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Cuttin' Heads is, according to my calculations, John Mellencamp's 18th studio album (which does not include soundtracks, greatest hits or other collection albums). Mellencamp records are like Pop Tarts for me: they don't surprise me, they give me the fix I'm looking for, and I enjoy them very much.
Cuttin' Heads falls into that pattern as Mellencamp retreats into the sound that was explored on
The Lonesome Jubilee, with a little of Big Daddy mixed in for good measure. The title track explores a hip-hop groove and features a guest rap by Public Enemy's Chuck D. "Shy" grabs a reggae flavor, and "Deep Blue Heart" is a country-flavored duet with Trisha Yearwood.
The other seven tracks are straight-ahead, Midwest, rock-and-roll tunes. All Mellencamp records have at least one hit, and "Peaceful World" is a great toe-tapping sing-along that does the trick. Put the disk (or cassette) into your car stereo, roll up the windows, pump up the volume and sing your lungs out. Mellencamp records tend to grow on me as time goes by, so I like it now, but I'll probably really love it later.
(Mr. Happy Go Lucky has been stuck in my CD changer for months).
~R. David Smola
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