John Mellencamp
No Better Than This: Thirteen New Songs
Rounder Records
www.rounder.com

Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen
At Edwards Barn
Rounder Records
www.rounder.com

Louisiana Cajun & Creole Music
The Newport Field Recordings
Rounder Records
www.rounder.com

Various Artists
Bluegrass Number One Hits
Rounder Records
www.rounder.com

By George W. Harris

Here’s music that takes you through the essence of southern music, as well as heaven, earth and hell. Three recent releases by people that live, have lived and are living for the hereafter.

John Mellencamp has always seemed to me to be a poor man’s Bruce Springsteen. Well, here on this disc he just lapped the guy. This disc, mostly recorded at the legendary Sun Studios (and it sounds like it), consists of unplugged and acoustic music that used to be on the airwaves back in the mid 50s rural south; gritty, real, and with opened nerved emotions. Mellencamp sings like he’s walking with a limp as he tells stories of failure, loneliness, lost love, desertion, and the internal struggle between sin and salvation. Supported by a team that includes Marc Ribot and T Bone Burnett on guitars, Mellencamp bares his lonely soul on “No One Cares About Me” and talks himself out of romance on “Love At First Sight,” while sounding like a Solomon in Ecclesiastes on “Each Day Of Sorrow.” Life under the son is full of vanities, and Mellencamp delivers a sage’s diatribe that will shake your spine. Essential music for the world weary.

On the completely other end of the spiritual spectrum, guitarist/vocalist Chris Hillman has known sin, but also salvation, as he reflects this both musically and lyrically on an intimate concert ( in a church, no less!) setting with guitar wiz Herb Pederson. Still in full voice and at peace with the world and Christ, he delivers material from the various stages of his life. Byrd tunes like “8 Miles High” and “Turn Turn Turn” (Again we’re in Ecclesiastes!) have a lovely bluegrass lilt, while “Love Reunite” and “Our Savior’s Hands” reveal the importance of faith in marriage and daily life. A wondrous take of “Together Again” and “Have you Seen Her Face” make you see the bright side of true love, while “Sin City” points to the dark side of life. Music by an important artist that has seen God’s healing hand. Can’t help but feel good about life after this one. If you haven’t thought about your life lately, this one will get you dwelling on it for awhile.

Meanwhile, back around 1964-67, Ralph Rinzler went down to Louisiana and did some recording a la Alan Lomax, but captured the music of Cajun and Creole bands instead of blues players. These 75 minutes have a series of different bands and singers performing, how do you say, the real deal. Edius Naquin and his violin careen through a quartet of earthy tunes while the Balfa Freres (made up of fiddles, accordion, guitar, vocal and a wailing triangle) will start you on the 2 step in no time flat. You feel like you’re in a smoky low ceilinged room in Lafayette when you hear Adam and Cyprien Landreneau team up their fiddle and accordion with Dewey Balfa’s tenacious triangle on a series of short but sweet wailers. This music is like a sonic trip through time and space, and as real and gritty as the red clay from which it came.

Get out of Louisiana, go east of Memphis, and you’ll come across the music that’s represented here, right along the Cumberland area of Tennessee. If you think it’s just the jazz artists that have chops, just wait until you hear “Sweet Carrie” by Dailey and Vincent. Whooo Doggie! Meanwhile, if you think Bill Frisell is the greatest thing that happened to jazz, just wait until you hear the Blue Highway on “Through The Window Of A Train” just blow anything away that he’s tried. As far as “tellin’ your story” goes, tales like “Long List Of Heartaches” and “Sadie’s Got Her New Dress On” should be right up someone like Cassandra Wilson’s alley, while Alison Krauss and the Union Station swing it just right on the pickin’ and grinnin’ “Rain Please Go Away.” Makes feeling good feel good.