Country : United States Label : Republic Records Genres and styles : Americana / Blues / Country Blues / Folk / Folk Rock / Jazz / Rock Year : 2022

John Mellencamp – Strictly a One-Eyed Jack

· by Luc Marchessault

“I always lie to strangers – I am a man of low dеgree – This world is run by men – Much more crooked than mе”: bleak words sung by John Mellencamp in “I Always Lie to Strangers,” the opening track of Strictly a One-Eyed Jack. Towards the end of the album, the song “Lie to Me” puts lies in the spotlight again: “I never took much trouble – With the truth myself – So lie to me – Lord knows I’m used to it”… Such is the extent of the disillusionment Mellencamp feels, when this venerable singer from the USA’s heartland sees the gangrene eating away at the heart of his country. Now in his seventies, Mellencamp has never seen reality so clearly, even if his son Speck represented him with an eye-patch (like John Wayne in True Grit) on the portrait that illustrates this 24th studio album. This is a direct reference to the title of the album and the song “Simply a One-Eyed-Jack,” where John invites us to be wary of the jack seen in profile, this coveted but deceptive card (“We’d better make a move or become the victim of – That lying one-eyed Jack “). Strictly a One-Eyed Jack is therefore a journey into the heart of lies… and Americana music at its most moving. Mellencamp’s larynx holds up, though you can hear it’s been roughened up by the three packs a day its owner once smoked. Led by Andy York, the elite roots-rock troupe that accompanies the “Little Bastard from Indiana” plays more tightly than ever. All in nuances like on the smoky ballad “Gone So Soon.” Or in power as on Lie to Me and its rural riffs. And as a bonus, Mellencamp is backed by his brother-in-arms Springsteen on three tracks, including the instant anthem “Wasted Days.”

Latest 360 Content

Transforming Hiroshima mon amour into contemporary opera: Christian Lapointe and Rosa Lind tell the story

Transforming Hiroshima mon amour into contemporary opera: Christian Lapointe and Rosa Lind tell the story

Sparks – MAD!

Sparks – MAD!

Peter Murphy – Silver Shade

Peter Murphy – Silver Shade

Ken Pomeroy – Cruel World

Ken Pomeroy – Cruel World

Art of the Line: Klangkarussell’s Euro Vision at SAT

Art of the Line: Klangkarussell’s Euro Vision at SAT

Centroamérica – a powerful docu-play about truth and connection in an age of distance and denial

Centroamérica – a powerful docu-play about truth and connection in an age of distance and denial

Lido Pimienta – La Belleza

Lido Pimienta – La Belleza

Tamir Barzilay – Phosphene Journal

Tamir Barzilay – Phosphene Journal

The best ‘’Candlelight concert‘’ ever.

The best ‘’Candlelight concert‘’ ever.

Men I Trust – Equus Caballus

Men I Trust – Equus Caballus

The Halluci Nation – Path of the Baby Face

The Halluci Nation – Path of the Baby Face

A lap steel guitar choir and an angel to end the Innovations en concert 24-25 season

A lap steel guitar choir and an angel to end the Innovations en concert 24-25 season

The OSM and Abel Selaocoe: Evenings When You’d Like to Stop Time

The OSM and Abel Selaocoe: Evenings When You’d Like to Stop Time

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Piknic 3: A Little Bit of Everything Under the Sun

Piknic 3: A Little Bit of Everything Under the Sun

Cazzu – Latinaje

Cazzu – Latinaje

Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film

Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film

SMCQ | In memoriam Jocelyn Morlock

SMCQ | In memoriam Jocelyn Morlock

Abbey Road at Festival Classica

Abbey Road at Festival Classica

Mira Choquette – Hier encore

Mira Choquette – Hier encore

Jared Dunn; Anna Gorecka – Gorecki’s World of the Piano

Jared Dunn; Anna Gorecka – Gorecki’s World of the Piano

Cyrille Dubois; Tristan Raës – Dupont : The Complete Songs

Cyrille Dubois; Tristan Raës – Dupont : The Complete Songs

Subscribe to our newsletter