In the eighties John (then Cougar) Mellencamp had hits with Jack & Diane and Paper In Fire. Despite Mr. Happy Go Lucky from 1996 did not give him any more hits in the nineties. This self-titled album leaves few surprises, except for a sample and a drum loop here and there. Mellencamp's semi-acoustic folk rock basically sounds as it used to (complete with violins), but starts off disappointingly
… with a handful of songs that lack all inspiration. Strangely enough, Mellencamp takes revenge with the second half of the record. From the cheerful songs Where The World Began and Miss Missy to the funky closing tracks Summer Of Love and Days Of Farewell, he sounds reborn. (WvdZ)more
