Trouble No More

John Mellencamp | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 3, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Columbia
• ASIN: B000094OU1
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,942 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cover Some More, July 9, 2003

By 

Jason Stein (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Trouble No More (Audio CD)

I have been a fan of Mellencamp since 1982, and I have never failed to buy every one of his cds since that time. I don't normally enjoy a full cd of covers, but Mellencamp may be the only artist who pulls it off. First, I consider myself to be an above average music buff, so the fact that he managed to find a set of songs that, prior to this recording, I had never heard makes this cd stand above other cover cds. I am tired of cover cds where you know all the songs by heart and there is no need to cover them. Second, Mellencamp stretches himself musically to incorporate blues, funk and folk--something he is known for, but this cd has more of a stripped down feel to it, like 1989's "Big Daddy", which gives the songs a raw and immediate feel. Most of the songs have themes covering depression, loss of a loved one, murder & mayhem, prostitution, shame, political corruption, subjects Mellencamp always presents convincingly and honestly. Once again, I have to say that corporate owned radio and music television will overlook this gem of a cd in favor of fluff, but to those of us who remember a time when music actually meant something, this cd is for you and Mellencamp fans like myself. "Stones In My Passway", "Death Letter", "Johnny Hart", "Teardrops Will Fall", "Diamond Joe", "Down In The Bottom" could all easily be hits, but they won't see the light of day. "To Washington" may not be popular among patriotic types and conservatives, but Mellencamp's only self-penned song captures the moronic state of our government officials. I'll take the music on this disc over pseudo-intellectual, money-grubbing, sex obsessed, angst ridden drivel you can find on your radio any time. If you are thirsty for some meaningful music with real instruments by a real artist pick up "Trouble No More".

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - stellar - essential - perfect album, June 21, 2003

By 

Glenn Fink (Arlington, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Trouble No More (Audio CD)

I have not been a particularly big fan of John Mellencamp over the years, though I never shut off the radio when his songs came on. But I have been a fan of old folk and blues artists stretching back to the beginning of recording in the early part of this century. I've loved rural artists like Blind Lemon Jefferson, Skip James, Charley Patton and Robert Johnson, and also liked the later electric artists such as Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf. For anyone who enjoys this genre, I would say buy this immediately. This album is one solid piece of work which I think any blues fan would enjoy. It's one of those that you put on repeat for hours and it's still fresh. I can already tell this will be one of my favorite albums of the year. John uses instruments that have that rural flavor to them as he turns in stunning renditions of song after song. As for the oft-heard criticisms of "To Washington" for John's daring to speak his mind in the USA in 2003 (a dangerous proposition for anyone), I say even if you're a die-hard fan of Bush, you'd only be doing yourself a disservice by ignoring this great album, which delves into the very history of american music, over the contents of one two minute song. This album should win a grammy.

After hearing this, I'm thinking it's time to go back and start listening to the albums tracks I've never heard from his mid 80's megahit albums. You just can't lose with this - don't waste any time, get it today.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Americana From Mr. Mellencamp, June 4, 2003

By 

Dirk Yarborough (Costa Mesa, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Trouble No More (Audio CD)

John Mellencamp is a favorite of mine. If you go back and listen to his recordings chronologically, you can hear the growth from a hard edged rock and roller to a singer/songwriter of depth and feeling. I knew that this release would be fitting, since John has been heading in this direction. He is after all a songwriter of Americana now, and this collection of roots music is fully him.

My favorite though, hands down, is his yearning 'The End of the World,' the old Skeeter Davis tear-jerker. His straight-forward and raw approach, sans even the song's beautiful harmony vocal, is just gorgeous and heart wrenching. The cd would be worth having just for that song alone, but there's another half dozen great songs here. If you're a fan of American Roots music, and not too big on John, you'll still find very much to enjoy here. If, like me, Mellencamp is an American Music staple, you'll love it.