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Life Death Love and Freedom | 
 enlarge | Artist: John Mellencamp
Label: Hear Music
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy Used: $3.88
You Save: $15.10 (80%)
New (54) Used (26) from $3.88
Rating:  84 reviews
Sales Rank: 679
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.8 x 0.3
MPN: 30822
UPC: 888072308220
EAN: 0888072308220
ASIN: B0018Q7K4O
Release Date: July 15, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Complete with original disc(s), case, and artwork. In stock and ships today!
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| Tracks:
| • | Longest Days | | • | My Sweet Love | | • | If I Die Sudden | | • | Troubled Land | | • | Young Without Lovers | | • | John Cockers | | • | Don't Need This Body | | • | A Ride Back Home | | • | Without A Shot | | • | Jena | | • | Mean | | • | County Fair | | • | For The Children | | • | A Brand New Song |
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| Editorial Reviews:
People en Español
After Freedom's Road, his first album in five years, John Mellencamp made it clear why he had such loyal fans. He's made a career out of making himself vulnerable, with lyrics that undeniably come from the heart, and aided by his guitar, he generates a mood that's more Americana melancholy than pop. After a year of being somewhat of a recluse, Mellencamp is back with 14 tracks filled with anguish, pain, resentment, and frustration. In songs like "If I Die Sudden," "Don't Need This Body," and "Troubled Land," the singer-songwriter seems to be more like the Americana equivalent to Damien Rice rather than Bob Dylan, to whom he's been compared to before. It's a disc that, as my friend says, you can listen to while kicking a can and walking the streets. --Ernesto Sanchez (People en Espanol  ) Despues de Freedom's Road, su primer album en cinco anos, John Mellencamp dejo en claro porque tiene un sequito de fans tan leal. Durante su carrera se ha desvivido por mostrar su vulnerabilidad y al mismo tiempo proporcionar confort al escucha con liricas que innegablemente salen de su corazon, y con inseparable guitarra cuyo sonido lo coloca mas en el melancolico genero americana que en el pop. Un ano despues de su regreso tras su auto reclusion, Mellencamp vuelve con 14 temas llenos de angustia, dolor, arrepentimiento y enojo. En temas como "If I Die Sudden," "Don't Need This Body," y "Troubled Land," el cantautor parece ser la respuesta en Americana a Damien Rice mas que a Bob Dylan, con quien muchas veces se le llega a comparar. Eso no tiene nada malo, es un disco, como diria un amigo, para "patear latas mientras caminas escuchandolo" a gusto. --Ernesto Sanchez (People en Espanol )
Album Description
The man who has been called `the poet laureate of the interstate' has reached deep into his soul, bringing forth an album of unparalleled maturity powered by a piercing musical vision. Produced by T Bone Burnett ("O' Brother Where Art Thou," Robert Plant, Allison Krauss) Two disc package includes CD and high quality audio DVD.
Album Description
2008 release includes Audio DVD. About Life, Death, Love & Freedom was produced by T Bone Burnett (O' Brother Where Art Thou, Robert Plant with Allison Krauss). All songs written by John Mellencamp who has been called `the poet laureate of the interstate' and he reaches deep into his soul, bringing forth an album of unparalleled maturity powered by a piercing musical vision. This is a special two disc package CD with high quality audio DVD. This is the first-ever release in CODE, a proprietary audio technology that creates high-definition audio files that are virtually indistinguishable from the original master tapes. John Mellencamp has sold 12 million CDs in the SoundScan era alone! He was inducted earlier this year into the Rock`N'Roll Hall Fame and he is a Grammyr Award winner. The album's first single is 'My Sweet Love'. 14 tracks.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 45 more reviews...
 Love of Life, Love of Freedom July 15, 2008
Rudy Palma (NJ)
51 out of 61 found this review helpful
Despite its scintillating title John Mellencamp's new LP "Life, Death, Love and Freedom" is one of the quietest records of his career, but its lyrical depth, coupled with rich, intimate simplicity, makes it a formidable one. This is essentially folk music with some exceptions, yet these songs very much pulsate with electricity and character.
Vocals and guitar generally take the forefront, with Mellencamp's sentiments hanging loose in the balance. It's dark, even cryptic, but it's also bold and exciting, especially from a talented songwriter who could simply churn out a dozen radio-friendly southern rockers if he wanted to. Evoking similar themes as heard on last year's warmly received "Freedom Road," Mellencamp sounds as inspired as ever in his comments concerning the state our country is in. He speaks to those frustrated about its current state of affairs and the need for change, yet never lets negativity win.
Many of the songs have already found public exposure such as "Jena," the controversy-arousing response to the by-now infamous controversy that occurred last year in Jena, Louisiana, as well as "If I Die Sudden," a resigned, dignified approach to mortality he has introduced into concert setlists. Frenetic, bouncy lead single "My Sweet Love" injects the otherwise downtrodden album with its near-syrupy sentiments.
"Mean," an understated, nearly spoken-word protest of another's jaded outlook on life, finds Mellencamp wise and observant, but never too cynical to see the silver lining or lose a sense of innocence.
"I'm not following your frame of mind/Complaining about this life all the time/Surely something good here as the world spins by/Could you please stop being so mean?"
"Without a Shot," an astoundingly eloquent criticism of the Iraq War, finds Mellencamp wading through the rubble of our nation and struggling to make sense of it all, marking what is definitely one of his finest moments as a songwriter.
