weapons and guns, are they really my rights?” Mellencamp asks in that well-worn voice.

Of course we know the answer because part of the problem is that he’s preaching to the converted.

JM also takes on issues such as homelessness, mental illness and more about gun control. I’m right with him on all counts, but I must say I find this all a bit tiresome.

And by the time we get to track nine, Lightning And Luck, it sounds like John has too, as he sings, ‘the rights we thought we had are all gone, But no one seemed to notice or care, They lost ’em all in a deal somewhere’.

Pretty bleak.

Music-wise, things are better. Andy York serves as guitarist, bass player and musical director adding some much-needed energy to the otherwise whinging Mellencamp. And long-serving violinist Lisa Germano is on hand to make these tunes shine a little brighter.

But by the time we get to album closer Backbone, our man John hasn’t found much of a silver lining in the dark cloud that hangs over Orpheus Descending. Instead he’s still haunted by corruption, lies and hatred.

 “I hope I’ve learned something, probably nothing at all. And that’s about as good as one’s life can get”.

It seems that, like the Greek musician and prophet who is this album’s title character, John Mellencamp has visited the Underworld, but unlike Orpheus, he hasn’t returned.

⭐⭐⭐

Marty Duda

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