Categories : Jazz + Blues, Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 3 / 5 Reviewer: Trent Depue |
When you’re as big as Tom Petty is, you can pretty much do whatever you want. And with as well regarded a career as he has had, he has every right to have that mindset. In 2008 Petty reunited his pre-Heartbreakers band, Mudcrutch, to record the self-titled record that should have been, but never was. And now on Mojo he has opted to shift himself and his Heartbreakers largely into the blues world. A world he seems to be immediately at home in.
Mojo opens with the guitar and harmonica driven ‘Jefferson Jericho Blues’ – an immediately uplifting blues stomp that serves to set the tone for the remainder of the record – a record on which Petty pays homage to a number of blues styles and artists. ‘U.S. 41’ starts off in vintage acoustic blues style, and while it quickly becomes more dynamic instrumentally, the vocal and harmonica performance continues to hearken back to a classic era of the genre. Moving on a few generations, ‘Candy’ has an instantaneous JJ Cale feel to it and provides one of the albums best moments. And while Mojo is largely blues based, a few exceptions creep in along the way. From country and rock and roll, to the near-reggae funk of ‘Don’t Pull Me Over,’ Petty is fantastic throughout, as is the inspired guitar work of Mike Campbell.
Mojo is a dynamic and interesting musical accomplishment, and while there is nothing particularly groundbreaking about many of the songs, it will nonetheless serve as a worthy addition to both Petty and blues fans’ record collections.
