Track Listing
1. Cuttin' Heads
2. Peaceful World
3. Deep Blue Heart
4. Crazy Island
5. Just Like You
6. Same Way I Do, The
7. Women Seem
8. Worn Out Nervous Condition
9. Shy
10. In Our Lives
| Details | | Playing Time: | 40 min. | | Contributing Artists: | Chuck D, India Arie, India.Arie, Trisha Yearwood | | Producer: | John Mellencamp | | Distributor: | Sony Music Distribution ( | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
Personnel: John Mellencamp (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); India Arie, Trisha Yearwood (vocals); Chuck D (rap vocals); Andy York (acoustic, electric & lap steel guitars, banjo, mandolin, keyboards, bass, percussion, background vocals); Kenny Childers (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Mike Wanchic (electric guitar, background vocals); Jen Cristy (violin, flute, piano, organ, percussion, background vocals); Miriam Sturm (violin, keyboards, percussion, background vocals); Dave Wierhake (accordion); Moe Z (Clavinet, organ, drums, percussion, background vocals); Willie Weeks, John Gunnell (bass); Steve Jordan, Dane Clark (drums, percussion); Pat Peterson, Courtney "Peewee" Kaiser (background vocals).
Recorded at The Moorings, Islamorada, Florida between July & October 2000 and Belmont Mall Studio, Belmont, Indiana between March & June 2001.
"Peaceful World" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
John Mellencamp's 18th album serves as a bridge between past Americana excursions like BIG DADDY and his willingness to experiment with more contemporary shadings as he's done on more recent outings like MR. HAPPY GO LUCKY. Never afraid to write about touchy topics, the Indiana native doesn't waste anytime tackling the hot-button issue of racism in the opening title track. Amidst this tale of interracial romance and racial strife, Public Enemy's Chuck D drops in a polemic rap over a hip-hop beat. Elsewhere neo-soul thrush India.Arie lends her gorgeous vocals to the inspiring folk-rock "Peaceful World."
Having written plenty of great songs about the complexities of romance and relationships, Mellencamp doesn't disappoint. Trisha Yearwood joins in for a duet on the high-lonesome "Deep Blue Heart." The chiming "Women Seem" focuses on the mysteries of romance while adopting a semi-autobiographical slant with its mention of dissolved relationships. Mellencamp's best moments come on the rock-steady reggae of "Shy" and "Crazy Island," a musical snapshot of America that serves as a latter-day twin to "Pink Houses."
Editorial Reviews
4 stars out of 5 - ...Mellencamp is something of a renaissance man. HE knows how to nail a social conscience to great knockabout rock'n'roll...
Q (03/01/2002)
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