"So we open up our eyes at midnight/See the setting of the sun/Foundation is crumbling/The inner structure's gone/Used up by corruption/And the passage of time/We hope we've got some fight left/'Cause our children, our children are dying."
Further standouts like "Troubled Land" ("I got a pain in my side/But I keep traveling on") and "Don't Need This Body" ("Well all my friends are sick or dying/And I'm here all by myself/All I got left is a head full of memories/And a thought of my upcoming death") shed further light on the current state of quiet desperation working its way into the tiniest nooks and crevices of our nation. Something has got to give, and Mellencamp's passion and fury combine to produce a vivid snapshot of America in the 2000s.
He concludes the album with "For the Children," a gentle reassurance to youth growing up in a confusing time ("I hope you can be a child of life/With big dreams for everyone/And know that dying's as natural as birth/And our troubles here, they don't last long"), and "A Brand New Song," an ode to reinvigorating livelihood and looking to a brighter future.
It may not have brash, in-your-face entertainment value or artistic pretensions (Starbucks label affiliation aside - give the guy a break, he needs a way to get his music out there in this unpredictable, adversarial market), but "Life, Death, Love and Freedom" is pure, wall-to-wall beauty and truth. If all singer/songwriters could be as soul-searching and thoughtful as Mellencamp proves himself to be on this album, this world would be a richer, more rewarding place to live and breathe. Sure, there are no easy-as-Coca Cola concert singalongs like "Jack and Diane" or "Small Town" here to guzzle down, but Mellencamp, like most talented artists, has evolved.
For all of those living in fear, frustration and heartache in today's world, he reaches out through his words and music. All he asks now is that you might pay him a listen.
His Best Work in a Decade July 21, 2008
Van Rock (The Great Midwest)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Here is John Mellencamp in all his American Glory. People who still bank on his stalwart hits like "Jack and Diane" just because it's still in heavy rotation on FM top forty are missing the best of this man's career. Songs like "A Troubled Land" and the beautifully melancholy "A Ride Back Home" are songs for the everyman and everywoman in the United States who are feeling spiritually bankrupt these days. This is truly a CD for the downtrodden, made for hard times, crafted for the helpless and the hopeless. I'm betting this one will go down as one of Mellencamp's masterpieces long after he stops making music. "Life Death Love and Freedom" is proof that there are still great songwriters out there and not all of them have sold their soul to the pop machine.
He does it yet again July 22, 2008
To Be Simple
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
"Life Death Love and Freedom" is yet another strong outing by John Mellencamp. It seems as though some people will not be satisfied with John's music until he goes back to creating formulaic rock gems from when he was in his 20s and 30s. He was clearly a master of creating those types of songs, but he obviously has moved on and is focused more on a hybrid sound of blues, rock, and folk. Is that a good thing? I definitely think so.
Perhaps at some point in the future John will go back to his early days and release a pure rock and roll album, but for now he has released a string of interesting albums that show a personal evolution. Ever since he dropped the Cougar from his name John has been writing thoughtful lyrics with political and social overtones. His music is now blending in with the tone of his lyrics more comfortably now more than ever.
There is not a single weak track on "Life Death Love and Freedom," which is a testament to Mellencamp's ability to write really good songs. His voice sounds as good as ever and the musicianship is superb. It is my hope that John continues to explore the blues and folk sound. He's a versatile musician who can perform a wide variety of musical styles, but the blues and folk genres seem to fit in perfectly with his lyrics and state of mind.
"Life Death Love and Freedom" is one of John's top few albums from his extensive recording career. Keep'em coming John!
I Am Speechless August 3, 2008
Murl J. Sprout Jr. (Bradenton, FL)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
John Mellencamp has made good album, very good albums, and great albums. This is easily the best album he's ever recorded and I realize that's saying a lot. At moments, it reminds me of Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash at their best but it certainly isn't imitation. Mellencamp has evolved over his career and makes increasingly incredibly complicated, sophisticated, beautiful music. I do have to say that this is the first album in a while, though, where I can listen to it the whole way through. Every song is pleasing over multiple listenings and despite having been addicted to "shuffle" on my iPod for a few years ... I have repeatedly listened to this album the whole way through.
An accurate description August 2, 2008
Gaylen Halbert (Weimar, California United States)
13 out of 16 found this review helpful
"Electric folk music" is an accurate description of this wonderful album. The following are the virtues of this stellar effort by Mr. Mellencamp and producer T Bone Burnett:
1.Recording quality. The standard CD sounds fine. The generous inclusion of a DVD for audio is a plus. The CODE technology results in a sound that may actually be indistinguishable from original master tapes. I am hopeful more DVDS are released like this.
2.Songwriting. Wow! Downbeat yes, even dark, but SO on target for capturing the malaise of a man's [country's] spirit following the battering of the Bush years. This may not have been the intent of Mellencamp, but that is how the songs affected me.
3.Musicianship. John has already proven his chops as a rocker. Anyone hoping for a repeat of that era will be disappointed here. T Bone Burnette proves he is the best producer for this type of music. The assembled musicians play with an empathy and skill that is much more than competent. P.S. I loved the backing vocals by Karen Fairchild.
In summary, with this release John Mellencamp confirms he belongs in the very top echelon of singer songwriters. In contrast to the plethora of red neck country stars, John is the REAL patriot who has a grip on what ails America and infects a man's soul.
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