Cover albums are usually a sign that an artist is in a creative impasse. Playing old favorites can get the creative juices flowing again and the demand for new material is met in one go. In the case of rocker John (Cougar) Mellencamp, it seems no different, his albums did little to the general public after the eighties, although he remained popular in America with a small but loyal group of fans.
After playing a cover of Stones In The Passway (original by Robert Johnson) at a friend's funeral, Mellencamp recorded a full album of American folk music covers in just a few weeks. In some cases he stayed close to the original folk and blues sound; in other cases (Teardrops Will Fall, Diamond Joe) we hear the typical roots rock sound that made him famous once. Everywhere Mellencamp and his musicians sound driven and inspired, making this snack one of his better records for ages. (MS)more
