by Brian D. Holland.

Freedom’s Road, John Mellencamp’s first studio release in over four years, doesn’t deliver anything surprisingly ground-breaking or profoundly different than his past material. Some may even see it as a rehash of everything he’s already done. Moreover, patriotic lyricism is wearing itself thin these days. If you’ve never been a fan of his music, chances are, this album isn’t going to make you turn around.

However, longtime fans of his familiar gruff voice, rockin’ guitar riffs, and solid percussive rhythms will enjoy the album immensely. Freedom’s Road is ten songs and a trailing bonus track of what fans have come to expect from the Indiana born and bred classic rock icon. After all, more than a dozen successful albums in a row is neither mistake nor chance, and catchy tunes that average Americans can relate to have always been Mellencamp’s key to triumph.

Though much of the album’s guitar work recalls gorgeous Fender tone with just the right amount of brusque overdrive, a superb spring reverb resonance as well, it’s a resounding Rickenbacker 12-string bell tone that comes to mind in the album’s opener, ‘Someday’. Guitarists Mike Wanchic (Mellencamp guitarist for over thirty years) and Andy York (Mellencamp, Nils Lofgren, Ian Hunter) are superb throughout, adding dual reverberated melody as well as sonic depth and dimension to each song.

The album isn’t lacking when it comes to catchy tunes and steady rocking rhythms. ‘Someday’, ‘Ghost Towns Along The Highway’, ‘Forgiveness’, ‘Freedom’s Road’, ‘Our Country’, and ‘My Aeroplane’ possess that Mellencamp drive. My personal favorite, ‘The Americans’ is no exception. Although a couple of the others are getting more airplay at this point in time, I think this rocker may be up there as one of his best ever. Joan Baez adds pleasant vocal significance to protester ‘Jim Crow’. The album’s lyrical content of patriotism and protest is pensive and genuine.

Solid rocking rhythms, tight instrumentation, appealing melodies, and a theme of American idealism all come together to make Freedom’s Road a significant release. But that’s nothing new for John Mellencamp. His recipe for composition and production has been pleasing fans for almost 30 years now.

Freedom’s Road Track Listing
1. Someday
2. Ghost Towns Along The Highway
3. The Americans
4. Forgiveness
5. Freedom’s Road
6. Jim Crow
7. Our Country
8. Rural Route
9. My Aeroplane
10. Heaven Is A Lonely Place/Rodeo Clown

Universal Republic 2007

Credits
John Mellencamp: guitar, vocals, Producer
Joan Baez: guest appearance vocals
Dane Clark: drums
Troye Kinnett: keyboards
Miriam Sturm: violin
John Gunnell: bass
Mike Wanchic: guitar, vocals
Andy York: guitar, vocals
Little Big Town: background vocals

Links
John Mellencamp
Freedom's Road on Amazon.com