John Mellencamp’s Dark But Rewarding ‘Orpheus Descending:’ Review

The last John Mellencamp album—2022’s Strictly a One-eyed Jack, his first release in five years—didn’t sell well in the States, which may partly explain why he’s back so soon with a follow-up. Orpheus Descending, his 25th studio LP, finds Mellencamp addressing political themes, like gun control in “Hey God” and homelessness in “The Eyes of Portland,” as well as personal struggles, such as in “The So-Called Free,” which might be about his failed romance with actress Meg Ryan. Bruce Springsteen, who performed on three tracks on the last album, isn’t here, but he contributes the wistful “Perfect World,” the LP’s only cover.

John Mellencamp on Sept. 29, 2022 (Photo: Janet Macoska for the Rock Hall; used with permission)

His vocals are more sandpapery than ever on Orpheus Descending; Mellencamp hardly sounds like the same singer who belted out hits like “Jack and Diane” and “Pink Houses” in the 1980s, which is no surprise, given that he’s been smoking like a chimney for more than half a century. Still, his vocals can be effective, especially on tracks like “Lightning and Luck,” where they’re backed by the sweet violin of Lisa Germano, who played on standouts like 1987’s The Lonesome Jubilee and returns to the fold here after a quarter-century.

Related: Our Album Rewind of Mellencamp’s classic Scarecrow

Compared with albums like that one, this new record, released on June 16, 2023, is relatively dark and downbeat; don’t expect any exuberant and instantly lovable toe-tappers like “Paper in Fire” or “Cherry Bomb.” That said, Orpheus Descending sounds heartfelt and contains more than a few understated numbers that will reward repeated listens.

Listen to several tracks from Orpheus Descending

Mellencamp will be performing at 2023’s Farm Aid, along with fellow board members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), and Margo Price, on September 23.