August 07, 2010

With his 21st studio album on the way, John Mellencamp once again mixes his rock roots with cowboy boots on the title track from "No Better Than This," an Americana track full of heartland guitar and summery lyrics. Mellencamp basks in his idea of life's greatest joys on a feel-good tune abundant with nostalgia and a foot-stomping rhythm. "Give me good lovin'/ And seal it with a kiss/Then drop me off where the music's loud/But it won't get no better than this," Mellencamp sings insistently. Considering what fans have come to know about Mellencamp during his 30-plus-year career, none of the joys of which he sings are altogether surprising. Unfortunately, though, neither is the instrumentation, which makes for a somewhat predictable affair.—Courtney Baldasare

Subscribe to Billboard magazine today!