From the very first song it is obvious that Fogerty is sticking to what he and everyone knows best. 'Rockin' All Over the World' is a catchy, if predictable, song that sounds like it's come straight out of the Credence back catalogue. Their rockabilly sound with its hard driving rhythm, burning guitar and forceful vocals is reproduced here.
It can also be heard on the majority of the tracks that follow. Adding to the sense of nostalgia are some lyrics from 'Travelin' High'. When Fogerty sings, "Here comes that good old travelin' band once again" he is clearly alluding to the old Credence song 'Travelin' Band'. Clearly, this is not a singer who has forgotten his musical roots.
Two out of the ten songs are covers. The first of these, 'You Rascal You', is a fairly unexciting piece really only notable for the fact that the first few seconds of the song are taken from 'Auld Lang Syne'. If musicians insist on including other people's material on their albums then it is inexcusable if they choose boring songs- as Fogerty has done on this occasion. Thankfully the other example, 'Lonely Teardrops', is the perfect example of a well-chosen cover and is also the best song on the album.
These two songs are noteworthy because they stand out stylistically from all the others. The former has an old time swinging feel to it, while the latter is possessed of an energy and vigour that is clearly lacking in his own tired-sounding creations. Perhaps they are Fogerty's wistful admission that while he wanted to see his music evolve from his Credence days he has just served up more of the same.
Given the similarity in sound and style between John Fogerty and his previous material, it is neither possible nor reasonable to avoid making a direct comparison between the two. It is sad to have to observe that the man responsible for such American classics as 'Proud Mary', 'Fortunate Son', 'Bad Moon Rising' and 'Have You Ever Seen the Rain?' has fallen well short of his best. Whereas those songs still retain their power and meaning over thirty years on, listeners will want to forget this solo material as quickly as possible.
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