- Record Label: Warner Brothers
- Release Date: Oct 8, 2002
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
-
Throughout The Last DJ, Petty sounds utterly lost -- and instead of liberating him like it did in the past, it paralyzes him, boxing him into a corner where he can't draw on his strengths. It's the first true flop in a career that, until now, had none.
-
When it's good, it's really good.
-
It's always sort of tough to rally behind an artist dissin' the music industryI mean, how do you support someone who's living a rock star's life but still complaining, right? But Tom Petty makes it all too easy here, slyly balancing bitter references to modern-day payola, shifty execs, and even the struggles of artists over 40 with wistful imagery of rock'n'roll dreams.
-
BlenderSadly, though, if Petty's fourteenth album fails to emulate the success of his best work, it won't be because corporations have conspired to turn off his mic, but because it's simply not as good. [#10, p.127]
-
A little more electric guitar would've helped, but these tales of capitalism gone amok are worth checking out.
-
Entertainment WeeklyHis most consequential songs in years. [11 Oct 2002, p.83]
-
MojoTaken all together these songs pack a powerful punch and make for a much better record than we might have expected. [Dec 2002, p.108]
-
Earnest and straightforward, as rock and roll should be.... The Last DJ is clearly an expression of what Tom Petty feels right now, and his honesty -- coupled with his talent -- is revitalizing.
-
Q MagazinePetty sounds like a bitter old man howling at the moon. [Dec 2002, p.110]
-
The Last DJ is quintessential Petty, by turns strident and starry-eyed.
-
While Petty is to be commended for putting himself on the line in some manner for his beliefs, the spirit of music would fare better if people of his stature took a harder stance than he does here.
-
Petty's thesis is strong, but his argument falters too often.
-
UncutPale fire, but fire nonetheless. [Dec 2002, p.130]
-
Tom's not quite so lovable when he's preaching his anti-non-Petty doctrine in a series of songs that often don't rise above the level of mediocrity themselves.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 24 out of 30
-
Mixed: 2 out of 30
-
Negative: 4 out of 30
-
Feb 6, 2011
-
DSmithFeb 28, 2007
-
BrandonSJun 9, 2006