08/13/2010 - No Better Than This 13 new songs - Review By Jeff Spevak: "Save some time to dream, save some time for yourself," Mellencamp sings in the opening moments here, and that's what he did. While touring last summer with Dylan and Willie Nelson, Mellencamp wrote 13 new songs that sound very old and slipped off with some band mates to historic sites: Sun Studio, Savannah's First African Baptist Church, even a hotel room where Robert Johnson once recorded. It's a great idea. Sharing one microphone, everyone picks up on the dark, vintage vibe, particularly guitarist Marc Ribot. It's in stores next Tuesday. Read More
08/11/2010 - Beginning Monday, August 16th, John Mellencamp will perform each night for a week on PBS’ “Tavis Smiley,” sharing an exclusive preview of his new album No Better Than This with “Smiley” viewers. Mellencamp will also sit down with fellow Hoosier Tavis to explain his musical journey and why he decided to emphasize traditional American folk, country and blues on the album.
08/10/2010 - Read The New Yorker Magazine full review of No Better Than This by Ben Greenman. Here is an excerpt: "The album is drenched in historical significance..."
"this wise, charming album is less a stiff historical re-creation than a highly personal testimonial on the order of Bob Dylan’s “Good as I Been to You” or Loudon Wainwright III’s “High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project.” In fact, the traditional forms seem to free up Mellencamp’s songwriting..." Read More
08/10/2010 - John's latest single, "No Better Than This," is off to a great start on the radio. It has been released to AAA, Americana, and Non-Commercial stations. Be listening for it!
The album No Better Than This has landed at #1 this week on the Americana radio chart. The chart, which focuses on the combined airplay of all tracks from an album, compiles the airplay data from hundreds of radio stations, syndicated radio shows, satellite radio and internet stations! After the jump we have tools to help your find your local stations and request the track at radio. Read More
08/09/2010 - Edmonton Journal writer Gary Graff interviewed John recently. Their conversation found John discussing multiple topics including his new album No Better Than This
The complete interview is included after the jump Read More
08/08/2010 - Why the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chose Savannah To Cut His Latest Album
Connect Savannah writer Bill DeYoung recently spoke with John about his new record No Better Than This. Here is an excerpt: "No Better Than This is Americana, pure, direct, sonically honest and brilliantly basic, inhabited by ghosts and imbued with hope for a future generations..." Note: Article includes several photos from the recording sessions. Read More
08/07/2010 - Read SomethingElseReviews.com full review of No Better Than This by Nick Deriso. Here is an excerpt: "No Better Than This is a blinding shard of sunlight..."
"The years have weathered his optimism, but it still peeks out on occasion: "Save some time to dream," Mellencamp continues, "'cause your dream might save us all." That starts, on this record, with Mellencamp himself..." Read More
08/01/2010 - The title track from John's forthcoming album No Better Than This is the first single from the album.
The song has been sent to multiple radio formats and is available on iTunes and digital music providers! Click for complete details and to listen online... Read More
07/31/2010 - Read No Depression Blogger Adam Sheets's full review of John's new album No Better Than This. Here is an excerpt:
" this one, which will be released on August 17th, by it's cover, because I'm guessing it looks as much like a country album from the '50s and early '60s to you as it does to me..." Read More
07/30/2010 - John's new album, No Better Than This, was produced, as was the 2008's Life Death Love and Freedom, by Grammy and Academy Award winning producer T Bone Burnett.
His liner notes for No Better Than This would seem to stand on their own as poetry while serving to convey his thoughts about the unique circumstance of the album's recording: Read More
07/25/2010 - Here is an excerpt from Tampa Bay's Pop LIfeNo Better Than This review by Sean Daly:
"But for all the talk of ghosts, this is one of Mellencamp’s liveliest records..."
"consistently inspired - most of the songs catch and cook, especially the title track. If you want to weep, try out the wistfully weathered "Thinking About You..."
07/24/2010 - Rounder Records - September 2010 Issue 202 By Bob Mehr
Veteran rocker hits the road for stellar album of "routes" music.
Known for his pop hits and mile-wide acerbic streak, John Mellencamp's late
career has seen a serious artistic renaissance, as evidenced on 2008's
collaboration with T Bone Burnett, Life Death, Love and Freedom. Reuniting with
Burnett, Mellencamp's latest is a concept piece recorded in a series of historic
locations: Sun Studios in Memphis, Read More
07/17/2010 - Click HERE to read DirectCurrentMusic.com's Dave Curtis review John's new album No Better Than This. Visit their website for the complete review which includes several pictures and audio samples. Read More
