Release Date: April 13, 1999
Personnel: Tom Petty (vocals, guitar); Mike Campbell (guitars); Benmont Tench (piano, organ); Howie Epstein (bass)
Produced by Tom Petty; Mike Campbell; Rick Rubin
List of Tracks: Room at the Top: Counting on You; Free Girl Now; Lonesome Sundown; Swingin; Accused of Love; Echo; Won't Last Long; Billy the Kid; I Don't Wanna Fight; This One's For Me; No More; About to Give Out; Rhino Skin; One More Day, One More Night
List of Tracks: Room at the Top: Counting on You; Free Girl Now; Lonesome Sundown; Swingin; Accused of Love; Echo; Won't Last Long; Billy the Kid; I Don't Wanna Fight; This One's For Me; No More; About to Give Out; Rhino Skin; One More Day, One More Night
Echo was recorded during a time of personal turmoil for the band. Petty was struggling with drug addiction after his divorce and the songs reflect his despair. It would also be the final Heartbreakers album to feature bassist Howie Epstein who was fired from the band. He passed away in 2003.
"Room at the Top" expresses Petty's bleak of state of mind, imagining a character isolated and contemplating death. Petty's lyrics and vocal bring tenderness and empathy to someone in a dark place. "Counting on You" is a moody and guitar driven. "Free Girl Now" is a bit derivative, with Petty taking the third person perspective towards a woman leaving a toxic relationship.
"Lonesome Sundown" is a bit dreary, but melodic, in a McCartney sort of way. "Swingin" aims at the epic rock song and approaches greatness. "Accused of Love" is a gentle rocker, "Echo" is one of the most emotionally raw songs Petty had recorded up to this point. "Won't Last Long" channels the California 60's sound Petty always loved. It seems every rocker must write a song about a Western desperado, "Billy the Kid" is a turbulent confessional.
In a first, "I Don't Wanna Fight" features Mike Campbell on lead vocal, he sounds a little like Petty. "This One's for Me" hints at personal renewal, "No More" signals artistic exhaustion. "About to Give Out" stays on point, Campbell and Tench add some life to the track. "Rhino Skin" returns to the resilience theme, Campbell contributes a nice solo at the end. "One More Day, One More Night" ends the record with an emotional plea.
Echo is a dreary record. Rick Rubin's production has a monolithic quality here, all the tracks blend into a sludgy sound. The songs were obviously more personal than usual; one wonders why Petty did not put it out as a solo record. Maybe it was just too long, it's 60 minutes of music, cutting a few tracks might've been a good idea.
