Where Heartbreaker records were obviously inspired by The Byrds, Mudcrutch reaches further back than just the '60s. "Six Days On The Road," "Shady Grove," and "This is a Good Street" have a great strut to them, reminiscent of the work of Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Buddy Holly. Petty has been hosting a show on XM Radio called Tom Petty's Buried Treasure, filled with gems from America's musical past — Chicago blues, cowboy songs, and hippie music. Now rather than just admiring those styles, he's infusing his songs with elements of them and the result is music that is livelier and more invigorated than anything he's done in quite some time. That's not a knock on a record like Highway Companion — which is a fine record filled with great songwriting — but is high praise for a project that has a vibe of relaxed fun.
Petty and his collaborators aren't getting any younger but it wouldn't be such a bad thing for him to have one more outlet, especially one this good. Mudcrutch isn't likely to resurface, but I won't be sorry if they do. If this is the final hurrah for the band that almost was, let's hope they capture one of the handful of shows they did on their short California tour. The Heartbreakers have yet to release a truly powerful live album. It would be fitting if Mudcrutch beat them to the punch. It would be a small victory, but a fitting one.
Article comments
1 - JC Mosquito
Excellent review. It'll be interesting to re-read it in a year's time, maybe two, and see where Mudcrutch fits into Tom Petty's canon of work.
Hi to all on Mudcrutch Farm! Rock hard and rock well!
2 - Josh Hathaway
Thanks, JC. It's an excellent record and I think you're right about holding this up in a couple of years. I'd like some of what they did here to follow them back to The Heartbreakers' next record.
3 - El Bicho
After listening to the album, I am now kicking myself for not trying harder to see them at the Troubadour. I did find some bootlegs, so that will have to suffice for now.
4 - Josh Hathaway
Thanks, Bicho. I hope and pray there is a live CD/DVD package out of that string of dates they played.
5 - Leo Valk
To Whom It May Concern,
I would like to give some attention to Abimito. I'ts a special musician. Abimito can be found on iTunes store.
Regards,
Leo Valk. (The Netherlands)