Worry no more. Eschewing any sampling, hiphop rhythms, doleful acoustic work or anything else that has affected most middle aged rock performers, Petty and his band have returned with an album of straight charged rock and roll, sounding like they never left off from a handful of years ago.
Sometime prior the recording of this record, Petty reportedly had marital difficulties, and, while any outside influences on any album are dicey to prove, many of the songs share a longing, an emptiness, yet are full of an odd combination of redemption and honesty.
One of the real treats here is the first recorded lead vocal by ace guitarist, arranger and producer Mike Campbell, who has been Petty’s right hand man since the Heartbreakers were formed more than 20 years ago. Campbell growls and snarls his way through "I Don’t Wanna Fight," fiercely refusing to give the microphone back to Petty as the song storms through. It is a credit to both Petty and Campbell, as well as the others members of the band, that they have moved back from the tentativeness of the most recent records and given us a full bore of what they do best.
****1/2