The last Tom Petty album before MudCrutch. He jettisoned the Heartbreakers and brought back Mr. ELO.
Tom Petty – Highway Companion – 2006 (Buy It)
Live blogging the last TP record.
Saving Grace. A neat little toe-tapping rocker that suggests that this record might actually be fun.
Square One. Oh, but it’s not. What is this, a leftover from Wildflowers? Ah, ok. You go, reflect Mr. P. I’ll be over here waiting for you to rock again.
Flirting with Time We pick back up with that mid-tempo rock that is TP’s stamp. It’s not like we haven’t heard this song before. On every one of his albums. It’s a formula. It works. It isn’t great. But, who cares? This is the song everyone will sing along with, right?
Down South You know, I don’t hear that big, bright, over produced sound that Jeff Lynne was known for. Everyone is subdued on this affair. And the album is better for it. This song could’ve been written by Dylan. Why not? Petty has always sort of wished he was the vagabond poet, when he’s really just the stoner rocker. Whose getting older and thinking about it.
Jack The kind of song you want to hate and if it were done by anyone else, we would. Since it’s Petty and crew, they know how to make it sound not so crappy. Almost.
Turn this Car Around Ah, the middle, fatty part of the Petty record.
Big Weekend Truckin’………
Night Driver So. Highway Companion. The album is your companion. You are driving on the highway. And, apparently you need to put your head back and just follow the road. And let Tom Petty be your zen guide……
Damaged by Love Why wasn’t this album an ep?
This Old Town I would probably drive into the median at this point. Please end.
Ankle Deep Hey, is that the big, semi-overproduced sound we expect? A little too late, I think.
Golden Rose This is how TP&tH wants to go out? Ok. It’s third rate, wannabe surreal Beatles, but, fine. At least I’m done.
Grade D-
A Side: Saving Grace, Square One
BlindSide: Flirting with Time, Big Weekend
DownSide: Jack, Turn this Car Around, Night Driver
