John Mellencamp has been in the music industry over 30 years, and on this, his 23rd studio album, he mostly zeroes in on what it's like to age (Mellencamp is 56 now), and death.

"Life Death Love and Freedom" (14 tracks; 50 min.) is as far away from his early/mid-1980s heyday as a mainstream hit-making artist as he's ever recorded before. Once cannot miss the almost constant focus in the songs on getting older and death. "If I die sudden/Don't tell anyone/There ain't nobody needs to know" laments Mellencamp on "If I Die Sudden". And "This getting older/Ain't for cowards/This getting older/Is a lot to go through" he croons on "Don't Need This Body". The production by T-Bone Burnett is exquisite (although not as pervasive as on the outstanding Robert Plant/Alison Krauss album). Be aware: there are no sing-along songs here at all (just to give you an idea: drums are featured on only 6 of the 14 tracks).

In all, while this is certainly not a bad album, this is generally a downbeat listen throughout, making me wonder what makes Mellencamp get up in the morning... I saw Mellencamp in July on his current tour, and not surprisingly he didn't play a lot of these songs, 3 or 4 in a solo-setting with just acoustic guitar midway through his set, which absolutely killed the fun vibe of the show.

I read the reviews posted here, and this album is either the greatest Mellencamp album ever (it's not), or the equivalent of a musical train wreck (not that either). For me, it falls squarely between the two. I had to listen to it easily a dozen times for some of the songs to grow on me, and because I love Mellencamp, I did. Unlike his better known earlier albums, this one did not grab me instantly, but if you're looking to like it, you will. If you're looking to relive the 1980s, look elsewhere. Good folk sound throughout, one tune will evoke recent Dylan, others contemporary country, still others escape immediate categorization. Worth the price? For me, yes.

Sou fã de John Mellencamp há muito tempo, e ao longo dos anos ele vem lançando bons discos e outros nem tanto. O anterior "Freedoms Road" é perfeito para você pegar uma estrada. Já este último repleto de baladas folk, talvez pela produção do tal Burnett, não pega tão bem. Não que seja ruim, longe disso, mas falta aquela energia rock com um baterista da qualidade de Ken Aronoff.

I have been a career-long fan of John Mellencamp and I still like this CD. The production by T. Bone Burnett is stellar. The extra DVD's sound quality is superlative. I am hoping to see more of the CODE disks in the future.

This is the darkest Mellencamp I have ever heard.

"County Fair" is the underside of the bright calliope we remember from childhood. The narrator of this song ends up dead knifed by a stranger. Sadly, no one mourns the dead man. "He shouldn't have been out past 12:00..."

"A Ride Back Home" talks about praying to Jesus to die. The narrator here is so depressed he wants to take his own life, but he's not brave enough.

"Longest Days" talks about growing older.

"If I Die Sudden" is a stark appraisal of what the narrator feels about death.

The lyrics and sound are strong and dark. The CD is heavy listening on a bright day when I'm in a reasonably good mood. I wouldn't recommend anyone listening if they were depressed. Hearing this, I seriously want to offer Mellencamp a hug. It seems like he's got a seriously troubled mind of late.

Rebecca Kyle, September 2008

It is a little depressing but I love it! It is all about life and dying true harsh reality. It has been the only CD I have listened to since i got it! Way to go John