Tom Petty is one of the all time greatest artists of any genre. Highway Companion is his first solo (without Heartbreakers) album in 12 years. There isn't one bad track on this fine disc. It's a classic in the making.
An American Legend
From "American Girl" to "Learning To Fly" to "Free Fallin'" and "You Got Lucky," Tom Petty has crafted some of the most memorable songs in the history of rock and roll. His songs have impacted so many people that there aren't many people in America who haven't heard his music. The country music and "Americana" genres have 'shifted' so much in the past 5-10 years that what was once considered rock and roll is now defined to be within those two genres. So, Tom Petty's music is now more 'Americana' or 'roots rock' than it is Rock and Roll and thus his new CD Highway Companion is getting reviewed by websites not typically associated with his past catalog.Freshly signed to Rick Rubin's American Recordings/Warner Brothers Records label, Highway Companion is Tom Petty's first solo album in 12 years. His previous solo albums were 1989's Full Moon Fever and 1994's Wildflowers.
A True Highway Companion
Leading off the record is the rollicking "Saving Grace." With a guitar melody that recalls ZZ Top, this big Triple-A radio hit has lyrics that are easy to hear and memorable. This is a song that is sure to end up among Tom's many, many hits. Anyone who's overcome long odds and troubles will relate to the introspective ballad "Square One." It's sung over a lightly strummed acoustic guitar which is later joined by a slight keyboard in the background."Flirting With Time" has that classic rock styled chorus which features Byrds-like layered harmonies. The song is beautiful and it's simply vintage Tom Petty. "Jack" is a short, cool track with interesting lyrics about "getting (his) baby back." This is one that classic rock stations might jump at to play.
True Americana
"Turn This Car Around" is the first of the latter half of the record's roots/American/country sound. It's a song that will do well on many radio formats, including possibly mainstream country radio. It has a killer melody and thought provoking lyrics that really remind me of something Jack Ingram or any of the cool Texas artists might record. "Night Driver" has a bluesy rock aesthetic (almost like an early R.E.M. song) while "Damaged By Love" is a mournful ballad. "This Old Town" and "Big Weekend" are the kinds of songs that country artists should be recording but many aren't.Final Thoughts
Highway Companion is a true Americana Gem. It's a record full of classic Tom Petty songs and lyrics that often have 'double meanings." Like most of his records, Highway Companion is filled with stories of real life and real people, it's never whiny and constantly delivers.
Song List:
- Saving Grace
- Square One
- Flirting with Time
- Down South
- Jack
- Turn This Car Around
- Big Weekend
- Night Driver
- Damaged by Love
- This Old Town
- Ankle Deep
- The Golden Rose
