Tom Petty has definitely mellowed over the years. But with his latest release, he proves that it's not a bad thing. Through his mostly subdued vocals and richly textured melodies, Petty is capable of touching the lonely ache at the root of your soul and making it shine.

Echo relies on his blues-oriented guitar style to drive each song, with organ and piano coloring the background. The only thing missing is the sound of Tom's harmonica. There are songwriters who can write lyrics to fit any tune or write a tune to fit any lyrics, and then there's Tom Petty. The heart of the music lies in the orchestration. He's a liberated poet who understands the innerworkings of humanity and can convey them lyrically and musically without reducing them to a cliche.

But as much as I liked this album, I have to admit I liked his earlier albums better. Overall, Echo is a little too mellow for my tastes--I need a lot more rock with my roll. Still it's a solid record, and mine is a petty complaint--his devoted fans won't be disappointed.