• Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Oct 16, 2001
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. It finds Mellencamp at a kind of peak, turning out vividly socially conscious roots rock that works not because of the message, but because the music is seductive and sinewy enough to deliver the message.
  2. Arguably Mellencamp's best album since 1987's The Lonesome Jubilee and 1983's Uh-Huh.
  3. Blender
    80
    The songs on Cuttin' Heads are his strongest since 1993's Human Wheels. [#4, p.120]
  4. 80
    Cuttin' Heads whizzes by in just under 40 minutes, with ridiculously charming acoustic pop, Latin-flavored sizzlers, and menacing love songs.
  5. Mellencamp's crackling, gorgeous Heartland pop resonates more now than ever--even if, at times, he sounds like he's ripping off his best guitar moves.
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Mellencamp sounds like he's just hitting his stride. [19 Oct 2001, p.82]
  7. A strong, cohesive and surprisingly soulful record.
  8. Q Magazine
    80
    While Cuttin' Heads hardly stretches him, Mellencamp dresses up his old tricks beautifully. [Mar 2002, p.125]
  9. Mellencamp, as usual, writes strikingly about the heart ("Deep Blue Heart") and the heartland ("Crazy Island"), the twin concerns on an album that manages to be at once old-fashioned and very contemporary.
  10. "Cuttin' Heads" isn't covering much new ground.
  11. Uncut
    20
    He still sounds like a blue-collar phoney trying to be a poor man's Springsteen. [May 2002, p.104]
User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. PeteM
    Feb 7, 2006
    10
    I love it! John blends so many new sounds with relevant lyrics and a catchy chorus on each tune.
  2. JossS.
    Dec 25, 2001
    4
    although this is one of the coug's strongest efforts, he simply is not an artist. he is and will always remain a springsteen knockoff.