Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: The Last DJ - 2002

 

This one was an album that finds a world-weary, cynical Petty moaning about the music industry, its corporate greed, and that old chestnut - the radio, notably on the title track. However well-meant, it doesn't really come across that well, its singer sounding like an embittered ageing artist. 

The sound is also a bit over-orchestrated, 2000s-style, in many places (too many strings) and acoustic-driven for my liking - compare it with Let Me Up to hear the difference. I have read a few notable critics say that this was Petty's worst album, which is a bit of a shame as it was relatively near to the end of his career, but I can see what they meant. 

I can go along with Joe being his worst track, however, no doubt about that. Actually, maybe The Man Who Loves Women is worse. 

Ending on a more positive note, The Last DJ, Dreamville, Money Becomes King and Have Love Will Travel are good ones, redressing the balance considerably. 

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