'The Last DJ'

"A Guy Thing"

‘The Last DJ’ keeps Petty out of the spotlight for good

By Mike Johnson
Staff Writer

Releasing “The Last DJ” may have been a last attempt to stay in the spotlight made by veteran rocker Tom Petty. He seems to have forgotten what it means to be an artist, despite several of the tracks being superb in their quality.

The overall theme through at least seven of the twelve songs is an anger that must have been festering in his belly for several years.

The rest of the songs give a glimpse into a wistful mind, almost in the ‘if I had it over to do again’ vein.

One that will stick out in listeners’ minds may be track number four, “Joe.” It is powerful and portrays a fictional record company executive that is more interested in making money for himself, rather than the artist. Petty does score points for making “Angel Whore” fit perfectly in the song.

In “Blue Sunday,” the singer meets a woman that appears to be his soul mate and understands his needs. The undertone remains of mistakes made during a life, possibly even signing away your life.

If Petty had released a charged album in which he blasted record company CEOs, the fickle nature of musical competition, and the high rate at which new rock musicians glow and fade away, for his second, third or fourth album, it would have been believable. Now it feels like he is just whining.

“Echo,” his 1997 release‚ was his first album that lacked the wide support from the Warner Brothers recording label. It had more gusto and feeling than “The Last DJ.”