2

by Mudcrutch

Overview

Tom Petty reunited his original Gainesville band Mudcrutch for a lark in 2008. Their eponymous album and short accompanying tour didn't carry the feeling of unfinished business so much as a good-natured ramble through the past. Some old originals were excavated, new songs written, and old favorites covered, all wrapped up in a charmingly ragged little record that gave Petty a bit of a creative jolt. Afterward, he led the Heartbreakers through excursions in blues and garage rock, but that relaxed country-rock vibe proved irresistible, so he reconvened Mudcrutch for a second record in 2016. Titled 2, this second Mudcrutch LP isn't quite a straight sequel. Any of the loose ends left hanging from 2008 have been tied: 2 is streamlined and tight, the cover songs excised in favor of brand-new compositions from every member of Mudcrutch. Just because all five musicians contribute at least one song, that doesn't necessarily make Mudcrutch a democracy. Petty remains the quintet's undisputed leader, writing seven of the 11 songs and setting the tone for 2, emphasizing a thick, swampy guitar grind that nevertheless finds space for the country breeze of Tom Leadon's "The Other Side of the Mountain," Randall Marsh's AM '70s throwback "Beautiful World," Benmont Tench's retro-boogie "Welcome to Hell," and Mike Campbell's garage raver "Victim of Circumstance." All of these provide grace notes to a strong set of Petty originals that range from heartbroken ballads ("Beautiful Blue") and psychedelic stompers ("Hope") to Byrdsian jangle ("Save Your Water") and a revival of "Trailer," a Southern Accents outtake given a nice sludgy rendition illustrating that the main charm of Mudcrutch is their casualness. Nobody here is attempting a major statement; they're simply laying back and tossing off songs, but 2 is executed with precision, which is what keeps it crackling. It's a good-time record, but one intended to showcase how Mudcrutch hit harder and dig a bit deeper than they initially seemed to do. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	05/20/2016
Label:	Reprise
UPC:	0093624920816

Tracks

1. Trailer
2. Dreams of Flying
3. Beautiful Blue
4. Beautiful World
5. I Forgive It All
6. The Other Side of the Mountain
7. Hope
8. Welcome to Hell
9. Save Your Water
10. Victim of Circumstance
11. Hungry No More

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mudcrutch   Primary Artist
Randall Marsh   Drums,Vocals
Herb Pederson   Banjo,Vocal Harmony
Sebastian Harris   Shaker
Mike Campbell   Guitar,Vocals
Tom Petty   Vocals,Harmonica,Guitar (Bass),Featured Artist
Herb Pedersen   Banjo,Vocal Harmony
Benmont Tench   Organ,Piano,Vocals,Mellotron,Featured Artist
Tom Leadon   Guitar,Vocals,Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Tom Leadon   Composer,Group Member
David Greene   Drum Technician
Ryan Ulyate   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Recording
Randall Marsh   Composer,Group Member
Ryan Corey   Art Direction
Steve Winstead   Backline Technician
Jeri Heiden   Art Direction
John Heiden   Art Direction
John Bunker   Backline Technician
Josh Jove   Assistant Engineer
Chase Simpson   Assistant Engineer
Mark Skaggs   Backline Technician
Greg Looper   Recording,Monitor Engineer,Engineer
Mike Campbell   Composer,Producer,Group Member
Tom Petty   Composer,Producer,Group Member
Chris Bellman   Mastering
Benmont Tench   Composer,Group Member