Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

Is there much left to say about artists like Tom Petty? As it's been four years since 'Mojo' was released I guess there is - and it's all good. Hypnotic Eye is an album with plenty of American soul (not Soul with a capital 'S') and it's no lie that this release is a return to the Sixties-style rock he used to do. Understated lead guitars, easy-going older-than-old-school drums, all led by Petty's unique vocals (somewhere between Neil Young and Dylan for those who don't know) make for easy and groovy listening. With titles like 'Red River', 'Forgotten Man' and 'Burnt Out Town' (a perfect harmonica and piano-laden blues track) this is classic Americana made for driving down the open road, but for all the possible pitfalls Hypnotic Eye never sounds cheesy or cliched. This isn't the kind of stuff to set the charts on fire, (but if you were Tom Petty would you care?) instead it's the stuff people come back to again and again, the kind of music classics are made from. An absolute pleasure to listen to.