John MellencampStrictly a One-Eyed Jack

Mellencamp's voice has cracked down to gravel and ash, and it suits these shadowy, late-night songs perfectly. Bruce Springsteen drops by for a few duets that crackle with old-friend warmth, while sparse guitars and noir-ish atmosphere set a haunted mood. It's a craggy meditation on aging and regret. Dark, intimate and deeply human.