User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 5 out of 17

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  1. RogerS
    Feb 4, 2007
    9
    I am a John Cougar fan so this one is like "Scarecrow" and "Paper and Fire" era. The tunes are catchy and everyone is a hit potential. The sound and spirit of folk rock roots. It is good.
  2. R.
    Feb 16, 2007
    8
    Pure Mellencamp.
  3. PatrickM
    Feb 2, 2007
    9
    Don't let the Chevy Truck song/Our Country sour you on this CD. The rest of the music is very good with the songs just getting better and better until it peaks with the final cut/the bonus track "Rodeo Clown". Not a home run CD, but definitely a stand-up triple!
  4. AlD
    Feb 8, 2007
    9
    Great sound from John. Glad to see some of the oldies coming out and making thier mark.
  5. CindyE
    Mar 8, 2007
    10
    John hits the mark. Don't be fooled by the overplayed "Our Country". The rest of the album deserves a serious listen. Don't miss "Rodeo Clown", the hidden track 3 minutes after the end of track 10!
  6. ChrisW
    Feb 24, 2007
    10
    A solid American Album.
  7. downtownchuckiebrown
    Mar 23, 2007
    8
    By far mellencamp's most political album. There are definite shades of Scarecrow and The Lonesome Jubilee here but if you are looking for rock riffs - this ain't the place. As one listens to this more and more - it gets better and better. Too bad the truck commercial has tarnished this gem. The most powerful track is the hidden one after #10. (you can change direction with the By far mellencamp's most political album. There are definite shades of Scarecrow and The Lonesome Jubilee here but if you are looking for rock riffs - this ain't the place. As one listens to this more and more - it gets better and better. Too bad the truck commercial has tarnished this gem. The most powerful track is the hidden one after #10. (you can change direction with the gas fires burnin...children with no legs...) It is great to see a performer have a strong social conscience however I can not see this selling well in "Redneck USA" Expand
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Song-wise, this is a stronger album from Mellencamp than we had any right to expect, and an excellent from-the-cradle album when we need it most.
  2. This is his State of the Union address, with guitars that chime like the Byrds heralding sentiments that recall the socially-conscious 1960s, yet sound all the more pertinent today.
  3. Billboard
    70
    The garage band feel of the album—which was, in fact, recorded in a garage—breathes new life into Mellencamp's common-man themes. [27 Jan 2007]