Search - John Mellencamp :: Dance Naked

Melanie W. (novelwriter) from SURFSIDE BCH, SC
Reviewed on 11/3/2007...

This is one of John Mellencamp's better cd's. I don't know if it is my favorite but I like this one a lot.

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A Little Soft in the Middle

Brian D. Rubendall | Oakton, VA | 11/20/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Dance Naked," which just barely exceeds EP length at nine tracks and less than forty minutes, is nevertheless an adventuresome album for this artist. The album starts with three songs, including the title track, "Brothers" and "When Margaret Comes to Town," that are a deviation from Mellencamp's usual straightforward storytelling style. Instead, he uses catchy rhythms and repetetive choruses to a fine sonic effect. Unfortunately, the disc loses momentum with the fairly uninteresting (but nevertheless massively popular) cover version of "Wild Night." Van Morrison's original version is far superior. Then comes the rather dopey "l.u.v.," typical of the kinds of lyrical bludenrs Mellencamp occasionally pulls. Fortunately, he gets back to the good stuff with "Big Jack" and album ends as strongly as it began. Mellencamp needed to do something different in order to reenergize his career. With "Dance Naked," he did so, and was mostly successful."

Mellencamp Bares All

Thomas Magnum | NJ, USA | 02/07/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Dance Naked was a surprise release by John Mellencamp. The album was released only a few months after Human wheels and was spurred on by his biggest hit of the 90's (and since Cherry Bomb in 1988), the Van Morrison cover "Wild Night". Me'shell NdegeOcello duets with Mr. Mellencamp and her pulsating bass provides a strong backbone to the song. The party atmosphere of that song is in sharp contrast to the rest of the album. The album's title is appropriate as the other songs are barer in nature. The title track, "Another Sunny Day 12/25", "L.U.V." and "The Big Jack" are especially strong. coupled with Human Wheels, Dance Naked find Mr. Mellencamp will to expose himself to the public."