Mudcrutch | 
| Artist: Mudcrutch
Label: Warner Brothers
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $8.21
You Save: $10.77 (57%)
New (46) Used (8) from $8.21
Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 9
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 455868
UPC: 093624987338
EAN: 0093624987338
ASIN: B0015FHDS6
Release Date: April 29, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
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| Tracks:
| • | Shady Grove | | • | Scare Easy | | • | Orphan Of The Storm | | • | Six Days On The Road | | • | Crystal River | | • | Oh Maria | | • | This Is A Good Street | | • | The Wrong Thing To Do | | • | Queen Of The Go-Go Girls | | • | June Apple | | • | Lover Of The Bayou | | • | Topanga Cowgirl | | • | Bootleg Flyer | | • | House Of Stone |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
"I just finished a record with Mudcrutch, my old band before the Heartbreakers. I am over the moon about it. I couldn't have hoped for it to be as good as it came out." In summer 2007, Tom Petty reunited Mudcrutch, consisting of himself, Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, original bandmember Tom Leadon, and Randall Marsh, who joined when Mudcrutch first went to Los Angeles in search of a record deal in the early 70s. Now, more than 30 years later, Mudcrutch finally has its debut album. With new Petty songs and a handful of covers, the self-titled disc is both classic rock and a rock classic.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 Petty and Mudcrutch, with a Wilbury Twist April 30, 2008
Brandon J. Smith
25 out of 28 found this review helpful
I'm amused at the way people say things like "worth the 30 year wait," as though people have been holding their breadth for a Mudcrutch reunion. The truth is, this doesn't sound much like the original Mudcrutch, as can be heard on the box set Playback. The original Mudcrutch sounded a lot like the early Heartbreakers, and for good reason: the core of the band, Petty, Campbell, and Tench, were working together. The reunion of Mudcrutch is actually a much more democratic band. Petty was and remains the leader, but he lets Leadon and Marsh take more of the spotlight here. The songs are more countrified and traditionalist, and the album is mixed in a way that allows every instrument its own space, so all five personalities show through very clearly.
What this reminds me of is not so much the original Mudcrutch or Heartbreakers - but the Traveling Wilburys. The Wilburys existed because the musicians involved wanted to enjoy making music in a loose environment, to play without the pressures of their exisiting careers, and to enjoy playing as friends, and that's exactly what we've got here. The best part of this album is the sound of five friends making music for all the right reasons.
It's not a perfect cd. Some of the songs kind of blur together, "Crystal River" is a bit overlong at nine and a half minutes, "Queen of the Go-Go Girls" is kind of weak, and the melody of "Oh Maria" is too much like "Lost Children" from The Last DJ. Still, the criticisms pale in comparison to the virtues: Mike Campbell remains the absolute best guitar player out there, always playing the perfect part for the song. Tench still has that perfect touch on the keyboards. And Leadon and Marsh are no slouches themselves, more than acquitting themselves among their legendary former bandmates.
There are some really good songs here. "Scare Easy" is strong latter-day Petty, and "The Wrong Thing to Do" has lyrics that are absolutely vintage Petty. The main highlights of the album, for me, though, come towards the end. The cover of "The Lover of the Bayou" is probably the closest to what the original Mudcrutch was all about. The Petty-penned "Topanga Cowgirl" is the best on the album, and the Petty/Campbell "Bootleg Flyer" is also a good swinging rocker.
It's clear, especially after having seen the documentary Runnin' Down a Dream, just how much the act of making music means to Petty and the other members of the band. Ultimately, it's this love of making music that made this album happen, and it's that spirit that elevates it from being just some side project. As with the Wilbury CDs, it's the intangible sense of joy that comes through the most, making this another strong entry in the brilliant Petty catalog.
Well worth the 30 year wait April 30, 2008
Tim Brough (Springfield, PA United States)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
Tom Petty, once and for all, proves he is one of the nicest guys in rock. After all, who do you know would call up old friends you'd lost touch with over 30 years and say "let's make a record." Which is, basically, what the three-decades-in-the-making "Mudcrutch" is. Drummer Randall Marsh and Guitarist Tom Leadon (brother of Eagle Bernie Leadon) join Heartbreakers Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell for a reunion that is Petty's loosest record since he sat in with The Traveling Wilburys.
