Strictly A One-Eyed Jack - John Mellencamp (2022)

Ideated from: new albums by old artists

Mellencamp has always tried to appear more grizzled and experienced than he really was. Even his hits as a young man were often cynical and grim. So it’s not surprising that he’s just grown into the snarling, world-weary troubador he always pretended to be. He’s put together a tight set of folksy, bluesy tunes that cut through the human condition in the way he’s so good at.

He hasn’t lost his knack for capturing humanity in his songs. It’s not for nothing that Bruce Springsteen shows up on several tracks. They have a similar MO of building narratives about the kinds of struggles everyone faces.

Tracks I Liked

I Always Lie To Strangers - a cynical take on trust

Did You Say Such A Thing - one of the Springsteen tracks, and one of the best on the record.

Chasing Rainbows - optimism? from Mellencamp? wow.