Mudcrutch

When you listen to this CD what you'll hear is the sound of an artist reinvigorated. This album is, so far, an easy pick for "the best album of 2008." Just... WOW!

For those not in the know, Mudcrutch is Tom Petty's pre-Heartbreakers band. They're the group he traveled with to California to become "rock stars." Unfortunately, that dream ended badly and the group disbanded. Two former members of Mudcrutch later became the Heartbreakers (along with two non-Mudcrutch transplanted Floridians), while the other two returned home and got on with their lives.

in 2007, for whatever reason, Tom Petty decided he wanted to record an album with Mudcrutch. So, he called up the 2 "missing" members and re-formed the band. It had only been 30 years since they last played together, what could go wrong?

What could have gone wrong is everything. What did go wrong, apparently, is nothing.

The re-formed Mudcrutch is an amazing band, much tighter and cohesive than the current Heartbreakers (with Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell the only original members left... and they're both in Mudcrutch, too). The songs that Petty wrote for the group are the best he's written since 1989. Together, that makes this the single best Petty-related project since the 1st Traveling Wilbury's album.

There is a rollicking, festive, inventive country-rock vibe running through this album that, while reminiscent of the Heartbreakers, suits Petty perfectly.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this collection of material. And, at this point, as much as it pains me to say it, it seems like time for Tom Petty to retire the Heartbreakers "brand" and stick with the re-formed Mudcrutch.