Coming on June 2nd is John Mellencamp's 25th album, titled, Orpheus Descending. The album features Mellencamp's latest single, "Hey God," which addresses the national epidemic of gun violence.
The album marks Mellencamp's followup to the critically acclaimed 2022 collection, Strictly A One -Eyed Jack, which peaked at Number Five on the Billboard Folk Albums chart.
With well over 45 years in business, we asked John Mellencamp how he sees himself and the state of his career in the present day: ["Fortunate — but unlucky. Unlucky enough to be a rock star. Y'know, you turn on the radio and you hear 'Pink Houses' for the 9,000th time, and you assume that's all that John Mellencamp does. Led Zeppelin was a lot more than 'Stairway To Heaven,' but, y'know, that's what you hear. Y'know, it's not just me — y'know, the Rolling Stones are always more than 'Honky Tonk Women.' Bob Seger was always more than, y'know, 'Night Moves,' but sorry — that's all you hear all the time. Of course you and I know that rock is over. We've had our 40 years. And so now, it's just total freedom to me. I don't have to listen to anybody (laughs), I don't do — y'know, do exactly what I wanna do."] SOUNDCUE (:37 OC: . . . I wanna)
John Mellencamp performs tonight and tomorrow (April 24th and 25th) at Memphis' Orpheum Theatre.
The tracklisting to Orpheus Descending is:
"Hey God"
"The Eyes Of Portland"
"Land Of The So Called Free"
"The Kindness Of Lovers"
"Amen"
"Orpheus Descending"
"Understated Reverence"
"One More Trick"
"Lightning And Luck"
"Perfect World"
"Backbon"