Way back on November 16, 2011, I promised I would give Mellencamp another chance after blue-binning his album American Fool. That time is now, and indeed as promised by allmusic.com, The Lonesome Jubilee is a marked improvement. I still think that he is a poor man's Springsteen, so I don't love this album. But I can admit that although his range is limited, this is probably the perfect Mellencamp experience. The songs are anthemic without being pretentious, the production is excellent (the album was produced by Don Gehman, who also produced one of R.E.M.'s best records the same year in Lifes Rich Pageant), and there is little filler. There is a lot more instrumental texture on this record, which not only attests to the increased influence of country and blues, but also is what gives the best songs their hooks. I dig this album for the accordion riff of "Cherry Bomb" and the guitar intro to "We Are the People," because really, the choruses aren't that memorable. Okay, I will stop taking potshots at the man formerly known as Cougar because this is a good record. Keeper.
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