Customer Reviews

Trouble No More

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

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".

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.

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.

Call it "Roots" or "Americana" or just great music. I would hope that any fan of real music knows these songs already (I have most of the origianal or earlier versions). JM makes them his own and adds plenty. The playing on the album is very fine and the production excellent. These songs make you proud to be an American and shows the wide range of music in our great land. From Woody to Hoagy, this is one fine album, a must for anyone who appreciates traditional roots music. Truly a celebration of the USA.

Wow, this guy has evolved tremendously over time. Who would have thought that the guy doing those catchy videos back in the eighties would become such an accomplished musician, mining musical gold from expert song-writing and authentically crafted songs?

I was not a true Mellencamp fan by any stretch of the imagination, but this one won me over big time.

Congrats to John for staying on task and becoming such an extraordinary, talented and multifaceted musician who deftly floats between genres with authority and uniqueness!

John Mellencamp has been quoted as saying that this CD could very well be his last...like many of today's classic artists, he no longer wants to deal with the hassles and/or expectations of major labels, nor can he justify spending three to six months in a studio, making an album "only ten people are going to buy." All I can say is, I sure hope this isn't true...on the strength of his latest release, the rootsy TROUBLE NO MORE, it's clear Mellencamp still has a lot to say and offer. This acoustically-based, tradition bound piece is rooted in the very sound that gave Mellencamp his start, yet the twelve cover songs (two with updated lyrics by the former Johnny Cougar) are treated to some modern twists and turns that make them seem fresh and contemporary, allowing the singer to make them his own. Opening up the disc is the mesmerizing "Stones In My Passway", one of the best tracks Mellencamp has ever recorded. With the staccato percussion and chugging guitar, "Stones..." jumps out and grabs you by the throat, never letting go. These are the blues, at their most hip-shaking, nastiest best! Man, I love this song! This track alone makes TROUBLE NO MORE worth your time! Son House's "Death Letter" goes on a tad bit too long for my tastes, but Mellencamp does nail the song with an absolutely authoritative lead vocal. The minimal instrumentation is also nice...it proves you can have a full, rich musical body without getting "busy" (a curse of much of today's music). "Johnny Hart" has a joyous, back porch quality to it, while "Baltimore Oriole" rolls along in a hushed, hypnotic vein. The track also succeeds in showcasing what a strong, albeit underrated, singer Mellencamp is. He comes across here as powerful and in charge of the material...without ever raising his voice. Yet things remain nicely nuanced. Brilliant! Next up is "Teardrops Will Fall", the first single. Though it's the most commercial (and, in many ways, produced) cut on TNM, it fits right in. And that says a lot about Mellencamp's importance...that a track that could fit on SCARCROW or THE LONESOME JUBILEE is just as viable almost twenty years later. "Diamond Joe" is a little too hyper for me, but it seques beautifully into Mellencamp's starkly delicate version of Skeeter Davis' 1963 hit "The End Of The World." I don't think anyone could have guessed that, 30 years after the fact, a male rocker would come along , take this song by a female country and western songstress and make it his own. When Mellencamp sings "I wake up in the morning/And I wonder/Why everything's the same as it was/I can't understand/No, I can't understand/How life goes on/The way it does" we feel his pain and uncertainty. "Down In The Bottom" initially finds the singer in a snarling, dark mood...then the jams kick out and the track takes off in a totally different direction. A true rave-up, the song combines elements of country, blues and rockabilly, resulting in a real winner. "Lafayette" has a sweet, sad groove to it, with a twangy female harmony vocal that rounds the song out in a full bodied way. You truly feel like you're sitting on a houseboat in the delta, fishing pole over the side and the fireflies dancing around you! "Joliet Bound" is another toe-tapper that perfectly captures the core of this release: celebrating our musical heritage and acknowledging just how much it has influenced our current sounds and tastes.And then there's "John The Revelator", one of my other favorite tracks on TNM. A gospel-drenched hellraiser, Mellencamp is in fine voice, as are back-up singers Pat Peterson and Courtney Kaiser, each of whom get a powerhouse moment in the spotlight. There is so much force and power in this track that it leaves you weak in the knees! Things could have ended right here and everything would have been just fine, but Mellencamp once again tweaks things with an updated version of "To Washington", a blues song that has been used to address politicians as far back as Calvin Coolidge by the likes of the Carter Family and Woody Gutherie. This time around Mellencamp takes straight aim at George Dubya and lets the barbs fly! Radio was quick to bury the cut upon it's pre-TNM release, what with the Dixie Chicks fiasco and all, but you have to give John Mellencamp credit...he had something on his mind, and "To Washington", along with TROUBLE NO MORE as a whole, was the best way to express it. Here's hoping this isn't the last time he finds the need for such expression, be it in cover tunes or (hopefully!) original material.

This is my first John Mellencamp cd. I love this one. If you like bluesy/folksy music this cd delivers! I am now a new fan of John's music. I hope he gives us more music just like this. I love Lafayette with Lucinda Williams. She is one of my favorite artists and they sounded super together. Keep up the good work, John!

I have been a fan of John Mellencamp's music and person for 25 years. Possibly a little biased but, the truth said, This is John's best record since Lonesome Jubilee. It has a signature Mellencamp flare wrapped around these stunning song interpretations. Always surrounded by remarkable musicians, he manages with precision to find the core of the songs energy and message to make it timeless in theme and in sound. I think that this is absolutely a standout possibility for John Mellencamp to win a Grammy (or two) for Best Contemporary Folk Album and Possibly, Rock Vocal (Male). This Cd also may quite possibly be the best vocals of his entire career which has had an almost perfect record along the way. Thanks John and Band. This is a great album.

Following a series of disappointing albums, Mr Mellencamp releases an album I want to listen to more than a few times. Along with "Big Daddy" this is one of his career hi-lites. It is a real shame he did not do a small scale tour featuring this material. If anyone is not familiar with most of the original songs I urge them to investigate the original artists such as Son House. If your stictly a fan of radio friendly Mellencamp avoid this release. However, if you find merit in the less commercial and authentic side of Mellencamp, you'll enjoy.

This CD is by far one of the best CD's I've ever purchased. John and his band are superb. This is a feel good album - every one of the songs. You won't regret this purchase! Great rhythm, lyrics........... These guys/gals are talented!