Recorded over 10 days and arranged on the fly, "Mudcrutch" owes a lot to Gram Parsons and the Grateful Dead (think American Beauty or Workingman's Dead), with an easy groove that sounds warm and friendly. Petty switches over to his old instrumant, bass, allowing Campbell and Leadon to trade leads. Both Leadon and Tench get a lead vocal shot (used to great effect on the opener, "Shady Grove") and the whole album has the flow of a band that has been together for a long time. Which is peculiuar, considering that they last played together in the mid-seventies.
The album also is reminiscent of the best Grateful Dead in that four of the songs are choice covers. Country/Boogie band staple "Six Days On The Road" (tying back to the Flying Burrito Brothers, who also covered it) gets a workout, as does Roger McGuinn's "Lover of The Bayou." Then once these guys finally find a groove they can really lock into, they chow down and make the delicious swirling jam of "Crystal River." It's the centerpice of "Mudcrutch" and alone justifies getting the CD.
Add that there are plenty of other great songs here (Tench's "This is a Good Street" being a personal favorite), "Mudcrutch" joins The Racountours' harder rocking Consolers Of The Lonely as the kind of loose free-flowing rock records recorded on the quick and sounding all the better because of it.
After a Period of Reflection and Review, Our Esteemed Panel Finds This Album to Be ... April 29, 2008
Miguel Gonzalez (OAK PARK, IL United States)
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
... Excellent. It's a feel good story for sure. How many of us played in bands at one point or another, seriously or just for fun, and never got that one sweet taste of national exposure? Tom Petty reached back to his roots to bring us all an excellently written, wonderfully played boot-kickin' album of Americana rock 'n' roll. And he brought a couple of his own pre-fame friends along for the ride.
 A Great Time Is Had By All... April 29, 2008
Lyn Pastac Lynsey (West Hurley, NY)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
What I enjoy the most with "Mudcrutch". Is that it feels and certainly sounds as though everyone is having a great time. The music is loose and filled with groove and tasty instinctive playing by Tom Leadon (Bernie Leadon's brother. ie; see The Eagles) and Mike Campbell. While Benmont Tench, Randall Marsh and Tom Petty all lock into a very solid backing rhythm and beat. That sounds as though it is felt. Not just played by numbers. Good musicians playing good music.
There is an optimism in Tom Petty's lyrics throughout. A bar-band feel. But, also a sentiment, a yearning. He is a great, great songwriter.
It is simply a tasty record. There is a freedom to Tom Petty's tone and very satisfied vocal delivery. He just sounds like he is happy and hanging out with some old friends.
I have listened to it repeatedly and I enjoy it more and more as the songs gain familiarity. The Byrds, "Lover Of The Bayou" is great! Benmont takes a lead vocal spot on one of his own tunes, " This Is A Good Street". It is one of my favorites on the record. He has a really cool voice. Tom Leadon also contributed an original in, "Queen Of The Go-Go Girls". His voice is alot like his brother's. Which is good thing.
"Crystal River" is a new classic! It's an emotionally melodic taste of his true southern spirit, like nothing I have heard TP tap into before. With a graceful, Grateful Dead/American Beauty-ish type of flow.
Plus, "Orphan Of The Storm". This tune is like the long lost CCR tune. Randall Marsh swings with a really sweet driven groove and flow. "Shady Grove" is a traditional bluegrass number that is spun off here with exactly the type of back-porchy type of feeling it was first conceived on a long, long time ago somewhere far away. But, not too far from Gainesville Florida where these guys first found their way.
So far, one of my favorite records of the past 5 years. I repeat, 5 YEARS! And one I have been really excited about hearing upon release. Dig in. I love it!
 Jug bands unite! May 1, 2008
Eric L. Willard (FPO, AP United States)
7 out of 30 found this review helpful
I'm a firm supporter of Tom Petty...when he's rocking.
This CD is labeled as rock but this is NOT rock.
I expected Breakdown or Refugee and I got Jethro's Jugband Jamboree.
As expected, the songs are well written and story driven but it's still not Rock in my book.
Instrumentals are great and flowing, like there was a lot of work put into it but again, not rock.
The 2 songs that are noteworthy are Crystal River and Scare Easy. They seem to stand out from the rest as possibly less twang and more melody.
Not a bad CD, just a bad catagory to place it in. It would probably sell better in Country...maybe.
I read somewhere that it has a Bob Dylan sound. Yes, I could agree with that. I did get a minor Dylan feel from it.
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