Mudcrutch

Artist - Mudcrutch
Album - Mudcrutch
Label - Warner

Mudcrutch was a band that Tom Petty (and Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench) split from in 1970 to go on to solo and Heartbreakers success.

Mudcrutch never recorded its 'debut' album, so some 38 years later, here it is, with the 38-years older members reuniting to record again. Never underestimate Petty side-projects, as the Traveling Wilburys showed.

However, this is for Petty completists only - the Mudcrutch sound is a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, and a whole lot of pretty mediocre songs, that wouldn't have been anything special in 1970.

The album is saved by a few great songs like the (could be Neil Young) Byrds cover, Lover of the Bayou, Scare Easy and Bootleg Flyer, but there are many more that seem like easy retreads of a country bar band's set list.

It would be great to see Petty derive true inspiration again, but guitarist Tom Leadon (brother of The Eagles' Bernie) and drummer Randall Marsh seem to have been along to help Petty achieve a sense of closure, rather than anything more exciting.

Another Tom Petty album, another disappointment - here's hoping that there's one more great one in him.

Rating 6/10
Mike Rea

9:27am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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