John Mellencamp released his 25th album last Friday. ‘Orpheus Descending’ is named after the 1957 three-act Broadway play by Tennessee Williams.
This is Mellencamp’s second album in less than a year-and-a-half, after Strictly a One-Eyed Jack, and his ninth studio album since 2000, was released in January of last year.
Mellencamp talked about why he’s been so prolific at recording music the last 2+ decades. He said, "I spent most of the '90s, you know, 'I gotta make a record? Okay.' It was a chore, you know, It was a chore. And then in the 2000s I started getting reinvigorated about it and now I think that I'm more reinvigorated about the making of the records and playing the shows. 'Cause, you know, as you get older you realize that, 'Hey, I only got 20 years left. Hey, I only got 15 years left,' you know. 'I better go do something.' That's the reality."
Mellencamp produced the latest album, which was recorded at his Belmont Mall Studio in Belmont, Indiana.
John described this album as one of his most personal records to date. The songs “Hey God” and “The Eyes of Portland” focus on more on social issues he continues to passionately advocate for -- "Hey God" takes on gun violence, and "The Eyes of Portland" focuses on the homeless crisis.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]