Music Notes: Classic rock full of riches and rags
By Scott Iwasaki
The Deseret News - Saturday, May 28, 1999
Classic rock fans like their music comfortable.
To them, putting in a CD by the likes of Tom Petty or Bruce Springsteen is like slipping into a soft, faded pair of blue jeans.
There is a washload of classic rockers out there. And while some of these stars' new albums are still sewn with sturdy denim fiber, a few contain synthetic threads. In fact, some releases sound like unraveled rags.
One of the stalwart classic music-makers is Tom Petty. His new album, "Echo" (Warner Bros.), done with the Heartbreakers, is a solid album.
Granted, Petty's style hasn't changed a bunch since the band's eponymous 1977 album. And sure, there are a few songs that sound like his earlier tunes -- "Free Girl Now" smacks of "You Wreck Me" and "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star."
But, Petty hasn't compromised himself. He's a rebel. He's business savvy and has a sound his fans can wear over and over again.