Plain Spoken

Rock · 2014 · 10 tracks · 43m

Plain Spoken

John Mellencamp

A weathered, acoustic-led meditation on aging and isolation. Mellencamp's voice is a raspy, intimate instrument set against sparse, dusty Americana arrangements.

It's Mellencamp at his most unvarnished, sounding like he's playing just for you in a dimly lit room.

A weary, dust-covered meditation on the passage of time and the weight of one's own history.

Plain Spoken · vs · John Mellencamp

Solitude+1.7σ

Solitude saturates this record notably more than the artist's norm.

Tracklist · 10 Tracks · 43m

01

Troubled Man

4:15

02

Sometimes There’s God

4:35

03

The Isolation of Mister

5:35

04

The Company of Cowards

3:52

05

Tears in Vain

3:51

06

The Brass Ring

5:37

07

Freedom of Speech

3:53

08

Blue Charlotte

4:40

09

The Courtesy of Kings

3:33

10

Lawless Times

3:52

Moments Worth Waiting For

The brittle, almost spoken-word delivery on 'The Isolation of Mister' that feels uncomfortably close to the mic.

The mournful fiddle melody on 'Blue Charlotte' that underscores the narrative of terminal illness and quiet devotion.

The way the percussion finally kicks in on 'Lawless Times' providing a cynical, rhythmic strut to the album's closing social critique.

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