Four Stars For 7609 from Rolling Stone: "This Is A Study In Storytelling.."
By David Fricke - On The Rural Route 7609 Review - Handsome four-CD box set spans the Indiana rocker's career,
from "Jack and Diane" to Woody Guthrie.
These four CDs come in a hardcover book with the heft and texture of a Dust Bowl-family photo album. The setting suits the purpose. This is a study in storytelling - Mellencamp's drive to probe and capture, with folk grit and a great rock band, the gross injustices and precious victories of American life. The hits come with context: "Jack and Diane" appears with two formative demos. But there is more emphasis on honoring, in songs like "Rural Route" and "Ghost Towns Along the Highway," " the Woody Guthrie ideal": a melody and truth to move the world.
These four CDs come in a hardcover book with the heft and texture of a Dust Bowl-family photo album. The setting suits the purpose. This is a study in storytelling - Mellencamp's drive to probe and capture, with folk grit and a great rock band, the gross injustices and precious victories of American life. The hits come with context: "Jack and Diane" appears with two formative demos. But there is more emphasis on honoring, in songs like "Rural Route" and "Ghost Towns Along the Highway," " the Woody Guthrie ideal": a melody and truth to move the world.