Cuttin' Heads

John Mellencamp | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 16, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005OWEI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MiniDisc  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,876 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

You pretty much know what to expect from a John Mellencamp album at this point in time, and Cuttin' Heads certainly won't disappoint the Midwest rock troubadour's diehard fans. In fact, Mellencamp's 18th album is arguably his most engaging, and coincidentally timely, since 1989's Big Daddy. "Peaceful World," a beautiful folk-rocker featuring guest vocalist India Arie, takes on a more poignant and ironic tone in light of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Public Enemy's Chuck D contributes a fabulous rap on the opening title track, which, like "Peaceful World," addresses American racism. Elsewhere, Mellencamp offers up typical fare, including several love tunes (Trisha Yearwood duets on "Deep Blue Heart"), the calypso-like "Crazy Island," and a lyric on "Women Seem" that's ornery enough to still merit the Little Bastard nickname he once gave himself. It's not Scarecrow, but it's still a fine effort. --Bill Holdship

Product Description

Out of print in the U.S.! American Rock icon and Rock 'N' Roll survivor, John Mellencamp has been creating some of the finest roots-based Rock music for over 30 years. This 2001 album is no exception. 10 tracks. Sony/BMG. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep Blue Heart, October 27, 2001

By 

Jason Stein (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cuttin' Heads (Audio CD)

As Mellencamp has aged his music has become more experimental and relaxed, and on "Cuttin' Heads" he continues to evolve in this manner. The opening track, dealing with interracial relationships, is your typical Mellencamp song except this time employing rapper Chuck D. from Public Enemy to do an intelligent rap at the end of the song. The rhytm is purely hip hop country in true Mellencamp style. He mixes black and white music with politics and it turns out nicely. Who can't help but repeat the line "Lay low proud Poppi"? and "Shout It Out". This moves right into the best song on the cd "Peaceful World". A very catchy harmony and chorus of "Come on baby take a ride with me, I'm up from Indiana down to Tennessee, Everything is cool as can be in a peaceful world". Again, a song about racism, well thought out and with the added bonus of India.Arie's vocals and harmonies. "Deep Blue Heart" is unusual for Mellencamp in that this sounds like a ballad, and to my knowledge of 1982's "American Fool" to 1998's "John Mellencamp", he has never really done a straight ahead ballad. This, too, is well crafted, with the help of Trisha Yearwood. At this point in the cd it seems clear that Mellencamp is using a more r&b, soulful sound than on previous records but then you have "Crazy Island", a nice jab at Americans and our egocentric take on the world. "Just Like You" is a sharp, poignant love song about relying on your partner (or whomever) from time to time to bring some happiness and hope into your life. It's side two that things change a bit, and not necessarily for the better..."The Same Way I Do" is rather forgettable but the humor and narcissism of "Women Seem" is interesting and catchy, and then something new comes along like "Worn Out Nervous Condition" which does not strike me as your typical Mellencamp song, and in fact, he alters his voice here to nice effect I think. My least favorite track is "Shy". What was Mellencamp thinking??? At fifty you don't sing a song that has a chorus, "Sexually I'm Shy Shy Shy" even if he's pretending to look through the eyes of a teenage boy, it still doesn't gel and using a reggae beat doesn't quite work for Mellencamp. "In Our Lives" is a nice closing epitaph and summary about there being no right way to live your life and how Mellencamp comments on his own behavior and feelings about his world right now. So, another solid entry from Mellencamp who, in my humble opinion, has far outshined comparisons to Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan as a talent.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Destined to become an essential recording, October 17, 2001

By 

NappyGirl (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cuttin' Heads (Audio CD)

Aside from the eerie photo of JCM that graces the cover of CUTTIN' HEADS, this is his best CD in years. Mellencamp's trademark Americana sound still resonates in these tracks but 50 year old Mellencamp isn't afraid to stripdown and focus instead his own lyric-driven sensibilities. The result is a refreshingly mature sound that is bound to win JCM new fans without alienating die-hards. A true message that doesn't have to beat the listener over the head to get his point across, tracks like "Cuttin Heads" and "Peaceful World" are sobering and timely (especially in the aftermath of the Sept 11 disaster.) I bought this disk yesterday and have been listening to it non-stop. Best tracks: "Peaceful World," "Deep Blue Heart," "Women Seem," and "Cuttin Heads."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about people, it's about emotions, October 16, 2001

By 

R. Deckard (Copenhagen) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cuttin' Heads (Audio CD)

John Mellencamp is not only one of America's richest and most rewarding artists, but a true and unabashed voice of the normal man or woman alive today - not only from and about the beating heartland.

Be it the working man or the intellectual, the lonely mother or the estranged victim of racism. Hell, be it the struggling rich rock star (yes, himself, all tongue in cheek but barebones honest too), Mellencamp's songs are first and foremost about people. Human beings.

This grit and soul coupled with his almost criminally addictive pop and rock sensibilities rooted in his own characteristic country sound make almost all his songs and albums essential listening.

Cuttin' Heads at first seems maybe only catchy, raw and playful like Dance Naked (1999) was and not up to the plush standard of his masterful and more evocative gems; Scarecrow (1985), Lonesome Jubilee (1987), Big Daddy (1989) and Human Wheels (1993), but don't be fooled.

Listen closer and the songs will unfold themselves. It's actually a melting pot: he successfully takes echoes of the trance hip-hop and Latin influences he toyed with on Mr. Happy Go Lucky (1996) and mixes it with the wise and reflective gentlemen rock of his overlooked self-titled John Mellencamp (1998) album from three years ago.

Chuck D. (Public Enemy) pops up in a muscular performance on the title track and the absolutely wonderful Peaceful World takes it's deserved place among the most immaculate of Mellencamp's songs (yes, right by Pink Houses and Jack And Diane). As does Women Seem - a great song about the 'little' difference between the sexes (if there ever was one) and it's also a very self-aware joke of his former life style. Bravo.

Crazy Island (yup, that's America) talks of "mysteries in your mansions and good fortunes in your plans" and goes on to state "you're well-respected, we all know, now let's check on your children.." In these times it's haunting. To say the least.

Cuttin' Heads is warm, intelligent and fuzzy rock. Right from the bottle.

While once on a sold-out European tour in 1992, Mellencamp was asked how he could relate to an audience so far from home when he's obviously such an American artist. The camera-shy (read: camera-annoyed) John looked up and said firmly: "Well, see, I write about emotions and they're universal. And I love creation."

Just like Bob Dylan (on 2001's Love & Theft), Mellencamp is at a place where the joy of creation and raising your voice can be both racy, provocative and thoughful - simply for the one reason of being able to be just that and wanting to share it.

And 'now more than ever' - as he once sang himself.

Highly recommended.