Mellencamp's 'Freedom Road' - The angriest cut refers to President Bush in its title, "Rodeo Clown"

[Kadie]

Music Review: John Mellencamp
By MICHAEL McCALL, For The Associated Press
14 minutes ago

John Mellencamp, "Freedom Road" (Universal Republic Records): "Our Country," John Mellencamp's hit that's currently running in a television commercial for Chevy Trucks, sounds like a hallmark card to America — on the anthemic choruses, at least. But the middle stanzas question whether his country lives up to its democratic ideals.

In that sense, the song adroitly represents the heartland rocker's 19th studio album, "Freedom Road," which celebrates the American dream while pointing out darkening clouds on its political and social landscape.

"Jim Crow," a duet with Joan Baez, deals with modern bigotry, while "Heaven Is a Lonely Place" pricks religious narrow-mindedness. The title song, one of eight featuring harmonies by vocal quartet Little Big Town, suggests that with liberty comes responsibility and the potential for abuse. The angriest cut refers to President Bush in its title, "Rodeo Clown," and describes America as "an arrogant nation" with "blood on her face."


more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070122/ap_en_ot/music_review_john_mellencamp_1